Does SMU Get To 6 Wins?

[redpony]

I suspect that one of those games- USF, UCONN might well be our Rice or Tulane game of last year.
This team echoes it's coach- no fire and little preparation. JMHO

[PonyKai]

I suspect that one of those games- USF, UCONN might well be our Rice or Tulane game of last year.
This team echoes it's coach- no fire and little preparation. JMHO

Maybe Montana State was our Tulane this year and we were just saved by a Gilbert last second TD drive. Sort of like if Mason's D had bothered to show up against Tulane last year instead of allowing them to waltz freely down the field without any resistance for a game winning TD.

[mustangxc]

Rutgers was our Tulane this year. We had it won and simply could not make a stop on 4th down twice. TCU was our Rice this year. We were close through the half but were outclassed in the second half. No need to have any more letdowns.

[PonySnob]

At least we will beat a team with a winning record if we get to 6-6..........

[PonyKai]

June getting to another bowl game and getting an extension might be the ultimate troll job. I'm saying he makes it happen.

[ponyboy]

Damn those bowl games.

[StallionsModelT]

When over half the teams in D1A make a bowl game is it really something to brag about?

[PonyKai]

I would like a bowl game. 5 straight bowl games is great. It's never happened around here, even w/ the explosion in bowls. We don't get a better draft pick for sucking, and, for the most part, the outside, uneducated world doesn't care what bowl game it is, or who we beat to get there. Nobody goes, hey, look, Frank Beamer took Virginia Tech to 23 straight bowl games, but the conference sucked and it was only a bunch of Belk bowls! They say, hey, 23 bowl games, that's great, especially years from now. Nobody is going to say "well they only beat sh*tty AAC teams and squeaked into the Bistro Bowl.

But it would be much easier for those who believe it's time for a change to get that change if we finish 5-7 with no postseason opportunity. It will be more difficult if we finish 7-6, beating UH on the road, and then throttling a team like Pitt in the BBVA Compass Bowl, which June is particularly adept at doing with several weeks to prepare for a single opponent and a healthy Gilbert.

[ponyboy]

You may be right. But I want an 8-5 season and for June to gracefully exit. I'm not very excited about poison pill plans.

[PonyKai]

I would love an 8-5 year. Sign me up. I'll chip in for the parade.

[ponyboy]

Even if that means June stays?

[sbsmith]

I would like a bowl game. 5 straight bowl games is great. It's never happened around here, even w/ the explosion in bowls. We don't get a better draft pick for sucking, and, for the most part, the outside, uneducated world doesn't care what bowl game it is, or who we beat to get there. Nobody goes, hey, look, Frank Beamer took Virginia Tech to 23 straight bowl games, but the conference sucked and it was only a bunch of Belk bowls! They say, hey, 23 bowl games, that's great, especially years from now. Nobody is going to say "well they only beat sh*tty AAC teams and squeaked into the Bistro Bowl.

VT isn't the best comparison, they routinely make BCS games so that's a little different than them playing in the Belk Bowl (which they've never played in) every year. Now if our streak gets long enough people might not care what bowls we made but 5 is nothing especially when you're fielding mediocre teams and playing in mediocre bowls.

[PonyKai]

It's a perfectly serviceable comparison. It doesn't need to be perfect, and it wasn't meant to be perfect; apples and mangoes. People recognize that Beamer has a 23 year bowl streak. The critical analysis of that streak begins and ends there. People also recognize that VT has played in multiple BCS bowl games and player for a national title within the last 15 years. That's a different discussion. It's simply that outsiders view streaks and arbitrary accomplishments with very little scrutiny. Look at all the disinterested people who have a much more favorable opinion of our program than we do simply because we've been to four straight bowl games and June is the coach. Their critical analysis begins and ends there.

[PonyKai]

Even if that means June stays?

In a nutshell:

1) June is good, solid X&O coach and can run a solid program.

2) June still has serviceable cache as a commodity; he isn't an unknown coordinator from a random BCS school. He's still June. He's not June circa 2008, but he is June.

3.) June has recruiting/staff issues that have been discussed ad nausea

4.) June appears to be detached from the school/community, again, discussed ad nausea.

5.) If there were a way to force change on him, reconstruct his staff, and put in place a strict plan to capitalize on his strengths and remedy his weaknesses, it could still be a mutually beneficial professional relationship. I'm not sure if that's possible.

[ponyboy]

Well done. Agreed completely.