Having been involved with SMU (Mustang Club Board & fundraising) since the late 1970's, I have been around SMU's and other school's ADs numerous times and at multiple functions. From this perspective, I am proud to say that Steve Orsini gets my vote as one of the premier collegiate athletic directors in the business.
Extending SMU's relationship with Steve is, in my opinion, critical to the continued momentum and success of SMU Athletics.
Steve has not been perfect in all of his hires (bounce, bounce), but few if any in the business are. And you may or may not know what internal pressures and roadblocks he has had to face. I believe that Steve has done a terrific job under a scenario that has been far less than desireable and certainly not typical.
This is it. Steve is the final year and his contract needs to be handled immediately. Steve has fought the good fight for those of us who love SMU athletics. Truth be told, he has fought a fight that few in his profession have ever had to face. He has done it faithfully, ethically, with great passion for SMU and I am proud of being able to call Steve Orsini my friend and a great Mustang!
JJ fell into SMU's lap, Steve had nothing to do with it.
The athletic department is pitifully run. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so frustrating. Zero attention to detail, zero foresight, and that [deleted] basketball coach should have been fired a long time ago.
f4shionablecha0s wrote:JJ fell into SMU's lap, Steve had nothing to do with it.
The athletic department is pitifully run. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so frustrating. Zero attention to detail, zero foresight, and that [deleted] basketball coach should have been fired a long time ago.
These aren't AD problems (with the exception of bb), CEOs don't monitor the commercials or small stuff, that is the job of the associate ADs, his job is hiring the coaches and big picture items.
Can't believe some of the comments that have drifted off topic. Without Orsini, athletics gets nothing...nothing. He is the buffer between the faculty, the administration, the major donors and the coaches. He knows his role, he supports his staff, he fights for recongition and funds for his people, he has a plan, and he is a businessman.
Top 25 wrote:Steve Orsini is, unquestionably, vital to the continued success of SMU Athletics. I have been involved with SMU for too many years to count, and I am firmly of the opinion that he is the best, and most effective, A.D. that we've had. Orsini brought us June Jones...can you put into perspective what an astounding feat that was?...and he is creating a culture of winning, and championships, on the Hilltop. In addition, he is The Man when it comes to being in the room during the on-going conference realignment discussions.
He is in the last year of his contract, and it needs to be renewed, sooner rather than later. He has laid it on the line for the Program, time and again, and he loves SMU. He is an incredibly valuable asset, and we absolutely must keep him.
Hold on a second!
If you’re making 700 grand a year at a job you’re burned out and ready to quit. You’re approached with what Steve calls the wish list and offered twice what you were making / a new challenge that makes you a great salesman / AD???
Give me a 4 million dollar budget per year for a coach I bet I can replace June fast. Better yet with all the deep pockets and serious men surrounding SMU let’s say their willing to pay 10 million a year for a coach you could get anyone you wanted eventually… Would that make you a great AD?
The real people who are behind the recent success of this program are the men who pay Junes salary. And that’s not Steve or the Dr.
Last edited by Mestengo on Fri Sep 17, 2010 7:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
That would be winning! But I'll have a glass if you are sharing.
SMU's first president, Robert S. Hyer, selected Harvard Crimson and Yale Blue as SMU's colors to symbolize SMU's high academic standards. We are one of the few Universities to have school colors with real meaning...and we just blow them off.
f4shionablecha0s wrote:JJ fell into SMU's lap, Steve had nothing to do with it.The athletic department is pitifully run. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so frustrating. Zero attention to detail, zero foresight, and that [deleted] basketball coach should have been fired a long time ago.
This response I'm afraid may have triggered the idiot alarm !
That would be winning! But I'll have a glass if you are sharing.
You bastard winning.
I do love a glass of good wine.
SMU's first president, Robert S. Hyer, selected Harvard Crimson and Yale Blue as SMU's colors to symbolize SMU's high academic standards. We are one of the few Universities to have school colors with real meaning...and we just blow them off.
But I'll have a glass if you are sharing. 
