The Case for Firing/Keeping June Jones

[Mustangs35SMU]

We used to get drummed by all those cruddy CUSA teams, and were perpetually in the bottom 10

And yet...five years into June...we were right back there at one point this season.

[ClickClack]

Look at recruiting. Next year won't be a turnaround. It will be worse not even considering the harder competition. June is done by his own recruiting hubris.

I gave my lowdown of next season's team in another thread, but everything for next year depends on how the young linemen are on both sides of the ball. Most of them were good recruits, and people expect an upgrade because they should be ready by next season. If they don't pan out, we are in trouble, and June won't be around. If they do pan out, I expect us to be pretty good next year because of a bump in play at WR and the secondary.

we lose our best receiver next year and no one besides Jeremy Johnson produces. What bump in WR play are you referring to next year? Not to mention, we lose Line, T Reed, JG, Margus, Pittman and Grenier.

[PlanoStang]

We used to get drummed by all those cruddy CUSA teams, and were perpetually in the bottom 10

And yet...five years into June...we were right back there at one point this season.

I'm just glad I don't work for you, or a lot of others on here.


Looks like Chumley's getting better, and the Lobos may go a few rounds in the playoffs

[Mustangs35SMU]

I'm just glad I don't work for you, or a lot of others on here.

When you're getting paid over 2 million bucks in a very very very bad conference, you better not have a losing record imo.

And yep, Chumley is going to be a special one before he's done at Longview.

[couch 'em]

We used to get drummed by all those cruddy CUSA teams, and were perpetually in the bottom 10

And yet...five years into June...we were right back there at one point this season.

I'm just glad I don't work for you, or a lot of others on here.


Looks like Chumley's getting better, and the Lobos may go a few rounds in the playoffs

If I had June's success rate I'd be fired and a sure don't pull in $2/mil!

[Junior]

We used to get drummed by all those cruddy CUSA teams, and were perpetually in the bottom 10

And yet...five years into June...we were right back there at one point this season.

so you truly believe that we are one of the 10 worst teams in the nation? gimme a [deleted] break. we're one game below .500. no, that's not a good record. no, that's not where we should be. but that's not an example of a horrible program.

[Mustangs35SMU]

I didn't say that. I said that AT ONE POINT IN THE SEASON we were in the bottom 10, yes. I don't think it's hard to figure out when we were there.

But yes, I do believe we're a bad football team this year.

[stc9]

At what point will the true die hard SMU fans (and there aren't that's my if us) just not care anymore?? I will always support the kids and the school, but if our AD and admin don't care enough to make the necessary changes, at what point do fans just say eff it, I will root for a team and a school that actually gives a schit about football and national perception.

The diehards will stop caring when they die. It's the students and our more casual alumni that we have to worry about defecting.

I have said this before, SMU as an institution is not very good at reaching out to alumni outside of Dallas. More than just the athletic department, the school isn't good at reaching out to alumni. Given this, every alumn outside of Dallas is going to be a casual alumn. Casual Alumni don't travel to Dallas to go to a game. Casual alumni don't pony up money. It is not about reaching out and asking for money, but maintaining a relationship. When JJ took over I got two e-mails telling me about it. That was the last time I heard from the Athletic Department. I have never heard from the Mustang Club. I wouldn't even know the Mustang Club existed if it wasn't for Pony Fans and I wouldn't have found Pony Fans if I didn't actively search for something like this.

This is 100% on RGT, POS Pye, and Orsini. Hart gets a pass sinse he has only been there 10 minutes. We have a smaller alumni base than our competitors and the entire institution is indifferent to relationship building.

So I put the question right back to you, if you are a casual fan/alumn why stay with this team and athletic department? Yeah, I get supporting the kids (and I'm not going anywhere), but can you give me another reason?

[Charleston Pony]

At what point will the true die hard SMU fans (and there aren't that's my if us) just not care anymore?? I will always support the kids and the school, but if our AD and admin don't care enough to make the necessary changes, at what point do fans just say eff it, I will root for a team and a school that actually gives a schit about football and national perception.

The diehards will stop caring when they die. It's the students and our more casual alumni that we have to worry about defecting.

I have said this before, SMU as an institution is not very good at reaching out to alumni outside of Dallas. More than just the athletic department, the school isn't good at reaching out to alumni. Given this, every alumn outside of Dallas is going to be a casual alumn. Casual Alumni don't travel to Dallas to go to a game. Casual alumni don't pony up money. It is not about reaching out and asking for money, but maintaining a relationship. When JJ took over I got two e-mails telling me about it. That was the last time I heard from the Athletic Department. I have never heard from the Mustang Club. I wouldn't even know the Mustang Club existed if it wasn't for Pony Fans and I wouldn't have found Pony Fans if I didn't actively search for something like this.

This is 100% on RGT, POS Pye, and Orsini. Hart gets a pass sinse he has only been there 10 minutes. We have a smaller alumni base than our competitors and the entire institution is indifferent to relationship building.

So I put the question right back to you, if you are a casual fan/alumn why stay with this team and athletic department? Yeah, I get supporting the kids (and I'm not going anywhere), but can you give me another reason?

It's a cultural thing. We do very little to get studetns involved in athletics. We should introduce them to the Mustang Club as students. A good way to start would be to encourage them to become a part of the "Mustang Maniacs". That would be my idea for the student section. membership (keep it minimal...as little as $25 to join) gets you t-shirts that might have the Mustang logo and say "Mustang Maniac" or something along those lines. Could have a red, white and blue and set the tone for gameday colors. Of course, the problem you would have is finding enough SMU kids willing to wear a t-shirt to begin with.

I was impressed by how the majority of UCF kids wore black t-shirts yesterday

[redpony]

I have said this before, SMU as an institution is not very good at reaching out to alumni outside of Dallas. More than just the athletic department, the school isn't good at reaching out to alumni. Given this, every alumn outside of Dallas is going to be a casual alumn. Casual Alumni don't travel to Dallas to go to a game. Casual alumni don't pony up money.

I totally disagree. i.e. I live many thousands of miles from Dallas. Yet for the last 5 yrs. (excepting this yr.) I have traveled to Dallas and attended at least two games per yr. and also the coaches luncheons at a cost of about 5k per yr..
No, I don't buy season tickets but when I go to the games I usually take a number of my family/grandkids which amounts to about 12-16 tickets per yr.
I receive numerous emails from the university etc. You are only correct that I don't 'pony up' for donations but that is a long and personal story as to why I don't.
I agree that the university/AD group needs to do a lot more to attract the casual Dallas fan who can be there for every game. That has not happened in the past and I doubt if it will in the future until a coaching change is made and we start putting up big numbers and wins against premier BCS teams. JMHO.

[sbsmith]

So I put the question right back to you, if you are a casual fan/alumn why stay with this team and athletic department? Yeah, I get supporting the kids (and I'm not going anywhere), but can you give me another reason?

I can't really give you a reason, the fandom of casual fans is based on convenience not loyalty and it's not convenient being a fan of SMU athletics (you get ignored unless you're rich and the on-field products for the revenue sports are mediocre).

[SMU2007]

I think the only reason for keeping June Jones if there's absolutely no one decent we can bring in for a similar contract. His track record appears incredibly easy to replace with any decent coach off the street.

[I'm4Peruna]

Although I agree in theory with introducing the students to the MC, there are problems there that need to be fixed first. The attitude of the MC at times (and some people-I don't believe this to be a gauge of the general MC population) stinks toward the students and young alumni. I was not at the Baylor game, but my daughter and friend went. Both of them young alumni. I bought tickets for them in their names to the MC tent. They went expecting to have a great time meeting other alumni. I received a call from her from Waco in tears that both had been disrespected repeatedly by the person in charge of the tent as to the legitimacy of their being in the tent. Now, this is from a 22 yr old's perspective,but if disrespect is the perception of the young alumni and students I don't see many interested in the MC. I called and left messages for Tim Leonard to get report the issue. Never received a response. If the older alumni will change attitude toward our students and younger alumni we might have success building a following. We can't afford to run off anyone let alone legacies. I hope we learn to embrace the younger members of our community.

[JasonB]

Look at recruiting. Next year won't be a turnaround. It will be worse not even considering the harder competition. June is done by his own recruiting hubris.

I gave my lowdown of next season's team in another thread, but everything for next year depends on how the young linemen are on both sides of the ball. Most of them were good recruits, and people expect an upgrade because they should be ready by next season. If they don't pan out, we are in trouble, and June won't be around. If they do pan out, I expect us to be pretty good next year because of a bump in play at WR and the secondary.

we lose our best receiver next year and no one besides Jeremy Johnson produces. What bump in WR play are you referring to next year? Not to mention, we lose Line, T Reed, JG, Margus, Pittman and Grenier.

The other dj showed well against Tulare. We get Stewart and dieter on the outside. The upgrades on the outside will have a bigger impact than losing dj

[redpony]

Although I agree in theory with introducing the students to the MC, there are problems there that need to be fixed first. The attitude of the MC at times (and some people-I don't believe this to be a gauge of the general MC population) stinks toward the students and young alumni. I was not at the Baylor game, but my daughter and friend went. Both of them young alumni. I bought tickets for them in their names to the MC tent. They went expecting to have a great time meeting other alumni. I received a call from her from Waco in tears that both had been disrespected repeatedly by the person in charge of the tent as to the legitimacy of their being in the tent. Now, this is from a 22 yr old's perspective,but if disrespect is the perception of the young alumni and students I don't see many interested in the MC. I called and left messages for Tim Leonard to get report the issue. Never received a response. If the older alumni will change attitude toward our students and younger alumni we might have success building a following. We can't afford to run off anyone let alone legacies. I hope we learn to embrace the younger members of our community.

Sadly, to some degree I must agree. In a different vein I have gone to the blvd numerous times.
Firstly, I will say that Bus and those at the Bus Stop are the greatest and most friendly a stranger would want to encounter. The fans there are great and I have always felt very welcome. I have also visited 33 and met a lot of great people and felt quite welcom..
On the negative side- several yrs ago I spoke with a person at Special delivery and we had a good chat about his regalia and he was very friendly. Yr. before last I visited Special Delivery again and asked what the owners pf handle was. A youngish person abruptly told me that it was none of my effing business and that he wasn't there. Unfortunately I was there with my son-in-law and grandkids and my reason for asking was that I was going to offer to give him my autographed programs of the 1950 SMU-Ohio St. game. His loss. I returned to my daughters after the game and put the programs back into the attic. Amazing how some are willing to relate to other alumnus while others want to remain totally aloof.