Orsini's contract

[Stallion]

Orsini made the difficult and unpopular decisions to raise funds for the program by raising the price for well everything. I've never bitched about any of those decisions because that's the way big time college football programs have to be funded. Hard to critize failures in attendance when the athletic department is still underfunded and he isn't given the proper budget to accomplish much. SMU alumni, family and friends have to decide how far this program goes by getting their [deleted] to games-even if it 97 degrees outside. SMU will not be a factor in future realignment unless there is substantial improvement in attendance. There are no excuses for 16,000 on opening nite after a Bowl Win.

[Samurai Stang]

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.

Those same boosters did nothing for 25 years until the current athletic department leadership proposed the radical concept of actually attempting to win.

The athletic director proposes the vision, and the boosters choose whether or not they will follow it. Without the proper vision, all of the money in the world would never be enough. For example, I cannot foresee any scenario in which Copeland would have ever been able to achieve success. All of the financial backing one could imagine would not have changed that he was a vision-less moron.

Orsini is due far more credit than you give him.

[Mustang75]

Orsini made the difficult and unpopular decisions to raise funds for the program by raising the price for well everything. I've never bitched about any of those decisions because that's the way big time college football programs have to be funded. Hard to critize failures in attendance when the athletic department is still underfunded and he isn't given the proper budget to accomplish much. SMU alumni, family and friends have to decide how far this program goes by getting their [deleted] to games-even if it 97 degrees outside. SMU will not be a factor in future realignment unless there is substantial improvement in attendance. There are no excuses for 16,000 on opening nite after a Bowl Win.Orsini made the difficult and unpopular decisions to raise funds for the program by raising the price for well everything. I've never bitched about any of those decisions because that's the way big time college football programs have to be funded. Hard to critize failures in attendance when the athletic department is still underfunded and he isn't given the proper budget to accomplish much. SMU alumni, family and friends have to decide how far this program goes by getting their [deleted] to games-even if it 97 degrees outside. SMU will not be a factor in future realignment unless there is substantial improvement in attendance. There are no excuses for 16,000 on opening nite after a Bowl Win.

Amen my friend

[Mestengo]

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.

Those same boosters did nothing for 25 years until the current athletic department leadership proposed the radical concept of actually attempting to win.

The athletic director proposes the vision, and the boosters choose whether or not they will follow it. Without the proper vision, all of the money in the world would never be enough. For example, I cannot foresee any scenario in which Copeland would have ever been able to achieve success. All of the financial backing one could imagine would not have changed that was a vision-less moron.

Orsini is due far more credit than you give him.

Steve has vision . I know more about him than you think.

[Samurai Stang]

Steve has vision . I know more about him than you think.

I do not doubt your knowledge of Orsini-san. I simply disagree with the notion that boosters are the main source of change and success.

However, the point is a small one. Whichever individual or party is deserving of greater credit in SMU's success can only be speculation, what as many had their unique roles to play. For this moment in time, boosters and the athletic director are aimed at the same goal. It is a pairing I hope to see continue in the future.

[Mestengo]

Agreed.

[RGV Pony]

Am I the only one that thinks that Orsini may have been on ponyfans posting as Biggin. I realize he has more important things to do but he had to keep the rumors of Jones from being brought to the forefront and I have wondered if he didn't play the part of Biggin to keep the heat off of the rumor. At least he could have assigned someone in the office to do so. He was downplaying the possibility of Jones as a coach until the moment it came to pass and then he claimed to be the first to know and post that it had occurred.

I thought Orsini was the purple hippo

[Peruna94&07]

I think everyone can agree that Orsini has done well given the situation and was put in place at the right time. You could debate whose vision it is that created the turnaround but like most opportunities it is all about timing. The boosters could have been saying for the past 10 years get us a fricken coach and we will pay and the AD/Admin wasn't listening or didn't develop a vision. Who knows.

I think the bigger concern is why have there not been any contract talks? Not saying I know for their haven't but if this is his last year you would think something would be discussed unless the good Dr doesn't think Orsini is doing his job.

[RE Tycoon]

JJ fell into SMU's lap, Steve had nothing to do with it.

I am mixed on Orisini as an AD. I think a lot of things could be improved cheaply or for nothing just by having better management and something called giving a damn by the rank and file employees in the department. During his tenure the overall professionalism and game presentation went from respectable to just darn pathetic/high schoolish.

Having said that, regardless of how he got JJ (through ED, etc), you have to give the man credit for having steel balls and holding out as long as he did for JJ. If JJ doesn't come here, Orsini is screwed and probably loses his job. He went all out and it worked, so I give him credit for having the courage to do it.

[Mexmustang]

"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."

Hold it...the Dr. gave him the green light (not believing he could get it) to try to raise the money for a top-flight coach. Orsini took the challenge, raised the money in a week and was in position to negotiate with JJ's agent.

Who did this? If it was so simple, why wasn't it done for the past twenty years? Steve Orsini. Thanks to the donors and alumia, but Steve did his job as AD and was the leader and catalysist behind the effort.

[ponyscott]

without The Mob Boss...June Jones is never the SMU head coach.
I agree pit bull Orsini is very important to us staying on the right path.
Orsini & June Jones are people you dont wanna mess with....they're winners.
i hope we sign Orsini to a ten year extension!
the man has to make lots of tough decisions
and when you do that...you [deleted] some people off
Orsini may not be the warmest/friendliest guy in the world..he's cordial
But who cares....he is getting the job done in the most important sport
and he just may can our current "problem" in basketball & get the job done there too.
My hat is off to the man...
Thanks Steve....you have made SMU football fun again!

Agreed...what he does is under the radar screen. His critisism his not fair...this wasn't an easy situation as we all know and its working...patience.