POLL: NAME YOUR FAVORITE FOOTBALL COACH IN SMU'S HISTORY

[MrMustang1965]

O.K., fellow Mustangs! Time to dig out the history books! Let's break up some of this summertime heat and doldrums with another 'informal poll'! Name your favorite head football coach in SMU's history. Lots of history to draw from, too! Put those thinking caps on and take into consideration the different eras and events that have shaped SMU's football history! Let's see who you list!

MY VOTE: HAYDEN FRY!

(Broke the 'racial barrier' with a scholarship for Jerry LeVias, took the Mustangs to the Cotton Bowl with SWC championship, molded SMU into an 'aerial circus' team, home games were ALWAYS exciting at the Cotton Bowl with the 'cardiac Mustangs' {numerous 'last minute' wins!}, took the Mustangs to the Astro Bluebonnet Bowl, recruited some of the most historic football players in SMU's history, etc.)

Personal note to Old Pony: I look forward to your vote!

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"Winning ain't everything...but it's a lot more fun than the alternative!" S.M.U. SPIRIT: IT STARTS NOW!

[This message has been edited by MrMustang1965 (edited 07-08-2003).]

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Bobby Collins!

[FloridaMustang]

I wish they'd modernize this forum. I really like TCU's options.

[Southland]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by DanFreibergerForHeisman:
<B>Bobby Collins!</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Bobby Collins, you have got to be kidding. I suppose Bob Hitch and Henry Lee Parker were the most clever administrators in your book.

Collins had a decent record, but he had no control over the program. Had Hitch done what the alumni wanted, and hired Endicott instead of going outside for Collins, we never would have gotten into the payroll mess in the mid-80s, and would still be a top 20 program today.

Bobby Collins may have the best winning percentage, but the reprecussions of his hire were more damaging than any in NCAA history. For that, he is undoubtedly the worst hire in the history of the University.

[ponyte]

Ron Meyer. He took over a program with Death Valley talent and turned the program around to Mt Everest talent.

I too put in a word for Endicott. Collins was maybe the worst coach.

Of course one could consider Matty Bell. He won a national championship and numerous SWC championships. Oh, and coached Doak. Not bad.

[Southland]

Last 30 years...

1. Ron Meyer
2. Phil Bennett
3. Forrest Gregg (just because he took one for the team)

[bubba pony]

hayden fry. class act. smu did him wrong by firing him. look what he did for Iowa

[EastStang]

Best Coach - Ron Meyer

Hayden Fry was a great coach, but made the mistake of having a couple of losing seasons in the early '70s. Unfortunately, they chose one of the worst coaches, Dave Smith to replace him.

[SMUFan]

It's a tie:

Forrest Gregg, for having the loyalty to our university to take on the monumental task of reviving the program in 1989

and

Phil Bennett, for making us a regular winning team in the years to come.

[OldPony]

Bill Meeks

[NavyCrimson]

matty bell or ray morrison

[OldPony]

I hope all of our choices soon become Phil Bennett.

[No Cal Pony]

I agree on Old Pony's post that it becomes Coach Bennett. He seems like a good candidate. Here's to him.

I also like SMUFan. Forrest Gregg ought to get a lot more thanks for stepping up to the program when everyone else was running away. He gave back to his alma mater as best he could. He had class and balls. Plus, he was a hell of a decent man.

Go Ponies!

[PonySnob]

Tom Rossley -his teams gave it there all. If only we could have won one or two of the close games we played against A&M, Wisconsin, North Carolina, UCLA!

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

What a bunch of hypocrites you all are!

You jump on me for saying Bobby Collins is my
favorite coach of all time when he took our
program to its highest national prominence
since the days of Doak Walker???

You rip Collins because of a few NCAA
issues yet you put Eric Dickerson on every
single one of your promotions about SMU
football history????

You don't do anything about renaming Clements
Hall even though he was running the freaking
slush fund????

Give me a break. If you disown Bobby Collins,
disown Eric Dickerson too.

BTW. I went to SMU so F U.