Another perspective
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 10:23 pm
Amid all of the speculation and rumor and gossip, I'm still an SMU fan ... probably more than ever before. I really, really, really don't want June Jones to leave, because I'm so grateful for how far the program has come during his tenure. But I understand that coaching is a transient industry. It happens. That Arizona State has been making eyes at him means he is doing something right.
But if he does leave, I'm still going to Birmingham, and I'm going to get there early and I'm going to be loud (to the point of being obnoxious to Pitt fans). Everyone in Birmingham who sees (or hears) me will have absolutely no doubt which team I'm there to support. For years I cheered for a team that didn't even dream of bowl invitations. It is a privilege to be a fan of a team that goes to bowls every year. Am I satisfied with the final (regular season) record? No. I thought we should have won one or two more games.
But I remember all too well the years -- lots of years -- when bowl talk was for other teams' fans. Now bowl talk is for me. I love the fact that I'm scared to death that another school is going to try to hire away my team's coach, and I sure hope he stays. I'm also pretty fired up to go to Birmingham and cheer once more for a class of seniors that has set the foundation with three straight bowls.
But if he does leave, I'm still going to Birmingham, and I'm going to get there early and I'm going to be loud (to the point of being obnoxious to Pitt fans). Everyone in Birmingham who sees (or hears) me will have absolutely no doubt which team I'm there to support. For years I cheered for a team that didn't even dream of bowl invitations. It is a privilege to be a fan of a team that goes to bowls every year. Am I satisfied with the final (regular season) record? No. I thought we should have won one or two more games.
But I remember all too well the years -- lots of years -- when bowl talk was for other teams' fans. Now bowl talk is for me. I love the fact that I'm scared to death that another school is going to try to hire away my team's coach, and I sure hope he stays. I'm also pretty fired up to go to Birmingham and cheer once more for a class of seniors that has set the foundation with three straight bowls.