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The Athletic posted (subscription required) what it called "Oddly specific predictions" for each top 25 team. The entry for SMU:

16. SMU (+8000): There won’t be a hotter name for SEC job openings come November than Rhett Lashlee, whose Mustangs will finish 9-3 and just outside the Playoff field. Lashlee will entertain some offers but opt to stick it out in Dallas.

Not to be pedantic, but...

The +8000 payout is for what, exactly? that we go 9-3, AND miss the playoffs AND Lashless stays? Or does Lashlee also have to "entertain offers (plural)"?

And if so, how does one prove that offers were "entertained"?

Hogs will come knocking...he will listen.

Florida will also if they relapse into the first half 2024-type of Florida. He will listen.

It is a good thing to have a coach that others want...now let's see if we can keep him

Hogs are my only worry. SMU pays the man big and he stays

Pony ^ wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 4:17 pm Hogs are my only worry. SMU pays the man big and he stays

Yep - we gotta root for the Hogs this year and every year after.

Pony ^ wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 4:17 pm Hogs are my only worry. SMU pays the man big and he stays

He isn't going to leave SMU for Arkansas. We are in a better position to be competitive, make the playoffs and secure long term success for him. Ark has a long line of short term coaches, and the winnability of that job plummeted with the addition of OU and UT. The only reason he would leave is if the commitment level at SMU dropped.

Lashlee will be chubby and bald when he leaves SMU.
We will pay good money, provide a great education, give good after school jobs, and NIL big time.

Mrs. Rhett likes it here!

JasonB wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 7:47 pm

Pony ^ wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 4:17 pm Hogs are my only worry. SMU pays the man big and he stays

He isn't going to leave SMU for Arkansas. We are in a better position to be competitive, make the playoffs and secure long term success for him. Ark has a long line of short term coaches, and the winnability of that job plummeted with the addition of OU and UT. The only reason he would leave is if the commitment level at SMU dropped.

I get that Arkansas is a tough place to win. And Petrino could be next in line when Pittman gets canned. But a 50% pay raise to go back home? I don’t see how RL could turn that down.

highlander wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 11:23 pm
I get that Arkansas is a tough place to win. And Petrino could be next in line when Pittman gets canned. But a 50% pay raise to go back home? I don’t see how RL could turn that down.

Question becomes: Is Arkansas Lashlee's dream job? Does his wife yearn for a return to their home state? And...maybe most important...how close is Lashlee to retirement and are they financially secure for life (because we know if he can't work miracles in that job he might not make it past his initial contract). Of course, no job comes with any guarantee of a "next" contract and SMU could get spoiled to success and become impatient after a couple of bad years, but if he and the family are happy here it might be a tough gig to leave. He's been able to retain key pieces of his staff so that's certainly another factor. I assume that's more Lashlee's doing than Dallas vs Fayetteville, but who knows?

highlander wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 11:23 pm

JasonB wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 7:47 pm

Pony ^ wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 4:17 pm Hogs are my only worry. SMU pays the man big and he stays

He isn't going to leave SMU for Arkansas. We are in a better position to be competitive, make the playoffs and secure long term success for him. Ark has a long line of short term coaches, and the winnability of that job plummeted with the addition of OU and UT. The only reason he would leave is if the commitment level at SMU dropped.

I get that Arkansas is a tough place to win. And Petrino could be next in line when Pittman gets canned. But a 50% pay raise to go back home? I don’t see how RL could turn that down.

If SMU has so much money, I don't see any competition with matching or exceeding someone else's offer to keep a good coach. Things have changed now that we are in the ACC. I don't think it's a stepping stone job anymore.

Destination job for sure.
The offers will come but let's keep the kids in a consistent school.