Maybe a light at the end of SMU's tunnel???

[Mustang]

It's rare that there has been anything post-worthy regarding SMU football in the last 20 years. But finally, just as Shine was delivered from the dark ages of Mike Davis at IU, there may be hope finally in Dallas. We just hired June Jones as head coach. On the surface you might fall into the idiot trap of, "Why would he leave Hawaii for lowly SMU?" I'll give you about 2 million reasons. That and he doesn't have to recruit from the middle of the Pacific Ocean or deal with terrible facilities.

I know this forum is "BIG TIME COLLEGE FOOTBALL" so on paper, SMU really doesn't qualify. But like Indiana football fans, the expectations at SMU are just to be semi-respectable at this point. "Playing 13" would be HUGE. We'll likely never challenge for a national title but if we could play at least respectable football, I'd be happy.

[Killian]

Steve Orsini sure did hit a home run. Hope he considers his alma matter when they decide to shit can Kevin White.

[Mustang]

You mean, was it worth doing what every other team did (and still does)? Probably not. The whole death penalty thing is a long, drawn out discussion that would take many years and cost thousands of lives to discuss here. But I'm sick of being SMU being a joke program for 20 years and am looking forward to more than 2 or 3 wins per season.

[Killian]

The results of SMU's sanctions scared the shit out of the NCAA and is why you will never see it happen again, in any sport.

[King Crimson]

dear Ponies,

I'm interested,

sin

[Terry in Crapchester]

Steve Orsini sure did hit a home run. Hope he considers his alma matter when they decide to shit can Kevin White.

You're obviously much more of an optimist than I am.

[indyfrisco]

It surprises me. Not the fact they got Jones out of Hawaii. Moreso, SMU has always had the money to rebuild their football program. What has changed ther mind to finally do it? Is it the influx of "smaller" teams finally competeing every now and again? The fact parity is somewhat creeping into CFB? For years and years, SMU just mailed it in to begin the season. Their new stadium is a freaking matchbox that makes Minute Maid look huge. Their facilities, while pretty, are pretty small too. Yet they drop $10 mil on a coach? Just does not make sense to me...

[King Crimson]

It surprises me. Not the fact they got Jones out of Hawaii. Moreso, SMU has always had the money to rebuild their football program. What has changed ther mind to finally do it? Is it the influx of "smaller" teams finally competeing every now and again? The fact parity is somewhat creeping into CFB? For years and years, SMU just mailed it in to begin the season. Their new stadium is a freaking matchbox that makes Minute Maid look huge. Their facilities, while pretty, are pretty small too. Yet they drop $10 mil on a coach? Just does not make sense to me...

i tend to agree. they did go out and take a chance on Matt Doherty so maybe there is a renewed commitment (and $$). or maybe the old/new money alums finally got PO'd enough and football/athletics being a boutique part of the middling but outrageously expensive private school experience wasn't cutting it anymore.

being in Conference USA doesn't help the Pony cause, but you can point to Houston and TCU as former SWC schools on the outside looking in of the Big XII who are at least *winning* football games. though, again, you cycle back into the death penalty reasoning.

[Mustang]

When our program was re-instated, there were ridiculous academic and recruiting requirements that ensured failure. This probably kept the socialist faculty group happy as they abhor athletics and would prefer the school be all indroctination.....errr......academics anyway. Those were lifted a while ago and money was started to be put back into the program. A new football stadium was built and opened in 2000. Sure, it only holds 32K but even back in the 80's, we never filled Texas Stadium unless we were playing UT. We could expand the new stadium to 45K but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it (hopefully). Upgraded practice facilities were also built. Like Frisco said, they're small, but do we need acres of practice fields? They're enough. But who knows, they've bought up a bunch of land and buildings adjacent to campus and across central expressway. The place is expanding. Given all of those things, if you have unqualified people running the program, you'll still fail. And that's what happened. Our old athletic director kept Coach Phil Bennett around even though he was cranking out winless or 2-win seasons. Steve Orisni was hired as AD and the bar was been raised from floor level.

Perhaps this is when the big wheel alumni (uh, not me) jumped. Bennett was on a short leash even though the team went .500 in 2006 he and spoke mightily of a great season. He responded with exactly ONE win in 2007. See 'ya. Now the challenge was to find someone interested in resurrecting the program. The place was ripe for success. Great money, great city, great state, great facilities, mild expectations. All those are pretty good selling points and Jones couldn't resist.

January 7 was the great day for SMU athletics. I've been waiting for something like this for a long time. King Crimson gets it. We play in a lousy conference but we are who we are. We're not UT or OU. If we can excel in C-USA, show up on TV from time to time, and play in a Weed Eater of Chiken Sandwich sponsored game in December, I'll be very happy.

[indyfrisco]

Great money, great city, great state, great facilities, mild expectations. All those are pretty good selling points and Jones couldn't resist.

Let's not forget being in the middle of one of the greatest recruiting hotbeds in the nation.

To be honest, I'm glad they seem to be trying to re-commit to athletics. Although, they are more likely able to steal a 3 or 4 star from A&M than they are a 4 or 5 star from t.u. or OU. For them though, that's an upgrade.

[Mikey]

RACK the Danderoo, BTW.

[Mustang]

Great money, great city, great state, great facilities, mild expectations. All those are pretty good selling points and Jones couldn't resist.

Let's not forget being in the middle of one of the greatest recruiting hotbeds in the nation.

To be honest, I'm glad they seem to be trying to re-commit to athletics. Although, they are more likely able to steal a 3 or 4 star from A&M than they are a 4 or 5 star from t.u. or OU. For them though, that's an upgrade.

Exactly. In the past, all they got were the dregs from the state...battling SFA, SW Texas, N Texas, Angelo St., and maybe even Prairie View for what was left on the slag heap. No more. All of a sudden, players with some talent will want to showcase their skee-yulls in Jones' wild-assed offense. This could get fun.

[Dinsdale]

All of a sudden, players with some talent will want to showcase their skee-yulls in Jones' wild-assed offense. This could get fun.

I really can't argue with the idea of resurrecting a program in Texas by importing the U&L Offense.


Props on the hire -- I just hope Junebug doesn't try to lure Mouse back as his OC.

[Danimal]

Nice hire, ya they had to pull a Bama and basically buy his ass to get him. $2million is an enormous salary for a nonBCS coach. But he'll put on a winner on the field for SMU.