Dmn Article On Smu Coaching Search...foiled Again

[OldTimer]

It's been 6 weeks since SMU was the first college to fire their HC...and they are back to square one...Georgia Tech trumped SMU...too bad we were not after so many of SMU's kids like we are with Baylor's recruits. Interesting the last winning season SMU had was 1989 ...18 years.

SMU's top coaching candidate hired by Georgia Tech

09:41 PM CST on Friday, December 7, 2007

By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News

khairopoulos@dallasnews.com

Georgia Tech trumped SMU on Friday, hiring Navy's Paul Johnson as its new football coach.

SMU had targeted Johnson, who visited the Hilltop on Tuesday. Johnson also met with Duke this week.

Almost six weeks after firing coach Phil Bennett, SMU athletic director Steve Orsini still hasn't filled the most important coaching position on campus. SMU was the first Bowl Subdivision program this season to fire its coach.

Orsini, who declined comment through a spokesman, has raised about $10 million from boosters toward salaries for the new coach and his staff. SMU didn't appear to blink at Johnson's $1.5 million annual compensation at Navy.

Johnson's seven-year contract at Georgia Tech is worth more than $11 million, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The Yellow Jackets have some qualities SMU can't offer. They play in the ACC, a BCS conference, and have earned a bowl bid each of the last 11 seasons.

SMU plays in Conference USA and has had one winning season since 1989.

"It seemed like a match made in heaven to me," Johnson said during his introductory news conference. "I do not think there is another program I would have left the Naval Academy for. When we coach, we search for a school or football program that you can compete on a national level for championships, and certainly I feel that way about Georgia Tech."

Johnson met with Duke officials Monday before traveling to Dallas. But the day after his SMU visit, he was on another plane to Atlanta, where he met with Georgia Tech officials for the second time.

Johnson returned to work Thursday at Navy, and made his decision public Friday morning.

Johnson was 45-29 in six seasons at Navy and led the Midshipmen to five consecutive bowl berths. He previously led Georgia Southern to two Division I-AA national titles.

Where SMU goes from here is unclear. Orsini has said he wanted a proven coach, and has appeared to target current head coaches.

SMU requested permission this week from Air Force athletic director Dr. Hans Mueh to speak to coach Troy Calhoun, according to Academy spokesman Troy Garnhart. But Calhoun, an Air Force alumnus who ed the Falcons to a 9-3 record in his first season, told SMU he was committed to the Academy, according to Garnhart.

On Nov. 21, Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe held a news conference to dispel speculation that he was leaving for SMU.

Rick Neuheisel, the former Colorado and Washington coach and current Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator, said last week he was interested in the SMU job and had been indirectly contacted about the position.

But a source with knowledge of the school's search said this week that Neuheisel isn't being considered.

[GreenAlums]

At what point do we start to feel sorry for SMU???....ain't gonna happen here!! Ok, I know that's bad sportsmanship. I just hope our recruits see what UNT has to offer over one of the other Texas schools!

[cdawgrun]

Interesting the last winning season SMU had was 1989 ...18 years.

smu went 6-5 in 1997 under cavan

[UNTflyer]

This has to be embarassing for SMU. Nobody seems willing to take $1.5 million to coach there.

[Cr1028]

I feel bad for both Duke and SMU. PJ just used them as leverage; he never had any intention of going to either of those schools. They wasted valuable time and resources on him when it had no effect. They are both now weeks behind in their coaching search because of Paul Johnson. He certainly went down in my estimation. SMU had all of their nuts in his basket. I have a strong dislike for current SMU students(no problem with alums) due to their lack of respect for visiting fans and their vulgarity in language choice but, I don't wish this type of thing on anyone.

It would almost be as bad as if TD jumped ship on us for the money on the hilltop. Where would we turn then? They have a tough pill to swallow and I feel for them.

[hickoryhouse]

Poor poor SMu, i feel so bad for them......

Give us your good recruits..... then I will feel better for you, no coach and no recruits. Nothing to feel sorry for

[UNTflyer]

They are fit to be tied over on that other message board.

[UNTLifer]

I feel bad for both Duke and SMU. PJ just used them as leverage; he never had any intention of going to either of those schools. They wasted valuable time and resources on him when it had no effect. They are both now weeks behind in their coaching search because of Paul Johnson. He certainly went down in my estimation. SMU had all of their nuts in his basket. I have a strong dislike for current SMU students(no problem with alums) due to their lack of respect for visiting fans and their vulgarity in language choice but, I don't wish this type of thing on anyone.

It would almost be as bad as if TD jumped ship on us for the money on the hilltop. Where would we turn then? They have a tough pill to swallow and I feel for them.

Duke maybe, but I'll never feel sorry for SMU. They made their bed years ago, let them sleep in it.

[NT80]

I love it. You can't have numskull without smu.

Edited December 9, 2007 by NT80