Coaching Carousel: Chad Morris to SMU is Done Deal

((ht: dallasnews.com))

We told you about this report during the week, it's now all according to multiple reports--been made official.

The first rider to connect via the coaching carousel--Chad Morris.

Morris, will be announced as the new head coach at SMU on Monday.

Morris, the highest paid assistant in College Football, will reportedly pull in a cool $2 million a year to take over the nations only winless team in 2014. (Currently 0-11)

Read more from the Morning News RIGHT HERE

CBSSports.com says it's official RIGHT HERE

Morris, who's roots are in Texas High School football and was a graduate of Texas A&M will take over for June Jones who tried to rebuild the once proud Mustang football program which was shut down back in the early 1990's.

He leaves a Clemson team that just defeated arch rival South Carolina and though not going to the ACC title game, still have a bowl berth awaiting them.

The move also raises questions about Clemson coach Dabo Swinney who according to some reports has a mutual interest in the opening at the University of Florida.

We will see...the Coaching Carousel is just starting to roll...

Reports: Chad Morris Will Be The Man at SMU

((ht: usatoday.com/sports))

Let the Coaching Carousel begin. Reports began surfacing Thursday night that Clemson's offensive coordinator and target of many a job rumor Chad Morris may have a head coaching gig lined up.

The job: At SMU.

Yes, the same SMU that is 0-10 with little chance of winning a game this season.

USA Today Sports says Morris, a former Texas High School coach would replace June Jones who left on his own after two games this season.

USA Today says SMU has no deal in place with anyone, but it sounds an awful lot like one is being negotiated.

It should be noted Morris is also the highest paid assistant in College Football making over $1.3 million a year.

Read the USA Today story RIGHT HERE

If indeed Morris is the man in Mustang land, it lends more credence--and fuel to the rumors that his current boss, Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney may be the man at the University of Florida.

Which would create all kinds of chaos as the December college coaching carousel begins to swirl in full motion...

Could Mack Brown Take SMU Job?

((ht: dallasnews.com))

Huh? Sure, $4 million is a lot of money to coach a football team, but SMU? Why would you put yourself through that?

According to a report in Friday mornings Dallas Morning News, SMU is floating a $4 million a year offer to former University of Texas head coach Mack Brown to take over the team.

Brown is currently a College Football analyst/coach-in-waiting at ESPN, where he apparently is enjoying the time away. He's stated that he won't do anything until he finishes the season there.

Read the DallasNews.com report, which includes an awfully optimistic list of potential head coaches RIGHT HERE

Why would you hire a coach like Brown who essentially is going to have to rebuild the entire program? Yeah, sure, the Mustangs had some good years under former coach June Jones who got them to some bowl games. But his best year was an 8-5 season.

Throwing around that kind of money would indicate SMU AD Rick Hart is willing to play with the big boys, sure. We get that.

But that part of this that nobody--at least nobody in Texas is talking about is that this is SMU. The Mustangs are, in every aspect, the WORST team in College Football this season.

Outside of one game where they erupted for 21 points (and they lost), they've not scored more than 6 points in any other game.

Maybe Brown will take the job, find the fountain of youth and return SMU to their 1980's glory. Though according to the story, that wouldn't happen until Brown finishes the season as fired coach/analyst for ESPN.

We wish SMU luck. But remember who you are. There is nothing wrong with shooting high, but remember that you should probably aim low...

((P.M Update--Hart Tweeted out Friday afternoon that to his knowledge, nobody from SMU or the search committee has reached out to Brown or his reps. In some respects it would make sense because this is such a surprising story. But, someone has at least floated the idea--or there wouldn't be people throwing it out there to reporters))

DEVELOPING: June Jones Resigns From SMU

((HT: NBCDFW))

June Jones was in his seventh season with the SMU Mustangs, with a record of 36-43.

He brought the team from it's way-beyond-awful past- which could be chronicled here more than anything...
((HT: ESPN))


To the point where they were in bowl games and exciting out of Conference USA (of all places)...

BUT... and this is a big BUT... where messages may get lost over time or the engine blows its transmission and can't recover...

This may have been the time...

SMU opened this season with a 45-0 loss at Baylor, and then dropped a 43-6 game at North Texas on Saturday when the Mustangs' only touchdown came on the last play of the game.
((HT: d210tv))


After that loss, Jones submitted his resignation:

"This afternoon, I talked to my staff and players and notified them that I have decided to resign as SMU head football coach effective immediately,” said Jones. “It was a very difficult decision for me to make, as you can imagine. I have devoted my life for the last 50 years to playing and coaching this game and it has been a great journey. This job has a lot of demands, as you know, and along with that journey comes a price that is paid. I have some personal issues I have been dealing with and I need to take a step away so I can address them at this time.

“We have some talented and really good kids, who just happen to be young. Tom Mason will take over the head coaching duties. Tom has done a great job with the defense since coming to SMU. This being a bye week will give all the coaches and players a chance to evaluate themselves and make the changes needed for their preparation in getting ready for the next couple games and conference play the rest of the way. I would like to thank all the people here at SMU that have supported the vision we have had here. I feel we have made SMU relevant again in football by going to four bowls in my six years as a Mustang. I am very thankful for the opportunity I was given and wish only the best for the players, coaches and administration at SMU."

AD Rick Hart released a statement of is own:

“June’s decision to resign was his own, and we thank him for his efforts and wish him the best," Hart said. “As we embark upon the process of identifying our next head football coach, we are positioned to attract quality candidates due to the progress our program has made under June’s leadership. When we hoist championship trophies in the future, it will be possible because of the groundwork laid by Coach Jones, his staff and our student-athletes.”

Bruce Feldman, over at Fox Sports, has a list of possible successors after this season including: Houston Nutt, Larry Coker, Butch Davis, Rick Neuheisel, Mark Hudspeth, Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman, and Clemson OC Chad Morris, a former Texas high school coach.

The second level from Feldman: Texas A&M OC Jake Spavital; ECU OC Lincoln Riley, Baylor offensive coordinator Phillip Montgomery, and ASU OC Mike Norvell.

Gary Patterson Is Not An SMU Fan Anymore

Apparently, he's hot about how he thinks his team was disrespected by both SMU head coach June Jones and WR Darius Johnson. Johnson said, postgame, that "I don't like these TCU people."

Remember, TCU lost in overtime 40-33 to SMU- and Patterson, while not really making excuses about losing, noted that the officiating crew was a Conference USA crew. Patterson said his AD Chris Del Conte told him that Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky called his office and admitted the game was poorly officiated and that he would make a public statement.

None has come forward yet...

"I got their names," Patterson said, referring to the officials. "They won't come back in this stadium ever again."

Here's highlights from the game...
((HT: CBSCollege/SMU Athletics))


Here's the first 15 minutes of Patterson's presser, thanks to the TCU Athletic Department their own selves and CSTV...

Patterson is saying publicly that no one from SMU should ever ask him for any advice on anything ever again...