Let me start by saying that I am a very dedicated fan of the SMU football team and in fact all SMU athletics. I haven’t missed any SMU home games in my four years here, besides the two on thanksgiving and I have traveled to four away games.

I have witnessed us go 1-11 in person. And, it was understandable why no one was in the stadium. However, we have been over .500 for the past three years and the fan base, particularly the students, hasn’t changed much since my freshman year.

June Jones HAS done his part in trying to resurrect the program.

He has brought us bowl games, recruits, quality wins, new facilities and even an AQ conference. He stated when he signed with SMU that he thought it would be his last contract deal ever but he wanted full support from the administration and from the fan base. He hasn’t in any means gotten support from the students or Dallas community.

Could that be partially his fault? Yes.

He could try to embrace the students more. However, I personally don’t feel as though the administration has done enough to advertise or promote our football team. Going to the TCU game this fall, their entire campus and local community had banners, signs, billboards, jerseys, etc. I drive on I-75 and I don’t see a single billboard promoting our home games.

It must be frustrating to try and resurrect a program when it seems as though the rest of the community is apathetic to its resurrection. We need to do OUR part.

Although everyone feels betrayed that June Jones wanted to leave, we need to not make an emotionally charged rash decision about his status at SMU. We need to consider what he has done for this program already including recruiting the best class we have had in the past 25 years.

If he goes, they go with him.

Even though we have taken three steps forward with Coach Jones at the reigns, firing him will only result in two steps backward by losing his staff, recruiters and recruits. Perhaps good can come out of this and both June Jones and the administration will work together to try and motivate the SMU Football fan base.

Patrick Probst is a senior majoring in biology and economics. He can be reached for comment at [email protected]