A difficult start to the 2014 football season, along with months of tumult in the structure of big-time college sports, has not caused Southern Methodist University leaders to step back from their goal of competing at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. Points asked R. Gerald Turner, SMU’s president since 1995, to evaluate today’s athletic landscape for a private, 11,000-student university in the midst of an urban area like Dallas:
What was your reaction when you learned June Jones was resigning as football coach?
When June Jones first told [athletic director] Rick Hart and me that he was thinking about resigning as head football coach, he made it clear that he had a number of personal issues to address and that his passion for coaching had waned. June was always a straight shooter, so I assumed that this was the first step toward his resigning in the near future.
When those issues did lead to his resignation, my thoughts turned to the student-athletes the decision would impact and the future of our football program.
Could you or anyone else have foreseen the way the bottom appears to have dropped out of the football program this season?
I think the main concern coming into the season was our lack of experienced depth at quarterback, particularly since we had such a tough schedule for the first half of the season. When the starting quarterback [Neal Burcham] experienced a season-ending injury in our second game, the inexperience of the backup quarterbacks has made consistent offensive production difficult.
Rick Hart says his phone has been ringing with “name coaches” inquiring about the SMU job. Lately, we read that former Texas coach Mack Brown is said to be an “intriguing” choice. What does this tell you about football program?
There is a great deal of interest in this opportunity, which shows that many share our belief that we can establish SMU as the premier program in the American Athletic Conference. We have made significant investments in support of athletics and are confident that the next coach will be well-positioned to build upon the progress we have made.
During our search process six years ago, the major question was whether a coach could win at SMU, and that was answered unequivocally as we went to four bowl games in six years. Currently, the number of interested coaches is multiples of what it was six years ago, but any speculation about specific coaches at this time is just that.
What do you say to critics, including SMU alumni, fans and donors, who argue that maintaining a football program at the highest level is counterproductive to SMU and the rest of its athletic programs?
While I appreciate different points of view, I find that most of our constituents feel that football is an integral part of our unique campus experience and is a rallying point for the university community, alumni and fans. We are committed to excellence in athletics and in academics, and indeed studies have shown that successful athletic programs help universities in many ways.
In addition, football is often the only program at FBS [NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision] schools that supports itself and provides support for other team sports. Therefore, all but about 20 universities supplement their programs to some extent. Most of the private universities with whom we compete academically also are committed to playing football at the highest level possible.
But football doesn't support itself at SMU, does it? And isn't that part of the athletic department running a deficit in recent years?
Through ticket sales, marketing, conference distributions and private contributions, SMU football generates more than enough income to cover its operational costs. However, no other sport does. Therefore, we budget institutional funds to close the gap between generated income and the operational costs of maintaining our 17 sports.
The 20 universities that are able to cover all costs from athletic sources have high ticket sales and large conference distributions primarily from television contracts. Were sources of income to increase for SMU football, they would be utilized to support the operational costs of the total athletic program.
What is SMU's position on the apparent divide between the so-called Power Five conferences and the others, including your American Athletic Conference?
The NCAA Board of Directors for Division I agreed to let the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 12 and SEC autonomously establish standards in selected areas. Whatever standards are established may also be implemented by other schools within other Football Bowl Subdivision conferences. The American Athletic Conference as a whole, and SMU individually, will decide which policy changes to implement.
The goal of our athletic program is to be the best in the American Athletic Conference. Attaining that goal could help lead the American to be included with the other five top conferences or, if reorganization is incomplete within these leagues, SMU individually would be as attractive as possible. Therefore, our goal is to compete at the highest level possible.
If the Power Five schools agree on an annual or monthly stipend to revenue-sports athletes, will you advise SMU and the American Athletic Conference to follow suit?
Each conference within the Football Bowl Subdivision is discussing the possibility of providing “full cost of attendance” to student-athletes. This is not a stipend or fixed payment but a federally calculated amount denoting the total cost of attending an institution above what a “full scholarship” covering tuition, room, and board would provide. The resulting number varies somewhat by institution. The analysis of the implications of providing this supplement on eligibility for Pell Grants and state need-based aid has not been completed.
However, the American Athletic Conference has already unanimously voted, in concept, to implement when appropriate a cost of attendance policy informed both by NCAA rules and federal and state guidelines.
One of the “reform” recommendations has already been implemented. Recently, the NCAA changed its policies concerning the ability of members to offer a supplemental meal plan for student-athletes. The plan SMU installed this fall has been used as a model in Division I athletics. As other modifications are proposed, each will be evaluated on its importance, cost and appropriateness, both for the American Athletic Conference and SMU individually.
So, at this early stage, is there any way to estimate what this might add to SMU's annual athletic budget? And can the university take on this cost?
How this amount will be calculated and applied are areas of uncertainty for all schools, making estimates difficult. That said, we are fully committed to athletic success at the highest levels and to providing appropriate benefits aimed at enhancing student-athlete well-being. We will fund-raise and budget accordingly.
So you don't anticipate a dollar figure that would cause you to advise SMU that maintaining a football program at the highest NCAA level is too much?
There will undoubtedly be proposals brought forward under the new structure of the NCAA that will simply be too expensive for many institutions. It will be our intent to evaluate the cost, necessity and appropriateness of each.
Do you see SMU’s long-term future being in the American Athletic Conference or in seeking membership in a Power Five conference?
As I stated before, the goal of our athletic program is to be the best athletic program in the American Athletic Conference. This will help position both the conference and SMU individually for whatever the future brings.
With the rapid shifts in the terrain, where do intercollegiate athletics fit into the larger picture at a private university like SMU?
Intercollegiate athletics are an integral part of the unique SMU campus experience. They are a rallying point for the university community, alumni and fans. Therefore, it is our commitment to maintain our program at the highest level within the NCAA.
This Q&A was conducted and condensed by Dallas Morning News editorial writer Mike Hashimoto. His email address is mhashimoto@dallasnews.com. R. Gerald Turner’s email address is mailto:president@smu.edu.
