Gentlemen:
Thank you for your collective efforts in giving this City a glimpse into what having a competitive D1 football program looks and feels like. It has been glorious seeing your improvement and watching many of our fair-weather fans come out. It has also been a lot of fun.
Now the air is rife with talk of your coach leaving you for supposed greener pastures and I know this must hurt with 1 regular season game and a bowl appearance still in front of you. I am an old man and permit me, if you would, to offer this up as you complete this fine campaign.
DO NOT play for your coaches. They are men who will promise you anything and leave you at the drop of a hat - it's what they do. They take care of themselves and you need to learn to do that very soon as this is much the way the real world works.
DO NOT play for this school - it is, after all simply about money to them.
DO NOT play for this city or these fans as it is readily apparent how quickly they will desert you and your cause - you are nothing to all but about 20,000 of us, but entertainment. They believe that for the price of a ticket they have the right to ridicule and deride you mercilessly while they themselves never took a snap in anger.
In the last two games DO PLAY for yourselves and each other. The guy to your left and right - the guy in front or behind you. They're the ones who've sweated, worked, fought and bled with you ... And you will maintain a bond with many of your teammates that will last a lifetime. And THAT matters.
Now - go beat the hell out of SMU - for each other!
Go Tigers!!!