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The Football Diner Big Interview:
Jeff Reinebold
interviewed by Paul Hopkins
4/2/2010
 Ahead of returning to the UK to once again be a part of Sky’s coverage of Superbowl XLIV, current SMU Wide Receivers coach Jeff Reinebold checks into the Diner to chat about the Mustangs season, as well as a wide range of issues in the college ranks and the NFL, even making a prediction for this Sunday’s big game.
Diner – Jeff, SMU are coming off the most successful season the Mustangs have had in many years, how much of a lift was the convincing Bowl victory to the programme?
Jeff – There’s a number of factors to this. First, it’s the emotional payback; for the alumni, for the students and for the players. It was 25 years since we’ve been to a Bowl game; that’s an awful long time. This programme has been down for 25 years and kicked around and there was a lot of frustration around the school and its alumni. For me, the greatest thrill was seeing the faces of alumni who finally got to see a victory, who had the chance to see that we’re on the way back.
Secondly, it helps in recruiting. It allows us to access a different type of player. Players want to win and to win a Bowl game showcases what the programme can be and makes us more attractive. And finally, it helps financially. Winning the Bowl game was worth three-quarters of a million dollars to the programme. And that doesn’t include the extra money that might come from alumni or increased merchandising sales.
Diner – Going from 1-11 in 2008 to 7-5 and a prominent Bowl win a year later how did June and the staff turn it around?
 Jeff – It’s the same thing June did at Hawaii when he went with a team that was winless to winning nine in his first year. It’s about creating the environment where players believe they can have success. There was a lot of psychological damage done to this programme over the last 25 years, you can’t over-estimate that. But after the first year they realised that it wasn’t like before. We weren’t going to yell and get angry with them. It was about creating that atmosphere conducive to winning and showing that we had faith in them.
Diner – You’ve touched on this already, but recruiting in Texas you’re up against some major schools. How tough is it to recruit in that environment?
Jeff – The thing with recruiting in Texas and it’s a big advantage is that a lot of kids want to stay at home. That gives us an advantage. From the Big XII we’ve beaten out Nebraska and then schools like Arkansas with Texas kids. Of course, it’s still tough when you come up against the likes of Texas but we get in and muscle ourselves about and get our share.
In Louisiana which is one of the patches I recruit in we have a great reputation and always do well. Reggie Dupart is from New Orleans and he was at SMU and went onto the NFL. So we always do well within New Orleans.
Diner– How did recruiting go this year?
Jeff – Realistically it’s hard to judge much like the NFL draft. You don’t really know what you’re going to get till you’re three years down the line. But we feel that we met the needs we have but we’ve still got nowhere near enough depth, particularly on defence. When you see the signing class we have when it’s released tomorrow (Wed 3rd February) at noon you’ll notice that its addressing this. We’ve also got a really good young quarterback as well as adding skill at running back and wide receiver.
Diner – You’re the Receivers Coach now, but have coached for example, Defensive Line as well in your career. How easy is it to make the shift to coaching a different position?
 Jeff – You know, the message is never going to change. We ask them to play smart, be as physical as we can, minimise the turnovers and create as many turnovers as possible. That goes back to when June first started coaching back at the Atlanta Falcons and the system of coaching to win. And that will always continue.
I’ve always been really blessed to work and be around really good coaches and one of the things I’ve learnt along the way is that when you listen to people you’ll pick things up and can apply them.
Diner – Which players that you’ve coached are you most proud of watching in the NFL?
Jeff – You know that is a very good question and it’s not one that I’ve ever really sat down and considered. We had Doug Flutie back in the CFL and he went on to have a career in the NFL and played in Pro Bowls. There’s Brandon Ayanbadejo who’s played for the Bears and is now at the Ravens who’s also been to the Pro Bowl as a special teamer. Nick Ferguson’s just finished his tenth year in the league and of course there’s Ikaika Alama-Francis who was taken in the second round of the draft a few years ago. I’m so lucky to have worked with so many good guys, I don’t think that I could single one out.
In my office on my wall I have a series of photographs I call it the Warrior’s Wall and it’s not just those players who’ve gone onto play in the NFL. It’s those who played with intensity, who had the drive and determination for football. There’s one of Maurice Kelly who played in the CFL and he’s now the Seahawks Director of Player Development for example.
Diner – As a coach to young players which NFL players do you tell your students to watch and learn from?
 Jeff – This is something we talk about as a group a lot. We’ve got a guy Cole Beasley. He’s about 5’8”, 170lbs a sophomore. I tell him to watch Wes Welker. They’re of similar stature, quick feet, can run his routes; they’re not the fastest but they can play. If you’re going to ask him to pattern himself on someone, then Welker as a professional is that guy. You can learn habits from players like him.
That being said however, there’s also ones that we watch and learn how not to do things right. There are plenty of NFL players with poor habits.
Diner – Yeah, as a Cowboys fan I can think of one of them! Staying on receivers, who do you consider to be a receiver that doesn’t get the credit he deserves?
Jeff – Steve Smith is just a brilliant receiver. You think about it, he’s never had a great quarterback getting him the ball, he’s never had someone really alongside him at receiver and he’s in a team that runs the football. He’s a dynamic guy who goes out there and gives 100%. He’s a great, great competitor and I think if he was in a different place, in a bigger market he’d be even more appreciated.
Another one who’s rising at the minute is here in Dallas Miles Austin. I saw all of their camps last spring and he has all the tools to become a great player. He has great work habits and if he keeps them then he’s got a chance.
Diner – From this year’s receiver class entering the league, do you have any names to look out for of players who might emerge?
Jeff – You know, I think we’ve got one of the guys who could really break out, I really do. Emmanuel Sanders. He had a great East-West game and in the process probably got himself into the first day of the draft. I’d compare him to another of my former players in Davone Bess who went from being undrafted to being picked up by the Dolphins and eventually he caught around 70 balls. Emmanuel is not a big guy, but he’s a really good guy and tough. They’ve got a lot of similar qualities and he’s someone to look out for.
Diner – What about the biggest name in the class Dez Bryant. What impact will his suspension have?
 Jeff – I don’t know the kid but the way I look at it, it could go either one of two ways. It could motivate him, but then at the same time he’s had virtually a year off without any competition. And he’s a guy we’ve watched on tape we as a group, and something I’ve noted is that he doesn’t play hard all the time. He has tremendous, tremendous physical attributes, he’s hard to jam on the line but he doesn’t take over games like he could. I’ve never seen him do it. So I think he is one of those that could really go either way.
Diner – Speaking of controversy, there’s been a spate of coaches leaving programmes under a cloud due to their alleged treatment of players. What is your view on this and what it means for college football?
Jeff – I think it can only be a good thing for college football. In this day and age with the freedom of information, with the internet, with cell phones that have cameras you have got to be on your best behaviour all of the time. These sorts of things happened every day thirty years ago when I was playing; the coach cracking his player on the side of the helmet for example or shouting at his players. What Mark Mangino said, I don’t agree with. That might have been how it used to be, but this is now 2010 and you’ve got to respect your players. In Leach’s case, you’re not a Doctor you’re not there to diagnose an injury so leave it to the medics and the professionals. But this can only be a good thing for college football.
Diner – One of the big name coaches in college has moved back to NFL. How well do you think Pete Carroll will fare in Seattle?
Jeff – Well he’s got control which is what he and everyone wants and needs. I think that he’s going in as a better coach than when he was young and he had the Jets job. Looking at the set-up in Seattle they’ll do better if he can solve some of the personnel issues they’ve got. They have an ageing quarterback, an ageing offensive line, they have some good players on defence as well. They’ve suffered through Lofa Tatupu being injured and if they can get him healthy and playing like he was before he was injured then Pete will do well.
Diner – And what about the man who replaced him at USC, someone who’s never short of an opinion, Lane Kiffin?
 Jeff – You know what, I ran into Lane at the convention on the day he went to USC. He was leaving in a hurry with his dad, but I didn’t know that he was going to USC! I interviewed for a job on the Raiders coaching staff when Lane was Head Coach in Oakland and he came across a good smart young guy. He’ll push the boundaries on recruitment and I’m sure that he will be able to re-load that team. But what is going to hurt them is the sanctions that are looming over them.
Diner – Everyone’s talking about Tim Tebow now, even more so after his outing at the Senior Bowl. What’s your take on his NFL prospects?
Jeff – I watched two practices at the Senior Bowl last week and watched Tebow closely. He’s a great athlete and he’s got the strength in his arm. But at the same time you can see there’s a lot to work on. He was taking snaps from under centre for probably the first time since high-school. There’s a lot of mechanical issues that he has to work on if he’s going to make it. But he is a winner, he is a competitor and a great athlete. If someone can take him, give him the time to develop and improve then they should do it. If you’re a Head Coach and you need to win now, then he’s not for you.
Diner – Where do you see his stock in the Draft?
Jeff – Between now and the draft is absolutely critical for him. Everyone is going to be dissecting him and breaking down his arm. But I can only see his stock going up. At the minute though, after his showing at the Senior Bowl, I think he’s sitting around the third round.
Diner – Last week Kurt Warner, a former NFL Europe player retired. In your view is he a Hall of Famer, and even a first ballot entrant to Canton?
Jeff – I think he’s definitely a Hall of Famer, but I’m not sure if he is a first ballot entry. You look around and there’s guys still waiting to get in there and the calibre is so high it would be hard for Kurt to go in first time. There’s no doubt it’s a hall of fame story and he’s been great for the game. I always root for the old NFL Europe guys so it’s been great to watch his story unfold. So he’s definitely a Hall of Famer, I’m just not sure on a first ballot entry.
Diner – And then there’s the other veteran Quarterback what do you think Brett’s going to do?
Jeff – Haha! You know, I think only Brett and his wife know the answer to this. What was interesting was that I saw Jared Allen on the Pro Bowl saying that he was going to lobby Favre to come back and that there would be other members of the team doing the same. Everyone’s going to remember how the season ended for the Vikings with the interception that he threw but he still had one of his best seasons ever and played to a tremendously high level.
Diner – Moving on, you’ve been back on our screen lately covering the NFL for Sky and will again this Sunday for the Superbowl. How much do you enjoy covering the game from an analyst perspective?
 Jeff – I love it. It’s tremendous. Kev and Nick are great and are great fun to work with. I don’t know if it comes across on camera but we have great fun in the studio. And Nick is very, very knowledgeable about the game, Kev played basketball and coached basketball to a high level and so understands competition. And I’m really keen to do anything that spreads the message of the game far and wide. We’ve done well promoting the game over here and Alastair and the guys at NFLUK, getting those games have done tremendously, where we’re talking about possibly having a second game next year. I wouldn’t be surprised if a really strong case didn’t emerge for a franchise to be here eventually.
Diner – Do you think that’s feasible?
Jeff – Eventually. Someone will make that jump. Globalisation is happening and whether its football or the NBA or baseball, they’ll look at basing a team around the world. The travel will always be an issue with the UK but it is better with football than with basketball (82 games) and baseball where they play 165.
Diner – Looking ahead to this Sunday’s Superbowl, how do you see the game playing out?
Jeff – You know, I’m really torn. I love New Orleans and the Saints. I spend a lot of time in New Orleans and that city has a forty year love affair with the team. It’s very similar in many ways to SMU. They’ve suffered for year so to see them win would be special. I was in New Orleans when they beat the Vikings to win the NFC and Bourbon Street was unbelievable.
However, on the other side there’s a guy who wears #18 who is something really really special. And they have a better D than they’re given credit for. They also have weapons in Garcon, Clark and Wayne and for a great, great player like Manning to have those, they’re going to be hard to stop.
Diner – Is that a heart says New Orleans, but head says Indianapolis?
Jeff – Yeah that’s a good way to put it.
Diner – And you’ll be covering the game for Sky this Sunday night?
Jeff – Yep, looking forward to it.
Diner – As are we Jeff. Thanks for your time, all the best.
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