It has not been a fun few weeks on The Hilltop in recent weeks.
SMU has fallen to 0-2 on the season, been outscored 88-6 so far this year, lost starting quarterback Neal Burcham for the season and, by the way, head coach June Jones stepped down for personal reasons on Monday.
Now one of the school's most famous former football players is doing a bit of kicking the Mustangs while they're down.
"It's nothing against those kids because those kids are (giving) their all, but I guarantee you there are some high schools around the country that could beat them. There is no doubt," Eric Dickerson said on KRLD-FM, according to the Dallas Morning News. "They don't have the talent to compete with Baylor or Texas A&M. They would get killed."
The Pro Football Hall of Fame running back is correct on that front after SMU was blown off the field at Baylor and face a Texas-sized task of even being competitive next week against No. 7 Texas A&M.
Dickerson was part of the football program's famed "Pony Express" in the early 1980's and was around when it was put on probation prior to receiving the infamous Death Penalty from the NCAA in 1986. He later became an All-Pro for the Los Angeles Rams and eventually wound up in Canton.
Despite not being closely associated with SMU for nearly 20 years, Dickerson wants to see the Mustangs find success similar to what it had back in the day -- or else.
"I talked to four former players yesterday, and we all said if they don't want to do anything, just kill the program. Just stick to academics and basketball and kill that program," Dickerson added. "It's so frustrating for us to watch SMU become nothing but a laughing stock or almost non-existent. It's almost like it doesn't exist."
Strong words from a famous alum that speak to the expectations around the program for whoever becomes the new head coach.
SMU, meanwhile, is off this week before hosting the Aggies in Dallas under interim coach Tom Mason.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
