Patterson had never been a head coach and he seems to have done ok.
SMU has got to change lot of things to ever be competitive in D-1 football again. If Bennett goes, and I hope he does because I think he is a jerk, then the money must be spent to bring in the highest profile coach possible, and give him the tools to work with. If the liberal profs don't like it, tell them to go teach at William & Mary, but SMU is going to participate in big-time athletics. If SMU won't make that commitment, then drop down and play football with Sam Houston, Texas State, etc. BUT, there is no reason not to make that commitment. It CAN be done!