Quick turnarounds DO happen

[93Mustang]

I also agree that there's been improvement this season so I think we should let Bennett stick around to see what he can do versus a K-State-like non-conference schedule with a good nucleus of players returning. As for his boss, I think it's time for Copeland to retire. A win this weekend or next would do wonders for the program in trying to prove to the SMU community and media that we're heading in the right direction.

[MrMustang1965]

I think we should let Bennett stick around to see what he can do versus a K-State-like non-conference schedule with a good nucleus of players returning.

With that contract extension, you've got your wish.

And if you want to talk about turnarounds, look at Dallas' Woodrow Wilson High. Wow. (from Friday's DMN)


Wins have Woodrow fans coming out of the woodwork

By ELIZABETH LANGTON / The Dallas Morning News

When Sally Shaw's son played football for Woodrow Wilson High School a few years ago, victories were scarce.

"We'd cheer if they just completed a pass," Mrs. Shaw said. "We had to create excitement for any little positive thing."

These days, the Wildcats are generating their own roar.

The team is undefeated. It won the district title. The players face Wylie Friday night in a second-round playoff game. Senior Sergio Kindle is considered the state's top college recruit.

The community has rallied around the Lakewood-area school.

Such achievement on the football field is unprecedented in Woodrow's 77-year history.

There were a few high points. The 1969 team went to the state semifinals. The school has graduated two Heisman Trophy winners – Davey O'Brien in 1935 and Tim Brown in 1984.

But the program never sustained success. The Wildcats lost their only playoff game during Mr. O'Brien's tenure and won only four games in Mr. Brown's four seasons. Until 2003, the team had never made consecutive post-season appearances.

The climb started in 2002, when the Wildcats entered the playoffs for only the second time since the storied 1969 season.

In 2003 and 2004, the team advanced to the second week. Last year, the Wildcats defeated the area's top-ranked team, Hebron, in the first round.

As a result, new Wildcats fans emerged and old ones resurfaced.

Matthew admits he and his friends barely acknowledged the football team before last season. On the rare occasion they attended a game, the boys spent more time talking and eyeballing cheerleaders than following the action.

But at last week's playoff game against Lake Dallas, Matthew and about a dozen pals focused intently at the field. They cheered and screamed and threw their fists into the air. They rattled water bottles and milk jugs filled with coins.

"This year we've come religiously," Matthew said. "We're definitely watching the game. Now we're standing the whole time."

Mrs. Shaw is a second-generation Woodrow graduate. Both of her parents went there. She met her husband there. Her youngest daughter, Merritt, will be the 18th member of the extended family to graduate from Woodrow.

For 12 years, Mrs. Shaw has attended Woodrow games to watch her son play football and her daughters dance with the drill team. Though fans have always supported the team, the winning streak has increased the excitement level, she said.

"People were still at those games when we were losing 50 to 3," she said. "But when you have something like a winning football team, it unites. We all have that common feeling of success."

Mrs. Shaw's mother, Elaine Loyd, still comes to an occasional game. And Mrs. Shaw and her husband, Craig, plan to keep attending even after Merritt graduates this spring.

"People are there who don't have children at Woodrow; they're just neighbors," she said. "Last week I saw people I graduated with who I hadn't seen in years."

Kyle Rains, 1976 graduate and co-founder of the Woodrow alumni association, has been attending Woodrow games for 30 years. Though the school has always drawn big crowds, "our superstar Sergio" has ignited some dormant fans, he said. Woodrow sold out its side of the stands for the Oct. 21 homecoming game.

"I've never seen this many people coming out for any Dallas school," Mr. Rains said.

Woodrow draws its support from the community surrounding it. Though geographically inner city, it feels more like a small town. Children grow up there and then stay to raise their families.

New Woodrow principal Ruth Vail graduated in 1991. Her father also attended Woodrow, and her 10-year-old daughter is on track to go there.

Football coach Bobby Estes credits the involvement of community residents, many who don't have children currently attending the school, for the team's large fan base.

Alumni and parents of current and former players regularly show up for team practices, Mr. Estes said, and parents of graduates still appear at the stadium gates to greet the players.

Drs. Vic Vines and Monty Montgomery donate their time to the team, even though their children have graduated. Mr. Brown mentors players and served as honorary captain for the homecoming game.

Such actions send a strong message to his players, Mr. Estes said.

"That doesn't happen at every school," he said. "The kids here at Woodrow feel a tremendous sense of ownership. They're playing not just for themselves but for the community."

[whatever]

you will never get things turned around with a coach like Bennet. He treats his players and coaches like dogs. That is the only consistent thing about him. He says what media and alums want to here and behind closed doors is nothing but a tyrant.

[LonghornFan68]

you will never get things turned around with a coach like Bennet. He treats his players and coaches like dogs. That is the only consistent thing about him. He says what media and alums want to here and behind closed doors is nothing but a tyrant.

And what is your basis for saying that? Sounds like a bit of smear campaign to me.

[No Cal Pony]

I agree with you Longhorn, if you are on the inside whatever, do share. Otherwise, that sounds like a crybaby. Maybe Bennett acts a bit big to others, but he is the boss. Apparently Spurrier was no cakewalk, but look at the results. (college level of course) Look at Knight. Look at old Woody Hayes. The coach is the coach, not everybody's best buddy. If all you instill is hate, that is another matter. Of course, that will never help.

[EastStang]

Hey if a coach kicks butts, that's fine in my book. I am sure that playing for Bennett is no fun sometimes, but I am sure Joe Pa is not very fun to play for either. If Bear Bryant hadn't been a football coach, he probably would have run an S&M club called Bear's House of Pain. Saint Darrell Royal, would take guys who weren't cutting it and put them through punt return drills until they quit. Dean Smith clearly was tough on his players. I'm sure there are plenty of other examples of successful coaches who were tyrannical in their manner. If you think Bennett is too tough, go home to mommy.

[LonghornFan68]

/\ Exactly. Last I checked this was football, not tiddlywinks.

[abezontar]

how much would it suck if we were this horrible at tiddlywinks

[No Cal Pony]

now that was a funny comment!

[beamout2000]

I will give you another example if I am not run off the board for bringing it up. Texas State hasn't won eight games in a season since our back to back D-2 Championships in 81 and 82 and never since moving into 1-AA. The reason we have this year and will likely get into the 1-aa playoffs and are ranked 5th in the county is because of the coach. David Bailff who was at TCU as an assistant came to Texas State last season, completely changed the offense and using the same players we had when we only won five games the year before has built a winning program with a completely new attitude. You also talked about your coach and his treatment of players etc. Well last week although we were winning at halftime we hadn't been real sharp. Bailiff jumped the team on the field before ever going into the locker room but no one complained when we came out the second half and completely dominated. I know many of you will talk about the strength of our schedule and who we play but the example is the same as what happened at UTEP on a different scale. My only point is fast turn arounds are possible and the coach is the bottom line.

[Treadway21]

The question for those with more time than I to research is how many 1st year coaches have an exceptional turnaround in one year and how many have equal or worse records. I would think it is more likely that a new coach will have not have a great one year improvement but rather a build up of wins over a few years (the ones who are able to keep their jobs). The sucessful ones are the ones everyone notices, like Price and Weiss, but they are hard to find.

[Stallion]

Division 1-AA schools are completely different because they can and do get boatloads of quality Division 1-A transfers who can become immediately eligible.

[mrydel]

Division 1-AA schools are completely different because they can and do get boatloads of quality Division 1-A transfers who can become immediately eligible.

Which brings me back to my desire for the NCAA to allow immediate transfer eligiblity from a BCS school to a mid-major Div 1-A. I know, I know this will never happen because of the strangle hold the BCS schools have on the NCAA, but think about what might happen if we have too many undefeated teams at year end another year like last year or possibly this year could have 1 undefeated and several 1 loss teams. The screaming for a playoff would be greater than ever. That is the last thing the NCAA wants. Perhaps my idea could be a compromise to hold off the playoff wolves.

[MrMustang1965]

The reason we have this year and will likely get into the 1-aa playoffs and are ranked 5th in the county is because of the coach.

5th in the county?????? Yep, that's about right!

[MrMustang1965]

Division 1-AA schools are completely different because they can and do get boatloads of quality Division 1-A transfers who can become immediately eligible.

Case in point: Josh McCown. And you FINALLY used the correct adjective: QUALITY! Way to go, Stallion!