The first annual SMUMustangs.com Summer Chat Series continues in June with head football coach Phil Bennett.
Coach Bennett will be stopping by on Wednesday, June 21 at 2:00pm to discuss the 2006 football season which kicks off against Texas Tech on Saturday, September 2nd.
Make sure to submit your question today to better your chances at it being answered by our guests.
Always check smumustangs.com for the latest information surrounding SMU athletics. Go Mustangs!!
Coach Bennett Chat on Wednesday - Get Your ??? in Now!
Moderators: PonyPride, SmooPower
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Coach Bennett Chat on Wednesday - Get Your ??? in Now!
by MrMustang1965 » Mon Jun 19, 2006 4:25 pm
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MrMustang1965 
- Posts: 11161
- Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2001 3:01 am
- Location: Dallas,TX,USA
by CalallenStang » Wed Jun 21, 2006 2:39 pm
Transcript: http://smumustangs.cstv.com/chat/053106aab.html
Moderator: Good afternoon Mustang fans! Thanks for stopping by the SMUMustangs.com Summer Chat Series. SMU head football coach Phil Bennett is taking your questions today. Today's chat will go quick so let us get started!
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Darrell R. Hair (Dallas): How are SMU football student/athletes graduation rates compared to other Conference USA schools and private schools Rice, Vanderbilt, Stanford, TCU, Baylor, etc.?
Coach Bennett: Very well. We actually just won the American Football Coaches Association's 2006 Academic Achievement Award, beating not just the guys you mentioned, but every school in the nation. We had a 100 percent graduation rate for all members of our 2000-2001 freshman class. I think it shows the commitment SMU makes to its student-athletes, but it's also a tribute to our tremendous academic support staff, our faculty and our student-athletes. We're very proud of this achievement. We will win on the field, but I think it's important that we succeed in the classroom as well.
Moderator: Here is a link to the press release on SMU winning the AFCA Academic Achievement Award: Click here
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Carl (Dallas): All coaches would prefer to have an experienced, veteran quarterback to guide the offense. What, specifically, does Justin Willis do well that makes you confident he can take the reins and make the offense go?
Good luck this season!
Coach Bennett: Justin just seemed to "get it" this spring. He understands what we're trying to do and knows the system. He makes good reads and checks us into the right plays. Sure, we'd all love to always have an experienced senior quarterback, but that's just not the way it works out. I am, however, confident that Justin can get it done for us this fall.
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Robert C. Hurst aka Mr. Mustang 1965: Since TCU is not on the Mustangs' schedule this year, which team do you and the players consider to be this year's 'rival' and how are you preparing for that game?
Coach Bennett: Our rival - this year and every year - is the team we're playing next. Right now, our rival is Texas Tech. We don't want to look past anyone on the schedule. Every game is too important to let one get away from you.
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John in Houston: Coach, when do you begin your workouts in August? Have many of the players been in the Dallas area this summer? (I'm curious as to whether you have been keeping up with them and have some idea as to whether they will be reporting in good shape.) When do you actually begin putting in your game plan for Texas Tech? Good luck!
Coach Bennett: Thanks John for the question.
Players will report on August 1. The majority of the team has stayed in town and I know they're as excited as the coaches are about getting going. We'll start with basic practices for the first couple of weeks and then put in our Tech game plan about two weeks before the game.
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Brad in Birmingham: The win last year against UAB was a game I'll never forget. Did the game winning play happen just like you had drawn it up? Felt good to be a Mustang in Birmingham that day!!
Coach Bennett: I'm glad we could make you proud Brad. We knew what we wanted to do. Executing the plan is something entirely different.
Coach Rusty Burns and I knew we'd get the ball back with less than a minute left, so we had decided what we wanted to run. We knew they'd be playing off and preventing the deep ball, so we thought we could throw two or three short passes underneath that would give us one shot at the end zone. Our kids executed it to perfection.
Bobby Chase made a great catch across the middle and then DeMyron Martin and Rey Pellerin did great jobs of getting out of bounds.
What can I say about the last play? Jerad Romo threw the ball just where it needed to be and Bobby just willed his way into catching it. You can bet I'll never forget it either!
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Jim in Lawton, Okla.: Hey Coach. Good luck in 2006. Can you give us an update on DeMyron Martin? He was a thoroughbred for the team last year, and I just wanted to know how he progressed in the spring and what you expect to see from him in the fall? Thanks and Go Mustangs!!
Coach Bennett: DeMyron looked strong this spring. He weighed 225 (lbs.) on our Pro Day and ran a 4.45 40. Can you believe that?
I think DeMyron will have a good year, but I also expect Johnnie Fitzgerald, Cedrick Dorsey and James Mapps - among others - to have good years, too.
That said, DeMyron has been left off all the preseason All-Conference lists, so I think he thinks he has something to prove to teams in 2006.
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Nathan (Keller): Coach, are there any uniform changes set for this year?
Coach Bennett: None. I think our uniforms are sharp just as they are now.
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Andy in Waco: How much different is it going to be for the team to prepare for a game on a Tuesday when we play UAB on Oct. 31? Will you change up any of your preparations, etc? I can't be there for the game, but I'll be watching on ESPN.
Coach Bennett: We play at East Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 21st. After that, I plan on watching tape on the 22nd and having our regular Sunday sessions.
Then we'll give the guys off Monday and Tuesday and watch film again on Wednesday. We'll have our regular practices on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, a short one on Sunday, and a walk-through on Monday.
Moderator: Andy - The Oct. 31 game against UAB is actually on ESPN2, not ESPN. FYI.
Moderator: Coach Bennett has time for one more question
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Michael (Frisco, TX): Coach Bennett - I'm really excited about the team this year. Feel like we have a good chance of going Bowlin'. Would love to know, what is your favorite bowl game memory since you began coaching? I hope we can add to those this year!!
Coach Bennett: Great last question! Thanks Michael.
Probably the time Kansas State played Tennessee in the Cotton Bowl. It was a cold day and half the stadium was orange, half was purple. It was a great atmosphere. Tennessee was averaging like 47 points per game that season and had scored 66 in their last regular season game.
Their offensive coordinator was on TV and said he hoped we tried the same system we had used all year and that, if we did, they might score 50. We held their QB to 5-of-35 passing and we caught as many balls as they did - we intercepted five passes.
It was 28-7 at halftime and the only way they had scored was on an interception return. It was fun because we just dominated.
Coach Bennett:
I want to thank everyone for their questions. Hope to do it again soon. Get your tickets for the '06 season. We need your support in the stands!
Moderator: Thanks Mustangs fans for taking part in today's Summer Chat Series. Remember next Wednesday, June 28, SMU head men's basketball coach Matt Doherty will be stopping by to answer your questions at smumustangs.com beginning at 2:00 p.m. central. Click here to submit your questions today!!!
Moderator: Good afternoon Mustang fans! Thanks for stopping by the SMUMustangs.com Summer Chat Series. SMU head football coach Phil Bennett is taking your questions today. Today's chat will go quick so let us get started!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Darrell R. Hair (Dallas): How are SMU football student/athletes graduation rates compared to other Conference USA schools and private schools Rice, Vanderbilt, Stanford, TCU, Baylor, etc.?
Coach Bennett: Very well. We actually just won the American Football Coaches Association's 2006 Academic Achievement Award, beating not just the guys you mentioned, but every school in the nation. We had a 100 percent graduation rate for all members of our 2000-2001 freshman class. I think it shows the commitment SMU makes to its student-athletes, but it's also a tribute to our tremendous academic support staff, our faculty and our student-athletes. We're very proud of this achievement. We will win on the field, but I think it's important that we succeed in the classroom as well.
Moderator: Here is a link to the press release on SMU winning the AFCA Academic Achievement Award: Click here
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl (Dallas): All coaches would prefer to have an experienced, veteran quarterback to guide the offense. What, specifically, does Justin Willis do well that makes you confident he can take the reins and make the offense go?
Good luck this season!
Coach Bennett: Justin just seemed to "get it" this spring. He understands what we're trying to do and knows the system. He makes good reads and checks us into the right plays. Sure, we'd all love to always have an experienced senior quarterback, but that's just not the way it works out. I am, however, confident that Justin can get it done for us this fall.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert C. Hurst aka Mr. Mustang 1965: Since TCU is not on the Mustangs' schedule this year, which team do you and the players consider to be this year's 'rival' and how are you preparing for that game?
Coach Bennett: Our rival - this year and every year - is the team we're playing next. Right now, our rival is Texas Tech. We don't want to look past anyone on the schedule. Every game is too important to let one get away from you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John in Houston: Coach, when do you begin your workouts in August? Have many of the players been in the Dallas area this summer? (I'm curious as to whether you have been keeping up with them and have some idea as to whether they will be reporting in good shape.) When do you actually begin putting in your game plan for Texas Tech? Good luck!
Coach Bennett: Thanks John for the question.
Players will report on August 1. The majority of the team has stayed in town and I know they're as excited as the coaches are about getting going. We'll start with basic practices for the first couple of weeks and then put in our Tech game plan about two weeks before the game.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brad in Birmingham: The win last year against UAB was a game I'll never forget. Did the game winning play happen just like you had drawn it up? Felt good to be a Mustang in Birmingham that day!!
Coach Bennett: I'm glad we could make you proud Brad. We knew what we wanted to do. Executing the plan is something entirely different.
Coach Rusty Burns and I knew we'd get the ball back with less than a minute left, so we had decided what we wanted to run. We knew they'd be playing off and preventing the deep ball, so we thought we could throw two or three short passes underneath that would give us one shot at the end zone. Our kids executed it to perfection.
Bobby Chase made a great catch across the middle and then DeMyron Martin and Rey Pellerin did great jobs of getting out of bounds.
What can I say about the last play? Jerad Romo threw the ball just where it needed to be and Bobby just willed his way into catching it. You can bet I'll never forget it either!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim in Lawton, Okla.: Hey Coach. Good luck in 2006. Can you give us an update on DeMyron Martin? He was a thoroughbred for the team last year, and I just wanted to know how he progressed in the spring and what you expect to see from him in the fall? Thanks and Go Mustangs!!
Coach Bennett: DeMyron looked strong this spring. He weighed 225 (lbs.) on our Pro Day and ran a 4.45 40. Can you believe that?
I think DeMyron will have a good year, but I also expect Johnnie Fitzgerald, Cedrick Dorsey and James Mapps - among others - to have good years, too.
That said, DeMyron has been left off all the preseason All-Conference lists, so I think he thinks he has something to prove to teams in 2006.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nathan (Keller): Coach, are there any uniform changes set for this year?
Coach Bennett: None. I think our uniforms are sharp just as they are now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy in Waco: How much different is it going to be for the team to prepare for a game on a Tuesday when we play UAB on Oct. 31? Will you change up any of your preparations, etc? I can't be there for the game, but I'll be watching on ESPN.
Coach Bennett: We play at East Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 21st. After that, I plan on watching tape on the 22nd and having our regular Sunday sessions.
Then we'll give the guys off Monday and Tuesday and watch film again on Wednesday. We'll have our regular practices on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, a short one on Sunday, and a walk-through on Monday.
Moderator: Andy - The Oct. 31 game against UAB is actually on ESPN2, not ESPN. FYI.
Moderator: Coach Bennett has time for one more question
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael (Frisco, TX): Coach Bennett - I'm really excited about the team this year. Feel like we have a good chance of going Bowlin'. Would love to know, what is your favorite bowl game memory since you began coaching? I hope we can add to those this year!!
Coach Bennett: Great last question! Thanks Michael.
Probably the time Kansas State played Tennessee in the Cotton Bowl. It was a cold day and half the stadium was orange, half was purple. It was a great atmosphere. Tennessee was averaging like 47 points per game that season and had scored 66 in their last regular season game.
Their offensive coordinator was on TV and said he hoped we tried the same system we had used all year and that, if we did, they might score 50. We held their QB to 5-of-35 passing and we caught as many balls as they did - we intercepted five passes.
It was 28-7 at halftime and the only way they had scored was on an interception return. It was fun because we just dominated.
Coach Bennett:
I want to thank everyone for their questions. Hope to do it again soon. Get your tickets for the '06 season. We need your support in the stands!
Moderator: Thanks Mustangs fans for taking part in today's Summer Chat Series. Remember next Wednesday, June 28, SMU head men's basketball coach Matt Doherty will be stopping by to answer your questions at smumustangs.com beginning at 2:00 p.m. central. Click here to submit your questions today!!!
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CalallenStang - Posts: 19359
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:43 pm
- Location: 25 feet from the Hillcrest track
by MrMustang1965 » Wed Jun 21, 2006 3:47 pm
Check out question #3. 
Sorry I didn't get him to mention www.ponyfans.com, though.
Sorry I didn't get him to mention www.ponyfans.com, though.-
MrMustang1965 - Posts: 11161
- Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2001 3:01 am
- Location: Dallas,TX,USA
by Buckethead » Wed Jun 21, 2006 4:10 pm
MM65, nothing like stroking your own ego. I am not going to say anything else about stroking for fear of another thread getting deleted. It was good seeing you last week. Next time lets meet some place other than at a funeral.
- Buckethead
- Posts: 466
- Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2005 6:00 pm
by MrMustang1965 » Wed Jun 21, 2006 4:45 pm
I agree.Buckethead wrote:MM65, nothing like stroking your own ego. I am not going to say anything else about stroking for fear of another thread getting deleted. It was good seeing you last week. Next time lets meet some place other than at a funeral.
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MrMustang1965 - Posts: 11161
- Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2001 3:01 am
- Location: Dallas,TX,USA
by MrMustang1965 » Thu Jun 22, 2006 10:18 am
I sometimes introduce myself that way...I'm not sure what intoriduce is. By the way, Raplh...where the heck is your avatar? It's missed.that's great raplh wrote:do you always intoriduce yourself - aka MM65?
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MrMustang1965 - Posts: 11161
- Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2001 3:01 am
- Location: Dallas,TX,USA
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