Positive thoughts

[SMU Football Blog]

Let's compromise and stot talking about this for 10 days and 7.5 hours. That is about 5:45 Saturday, November 25th.

[ponyte]

I would like to see any of you do better than PB.

That's a ridicuous statement and you're better than that. None of us are college football coaches.

However, we are all close observers of this program and we can deduce from our obsevations that this coach in five years has not had a winning season, although he has had the worst season in SMU history. Also, he has not excelled at developing what talent he has been able to recruit, as evidenced from the record, and the attendance has likely come to a twenty year low during his regime.

No I cannot do better than Bennett, but that does not mean I can't opine that he has not done all that well.

I respectfully disagree with several of your conclusions.

1) Lowest attendance. True, during Bennett’s reign we have had low attendance while being in two separate conferences. Hardly Bennett's responsibility. One of those conferences had opponents from many thousands of miles away. Bennett cannot be held responsible for poor attendance when teams from Idaho, Hawaii, Nevada, and California do not bring many fans. Yes, SMU had better attendance for most of the program's existence. Much of that can be attributed to playing in a regional conference with enormous states schools and their enormous alumni base. The conclusion of low attendance is based on comparing one situation (SWC) against two new situations (WAC/CUSA). That is an apples compared to oranges evaluations that is at best impossible to objective quantify.

2) Failed to developed talent. Kincade, Rodgers, Muse, Adami, a batch of linebackers, Sturdivant, Chase, Kennedy, Willis, and McMurtray just to name a few that have developed very well. As a team that has been constantly undermanned, slower than many opponents and lacking is some key skilled areas, Bennett has done well with the talent he has. One may well argue that Bennett hasn’t recruited well but what he has recruited he has developed.

3) Worse season in SMU history. One can argue that Bennett was at fault for losing all his QBs prior to one season (Rock start and early graduation). One can argue that Bennett should have started true freshman Phillips over Bartel or Tate Wallis. One can argue that his last minute attempts to find a QB were not the best. However, I know of no program in recent times that has experienced such a devastating lose of players at the single most crucial offensive position. That and a very small and very slow team that depended on one running back is a recipe for disaster. And that is what Bennett had. Bennett was working with players he had, not players he didn't have. The lack of talent for that season doesn't fall complete on Bennett's shoulders but is more endemic of a poor system that was then SMU football. We have hashed over the system multiple times and most realize that the near impossible restrictions place on SMU athletics was a significant contributor to our poor performance.

Losing sucks and everyone wants a better program. One can argue that Bennett is not the man. These are legitimate points of discussion. I disagree that Bennett has not been without success and that Bennett should shoulder the blame for program failures beyond his control.

[jtstang]

ponyte, with all due respect, I do not see where you disagreed with any of my conclusions. You argued that they may not have all been Bennett's fault, but you pretty much acknowledged the accuracy of everything I said. Except perhaps the talent development, which I concede is a purely subjective thing, and given your football background, you'll certainly have insight that I don't. But I did qualify that statement as being supported by the W-L record, so I guess I'd have liked to have seen him have a winning season with the talent he recruited, which was my point.

I guess the reason I posted is that I get frustrated with folks who imply you not entitled to an opinion because "you never played a down of college football" or "you can't do any better than this coach."

And for the record, I do understand BUS's position on posters who speculate about a coach's future during the season. But we are fans, and that's what fans do. If Bennett ultimately gets axed, it wan't be because of anything posted on this board.

[ponyte]

It took Ron Meyer 5 seasons to have a winning season. Meyer began with Death Valley talent and recruited to Mt. Everest talent during that time. He didn't have the system issues that Bennett has and he had more, um, shall we say latitude in his ability to attract talent. The bottom line is it took time to recruit and develop talent to the point of winning. Bennett faces similar issues and needs time to correct some areas of deficiency that we have had.

Meyer was evaluated by the progress that his teams made. I feel Bennett deserves the same courtesy. He still has two games left. I would give him (and this team) a chance to see if they can produce a winning season. I must admit, this year has been more exciting and full of more optimism for me than other teams in previous decades have generated.

Once the season concludes and if it is not a glorious end, I will be all for a reevaluation of our current leadership positions. Until that time, I choice to be patience and allow those that actual have the ability to affect outcomes to do their job. It may be in our best interest to allow Bennett the time he needs to perform (yes, that time line is debatable). If Bennett is perceived to have had a fair amount of time and appropriate support from the university, then the SMU job may be more attractive to a larger pool of potential head coach candidates. That is a key to our next hire (regardless of whether Bennett resigns, gets hired elsewhere or is let go). The perception that a head coach will be given the time, and tools to succeed is important in attracting excellent coaching talent.

[BRStang]

I get upset when this kind of talk goes on IN SEASON.

Save it for 3 weeks.

I take it from that you don't think Phil & Co. will be going bowling either.

[jtstang]

It may be in our best interest to allow Bennett the time he needs to perform (yes, that time line is debatable). If Bennett is preserved to have had a fair amount of time and appropriate support from the university, then the SMU job may be more attractive to a larger pool of potential head coach candidates. That is a key to our next hire (regardless of whether Bennett resigns, gets hired elsewhere or is let go). The perception that a head coach will be given the time, and tools to succeed is important in attracting excellent coaching talent.

I would have said the same thing about the way Jimmy Tubbs was fired after only two season had we not been able to hire Doherty.

I'll still think it was patently unfair and unprofessional for SMU to lie about the reason he was fired if it turns out to be nothing more than burgers and Cheer.

[Stallion]

I agree Bennett deserves until the end of the season. However, he needs to win at the very least 1 of the next two games I believe or there should be a close analysis of the direction of the program. Otherwise, his record in the Western Division of CUSA would be 1-4 in his 5th season. These aren't the Four Horsemen of the Acropolis were are lining up against.

[ponyte]

I agree Bennett deserves until the end of the season. However, he needs to win at the very least 1 of the next two games I believe or there should be a close analysis of the direction of the program. Otherwise, his record in the Western Division of CUSA would be 1-4 in his 5th season. These aren't the Four Horsemen of the Acropolis were are lining up against.

is it the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse or Four Horsemen of the Acropolis? Is this pestilence, war, famine and death or some Greek tragedy? Never mind, I answered my own question.

[Stallion]

Got me!

[EastStang]

I hate to admit that I agree with Stallion, but Bennett does need to win one more game to shut people up. Tulsa is sliding and Rice is on the rise. Two wins would really shut people up. My view is that if we beat Tulsa the Rice game will determine whether SMU or Rice goes bowling. We need to win both, but Bennett keeps his job with one win. My personal view is that unless there is a super candidate already waiting in the wings (not a loser retread, not a high school coach, not a 1-AA flash in the pan, not another Div. 1-A coordinator), then we shouldn't change coaches. JMHO.

[BRStang]

I hate to admit that I agree with Stallion, but Bennett does need to win one more game to shut people up. Tulsa is sliding and Rice is on the rise. Two wins would really shut people up. My view is that if we beat Tulsa the Rice game will determine whether SMU or Rice goes bowling. We need to win both, but Bennett keeps his job with one win. My personal view is that unless there is a super candidate already waiting in the wings (not a loser retread, not a high school coach, not a 1-AA flash in the pan, not another Div. 1-A coordinator), then we shouldn't change coaches. JMHO.

You've 100% stated my opinion on the subject (which I have previously posted a few times).

[MustangLaxer]

I would like to see any of you do better than PB.

That's a ridicuous statement and you're better than that. None of us are college football coaches.

However, we are all close observers of this program and we can deduce from our obsevations that this coach in five years has not had a winning season, although he has had the worst season in SMU history. Also, he has not excelled at developing what talent he has been able to recruit, as evidenced from the record, and the attendance has likely come to a twenty year low during his regime.

No I cannot do better than Bennett, but that does not mean I can't opine that he has not done all that well.

Thanks MustangIcon...all I am saying is that when the running game gets 41 yards on 35 carries, well, here's to going for it on 4th and 1 up the gut, and not a sweep ;o). 10 years of playing Madden has taught me that...

Cheers to your post, jt. I was thinking the same thing. (Sorry I couldn't figure out a way to work in Burgers into the natural flow of my message.)

[DickerJames]

. My personal view is that unless there is a super candidate already waiting in the wings (not a loser retread, not a high school coach, not a 1-AA flash in the pan, not another Div. 1-A coordinator), then we shouldn't change coaches. JMHO.

I think you had better lower your expectations. No "super candidate" will be interested in SMU. It will either be a proven coach with a sullied reputation(Doherty,Price,O'Leary...etc.) or an assistant looking to move up.

[Stallion]

or Todd Dodge who has stated he would be interesting in considering Division 1A offers this year.

[DickerJames]

Stallion, out of curriousity do you know what kind of salary Todd Dodge has?