Should Bennett get credit for rebuilding?

[RunPeruna]

This is just a question. I was talking with some friends and the question arose .... has Bennett rebuilt SMU? Obviously this year has been better than in the past, but still extremely frustrating for anyone remotely connected to SMU. Bennett had just finished his fifth season His record is 17-41 (According to the records I came across). The five prior years the record was 22-34. SMU has just had it's first .500 season under Bennett. They had one (6-5) in the five years prior. The year before Bennett arrived the team went 4-7. His first year was 3-9, followed by the 0-12 debacle. The major improvement has occured since this low point which he himself helped to create. I understand it takes time to bring in "your players", but shouldn't a coach be able to bring the best out of the players that are around and not simply have a system and if the players don't fit then the system doesn't work? I think it is safe to say that the program is in better shape now than when he arrived, but he hasn't exactly improved the product on a week in/week out basis. Coach Bennett seems like an extremely nice guy and I really want for things to work out for him but I'm just not sure. The past two season have been better record wise, but how good is C-USA compared to the WAC back in the day. I'm not trying to make a judgement I would just like some input. I am extremely frustrated and would like to have others who might be closer to the action let me know what they think regarding the state of the Mustangs.

[Roach]

Of course. We're not in a bowl yet, but he has brought in a completely new level of players to SMU, and the Ponies are respectable and competitive, which is a vast improvement.

[mustangxc]

If I were SMU's AD:

Too soon to assess. If you fire him now you should have fired him after the 0-12 season. Which Orsini was not present for, so this would be a good time to do that if that was his wish all along. I would venture to say that a fair expectation for this season was 7-5 with wins versus UNT, SHSU, ASU, Tulane, Marshall, UAB, and Rice. Losses vs Texas Tech, UTEP, East Carolina, UH, TU. Based on how the season played out there is no excuse for the loss to UNT and the UTEP game looks bad now as well. Rice turned out better than expected so that is not a terrible loss. He made up for the Rice loss with a win against Tulsa. In retrospect this team should have gone 8-4, however it is not fair to reset goals after the fact. 7-5 is the measure for me. Compare 6-6 to 7-5 and he came 1 game away from meeting my expectations. Is it worth firing the coach who since the 0-12 debacle has steadily improved upon his record? no. Is buying out his contract the best use of SMU Athletic's resources? no. Is there someone available that was made to order for this job? That is what Orsini is paid for. I would only negate my answers to the first 2 questions if I have a resounding yes to this last question. For what it's worth my answer to the last is currently no, but am open to hearing others out.

[Dukie]

I agree completely with mustangxc. I also am beginning to suspect that the length of the conversations (days?) is pointing toward PB's return. How long does it take to tell a man that he's fired?

[NavyCrimson]

One thing to consider also, all Orsini said was that he was "... going to evaluate the program at the end of the season ..." which is a standard line any manager says & does in sports or any type of organization.
It appears that so many people have blown this up & are now reading everything into it that they can possibly read.

Frankly, I hope he stays.

[Roach]

Me too.

[mustangxc]

Additionally, yes I do see progress. Do I see enough progress at this point? probably. Has it come quickly enough? no, but don't fire a coach just when he is starting to turn the corner just because his overall record is not what you expected. You cannot reasonably expect Bennett to make up for his 0-12 season in his overall record. Let's be realistic in assessing his progress by throwing out the first 2 seasons. His third season was a disapointment as he still did worse than Cavan in his last year, but the last two years have equaled our most successful post-dp campaigns.

[expony18]

YES

[Charleston Pony]

depends on whether he gets to stay and whether this program can continue to improve it's record year over year until SMU is enjoying at least the same level of success as TCU is enjoying...or if he leaves and the next guy comes in and immediately wins 8 games against a tougher schedule next year and goes on to improve.

Right now, it's difficult to judge whether there has been any improvement since the end of the Rossley or Cavan eras.

[mavsrage311]

to me the question on Bennett was never his recruiting ability, although Stallion and others might disagree (and I wont blame them)..his recruiting has been fine by me.

The question on Bennett to me is his coaching ability, game strategies, and playcalling (I hold him responsible)