Stallion

[Stallion]

...about 3 or 4 years ago people that follow these SMU boards will tell you I was about 10 times a bigger pain in Peruna's [deleted] tham I am these days. The reason was that we had just posted two recruiting classes that literally had only a handful of players that were offered by legitimate Division 1A programs. We are seeing the fruits of the end of one Model today. It tears most of you up to see us lose to a team like UTEP and it should-but this was a destiny that was decided on signing date 1999 and 2000. Yes to be fair there have been significant changes that will make SMU more competitive in the future. But SMU was simply not competitive in recruiting in the senior and junior years presently at SMU. Should we have beaten UTEP-Yes!-is it Bennett's fault when we fumble at the one yard line and get a punt block returned for a TD-I don't know-I honestly feel that the margin of talent over UTEP in the senior and junior classes may not be enough to overcome those kinds of catasthophic mistakes. We stand 0-5 today-my question is whether we could have been 3-2 today if we had shored up the offensive lines, defensive lines, WRs and Safeties during the last 2 recruiting classes with maybe 3 JC recruits a year as our opponents like Tech, Baylor, OSU, Nevada have done. Yes we have built a solid foundation in recruiting in the freshman class and the four commitments this year all look promising but even the most optimistic fans must admit that that Phil Bennett has a tough selling job to sell to recruits this year based on our current performance. The road will be infinitely more difficult now that TCU, Baylor and Houston have all had imprssive starts to their seasons. These are the teams we are competing against for top recruits. The issue is whether SMU has a Model which will allow us to compete with these natural and traditional rivals-I have grave doubts whether we will be able to maintain our recruiting resurgence in light of the present state of the programs at SMU, TCU, Houston and Baylor-but I'm going to give Bennett the benefit of the doubt and see what happens. I don't think its fair to judge Bennett so;ely on what has happened this year-since I focus on the recruiting aspect of the game I tend to look 2-3 years down the line. From that perspective there is some reason to have optimism in the future but the road to turning this program has gotten infinitely more difficult based on this year's results. My gut tells me that as long as we handicap our own program in comparison to especially TCU, Baylor, Houston, and Tech then the goals I have for this program will not be reached-but the proof in the puddin' is largely weather we will be able to overcome this slow start and still maintain recruiting momentum this year. I think we will be improved next year across the board but Bennett;s got his work cut out for him this year on the recruiting trail-and you can bet Ill give a fair assessment of how he does.

[DallasDiehard]

I agree with damn-near everything you said there, Stallion. Except the JUCO thing - I guess we'll just agree to disagree on that one. Maybe it's the hallucinating purist in me, but I just prefer the idea of HS kids who can put in a full four or five years on the Hilltop. But I have to confess, I thought you'd gone completely negative on us -- glad to see you offering Coach Bennett the benefit of the doubt. You've always touted the importance of quallity recruiting, and you're right - which is why it's not fair to jump on Coach Bennett and his staff if 18-year-olds make mistakes when they're thrown into action.

[Nacho]

It's comforting to know that UTEP, a team that has outrecruited us, beat us on Saturday. Thanks for the insight Stallion. It's not always all about recruiting. Most of the time the better team wins. Sometimes not. Did the better team win Saturday? UTEP had surprisingly big lines. They pretty much manhandled us , especially their offenisive line. We really beat ourselves though. The fumble at the one after the 55 yard run typified SMU football over the last 14 years. It is one big exercise in frustration. Blame the players. Blame the coaches. Blame the AD. Blame the fans. Blame Pye. Blame whomever you want. The fact is that for whatever reason you choose SMU is not a good football team. Fundamental changes in recruiting have taken place, but they aren't enough. We need to be able to fill holes quickly. In the NFL it can bve done through free agency. The only way to do it in college football is through jucos. We have many holes to fill. I know all of the arguments about jucos, but if SMU truly cares about wining they will do what is necessary to get those players into school. Until then you can sit back and enjoy SMU football as it is for years to come.

I don't think the coaches lost the game. The players played about as well as they can play, excluding the fumble and blocked punt. The overall talent is low. There are some good players on the team, just not enough. If we only recruit freshmen it will take several more years to reach a competitive level with good teams, if then.

SMU football is in a sad stae, probably the saddest I have ever seen. Not much hope in sight. We are regressing each year.

It's a boring brand of football. The game seemed like it went on for 5 hours. Basketball season is not far away. It won't be much better but at least we won't lose all of our games.

<small>[ 10-06-2003, 05:42 AM: Message edited by: Nacho ]</small>

[BUS]

Yo Nacho
Sir Stallion never said LOAD up on JUCO's.

We SHOULD have had 4 to 5 this year to fill in holes. Thats all. Not a team full.

Think about this team with two D-Tackles and O-lineman, a QB and a Safety.

Right - 3 & 2

Think about this - Now that the freshman DT is out for good with his back re-injured. Who plays???? DUH - a JUCO player
If we do not use some of this source of talent to at least replace unexpected losses - It's going to REAL TOUGH at SMU to step UP.\\

Get REAL - Uou know we need this - Please forward to Mr. Copeland and Dr. Turner and the Faculty Senate and Board of Regents!!!!

[smudad]

What would the process involve to get those few difference-makers in here? Is it mostly a matter of transfer hours and eligibility? I know SMU is terrible about accepting hours from other institutions of even comparable standing. But how did David Page get in? And if we would need more athlete-friendly majors or courses, what would that cost. Would it mean cutting somewhere else? I think I'm for getting the right JUCO's. But I'd want to know what it would cost - in all aspects.

[Lefty]

As I recall, David page had nearly a 4.0 GPA in mostly honors classes at Cal. Getting his credits to transfer wasn't going to be a problem. That is one smart dude.

[Duke Blue Blood]

Nacho,

"The players played about as well as they can play, excluding the fumble and blocked punt."

I assume you are kidding with that post. Other than the two HUGE turnovers they played well?

DBB