Phil Bennett-Hot Sports Opinions

by **Stallion** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 3:34 pm

calls SMU rigidly academic
says A&M made a 100 year mistake

http://cjonline.com/sports/2011-09-29/k ... nds-big-12

by **SmooBoy** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 3:39 pm

I wish his mustache was still alive to comment.

by **StallionsModelT** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 3:41 pm

Great guy who gave everything he had for SMU. That said, was a complete and abysmal disaster as a head coach, recruiter, and leader of young men. As a student during the Bennett years I can tell you with 100% certainly those kids didn't respect Coach Bennett. The atmosphere around the program was so "give up" that most of the kids just went through the motions of practices and games. I hope nothing but success for Coach B, but come on man. You were an AWFUL head coach.

by **ericdickerson4life** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 3:44 pm

To be fair, he did have to deal with some academic rigidity. Not sure how much that played a factor into the wins/losses but I'm sure Stallion would argue the system was against him.

Good man.

by **StallionsModelT** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 3:50 pm

You wanna know how Phil Bennett recruited when he was here? He brought in every 2A or 3A All-District kid in DFW and East Texas and basically offered the kids he thought excelled at that camp. We didn't even go after kids b/c we had a "give up" mentality. Bennett had to deal with a lot of administrative red tape, but he also didn't make it easy on himself. He had a very strained relationship with players, administration, and staff. The difference in leadership style and demeanor b/w Phil Bennett and June Jones couldn't be more different. Like I said I like the guy but he will never be a head coach at the collegiate level ever again. And he should not be.

by **Stallion** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 3:56 pm

all 3 former SMU head coaches since the DP would have taken SMU to a Bowl Game under the present Academic Model, in a similiar conference and with Ford Stadium. This assumes a CUSA/WAC type conference and Gregg stayed long enough to rebuild-maybe would have taken 6-8 years.

by **StallionsModelT** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:01 pm

Hindsight is 20-20. Bennett was an awful leader. He was the wrong man for the job.

by **CalallenStang** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:03 pm

"ALL OUT"

by **SMUer** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:23 pm

CalallenStang wrote:"ALL OUT"

Yes, the time has come when we can now stop blowing Phil kisses from afar. "All out" was an unbelievable embarrassment. System stacked against him or not, those were some poorly coached teams. Good luck but good riddance.

by **GiddyUp** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:25 pm

Stallion wrote:all 3 former SMU head coaches since the DP would have taken SMU to a Bowl Game under the present Academic Model, in a similiar conference and with Ford Stadium. This assumes a CUSA/WAC type conference and Gregg stayed long enough to rebuild-maybe would have taken 6-8 years.

Doesn't mean he's a good coach

by **Stallion** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:32 pm

yeah that's what I said before he was hired

by **Dwan** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:37 pm

Nice man, not a head coach, and one of the worst staff's at the division 1 level when he was coaching.

by **smuuth** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:40 pm

Did Bennett get the support he needed when he came to SMU to be successful? Such as higher salaries so he could get and keep top coordinators and coaches or was he supposed to do it all alone? the staff looked weak before he was let go but it may have been just remnants from a sinking ship by then.

by **StallionsModelT** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:44 pm

He got consistently donkeypunched by the freaking WAC. Hell his first game was against a Navy program that hadn't won a game in like 3 years and they shoved it down our throats at home.

by **couch 'em** » Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:45 pm

It should be noted that the best Rusty Burns year had more offensive production than any year under June Jones.