PB vs. Frank Beamer

[SoCal_Pony]

Let me put it to you this way: If it took Beamer 7 yrs to turn things around at Tech

KS, look at his record...it did not take him 7 years to turn it around...Beamer had success in his 3rd and 4th seasons.

I have never said PB sucks...those are your words....but please, spare me the comparisons to anyone as successful as Beamer....PB hasn't proven it yet.

[EastStang]

Also has anyone here been to Blacksburg. It is a dump. VT is an agricultural school. If it weren't for VMI, they would be the Aggies of Virginia (and until 1985, they had a pretty predominant corps as well). They have always been the second class citizens of Virginia behind UVa. in everything. Beamer used that school pride (Aggie like) and those perceived slights and built a program. You have to give him a lot of credit, because no one thought the Hokies would ever amount to anything in football. Remember that the sin Hayden Fry committed that got him fired at SMU was losing to a poor program - namely Virginia Tech. And with the exception of Miami, the BE has not been a major football conference since it was founded. Any conference with Rutgers and Temple is not a major football conference.

[SoCal_Pony]

Can I buy into your fund?

Abezontar, I placed a big bet on MO during the Clinton years when many went to extremes against smoking...also bought plenty of Exxon 8 years ago when everyone was tech-crazy...those have been my best decisions...don't see anything right now that excites me...and haven't for several years.

[KnuckleStang]

Let me put it to you this way: If it took Beamer 7 yrs to turn things around at Tech

KS, look at his record...it did not take him 7 years to turn it around...Beamer had success in his 3rd and 4th seasons.

I have never said PB sucks...those are your words....but please, spare me the comparisons to anyone as successful as Beamer....PB hasn't proven it yet.

Didn't mean to put words in your mouth, my apologies. But Beamer didn't go to a bowl until his 7th year. I think his fans would cite that year as the year he "turned it around," don't you? And I don't care how many wins over bowl teams he had in his 6-5 season, because two years later he was a lame duck, thought by most to be running his alma mater INTO THE GROUND.

Anyway, I agree Bennett hasn't proven a damn thing. Gotta go to work. Talk amongst yourselves...

[abezontar]

not even the girl in your picture?

[that's great raplh]

if he is to be beamer then he needs to work on special teams

[Charleston Pony]

I don't remember anyone suggesting Bennett is as good a coach, or will EVER be as good a coach as Beamer. The point of the comparison is that many Va Tech faithful were ready to run him out of town after 2 wins in his 6th season...but they stuck with him, he stuck with his staff and they eventually proved they could get the job done.

I think we can safely assume SMU will NEVER have the kind of success Va Tech has. We're excluded from the BCS, in part because we have one of the most pathetic fan followings of any Division I program. Those who think SMU can join the elite in college football are truly sunshiners...but there is no reason we can't compete in CUSA and even win an occasional championship.

The whole point with the Beamer comparison is that it might be too early to pull the plug on Bennett and his staff. I really do think we've been more competitive this year and while we could be sitting here with only one win, we could also have 5-6 wins right now. SMU hasn't been able to sign many highly recruited linemen since the death penalty. At least Bennett has been busy trying to re-stock the trenches (better than I can say for Cavan). Time will tell if the young guys on the roster will stick and become players, but I'm more optimistic than I've been in years because we haven't been manhandled in the trenches EVERY week this year and I expect even better next year with virtually everyone coming back. We'll find out next year how much we lose with so many SR starters leaving on the defensive side of the ball. My reference to guys like Fitzgerald (or you could substitute Haynes, Lindley, Blackmon, etc...) is that we just might be surprised to see what some of these guys can do finally given an opportunity to play. I just believe we've got better athletes riding the pine than we have had in past years and I'm not quite ready to jump on the "fire them all" bandwagon.

[abezontar]

I sure would feel a lot better if we had some good lineman committed be the juco or hs (preferably some of each)

[SoCal_Pony]

The point of the comparison is that many Va Tech faithful were ready to run him out of town after 2 wins in his 6th season...but they stuck with him, he stuck with his staff and they eventually proved they could get the job done.

I would argue that part of the decision to stick with Beamer after year 6 was the success he had in years 4 and 5. PB has not had that type of success to warrant the comparison.

My reference to guys like Fitzgerald (or you could substitute Haynes, Lindley, Blackmon, etc...) is that we just might be surprised to see what some of these guys can do finally given an opportunity to play.

I buy that for Haynes, Blackmon and especially Lindley....not Fitzgerald.