Great game.

[fbdad]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by PerunaPunch:
<B>Sam, I'm sure everyone appreciates your frustrations, but don't you think a little objectivity is in order?

Most of the players you mention certainly have talent, and I'm looking forward to their future contributions, but it's very rare when a 18- or 19-year-old can hang in there against a 22-year-old who has benefited from 3 or 4 years of college level competition and weight training.

Youth and inexperience is our #1 prolem right now. Subbing out older/bigger/stronger players for younger ones (I believe) would only compound the problem. I started a player-by-player analysis and response to your e-mail, but decided I needed to get back to work.</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
"Youth and inexperience is our #1 problem right now." couldn't be more accurate.Harpers performance at SS in our last game speaks for itself. He was credited with four tackles and two TD's(for SJS). I don't believe its his fault. He should be wearing a red shirt and working on basic skills and physical development.The same for Humphrey who also had only four tackles. In fact four seemed to be the magic number since Moodley only had four tackles. These are pathetic figures for DB's.I agree with the recommendation to play Rushbrook(SO) and Godfrey(SO) and other potential contributors whether true freshmen or seniors.Rushbrook has moved to receiver but he can play either FS or CB.Godfrey's played CB,FS and SS along with nickel assignments. Look at game film for both of these guys and you'll see why they should get playing time.They've got three years of summer training,two a days and game experience. This applies to others to. A player analysis would really be helpfull but that's the coaches business,not ours.Whether any one player is better than another can only be determined by game exposure.I don't believe in best in practice determine who starts.Game notes for Fresno already give a starting line up prior to the first practice of the week.The coach said after the SJS game that QB was open, now he says Wallis will start. This can't be based on practice performance this week. Hopefully that will change prior to game time because its definately not based on game performance.

[PK]

sam and fbdad...I will recend my back off statement, however, I will replace it with a be careful statement. Sam, you are basically doing to Bennett what you are complaining about him doing to one of his coaches. You are berating him as a bad HC in front of his players and coaches. That maybe your opinion, but his players read the post on this site and you are undermining him by saying that here. It's easy to say that his decisions in the game were bad after the fact that they didn't work...however obviously most of his decisions worked well. Some didn't work due to bad execution by the players and some just didn't work...Monday morning quarterbacking or coaching is way too easy for those who don't have to make the decisions at game time. You are free to say you would have done things differently, but that in and of itself doesn't make what he did bad...just different. You are way too far removed from the scene to be thinking you actually know what is going on player wise or personel wise. Like I said earlier, you are probably hearing only one side of the story from who ever is bending your ear. Bennett is having to make do at this time with two freshman QB's, a depleted O-line from what we had last year, ditto with the D-line and with DB's who are playing very inconsistantly. I have no doubt that the players and coaches are working their tails off to make this work, but ultimately it is Bennetts job to make the hard decisions and they may not be the same ones you would make...but then you are not the HC. Every other coach has been given sewveral years to make their impact...let's give this one his chance too.

[PK]

fbdad...I can't access the game notes as my computer is having trouble with pdf files, but my guess is that the game notes are not prepared by the coaching staff and any starting lineup in the notes is probably based on last weeks lineup in order to have something in the notes.

[sam]

I thought this was a public forum.It you think I'm wrong set me straight,I'm reasonable and willing to listen,please enlighten me. I have some simple questions.
Mr. SMU Guy
1.Mr SMU Guy-tell me how many top 250 national players have bennett got committed
2.Mr SMU Guy-how many top 250 state players has bennett got committed
3.Mr SMU guy-how many of the 100 area players as bennett got committed
PK
I don't know about the malcontent thing but I did sit at the 40 yard line last game and I sat next to two men that graduated in '77 one a former player and most of these folks were what I call diehard fans. They booed bennett after the game and said they wanted their committment money back.I listened while they talked to the two men in front of them and after halftime they were joined by four others(one of which was a fomer player) I will admit some of the info I posted I picked of from them but I do still have many friends in the DFW area and some that work at SMU so I'm not totally clueless. Iwill ask you a few questions and if I'm wrong as I said enlighten me from that couch that you referred to

1.Do you think bennett is a good game coach
2.Do you think it was the right decision to pack it in with 45 seconds left in the half with the ball at midfield and two timeouts
2.Do you think that bennett should have spelled his starters so they would be fresh in the 4th quarters
3.Do you think that bennett should have gone for 4th and 21 from the 25 down by four with over 5 minutes to go.
4.Do you think we were outcoached in the second half meaning to you think that SJSU made adjustments and we did not
Peruna Punch
I have read(I went back on the page lists) many of your posts and I respect your knowledge of the game and you must know someone or stay close to the program.I do not and I will tell you some of the Info I got from the press guide(after all this should be correct it comes from the athletic office right?)but some of it I remember from past seasons(i.e.Rushbrook and Godfrey) and Karrington I heard about more than once from different peoples so alot of them must think he's good or he has a great PR dept.Walker I remember reading about when he committed he was a top defensive player in Louisiana and he has already redshirted.Just tell me ---do you think that there is anyone else on the sideline that can play except the 14 players that regularly plays on offense and the 13 players that regularly on defense.
Thanks

[SMUguy]

During his time recruiting at Kansas State, Oklahoma and Texas A&M, it's been widely documented that Coach Bennett was able to pull in great players from this area, across Texas and even a few top national guys. Those schools have had more recent success from which to recruit than SMU, so it will take time.

As for his first season as a recruiter at SMU:

Ricky Joe Meeks - state top 100
Richuel Massey - state top 100
Zach Hall - area top 100

Not a bad start. Are they all first-team all-Americas? Nope. But they're a huge improvement over previous classes. This is another caliber of athlete. We've had good signings in the past, folks like Comet and Sterling Harris (say what you will about his performance on the field - he was viewed as a great signing coming out of high school.) But so far, half the players Bennett has gotten commitments from seem to have excellent resumés, and everything I've read and heard is that the other three - Boren, Jones and Turner - can play, too. There are no "reaches" in this crop.

I continue to have faith in Coach Bennett. He'll bring in the talent.

[MustangMom]

I am just AMAZED!! How can some of you out there not even give Coach Bennett a chance???? Four or five games is NOT A CHANCE!!

My gosh, give the man a few years to turn this program around! He is instilling discipline, hard, hard work and I am sure that some do not like this. I know several former players on several Big 12 teams - these guys were selected as All Americans. They were good players and committed. Every one of these players hated their head coach when they were playing. A head coach is not supposed to be your best friend - they usaually require total discipline of their players, extrodinarily hard work, and they scream and cuss at everyone.

I think Coach Bennett has already recruited several stellar players. BUT, GUESS WHAT - SOME RECRUITS AND THEIR PARENTS READ WEB SITES. THEY COME TO GAMES AND SEE AND HEAR THE FANS (OR LACK OF FANS ). SO, LET'S GIVE THE COACH A CHANCE.

This does not have to be a website without differing opionions. But, be patient and positive!

------------------
Go Mustangs!!
-MustangMom

[sam]

PK you are right and I'm going to assume since you think what I did was wrong you are going to have to agree with me what bennett did was wrong to. Also I'm not talking about game plans and execution of plays I am simply talking about coaching 101 1)
5 minutes left in the game 4 and 21 at the 25 yard line KICK IT 2) 45 seconds left in the half ball at midfield two timeouts TRY TO GET MORE POINTS 3) If after 5 non-productive games by your QB TRY #2 Do you agree or disagree <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by sam:
<B> </B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[fbdad]

Sam, you forgot to post your reply or is there a hidden message.....

[sam]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by SMUguy:
<B>During his time recruiting at Kansas State, Oklahoma and Texas A&M, it's been widely documented that Coach Bennett was able to pull in great players from this area, across Texas and even a few top national guys. Those schools have had more recent success from which to recruit than SMU, so it will take time.

As for his first season as a recruiter at SMU:

Ricky Joe Meeks - state top 100
Richuel Massey - state top 100
Zach Hall - area top 100

Not a bad start. Are they all first-team all-Americas? Nope. But they're a huge improvement over previous classes. This is another caliber of athlete. We've had good signings in the past, folks like Comet and Sterling Harris (say what you will about his performance on the field - he was viewed as a great signing coming out of high school.) But so far, half the players Bennett has gotten commitments from seem to have excellent resumés, and everything I've read and heard is that the other three - Boren, Jones and Turner - can play, too. There are no "reaches" in this crop.

I continue to have faith in Coach Bennett. He'll bring in the talent.</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I will respond quid pro quo using the last two classes of Cavan
Meeks(QB) State 100 vs Bartel
Massey(RB)State 100 vs Barnett State 100
Hall(LB) Area 100 vs Stansbury All-State at two postions and Top 25 All-Area

Now please show me where the "huge improvement is in bennetts recruiting.

[PK]

sam, can't reply right now, but will get back with you during my noon break.

[SMUguy]

Good eye, sam -- those are very legitimate comparisons.

The difference is that Bennett has landed those three studs in a group of six players. Cavan landed two or three state-100 guys in a class of 22 or 25. The percentage seems to be going way up. If this plays out through a class of 20-some guys this year, does this mean we get 10-12 guys of that caliber? Sure hope so. That would be an enormous step up from anything we've seen since the 1980s.

[PK]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by sam:
<B>PK you are right and I'm going to assume since you think what I did was wrong you are going to have to agree with me what bennett did was wrong to.</B>

I agree with you in principal. I actually believe I was watching practice that day when Bennett yelled at his coach and told him to get out of the way. Bennett is a very intense guy when it comes to football. They had been working on one particular defensive set for quite awhile and I think the frustration of it not getting done right after so many attempts finally got to him. Could he have handled it differently...perhaps so. Being a person myself that has a hard time dealing with other people's incompetence, I can sort of relate to his blowup. Had it been a minor problem that wasn't adversly affecting practice, he probably would have taken it up with the coach later, but when you are out on the practice field trying to get something done right and it's not happening, what do you do.

<B>Also I'm not talking about game plans and execution of plays I am simply talking about coaching 101 1)
5 minutes left in the game 4 and 21 at the 25 yard line KICK IT </B>

I'm not sure which situation you're refering to here...our 25 or theirs? Punt or field goal? Can't answer right now.

<B>2) 45 seconds left in the half ball at midfield two timeouts TRY TO GET MORE POINTS </B>
At this point we are up 20 to 7. The O-line is starting to show it's fatigue and you know the consistency of our passing game. Do you run out the clock and go into the locker room and rest the O-line or do you start passing and take a chance on an INT?

<B> 3) If after 5 non-productive games by your QB TRY #2</B>

I'm not against trying Bartel, but I realisically don't think the results will be what we hope for. Bartel is not a scrambing type QB and our O-line does not give very good pass protection down after down. Tate actually made some good runs at critical times keeping our drives alive. We actually controlled the ball for close to 40 minutes. I wish like everyone else that Tate's passing mechanics were better. If you look back at the game, with the exception of the INT late in the game, most of our problems came from two fumbles from our RB's and some messed up plays on defense...neither of those would be changed by Bartel being in the game.

<B>Do you agree or disagree </B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don't wish to be argumentive, I just think we should not be so quick to jump on the coach when he is having to work with someone elses players and hasn't had a chance to get some of his own recruits in here. You just might be suprised a couple of years down the road.

[sam]

We can agree to disagree that is fine with me
I hope bennett turns out to be a great coach,Lords knows we need one. Thanks for your reply I hope this shows boths sides of the story and that people can get on a forum and discuss things rationally.Good Luck..I know we both want the same thing.

[PK]

BTW sam, I'm impressed that you come as far as you do to attend the games...thanks for your involvement!!

[HorsePower]

I was curious about that, too. Do you actually live in Florida and fly in each week? Or is Lake Worth your hometown and you live closer to Dallas?

[This message has been edited by HorsePower (edited 10-09-2002).]