Hypothetical

[J.T.supporta]

Yes, a 6-7 team, after losing a conference championship game is no longer bowl eligible....

I think it has never happend that a 6-6 team play in a conference championship game.

[SMUstang]

While we try to talk MM65 off the ledge, here's a hypothetical to ponder.

We go 6 and 6 next year - with a conference record of 6 and 2. We play in the conference championship and win. We go bowling and get squished 42 to 13 by the fourth place team in a BCS conference finishing 7 and 7. Does Bennett live to fish another day or does Orsini cut bait??????????

I think it depends on what options Orsini has at the time. If there is a coach out there that he can get who will upgrade our program (ala O'Leary or Price), then he will do it. If not, he will stay with Bennett.

[MustangStealth]

It is my understanding that the original 6 win statement was based on an 11 game season. When it went to 12 games the standard became a "winning" season with the exception that a .500 season is ok if teams that have winnig seasons (7 games) would be selected first and then if there were 6 win teams available they could be chosen. A 7 win team always goes ahead of a 6 win as we witnessed this year.

I do not know the definite answer to the conference championship question of a 6-6 team losing and being then 6-7 but I would have to assume based on what I understand that the team would no longer be eligible for a bowl game with a 6-7 record. A losing record is not bowl eligible, nor should they be.

Correct. 6-6 is eligible, 6-7 is not. You must have 6 wins and be at least .500.

[Mountain Mustang]

I would agree that a 6-7 team shouldn't be bowl eligible, I was just curious if they could be under the current rules. Thanks for the clarification.

[EastStang]

Didn't North Texas go bowling with a losing record when they won the Sun Belch Conference, or did they just manage a 6-5 record?

[mrydel]

Didn't North Texas go bowling with a losing record when they won the Sun Belch Conference, or did they just manage a 6-5 record?

They were the rule exception that the conference champion does get to play in its designated bowl regardless of record. They were either 6-6 in a must be over .500 year , or 5-6 but they won their conference. I believe they lost all of their OOC and won all of their in conference. That is also an exception I would rather us not need to use.

[MustangStealth]

In the Sun Belt's first year (2001), UNT won the conference at 5-6 (5-1). They were allowed to go to a bowl with special permission from the NCAA because they were the conference champions and the conference had a bowl tie in for them. They lost and ended up 5-7.

[J.T.supporta]

Yes, that is Correct. they got an exemption

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Belt_Conference

North Texas won the conference's automatic bowl bid because it won the head-to-head game against Middle Tennessee. Also, North Texas had a losing overall record in 2001 and was not technically bowl-eligible, but the NCAA granted the team an exemption because it had won the conference. This is similar to what is granted to a basketball or baseball team which has a losing overall record but wins its conference tournament.

[couch 'em]

I predict Bennett knows he's getting let go before the end of the season.

[PK]

I'm tired of this 6-6/7-5 talk...i.e., on the cusp BS. I'm waaaaaay past ready for some 9-3, 10-2 type seasons. Geez, this crap is well past getting old. I like PB a lot, but he needs to figure it out and the university needs to open it up so we can get some PLAYERS in here. (steps down off soapbox)

[SMUstang]

I'm tired of this 6-6/7-5 talk...i.e., on the cusp BS. I'm waaaaaay past ready for some 9-3, 10-2 type seasons. Geez, this crap is well past getting old. I like PB a lot, but he needs to figure it out and the university needs to open it up so we can get some PLAYERS in here. (steps down off soapbox)

AMEN, It looks like even TU is out recruiting us.

[ReedFrawg]

For 2007, Bowl=job; no bowl=new coach.

I disagree. A bowl alone is not good enough. 6 years is plenty time enough to produce your first winning record and if PB doesn't do that this season- he will be fired.

I agree...SMU went 6-6 this year so 6-6 next year shows no improvement. If I were an SMU fan, I would say 7 wins is the minimum requirement for Bennett to keep his job. (Of course, I was alos surprised he survived this past season.)

[mr. pony]

Crap, and it's only January.....

[SMU Football Blog]

If he goes 6-6 and gets to a bowl, Bennett is staying (and probably getting an extension). Anybody that thinks Orsini or anyone else at this school is going to fire a coach the same year SMU gets its first post-DP bowl invite is drunk.

For one thing, it would be a PR disaster. You going to fire him after the bowl game or before? Sure, whizz away all the good press you are going to get by going to a bowl with an overhanging coaching search.

[OC Mustang]

If he goes 6-6 and gets to a bowl, Bennett is staying (and probably getting an extension). Anybody that thinks Orsini or anyone else at this school is going to fire a coach the same year SMU gets its first post-DP bowl invite is drunk.

For one thing, it would be a PR disaster. You going to fire him after the bowl game or before? Sure, whizz away all the good press you are going to get by going to a bowl with an overhanging coaching search.

Agree with your assessment. But I will also say (and it would also be a PR mess...maybe not a disaster, but certainly a concern) that Bennett might leave himself if he does well enough (just being optimistic for a moment).

Guys, if he can solidify WRs from graduation losses, RBs from injury, and then DLineman from both, we have a much better go of it this year, schedule notwithstanding. I think sober assessments are appropriate, and I think most people have that idea here, but let's not short ourselves yet. I think this team COULD be much improved over last year. I think after spring ball, we should have a little better feel over it.