Bennett: "Recruited Aldridge But Couldn't Get Him Into SMU"

[SMU Football Blog]

I also heard Bennett said changes have been made since he has been at SMU, yet I am unaware of a press release during his tenure saying as much.

Neither am I. But I did watch a press conference last week where I thought I heard Orsini say what I wrote in that previous post. There is at least one other way to get news out besides a press release, saying it at a press conference.

I need to review what Orsini exactly said; he said all those things but it is unclear what he talking about. I interpreted it to me there would be an education degree or sportsmanagement degree soon; that is what I thought the timetable is about.

[ponyboy]

I am sure there are categories of players with lower grades and test scores that meet the minimum NCAA standards but the coaches do not pursue because they know the player would not get into SMU.

Yes, I think that's the key. We haven't bothered on those types of players -- thus no one's been brought to Orsini.

[jtstang]

I need to review what Orsini exactly said; he said all those things but it is unclear what he talking about. I interpreted it to me there would be an education degree or sportsmanagement degree soon; that is what I thought the timetable is about.

Well, that would definitely cover one of the recruiting problems Bennett said existed, and really the one I was thinking about.

And feel free to correct me here, but I always got the impression that the JUCO and transfer loss of hours issue was somewhat related to SMU not having majors corresponding to the classes taken elsewhere. So perhaps it will help address two of the problem areas Bennett was talking about.

In any event, this concept of waiting on a "timetable" suggests to me that these problems still currently hamper us.

[Stallion]

Mustang Icon:

"Bennett is a terrible head football coach. Put him at UH and they won't have had near the success they have had under Art Briles."

I'm pretty confident you don't know what the hell you are talking about or you wouldn't have made such an asinine comment. You don't know the first thing about the players Art Briles gets in that school.

[Bergermeister]

well Rivals reported that Aldridge was either taking or retaking his SAT two weeks before signing date which is a pretty good indicator could not have gotten into SMU.

It's over. What can WE do now?

[abezontar]

well Rivals reported that Aldridge was either taking or retaking his SAT two weeks before signing date which is a pretty good indicator could not have gotten into SMU.

It's over. What can WE do now?

Apparently the only solution is to [deleted] about it on ponyfans

[Stallion]

....make sure it doesn't happen for another 20 years-how about that. I don't think many of you have the stomach for playing Division 1A Football. SMU fans deserve what they get.

[FWMustangGirl]

....make sure it doesn't happen for another 20 years-how about that. I don't think many of you have the stomach for playing Division 1A Football. SMU fans deserve what they get.

How? Please, enlighten me. How do you propose we make sure it doesn't happen for another 20 years?

[gardbarns]

Alridge was never recruited by SMU. Ganaway was recruited by SMU and by Rice, I believe he commited to Rice at one point, but simply chose UH.

[Bergermeister]

....make sure it doesn't happen for another 20 years-how about that. .

Let me rephrase my previous inquiry: What can I do NOW?

[mrydel]

Alridge was never recruited by SMU. Ganaway was recruited by SMU and by Rice, I believe he commited to Rice at one point, but simply chose UH.

You may be right but that is not what the quote attributed to Phil Bennett says.

[Pony Fan]

Don't you think Bennett is going to say whatever he wants now to divert the attention from his TOTAL failure as a head coach? Is he not telling the truth now, or was he not telling the truth several times before when he said that he could get anybody in school. Some people call this sour grapes.

[George S. Patton]

Keep in mind that Bennett and his staff made it a point to mainly pursue those who went to their spring and summer camps.

So in one sense, they limited their pool of prospects. Sure, I would think they pursued an unknown number of those who did not. However, based on what I have read, that number could have been much smaller.

Is it fair to say that these changes really applied to those they pursued or did they give up on borderline kids too soon because they weren't willing to take the risk?

I can tell you this, they pursued an Aledo DL Michael Wilcoxon last year, who eventually committed to Texas.

Throughout their offer letter to him, they incorrectly spelled his last name.
It left a lot of lingering doubts and the communication between him and the staff was terrible. Texas swooped in and took him and from what I understand he's seeing playing time this year.

That's a recruiting disaster.

[SMU Football Blog]

All I am saying is I haven't trusted a thing Phil says for some time. I am sure there is a grain of truth to what he says, but what that truth is I haven't a clue.

[George S. Patton]

It will be interesting to know what the fallout is after he is no longer on the campus. Stories will be told -- and they will be embellished but there will be truth in there as there always is.