It's official. Bennett fired today.

[Pony Soup]

Someone mentioned ttu earlier this season as a spot for PB

[PonySoprano]

[quote="JesuitPony"]http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/102907dnsposmubennett.1b657043c.html

SMU fires football coach Phil Bennett
Source: He will remain in place for Mustangs' final four games

04:17 PM CDT on Sunday, October 28, 2007
By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]

Bennett had two years remaining on his contract and is paid almost $500,000 a year.

SMU poured a $750,000 increase into its marketing budget to promote the team and the new “Pony Upâ€

[OR-See-Nee]

That's the most sobering point of that article to me--how much money we owe. And can't raise, apparently. Ouch.

[Pony Soup]

the pony up campaign was really created to get the alumni ready to dish out some cash...

[StangEsq]

Yeah I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Big 12 teams fighting to have a defense like ours. When was the last time any of these things happened?
-a QB threw for more than 700 yards against us
-a back rushed for more than 400 yards against us
-a receiver had more than 400 yards receiving against us
-a team scored more than 60 points against us

Maybe he'll find another team that's full of future NFL players like Darren Howard, Terrance Newman, Ben Leber, Jeremetrius Butler, Jerrod Copper, Jon McGraw and Demarcus Faggins.

[George S. Patton]

That's the most sobering point of that article to me--how much money we owe. And can't raise, apparently. Ouch.

Last I saw, the damn building was being built and the scoreboard is up -- so what are we talking about? I'm sure in time, the balance will be collected. In today's world $1.3 million is not that much.

[gostangs]

Don't think the facts are updated on Crum or scoreboard. I have heard they have complted both fund raisings fairly recently.

[PonyKai]

I have also heard that Mr. Orsini has had quite a bit of success raising funds- especially compared to the man that held his position for a decade before him.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Only thing Copeland raised was eyebrows.


Hows that jt?

[OR-See-Nee]

Well, if we've got the money, that's great and Kate needs to get her facts straight. I'd hate to see a tow truck back up to Moody one night and repo the scoreboard.

[planoponyfan]

I've posted a lot of comments here defending Phil Bennett. I think bringing him back this year was the right move after last season. However, the team needed to perform for him to keep his job. It was troubling to read about the defensive injuries going into the season. It was clear we were going to have to outscore folks all season to win games. We just couldn't do it. Two overtime losses and the heartbreaker to Tulsa just sealed Bennett's fate - and rightly so.

I don't think he was either surprised or terribly upset by the decision today. Evidence of that is the fact that he's agreed to stay on to coach the final four games.

He's a good man and I wish him nothing but the best. I'm sure he'll land on his feet somewhere.

[Pony Soup]

It was clear we were going to have to outscore folks all season to win games.

Well said.

[PonyKai]

ESPN Just picked it up:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3084368

[Statler]

It's official on the SMU Website:

http://smumustangs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102807aac.html

[PonyKai]

"I appreciate Phil's efforts here at SMU, but I felt it was time for a change," said Orsini. "He has represented the university with class and has graduated his student-athletes at some of the highest rates in the nation. I have never doubted his effort and desire to win and we wish him the best."

That is so incredibly better to see than "I've seen enough."