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In Today's Arkansas Gazette here in Little Rock the following letter to the editor appeared:

"SMU has a fan, win or lose

SMU football coach Phil Bennett was recently given a two-year extension on his contract, which is valid through the 2008 season. The amazing fact about this extension is that Bennett has an overall losing record of 6-29, lost eight in 2004 and lost all 11 games in 2003.
Evidently, Southern Methodist University does not place ultimate importance on the record of its football coach when it comes to hiring and firing.
I would like to think that SMU thought Bennett was of sufficiently high character and class that retaining his employment outweighs his record. How refreshing. Take not, Ole Miss, NotreDame, Nebraska and Florida. I am going to become an SMU supporter, win or lose"
BURT MADDEN - Little Rock"

Nice to see some positive press up here on SMU. He could have mentioned Arkansas as one of the schools [deleted] coaches also.

I read that this morning Arkpony. The best thing about it was the Headline was about 1 1/2 inches high on the editorial page where they are normally about 1/2" high. It stood out glaringly as a pro SMU statement. Maybe, if there are any Juniors or below, high school kids out there with talent they will put SMU on their radar.

Wonderful heads up. All of us want this move to more than a gesture, but, more importantly, the right strategy in our path to success. Continuity has a key role, assuming Phil can pull it off. 2005 is critical for the Ponies, SMU and Phil. Go Mustangs!

However, while watching the Champs Bowl (Georgia Tech VS Syracuse), a much discussed topic was whether the Orange head coach, Paul Pasqualoni, would survive, especially with a new AD arriving. Forcing him out, while he is President of the College Football Coaches Assoc., would be sad after being at Syracuse for more than 20 years. Even Paterno is under siege.

My best example is Joe Novak of Norther Illinois. His first three years were worst than Phil's with a program down, every bit as much as ours.

nice to hear about -

got to be a silver-lining somewhere in all this mix

merry christmas to all!