Did Bennett interview with K-State?

[BRStang]

Anyone? I'd really like to know. The K-State Board says he did earlier in the week.

It appears he may be out of the running for that job, but WHAT IF HE HAD GOTTEN IT?

It just troubles me to think that Bennett would say he's got a job to do turning SMU around in one breath and then turn around an interview with K-State less than a week later.

If we win 7 or 8 games next year, is Bennett gonna bolt when the next BCS coaching vacancy becomes available?

Look, I know the other side of this argument (financial, looking out for #1, etc.), but I thought Bennett was supposed to be a good principled guy. Regardless of whether you couldn't care less if Bennett stayed at SMU, don't you think it's a bit chickensh!t for him to interview for another job without completing the job he was hired for at SMU?

[Dutch]

from today's DMN...

SMU's Bennett not interviewed for K-State job


02:09 AM CST on Thursday, December 1, 2005
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News



UNIVERSITY PARK – Football coach Phil Bennett denied a published report out of Kansas that said he interviewed for the vacant Kansas State job.

Bennett, who completed his fourth season at SMU, was an assistant coach at Kansas State from 1999-2001.

SMU athletic director Jim Copeland said Kansas State officials haven't contacted him seeking permission to speak with Bennett.

"I'm recruiting for SMU," Bennett said. "I have not met with anyone representing Kansas State. We've got something positive going on here."

ESPN.com reported late Wednesday night that Kansas State has planned a second interview with Virginia offensive coordinator Ron Prince.

[jtstang]

If Bennett is offered the chance to interview for that job, he'll certainly do it. If he is offered the job, he'd be a loon not to accept.

[DiamondM75]

You don't follow college coaches much, do you?

I can't blame anyone for grabbing the brass ring. What would you do? An employer calls you and wants you to take a job that pays 3 times your current salary, are you going to say no thanks just because your current employer was nice to you and gave you a chance? I didn't think so.

I wouldn't blame PB for taking a BCS gig or even less, interview for one. I know someday this will happen.

I don't want Phil to leave. This year shows a vast improvement over the last 3 years and I want him to complete the job, but does he owes us? NO.

[BRStang]

Thanks, PBM. Glad to see that.

DM75--I follow coaching changes when I need to. What's that supposed to mean, anyway?

Your comments are typical of the "me" generation. Yes, I know the ULTIMATE goal for a coach is to be the best he can be. I have never begrudged Nick Saban his choice to move to the NFL to coach the Dolphins, despite the fact that it broke every LSU fan's heart by doing so. Saban had fulfilled his obligation, though. He made LSU a national powerhouse and revitalized LSU from the inside out. You oughta check out the place.

Bennett has not even come close to what he PROMISED to do at SMU. Yes, he and the team are headed in the right direction, but we have still not turned the corner. There's a difference in my book.

[DiamondM75]

DM75--I follow coaching changes when I need to. What's that supposed to mean, anyway?

Your comments are typical of the "me" generation. Yes, I know the ULTIMATE goal for a coach is to be the best he can be. I have never begrudged Nick Saban his choice to move to the NFL to coach the Dolphins, despite the fact that it broke every LSU fan's heart by doing so. Saban had fulfilled his obligation, though. He made LSU a national powerhouse and revitalized LSU from the inside out. You oughta check out the place.

Bennett has not even come close to what he PROMISED to do at SMU. Yes, he and the team are headed in the right direction, but we have still not turned the corner. There's a difference in my book.

Please don't misunderstand me. I think Phil needs to stay and finish the job, but, I wouldn't blame him for taking the opportunity, if presented. Personally, I think it would be a mistake for Phil to take the KSU job. If he stays at SMU and does what he promised, then I think his value will rise. He can show that he is a man of his word, and from what I know of Phil, he is that type of person. KSU is not the major program it once was and with new recruiting restrictions from the NCAA, makes the job even more difficult. If PB were to take this type of job and fail his stock would fall. He needs to stay here, complete the job, then take a TT, aTm or ever Baylor type job.

Taking SMU from a coaches graveyard and bottom rung team to a conference champion and top 25 team will show everyone that he can do what he says, and this will only increase his value. I am sure Phil realizes this and will oneday take Francione's job.

[Stallion]

geez the drinking is starting early in the Christmas Season this year. Top 25 Team? We would be lucky to make the Top 85. We have no class on campus which would justify such a prediction or ranking and have a long way to go in recruiting to reach that level. So enjoy our road to glory in 2006 over Sam Houston, Arkansas St, Texas St or whoever we play next year but please retain some semblance of reality in where we are, what we have to do to improve the program and where we are going. I will say that unless additional changes are made to Model I feel quite confident that I doubt anyone of us will be alive the next time SMU breaks into the Top 25.

[Blunt Pony]

It is truly amazing what a couple of wins will do. Let me say I have been a fan of Phil Bennett the person since he has been here. As a coach, I have not been real impressed. The direction at the end of this year has really turned my head. I have a good feeling about where we are headed, but have been beaten down too many other times to be overly optimistic.

One thing we all need to remember is if our coach is getting interviews and interest from a BCS school, we should all feel good. We want our coaches to leave for better opportunities until the SMU Head Coach job becomes the better opportunity. If we run through 3 coaches in the next 9 years, I would not be bothered as long as they are leaving due to them being wanted rather than being run out of town.

Folks, we are a stepping stone (at least we aspire to be) for young talented coaches. If we can be a stepping stone it means the program is headed in the right direction. Someday I hope that we become a pinnacle in some coaches career, but until then let's hope we get used to a coaching carousel based on SUCCESS!

[perunapride]

I do not believe Bennett will get the job @ KSU but with the withdrawl of Patterson, Leavitt & Venables from consideration, he would currently be considered as one of the top 3 candidates with ties to the Bill Snyder coaching tree. Ron Prince, offensive coordinator from Virginia has entered the fray. He is a native of Kansas (Junction City which is 15 miles from Manhattan, KS) & is one of the top black coaches who is mentioned as being ready for a D-1 job. He could be a smoke screen to grade out well with the BCA but those in the know still think Dana Dimel, former Wyoming & Houston head coach has better ties to Snyder & to the KSU alumni. He is still seen as a better fit than Bennett to many in the know @ KSU. Maybe Bennett can work another extension & raise out of this situation similar to what Leavitt & Patterson have done. Its the American way.

[RGV Pony]

I'm wondering if right now a) Phil says he hasn't interviewed because he knows he's going to and will have a solid shot, because b) right now K-State is doing what it has to do to look good by extending an interview to the UVa asst., who is a minority. I know it's not the NFL, and schools aren't mandated to interview a minority, but the flack doled out to non-EOE-like procedures might make someone like KState want to at least go through the motions of interviewing minorities.

[McClown27]

geez the drinking is starting early in the Christmas Season this year. Top 25 Team? We would be lucky to make the Top 85. We have no class on campus which would justify such a prediction or ranking and have a long way to go in recruiting to reach that level. So enjoy our road to glory in 2006 over Sam Houston, Arkansas St, Texas St or whoever we play next year but please retain some semblance of reality in where we are, what we have to do to improve the program and where we are going. I will say that unless additional changes are made to Model I feel quite confident that I doubt anyone of us will be alive the next time SMU breaks into the Top 25.

Stallion is right. We need to continue with these changes to the Kenneth Pye model before we can dream of a top-25 ranking. These changes have finally begun. After these changes, we might start getting some players now going out of state (Arizona, ASU, OSU, Arkansas).

[PonySnob]

Maybe Bennett can work another extension & raise out of this situation similar to what Leavitt & Patterson have done. Its the American way.

The last thing SMU needs to do is give Bennett another extension or a raise given that he has not even won 50% of the games that he has coached at here at SMU. Hopefully Copeland learned that after the Mike Cavan to Ole Miss "smoke and mirror" show a few years ago!

[Dutch]

geez the drinking is starting early in the Christmas Season this year. Top 25 Team? We would be lucky to make the Top 85. We have no class on campus which would justify such a prediction or ranking and have a long way to go in recruiting to reach that level. So enjoy our road to glory in 2006 over Sam Houston, Arkansas St, Texas St or whoever we play next year but please retain some semblance of reality in where we are, what we have to do to improve the program and where we are going. I will say that unless additional changes are made to Model I feel quite confident that I doubt anyone of us will be alive the next time SMU breaks into the Top 25.

in regards to your tounge in cheek comment about ranking, i felt obligated to show this too you.

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootba ... 119/index2

73rd isn't too bad all things considered. i know the season isn't over yet, but at this point, no one below 60 is going to move up or down.

[jtstang]

I guess that means we're lucky.

[Dutch]

luck is when preperation meets opportunity.

sounds like a fairly good description of this season.