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Bennett doesn't do "must-games" anymore

SMU coach Phil Bennett grimaced Tuesday afternoon when he was asked about Saturday’s game vs. Arkansas State (1-1) being a “must-win.”

“I stopped talking about those must-games after North Texas. That cured me,” he said.

But Bennett did admit to players knowing “there are some important issues at hand with this game.”

•Bennett said SMU (1-2) has focused on identifying what its players are best at, and letting them do it. QB Justin Willis found a confidence in the win vs. Sam Houston State, and the game slowed down for him. Good things happen whenever WR Emmanuel Sanders gets the ball. WR Columbus Givens is coming into his own after learning to play the position last year as a true freshman. LB Wilton McCray is making plays big defensively.

•Arkansas State is physical, and Bennett said like North Texas and other Sun Belt Conference teams, its players play with a chip on their shoulders. Arkansas State won the Sun Belt last season and played in the New Orleans Bowl.

•RB Johnnie Fitzgerald (high ankle sprain) is questionable for Saturday’s game, but there's still a chance he could play.

Posted by Kate Hairopoulos

Wonder why this couldn't make the print edition...

McClown27 wrote:Wonder why this couldn't make the print edition...

I know we're less than a week in, but I don't recall having seen a full paragraph from Ms. Hairopolous yet. Mostly stream of consciousness stuff.

There were several in her side story (Calvin wrote the game story) after Saturday's game.

Since Bennett won't say it-I will-this is a "must-win" for SMU and Bennett. He will not survive with loses to North Texas State Teachers College and Arkansas Tech in the same year.

Maybe, maybe not. A loss to Arkansas State would not look good, that's true. But if the team then rights the ship and does well in C-USA play, he very well could survive. Hard to say at this point. Steve-O was quoted as saying it's much too early. I would assume he'd be inclined to play out the season. Just a guess, of course, but that's the impression I get.

McClown27 wrote:Wonder why this couldn't make the print edition...

She had a column in today's DMN's that contained most of this stuff.