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Showed the locker room and a segment of Bennett's Post-Game speech to the team. Praised the D and the fact that "you showed people coast to coast that we're building a great football program here in Dallas...and its not the Dallas Cowboys."

Flutie and CJ analyzed SMU and Phil Bennett. CJ says Orsini has a big decision to make and look at what Bennett has done in his tenure--says SMU should be 9-3, 10-2, etc.

The crew didn't shower SMU with praises, but hell, I just like the national TV coverage.

After going back and looking at this again, let me just clarify the remarks for those who missed it. My opinion of CJ is that he is filled with so much pent-up frustration and anger towards SMU, whether it be for the past 20 losing years or whatever, that he just can't be too complimentary. I can't say I don't understand or blame him...honestly. I think deep down, he wants us to come back, but will believe it when he is made to see it.

CJ's comments: (paraphrased)

John Saunders says: Well, this is SMU's best start since 1986, they're on their way back.

CJ: *Mumbles something about how he is not associated with the 0-12 years..."maybe 12-0, but not 0-12"*...SMU needs to get some pride...the team is made up of guys from the DFW metroplex, they're talented, but have not had success here. You have to win before you can expect to win.

Flutie: You know, they're really buying into what Bennett is preaching..that they are a part of something that is building...that they have a gold mine and can be a part of turning this team around.

Saunders: Lot of spirit...demonstrated by the 4th down play that stopped UAB for the win.

Flutie: Very true--you see the emotion on this team...*shows the 4th down play*

CJ: Yeah, but, you gotta be real about this...UAB's offense shot themselves in the foot on this, they had missed opportunities, offsides penalties that gave SMU a chance...UAB didn't take advantage of it when they had it...

Flutie: UAB's O did dominate in the 3rd Q--rammed it down SMU's throat.

Saunders: Phil Bennett still comes away as the winning coach.

*shows the PB lockerroom speech.

Saunders: Team is above .500. Is PB the guy to take this team to the next level?

CJ: *shakes head* Well, Orsini has tough decision...has to look at PB's tenure and what's going on here. He also has to realize that this is C-USA. SMU should not be happy at 7-5, 8-4...No, they need to be going 9-3, 10-2, 11-1 against these types of opponents. The reason for this is the recruiting base, the facilities here, educuation, history...this is a team that should be dominating C-USA because of those things.

Flutie: Pony here has high standards for SMU...they're headed in the right direction, they're on their way, they're getting there.

Anybody who really knows SMU's history would agree that with SMU's heritage, the facilities and its location in Dallas the deepest recruiting area in the country that Craiig James is absolutely right in stating that SMU should be dominating CUSA West. These are all schools who traditionally have no business even being on the same field as SMU with the possible exception of Houston. Tulsa? UTEP? Rice? Tulane? Its hard for older alumni to understand why SMU shouldn't dominate these schools.For that matter what advantage does TCU have over SMU? And yet arguably TCU has outrecruited SMU in 16 straight years-without dispute in 14 out of 16 years. These are schools SMU has and should dominate. The reason we have not is just as easy to explain if you truly follow college football. There hasn't been a Coach at this school since the DP that would disagree with the exact reasons I have posted for years.

Regardless of his deep down feelings, he has to walk a fine line since he is *supposed* to be partial. I hate announcers who gush over their alma mater, it makes me want to puke. When a guy is calling his alma mater's game, they almost have to be negative or the other guys will call him on it. Overall I thought he was good, much better than the time I watched him do an NFL game. The chemistry between the three was definitely not there in the beginning, but as the game wore on it was fairly entertaining.

Stallion wrote:Anybody who really knows SMU's history would agree that with SMU's heritage, the facilities and its location in Dallas the deepest recruiting area in the country that Craiig James is absolutely right in stating that SMU should be dominating CUSA West.

CUSA in general. The old big 12 (SWC) was virtually dominated by us for a while, and the DP whipped our asses. Whether PB deserves to be here or not, I don't care to talk about, but he's doing a better job than he was. He also has ALL Bennett recruits now, too, not that he shouldn't have been doing this when he got here.

Stallion wrote:Anybody who really knows SMU's history would agree that with SMU's heritage, the facilities and its location in Dallas the deepest recruiting area in the country that Craiig James is absolutely right in stating that SMU should be dominating CUSA West. These are all schools who traditionally have no business even being on the same field as SMU with the possible exception of Houston. Tulsa? UTEP? Rice? Tulane? Its hard for older alumni to understand why SMU shouldn't dominate these schools.For that matter what advantage does TCU have over SMU? And yet arguably TCU has outrecruited SMU in 16 straight years-without dispute in 14 out of 16 years. These are schools SMU has and should dominate. The reason we have not is just as easy to explain if you truly follow college football. There hasn't been a Coach at this school since the DP that would disagree with the exact reasons I have posted for years.

If PB goes, I nominate Kragthorpe...if he can win in Tulsa, he could dominate here...theoretically.

or Krapthorpe may realize that the honeymoon maybe over because he doesn't have Todd Graham recruiting for him anymore. Graham got the players that made that program good. Take the date of Graham's departure then count to 3 and 4 and we'll see where Tulsa is.

BRStang wrote:My opinion of CJ is that he is filled with so much pent-up frustration and anger towards SMU, whether it be for the past 20 losing years or whatever, that he just can't be too complimentary. I can't say I don't understand or blame him...honestly. I think deep down, he wants us to come back, but will believe it when he is made to see it.

That should be your opinion of several ponyfan posters as well.

CJ did make a pretty impassioned remark in the 4th quarter about how SMU was a great education, in Dallas, with many, many positives and that anyone should be happy to come to SMU.... Best one minute ad for SMU we've had in a long time. That's why a national broadcast means so much. Clearly CJ is not enamoured with Bennett. The question is who would be better? Stallion has long talked about the handcuffs on our coaches. Bennett has had some of them removed, but not all of them. And there is no guarantee that a new coach would have them removed either. For the record, I am not the biggest supporter of coach Bennett, but I am a realist that sometimes a bird in hand is better that two in the bush. Can we hire the football equivalent of Matt Doherty? Or would we be looking at Cavan, Bennett, Rosseley clones? This is a better team talent wise in my view than we've had in quite a while. Justin Willis is a very good college QB. Kennedy and Chase are solid tight ends. We have depth at RB and at WR for the first time I can remember. Our linebackers and DL look pretty good. I thought that our DBs looked better last night and much more aggressive than at ECU.

East is right, if you cannot make a significant upgrade at coach, and by that I am talking about a guy who can attract better (and not just marginally better) recruits under the same circumstances Bennett has faced, it makes no sense to make a change. Something tells me that Orsini does not share that sentiment, though.

I'm glad Flutie called us out for the ridiculous offsides trap we keep running where the goal seems to be get Willis killed to gain 5 yards. He said something along the lines of "this is not smart, you need to protect your qb". I understand drawing the defense off, but we need to have either the line be in on it and block, or just have Willis spike the ball.

Amen, to your comments. As a critic of Coach Phil, I think one day he may make an excellant head coach. Time maybe running out for him here and three or four years from now we will regret his departure.
I do think I see more progress in the program and in the coach. Right now his main problem maybe his loyalty to his assistant coaches. Mac Brown almost lost his job, until the boys in Austin forced him to make changes. Perhaps our new AD can mentor Phil and negotiate a trade-off for his staying here at SMU. He certainly needs some big-time recruiting help and a budget.

how is Bennett going to explain an injury to Willis in that situation? He got a pretty good shot last night and got up slow

Just remember, Bennett kept fighting to break down the academic walls that Cavan quit fighting for. The talent is better because of his efforts.

And as for that fraud James, when his teams were going 10-1, 9-2, etc. the alums had a payroll to meet.

The mark of a successful football program is when you have all athletic and non-athletic entities wanting the same things. Since the death penalty, we haven't had that until recently. But then you have the ridiculous office of student life jumping into the Willis altercation that still makes you wonder.

EastStang wrote:CJ did make a pretty impassioned remark in the 4th quarter about how SMU was a great education, in Dallas, with many, many positives and that anyone should be happy to come to SMU.... Best one minute ad for SMU we've had in a long time....

Only a ONE-minute ad?

1. Craig James lauded the academic reputation of the school.
2. CJ pointed out that Dallas is a great city.
3. Steve-O was presented with that first national sportsmanship award, underscoring the character of our coaching staff.
4. Our poms and cheerleaders got on TV, and looked damn good.
5. John Saunders mentioned several times about how the program is improving, on the right track, etc., and how Coach Bennett is recruiting the "right kind of athletes."
6. Vincent Chase, Justin Willis and Cedrick Dorsey all made SportsCenter.

THAT's the kind of pub we need! Now we need more of it.