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Last week, I said Rice (4-5) had a better shot at 7-5 than SMU did (5-4) ... people laughed. Rice just beat 7-2 Tulsa.

Further, our bowl chances at 6-6 are diminished with Rice threatening bowl eligibility

NEXT WEEK
-Rice (5-5) hosts ECU (6-4)
-SMU (5-5) hosts Tulsa (7-3)

NOV 25th
The "Grudge Match" in Houston for a chance at wither 6 or 7 wins.

Is there any question left that a 5-5 Rice team is miles ahead of a 5-5 SMU team?

Rice was 1-10 last year, without a make up game against Navy (a likely loss).

SAGARIN
Rank: Rice #70, Strength of Schedule: #48
Rank: SMU #90, Strength of Schedule: #109

Rice has a nice 1 year turnaround under Graham/Applewhite with same issues we face. (attendance, academics, etc)

And do you know why?

Because he plays and schemes for the players he has, not the players he wished he had (like Cavan, like PB).

If you are a small OL team, you don't play 'straight-up' against a Michigan DL...you are going to lose that battle.

So, a good coach schemes as best he can.

PB's fault is his inability to design with the players he has...his DBacks are not KState quality, yet he stubbornly continues to run that D-scheme rather than change it to best compete.

We have a competitive team at least, but I don't think it's going to be enough against Tulsa or Rice.

I think that's been PB's problem all along.

PhirePhilBennett wrote:And do you know why?

Because he plays and schemes for the players he has, not the players he wished he had (like Cavan, like PB).

If you are a small OL team, you don't play 'straight-up' against a Michigan DL...you are going to lose that battle.

So, a good coach schemes as best he can.

PB's fault is his inability to design with the players he has...his DBacks are not KState quality, yet he stubbornly continues to run that D-scheme rather than change it to best compete.

I agree with that statement

PhirePhilBennett wrote:And do you know why?

Because he plays and schemes for the players he has, not the players he wished he had (like Cavan, like PB).

If you are a small OL team, you don't play 'straight-up' against a Michigan DL...you are going to lose that battle.

So, a good coach schemes as best he can.

PB's fault is his inability to design with the players he has...his DBacks are not KState quality, yet he stubbornly continues to run that D-scheme rather than change it to best compete.

Your telling me that PB isn't a defensive genius? I thought he had forgotten more than you will ever know in your lifetime?

Todd Graham has done a great job, in just one year!

i love that people actually think they know what they're talking about regarding defensive schemes and such, if ur so good at defending monster fast athletes u should be on the field with a headset, that's not the case. in ncaa 07 set ur difficulty on "heisman" and see what happens when ur smu and u play houston, you'll see what i'm talking about

ALEX LIFESON wrote:Todd Graham has done a great job, in just one year!

I wonder if anyone thought the coach over at UCF was a genius after turning that program around after one year, only to watch it come down in flames around the next year. I want sustained success. Not one year of awesome and more years of suck.

perunapower wrote:

ALEX LIFESON wrote:Todd Graham has done a great job, in just one year!

I wonder if anyone thought the coach over at UCF was a genius after turning that program around after one year, only to watch it come down in flames around the next year. I want sustained success. Not one year of awesome and more years of suck.

We'll just see if Rice sucks next year. Tulsa seemed to have a nice quick turnaround as well.

Im sorry but now I'd almost settle for one year of success than 5 years of at best being mediocre.......

SmartAsymptote wrote:Im sorry but now I'd almost settle for one year of success than 5 years of at best being mediocre.......

I can promise you wouldn't say that after that one year of success.

SMU is a program not designed for sucess. We need to pay an amazing coach who can recruit against Baylor, TCU and Tech. Even in the 80s, arguably our most sucessful teams, we only had winning seasons for 3 or 4 years. I was so excited for our players that we had a chance, but being SMU we couldn't capitolize. When will the football gods look down on us with favor. Guess they are too busy with Texas and Notre Dame. Good luck with Tulsa, but my heart has gone out of it.

SMU had 7 straight years of winning teams 1980-1986. Actually had the best record of any program in the Country for a 4 year period.

I don't think Bennett can get these guys over the top. 6-6- will not be enough for a bowl bid and I don't see SMU wining the next two games.

Btw, have the Mustangs beat a team with a wining record this year?

I hope Orsini has a list of coaching candidates ready, at least the cupboard won't be completely bare when and if a new coach comes to take over.