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I am guessing that the quotes in all the articles were from Bennett's press conference? Does PonyPride or anyone else know if he had one? If so will it be posted on All-Access?

Bennett's quotes read as well as any coaches I've ever read. They aren't very impressive in person as he tends to stammer and wander from the topic (not judging, that's how I tend to be in my press conferences), but they look great on paper. When I read this quote I got chills...

"We get a chance to finish a job we've put our heart and souls into. I could never live with myself with first and goal twice at Rice and not winning that game, but I will hunt another day," Bennett said. "I think we have an awesome commitment right now to the football program. That means a lot to me. I think it's a commitment that mediocrity is not accepted… and the fact that he [Orsini] believes I'm the guy that can take this to the next level… I told him, I want to be a part of his team."

I know why we lost and I make no bones that I blame Bennett and his staff for not converting on those goal-to-go situations. But damn if I'm not proud to hear his enthusiasm for the program.

I thought Bennett should have been let go, and I'm not going to backtrack now that he has been retained. He's had five years and we seem to be spinning our wheels. However, I've never disliked Bennett and it is quotes like that, that make me proud he's our coach. Maybe it points to his salesmanship/charisma that a quote can bring me immense anger because of the man's futility yet at the same time make me proud of the man...can't explain it.

Bottom line, I wouldn't mind if 20 years from now we are playing on the Phil Bennett Field at Ford Stadium. He'll have to make it to a bowl in 2007 for that to even be a possibility, so I'll be rooting for him as usual.

To the best of my knowledge, those quotes must have come from a phone interview or a one-on-one visit. I don't recall any press conference where he said that.

That was Bennett chatting with Kate Papadapoulous. Nothing more.

I agree - Two days ago I wanted him gone but let's all dig in and get ready for 07 now. The next thing we need is to get people excited and fill the stands next year. As we improve, recruiting will still top out below par until we can shower potential players that the student body cares, that alumni care, and that Dallas cares.

Anyone remember the sounds of our first win post DP (i had to leave early because it was past my bedtime - thanks dad - but i could hear the stadium from my house) or the excitedment as we took back the iron skillet in 2005? SMU should be that way 6 saturdays a year and then we can work on taking our show on the road.

Go Stangs!

firephil wrote:I agree - Two days ago I wanted him gone but let's all dig in and get ready for 07 now. The next thing we need is to get people excited and fill the stands next year. As we improve, recruiting will still top out below par until we can shower potential players that the student body cares, that alumni care, and that Dallas cares.

Anyone remember the sounds of our first win post DP (i had to leave early because it was past my bedtime - thanks dad - but i could hear the stadium from my house) or the excitedment as we took back the iron skillet in 2005? SMU should be that way 6 saturdays a year and then we can work on taking our show on the road.

Go Stangs!

I was there! It was awesome..

firephil wrote:
Anyone remember the sounds of our first win post DP (i had to leave early because it was past my bedtime - thanks dad - but i could hear the stadium from my house) or the excitedment as we took back the iron skillet in 2005? SMU should be that way 6 saturdays a year and then we can work on taking our show on the road.

Go Stangs!

Not to rub it in, but I was there for the UCONN game in 89. It was then, and will always be, the best football game I'll ever see. No victory by any sports team before or since has ever been so sweet for me.

I attended every home game for the first 3 years after the DP. We had a few other wins and many awful blowout losses. Somehow though, the memory of Mike Romo connecting on a 4 yard TD as time expired always stands out above anything else good or bad that happened in those 3 seasons.

It's that kind of emotion and excitement we need to bring back to SMU football. We need the fans in the stands and we need the product on the field to make it happen. I think we're headed in the right direction with the current leaders we have in the athletic department.