News and notes

[PonyPride]

• D.J. Emerson has not transferred. He is at home this summer, tending to some family business and working out every day. He is still part of the SMU program and will be here in the fall.

• Three players who reportedly have some of the most significant improvement in their conditioning ("through hard work and just maturing physically," according to head coach Phil Bennett) are QB Justin Willis, RB DeMyron Martin and DT Charlie Berry.

• Anthony Sowe has moved from OLB to DE. He has added 30 pounds since his arrival at SMU, now weighing in at 225.

• Logan Turner is not the No. 2 QB — he is being an opportunity to compete for the No. 2 spot. Zach Rhodes' shoulder is fine, and he will remain at QB.

• Phillip Burley is going to play multiple roles. He officially is listed as a tight end now, but will split out some, to take advantage of the mismatches his size creates.

• DeMikel Shankle looks significantly stronger than any picture that I've seen. He's going to start out at DB. Supposedly he had some big-time offers (LSU, Texas A&M, Kansas State, Kansas, among others) that were then pulled after he was injured as a high school junior.

• Freshman WR Rodney Bradley is going to Navarro Junior College, and is expected to return to SMU when he finishes there.

[PK]

Thanks for the updates...hmmm, wonder if that other, to remain un-named, site has supplied such current information?

[perunapower]

Bravo, PonyPride. I, for one, appreciate your work for this site and all of us Pony fans.

[George S. Patton]

It's nice to have some of the speculation put to rest. Thanks, PonyPride.

Sounds like we have some more options at DE now that Kyle Griffin's career is over.

[jkflamebo]

interesting about haynes...i actually like the idea of him playing and getting experience for one year at a jc and then getting thrown right in next year and puttin up numbers. hope he comes back

[jason54858]

interesting about haynes...i actually like the idea of him playing and getting experience for one year at a jc and then getting thrown right in next year and puttin up numbers. hope he comes back

I think I have heard Haynes is already enrolled at SMU and taking classes

[southerncomfort]

Bradley Haynes and Rodney Bradley are different guys Bradley Haynes, David Haynes' cousin certainly is here on campus already though!

[westexSMU]

Glad to here QB/WR Zach Rhodes shoulder is OK. I think he is more talented than alot of people realize. Also glad to here true freshman QB Logan Turner has to EARN being the #2 QB on this team. Nothing against Turner but no true freshman should ever just be handed the #2 QB spot on a Division 1 team. You may recall an article on Mustang Mania in June that indicated Turner was the #2, after former QB Corey Slater left the team.

[PhirePhilBennett]

Glad to here QB/WR Zach Rhodes shoulder is OK. I think he is more talented than alot of people realize. Also glad to here true freshman QB Logan Turner has to EARN being the #2 QB on this team. Nothing against Turner but no true freshman should ever just be handed the #2 QB spot on a Division 1 team. You may recall an article on Mustang Mania in June that indicated Turner was the #2, after former QB Corey Slater left the team.

What happened to all of our QBs that Peanut Butter said he'd never be caught in this position again...isnt' that why her recruited 3 QBs a year for the past 5 years and invited walkons??

[Cadillac]

Glad to here QB/WR Zach Rhodes shoulder is OK. I think he is more talented than alot of people realize. Also glad to here true freshman QB Logan Turner has to EARN being the #2 QB on this team. Nothing against Turner but no true freshman should ever just be handed the #2 QB spot on a Division 1 team. You may recall an article on Mustang Mania in June that indicated Turner was the #2, after former QB Corey Slater left the team.

What happened to all of our QBs that Peanut Butter said he'd never be caught in this position again...isnt' that why her recruited 3 QBs a year for the past 5 years and invited walkons??

Here are all of the QBs that would in theory be available:
Billy Joe Meeks Left program for lack of playing time
Chris Phillips - Graduated
Eric Johnson - See Billy Joe Meeks.
Justin Willis - Current Starter
Zach Rhodes - Competing for #2 spot
Logan Turner - Competing for #2 Spot

Meeks left after the two JC guys were brought in, he transfered to NW State where he sucked. Johnson left when Willis was established as the Starter.

Now we have three QBs on the Roster, one of which will hopefully be redshirted.

So.. where was the problem again? Not brining in another QB in '06 when Rhodes came in? Are you seriously advocating using 15 scholarships at the QB position at any given time?

-CoS

[PhirePhilBennett]

Richard Bartel - left the program / conflict with coach
Tate Wallis - left the program / more PT
Billy Joe Meeks - Left program for lack of PT (or conflict with coach - we could see from his throwing mechanics he wasn't any good anyway)
Chris Phillips - Graduated
Eric Johnson - See Billy Joe Meeks. More PT (but, c'mon...you tell me that yet another QB couldn't be talked into staying??)
Justin Willis - Current Starter
Zach Rhodes - Competing for #2 spot - RS Freshman
Logan Turner - Competing for #2 Spot - True Freshman

[PhirePhilBennett]

Are you seriously advocating using 15 scholarships at the QB position at any given time?

-CoS

Well, if the shoe fits...

He cannot keep QBs then he better get some.

If Willis goes down, he will get fired. There's no way that Zach is going to perform and keep us headed towards 7 wins (the low-water mark to keep his job).

I would think that after all his talk of not being put in a position to be so vulnerable at the QB position, that he would have done more to have QBs on staff.

That more is:

1. Recruiting more
2. Not being such a dic k to the players / encourage them to stay and 'see what happens'

Like Richuel or Avery...had they stayed their last years, they would both have been starting. He's lost TOO many good players and QBs, IMHO, relative to the needs.

It's probably a product of his Divide and Conquer tactics when he first came here: he has separate meetings with 'his' recruits...that leads to divisiveness and also a sense of self-importance by young impressionable 18-19 year olds...then they feel they DESERVE to start...he can't seem keep his BEST people in the program for 4 or 5 years, including QBs.

YOU tell me why they all left...are you saying Peanut Butter had NOTHING to do with it? C'mon...they all left JUST for more PT. Right. Every year, same excuse.

[perunapower]

1. Logan is an incoming freshman that was not recruited as QB
2. Zach is still hurt
3. What about that Mesquite QB that transferred to TECH (Ryan?) - left the program
4. Richard Bartel - left the program
5. Tate Wallis - left the program

You must really have a reading comprehension problem.

• Logan Turner is not the No. 2 QB — he is being an opportunity to compete for the No. 2 spot. Zach Rhodes' shoulder is fine, and he will remain at QB.

Logan Turner was recruited as a QB.

http://smu.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp? ... _key=36407

For the record, Cadillac, it's Ricky Joe Meeks.

[PhirePhilBennett]

1. Logan is an incoming freshman that was not recruited as QB
2. Zach is still hurt
3. What about that Mesquite QB that transferred to TECH (Ryan?) - left the program
4. Richard Bartel - left the program
5. Tate Wallis - left the program

You must really have a reading comprehension problem.

READING COMPREHENSION? BECAUSE YOU SAY IT'S TRUE MAKES IT TRUE? He's hurt.

• Logan Turner is not the No. 2 QB — he is being an opportunity to compete for the No. 2 spot. Zach Rhodes' shoulder is fine, and he will remain at QB.

Logan Turner was recruited as a QB.

http://smu.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp? ... _key=36407

For the record, Cadillac, it's Ricky Joe Meeks.

From SMU
Prep: Named the 4A State and 6-4A District MVP by Texas-
PrepXtra.com… Ranked No. 67 on the DMN’s Area Top 100
list… Named to the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram’s “Super Team”
and Area Top 50… Threw for over 3,000 yards and 37 TDs
as a senior… Completed 61 percent of his passes… Was an
honorable mention All-State performer according to the AP and
the TSWA… Led the state in passing TDs and yardage… Also
punted, averaging 38.7 yards per punt… Was District MVP as
a junior and All-District as a sophomore… Had career stats of
94 total TDs, 7,790 yards passing and 1,578 yards rushing…
Rated the No. 148 quarterback recruit in America by ESPN.
com…An All-Region pick by PrepStars.com… A two-star
Rivals.com and Scout.com prospect… A Dave Campbell’s
Texas Football Top 300 pick and “Player To Watch”… Was
team captain… Played in the 2007 Oil Bowl All-Star Game…
Also played baseball and ran track, earning All-District honors
on the diamond and qualifying for the regional track championships
in the 4x200 and 4x400 relays… Has a 34-inch vertical
leap… An Honor Roll student… Chose SMU over TCU and
Memphis among others.

[PhirePhilBennett]

Richard Bartel - left the program / conflict with coach
Tate Wallis - left the program / more PT
Billy Joe Meeks - Left program for lack of PT (or conflict with coach - we could see from his throwing mechanics he wasn't any good anyway)
Chris Phillips - Graduated
Eric Johnson - See Billy Joe Meeks. More PT (but, c'mon...you tell me that yet another QB couldn't be talked into staying??)
Justin Willis - Current Starter
Zach Rhodes - Competing for #2 spot - RS Freshman
Logan Turner - Competing for #2 Spot - True Freshman

OOPS!!! Forgot one

Tate Wallis - left the program / more PT
Billy Joe Meeks - Left program for lack of PT (or conflict with coach - we could see from his throwing mechanics he wasn't any good anyway)
Chris Phillips - Graduated
Eric Johnson - See Billy Joe Meeks. More PT (but, c'mon...you tell me that yet another QB couldn't be talked into staying??)
Justin Willis - Current Starter
Corey Slater - transferred due to PT (or was it PB couldn't get him to stay)
Zach Rhodes - Competing for #2 spot - RS Freshman
Logan Turner - Competing for #2 Spot - True Freshman

Can anyone SERIOUSLY look at this evidence and still think SOMETHING doesn't stink? If so, I want you on my jury if I am ever indicted for murder, because you guys could find reasonable doubt easily...