SMU luncheon notes
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 4:42 pmSMU luncheon notes
Today's weekly meeting with coach Phil Bennett had a couple more gems than normal, so thought I'd share sooner than later.
Some folks asked Bennett what he thought of Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy's tirade.
"Was it a woman reporter?" Bennett said. "That doesn't surprise me."
I think he was half-kidding.
"I don't know the details so I'm not defending anybody," Bennett said. "But I know I'm very protective of my players.
"I don't read the paper, well I do sometimes. If we win, I'll read it, if we lose I won't."
Bennett on last week's 21-7 loss at TCU that dropped SMU to 1-3:
"I was an emotional wreck Saturday night. I was crushed. I really thought going into that game we’d win that game. ... At halftime, I chewed some butt. I felt we had made stupid mistakes. But the bottom line, these guys and I always say this, they're student athletes, they're going to make mistakes. My job is to give them leadership.
It takes a lot of concentration to think one thing and say another. You can’t always say what you want to."
Bennett said TCU's blocked punt return for a touchdown was his fault. Bryce Hudman, who usually has the left tackle duty on punts, got pulled after suffering bruised ribs. A freshman made a mistake and let the Frogs through.
Bennett brought up Mike Price's uproar last year before the UTEP game about SMU's media guide, which featured an SMU player leaning over a tackled Miner.
"I thought about calling Mike and seeing if we could have a little pregame boxing match.
If he [Brad Sutton, SMU's sports information director] couldn’t whip him, I know I can.
On QB Justin Willis missing last season's UTEP game because he was suspended for an off-the-field incident (SMU lost, 24-21).
"That was very unfortunate. And I do believe he could have been a difference in the game. But it happened."
Injury updates:
WR Columbus Givens (ankle) is probable, RB Cedrick Dorsey (thigh bruise), CB Jonathan Lindley (patella tendon), DE Patrick Handy (stinger), Sean Lobo (thigh bruise) are all expected to play.
Even though the Ponies are 1-3, Bennett said they could win Conference USA.
"I think we’re very capable of competing and winning this conference, without question. I totally believe that. It’s been an awkward start. I don’t feel like we’ve ever got in any kind of rhythm."
Today's weekly meeting with coach Phil Bennett had a couple more gems than normal, so thought I'd share sooner than later.
Some folks asked Bennett what he thought of Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy's tirade.
"Was it a woman reporter?" Bennett said. "That doesn't surprise me."
I think he was half-kidding.
"I don't know the details so I'm not defending anybody," Bennett said. "But I know I'm very protective of my players.
"I don't read the paper, well I do sometimes. If we win, I'll read it, if we lose I won't."
Bennett on last week's 21-7 loss at TCU that dropped SMU to 1-3:
"I was an emotional wreck Saturday night. I was crushed. I really thought going into that game we’d win that game. ... At halftime, I chewed some butt. I felt we had made stupid mistakes. But the bottom line, these guys and I always say this, they're student athletes, they're going to make mistakes. My job is to give them leadership.
It takes a lot of concentration to think one thing and say another. You can’t always say what you want to."
Bennett said TCU's blocked punt return for a touchdown was his fault. Bryce Hudman, who usually has the left tackle duty on punts, got pulled after suffering bruised ribs. A freshman made a mistake and let the Frogs through.
Bennett brought up Mike Price's uproar last year before the UTEP game about SMU's media guide, which featured an SMU player leaning over a tackled Miner.
"I thought about calling Mike and seeing if we could have a little pregame boxing match.
If he [Brad Sutton, SMU's sports information director] couldn’t whip him, I know I can.
On QB Justin Willis missing last season's UTEP game because he was suspended for an off-the-field incident (SMU lost, 24-21).
"That was very unfortunate. And I do believe he could have been a difference in the game. But it happened."
Injury updates:
WR Columbus Givens (ankle) is probable, RB Cedrick Dorsey (thigh bruise), CB Jonathan Lindley (patella tendon), DE Patrick Handy (stinger), Sean Lobo (thigh bruise) are all expected to play.
Even though the Ponies are 1-3, Bennett said they could win Conference USA.
"I think we’re very capable of competing and winning this conference, without question. I totally believe that. It’s been an awkward start. I don’t feel like we’ve ever got in any kind of rhythm."
