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A pretty good article. Don't know how much of Justin's and E-man's real feelings are in their quotes, but it's nice to hear something from the players.

I have never felt like there was a lack of effort or desire on the part of the players or the coaches. For what ever reason, it just isn't coming together for them this year. I for one will continue to support this team and its coaches 'til the bitter end. I hope for all of their sakes they start winning, because as bad as it is for us fans, it has to really hurt those guys after putting their all into it.

Right you are. I adopted SMU when Coach Bennett was hired, and I'm coming up this weekend - third game of the year for me.

Great article, and you have to feel for the whole team, especially the leaders like Emmanuel and JW. That said, I think there will be a new level of excitment when we hire a big name coach with a track record of winning ala Terry Bowden or Neuheisel. If we do the usual, and hire some asst. from a big school, I don't see that as a reason to "pony up".

I found the article refreshing. My heart goes out to the players. No one wants this situation, and it is good to confirm that these kids are playing for all the right reasons.

As an aside, I did think it was funny that PB said he had to have a "short memory" during these times.

Kate does a great job covering SMU.

OR-See-Nee wrote:I found the article refreshing. My heart goes out to the players. No one wants this situation, and it is good to confirm that these kids are playing for all the right reasons.

As an aside, I did think it was funny that PB said he had to have a "short memory" during these times.

Kate does a great job covering SMU.

Amen on every point...

I find these articles tiresome-full of fluff quotes, nothing about the game of football, strategy, personnel, developments, tactics or any information useful to the person wanting to watch the game on Saturday. Sounds like football soap-opera stuff-I want information. Didn't know we have so many sensitive guys in touch with their feelings.

Stallion wrote:I find these articles tiresome-full of fluff quotes, nothing about the game of football, strategy, personnel, developments, tactics or any information useful to the person wanting to watch the game on Saturday. Sounds like football soap-opera stuff-I want information. Didn't know we have so many sensitive guys in touch with their feelings.

You have to pay extra to get the Franchione package upgrade.

Stallion wrote:I find these articles tiresome-full of fluff quotes, nothing about the game of football, strategy, personnel, developments, tactics or any information useful to the person wanting to watch the game on Saturday. Sounds like football soap-opera stuff-I want information. Didn't know we have so many sensitive guys in touch with their feelings.

Not to worry Stallion...no one will every accuse you of being one of those Mr. Sensitive types.

A good example of a reporter that gets the information I'm interested is Micky Spagnola who has a website and also has weekly Ranch Report on the Ticket. Its a lot easier to write fluff pieces about feelings than it is to get the scoop.

Stallion wrote:A good example of a reporter that gets the information I'm interested is Micky Spagnola who has a website and also has weekly Ranch Report on the Ticket. Its a lot easier to write fluff pieces about feelings than it is to get the scoop.

The coach Mickey is currently covering isn't under the gun about his job. All you're going to get from now until the end of the season is the situation around Phil's job and the elements tied into it.

The on-the-field stuff is taking a major step back -- as it should, I might add. Enough happened on the field to warrant the off-the-field stuff.

Plus, it seems like PB doesn't have time to talk to recruits, much less reporters.

If all of this new coach talk is becoming a distraction on the field, shouldn't Phil just do the honorable thing and announce that he'll resign at the end of the season? After we are no longer bowl-eligible, of course. And if it is a distraction, in all honesty so what?? We are 1-5 with our full concentration!!

Stallion: What good is it to talk "strategy, personnel, developments, tactics" when a team is this bad? The soap opera is the story of SMU football right now. After seeing the team implode against So. Miss, I want to know what's the feeling of the players? Have they quit, or is it just total disarray?

Unfortunately, Kate quoted the only two players who seem to be doing anything. The first half of the So. Miss game gave every indication that Bennett has lost this team, and I am interested to know if that's how the players and coach feel, too. Even if they are not completely honest answers, you can read between the lines.

It's not fair to compare coverage of SMU and the Cowboys for a number of reasons, but mainly because of fan base. At this point, there aren't that many SMU fans, period. And only a very small minority of hard-core football fans would care about strategy and personnel minutiae at this point when there are huge, looming, big picture issues about the future of the program - talk about having blinders on. There are millions of Cowboys fans who hang on every word about the team - in that case, go ahead and talk about the backup noseguard or how opponents are attacking the Phillips 3-4. When a team is winning, or is at least competitive, you can talk about those things because they matter.

Does SMU personnel or strategy really matter anymore? Barring a miracle finish, the season is over. OVER. At SMU, the number one question is who the new coach is going to be. The number two question is when does Bennett get fired, and will it be a messy departure? Number three is whether there's any life left in this team to win another game. Strategy and personnel are pointess if this team has given up on Bennett, and it sure looks like it has.

yep