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a season like this and a loss like that really tells me that SMU needs to totally reevaluate every aspect of their football program. And I'm not just talking about admission standards. A few years ago NTSU paid Gene Stallings to evaluate the program from top to bottom and to make suggestions on how to improve the program and get a perspective about what it takes to be COMPETITIVE in Division 1A. I would conduct an evaluation maybe by Hayden Fry, R.C. Slocum or someone who has competed at the top levels of Division 1A of just about every aspect of the program from an outsider with no vested interest in the program including the conditioning program, the strength program, the nutritional/food service, game day preparations, game operations, off-season preparations, coordinators, head coaching, athletic director and other support personnel, academic counseling, academic support, transfer standards, admission standards-basically every aspect from socks to jocks. Winless seasons require a period of reevaluation to analysize the program. Its one thing to rightfully point to poor recruiting but it really doesn't explain the failure to improve the players you do have. And no I don't think that just because Phil Bennett has worked at competitive schools means he's the one to do the evaluation because basically longtime Bride's Maids like Bennett and even Rossley and Cavan would have said and done just about anything to get their first Division 1A job. I have a good feeling that he actually does know what needs to be done-I'm just not sure the administration/athletic director/head coach are all on the same page about EXACTLY what needs to be done. I think TCU is an excellent example of a school where everybody from the administration/athletic director and coaching staff are on the same page. Sometimes a 3rd party independent evaluation can lead to a consensus on disputed issues.

<small>[ 10-26-2003, 12:17 AM: Message edited by: Stallion ]</small>

Listening to others is often a good idea. Sometimes they can see what those too close to the program cannot. Who knows, maybe the following post (posted by a TUfan earlier on this board)is REALLY R.C. Well, probably not. BUT, the observation is worth reading:

"From an outsiders perspective, SMU's offense is just too relaxed. They were down, and not by a lot, but then they would walk slowly to the line. Everything was drudgery. There was very little excitement or outward displays of agressiveness. Basically they looked like they didn't want to be on the field-- much less on the field together. I admit-- I was VERY shocked to see the QB, after getting sacked, throw the ball to the belly of a lineman who was not 5 feet away (it bounced off and then on to the ground). The worst of it is that there were 2 coaches who got in to it (verbally) right in front of the players, so problem isn't just at the players' level.

Like I said-- just an outsiders perspective."

[ 10-25-2003, 03:37 PM: Message edited by: TUfan ]

Great post Stallion. I think you hit the nail on the head. We need a second opinion. This is out of control.

If nothing changes, nothing changes.

Right there with you Stallion. At a minimum, we should look and see what TCU is doing to be successful.

Stallion has made the most constructive recommendation ever made about improving the SMU football program. Thank you.

A coach needs to teach. Say what you want about this not being the YMCA, but foul language raised to 120db doesn't make a player a better player. Yelling at him for what he did wrong is passing the blame.

Added after posting: This post does not disagree with any posts in this thread, just an added thought. Stallion's recommendation is definitely a great idea.

<small>[ 10-26-2003, 05:34 AM: Message edited by: ProudPonyPa ]</small>

120 decibels. Are you talking about Bennett, Gush, Edmondson or all of the above??????

If everyone's got a solution, it must be Sunday morning. Yep.

BM- these solutions were given two years ago. If Bennett had the solution, we wouldn't be offering ours.

Rumor has it that Dan Snyder is doing the same thing with Steve Spurrier. Mysteriously, Joe Bugel showed up last week to review films. And Dan has his long-time friend and critic, Pepper Rodgers. I'll bet Pepper would be available to do such a review. And he's done them before.

Maybe R.C. would be a better fulltime AD (and mentor to Bennett), than a short-term consultant.