Bennett's last season?

[Johnny Rock]

It has been several months since my last post on this board. My concern and love for SMU has me posting once again. It appears that many of our early recruits have chosen to commit elsewhere. Since last season, I have watched TCU obtain many oral commitments for next year as well as Baylor and the usual A&M, Texas, OSU, and OU. I have even watched UTEP obtain commitments from several quality JUCO prospects and Tulsa for that matter. However, SMU has only one oral commitment who now in fact is starting to look elsewhere. For a team that did not win a single game last year and for a team that has only one winning season in over ten years, it concerns me that we are not making more inroads with the high school players early. Again, it appears SMU will be stuck getting players that no one else wanted or simply did not have enough scholarships for. That is not how to rebuild a football team. Some of you will be quick to point out that SMU has a few JUCO players on the team now which is a start, but remember, these JUCO players cannot even make the first team on a winless team. With another tough schedule next season, Bennett will be lucky to win one game. It looks like another winless season is defenitely a reality again. Couple that with the fact Bennett does not seem to be able to get early commitments from 'impact' type players means more and more struggles to come for SMU and likely Bennett's last season on the hilltop.

[GoRedGoBlue]

Bennett will have to show some improvement this year, then the recruits will begin to give serious consideration.

Improvement may/will be judged by wins and losses, and by competitiveness.

0-12 and competitive won't cut it, 3-9 but not competitive in any of the losses won't cut it. There is no simple formula.

But, it's really that simple.

[Governor Lepetomane]

As long as there are fireworks before the start of the Tech game which cause the grass to be set on fire, Bennett should keep his job.

[ponyte]

Bennett needs time. He didn't walk into a great enviroment or a program loaded with talent. He needs time, support and patience. He is allowed to recruit from a larger pool (finally eliminating the Pye effect). I expect an improvement and eventually a much improved and winning program.

[BUS]

I too want/need to see improvement But Guy.... I think you need to get a little - something.
Bennett is SAFE and the recruits are better now days.

I know it's been a long haul since we won a lot of games but give this two more years.

That is my path for now... Otherwise I would have to start watching TCU or something just as wrong.
Relax

[PerunaPunch]

Good grief Johnny, go crawl back under your rock!

Bennett's going nowhere anytime soon, and I for one am glad. The recruiting is vastly improved over previous years (although the coaches admit to getting a late start this year). The younger guys are bigger, stronger and faster than anything we've had post DP (one reason why so many of them were playing last year). And this year, we're not going to be starting a dozen freshmen. I haven't cleared out space for a conference champion pennant quite yet, but we sure as heck aren't going 0 fer 12 this year either.

If your "concern and love for SMU" has you whining again, try getting behind the team for a change.

[gostangs]

For those that have forgotten, Johnny is a troll - - ignore him and he will eventually go away.

[jtstang]

Way to go, sunshiners, just bash a realistic poster, as usual. I disagree with his assessment of the situation on the basketball board, but he's said nothing wrong here. Instead of calling him a "troll" you freaking child, why don't you engage him in debate by identifying the factual errors in his post? Or can't you?

[Stallion]

JR makes one fair observation-we ain't exactly burning up the recruiting trail with commitments yet in comparison to other Texas programs. I've been quietly concerned about that-although it probably ain't time to hit panic mode yet. But if you don't get some commitments before August most players will hold off until after the season. Despite what some of you suggest Phil Bennett's recruiting is not markedly better than Mike Cavan's first two full recruiting years-with the caveat that a huge number of Cavan's players from those classes were academic casualties, injured, transferred or quit. Bennett so far seems to be retaining the kids in the program and that's positive. Even I'll admit that recruiting classes mean little if the kids leave the program. However, my major concern has always been the "Cavan Syndrome" ie a new head coach usually has a two year honeymoon period in which his promises of an improving program are likely to be accepted. After that top recruits are going to want to see progress in the program on the field and on the scoreboard. 0-12 don't cut it and it is absoulutely essentially for SMU to show marked improvement in those categories this year. Otherwise, you're likely to see a deterioration of that recruiting up-tick just as we saw withn Mike Cavan's recruiting. That is why it is essential that SMU give their head coaches every possible tool FROM THE BEGINNING to quickly turn a program around rather than placing him at a competitive disadvantage. Once a coach loses that recruiting momentum its very hard to get it back.

[Hoss]

Signing Day is SEVEN months away! Yes, teams are getting more early commitments nowadays, but how many did we have at this time last year? Was Vincent Chase the only one? Maybe Desmond Jones? There is a LONG way to go. And while some guys we're targeting might be committing elsewhere, remember that players like Cory Muse committed elsewhere before changing their minds and signing with SMU. If nothing else, this staff has shown a remarkable ability to recruit players -- guys who might not have played yet, but have to be considered real talents, considering the other schools that were after them. We've beaten this topic around ad nauseum, but remember how bare the cupboard was when Coach Bennett took over. Yes, we had some decent players, but not nearly enough. We had very little depth, and some starters who should have been second- or third-stringers. Coach Bennett is doing it the right way -- the painful way, perhaps, but the right way. He's building from the ground up, stockpiling players with speed and athleticism at the skill positions, and bigger, stronger guys on the lines (see Bonds, Jones, Boren, Peveto, Burley, Lobo, et al) than we've ever had, post-DP. No rational person expects us to win all of our games this year, but the improvement will be visible all over the field. We'll be bigger, faster, more athletic and stronger. Yes, we'll still be one of the youngest teams in the country .... maybe THE youngest .... and therefore will make mistakes as these guys mature. We'll win a few games this year, and next year start to really make noise. All of a sudden, the folks who are bashing Coach B will be deafeningly quiet.

[dandyfan]

until we quit trying to reinvent Michael Bishop with a new offense designed for a QB that has above average pass skills and the ability to recognize what the defense is giving us at the LOS, things will be tuff. The new OC must be given the opportunity to pick "his man" at QB rather than have it shoved down his throat. dont put a kid with a great deal of physical talent in a position to fail. right now that is what the younger bennett is doing. i am afraid it will cost him...and ultimatly us.

[Ponymon]

If the quarterbacks develop we will win. If they don't, it will be a long season. I think they will develop because I think the new offensive coordinator knows how to get it done!

[PlanoStang]

As long as there are fireworks before the start of the Tech game which cause the grass to be set on fire, Bennett should keep his job.

Those were fireworks....I thought the Navy F18 flyover strafed us


According to the Recruiting Roundup in Texas Football our 1999 class was
supposed to be our best class since the DP. They were 0-12 Seniors last year. Recruiting ISN'T a science yet. Bennett needs an unexpected win next year to prove he can be a great head coach.

[Otto]

Before we look for "unexpected" wins (Tech? OSU? Boise?), let's start with a few "expected" wins, if there can be such a thing as an "expected win" after last year's debacle. I fall in line with those who anticipate anywhere from 2-4 wins this year, but with marked improvement in overall skill and strength and size, etc. Baby steps this year, respectability in 2005.

[Charleston Pony]

I'd like to have more early commitments, too, as I'm sure the coaching staf would...but top recruits aren't going to come flocking to an 0-12 program.

Senior mini-camp is July 23rd. That's going to be a key, as getting guys to visit the campus and see our facilities will make a difference. Anyone know who might be signed up for that camp? I would hope several attendees will be offered and that Bennett & Co will have several commitments before the season starts.

It's easy to be pessimistic coming off an 0-12 year. There is no question we need to see improvement on the field in 2004 to convince the doubters that SMU will win again on the gridiron.