Toad Repellant

[Stallion]

unless someone comes up with a late recruit or an upgrade it looks like SMU beat TCU in every recruiting category according to Rivals-Total Points SMU-61, TCU 68---Average Points SMU 60 at 2.43 and TCU 63 at 2.38. Congrats on beating a school with 5 straight bowl games in recruiting working with a 3-8 record. Now do it again!

[The PonyGrad]

I hate to mention it but we had a 3-9 record.

[Corso]

Touché.
But I echo Stallion's sentiment. GREAT job by the coaches. Imagine the class they'll pull in when the Ponies crack .500!

[Dooby]

I'll say it again, a positive Stallion is a scary prospect.

[DiamondM]

Dooby, I completely agree about Stallion's new attitude. I don't know if he made a New Year's resolution, got kidnapped by aliens, or that the other board just brought out his worst. I keep thinking Stallion is going eventually remind us of the cloud in addition to talking about the silver lining. This new leaf is very strange.

[FloridaMustang]

The new Stallion gives me hope. His positive attitude tells us that even he is buying into Bennett's philiosphy. I think this team is going to surprise a lot of people next year. We may lose some close ones because we do have a young team, but I think a lot of the talent Bennett has brought in the past two classes is really going to start contributing. A .500 season would thrill the hell out of me

[DallasFrog]

Solid class for the ponies, but sounds like we might actually have 1 and maybe 2 more jucos in the fold for this class. So I guess that would likely put us about the same, if not ahead. One a wideout, Drew Coleman from TVCC, and the other I'm not sure of. More to come.

[Stallion]

...I've always said a team wins mostly due to the talent on the team. Therefore, I get optomistic when the talent level rises-but remember I'm thinking 3-4 years down the line not next year. Its the success at recruiting that changed not me. I don't think we will be very competitive next year. Also, I doubt I am as confident of the supremecy of this recruiting class as some of you are. I do think Rivals is the best recruiting service but they do downplay JC transfers which are so prevalent in the WAC. I'm not so sure Fresno and Louisiana Tech don't have better recruiting classes than SMU when all players are considered. But that's not our policy-I do know when you take out the 4 JCs TCU signed, 8 JC players Tech signed, the 2-3 JC PLayers Baylor signed, and the 2-3 JC Players UH signed not to mention the huge numbers the WAC signed-you realize that Bennett did even better with the cards he was dealt-I'm just not so sure that translate to the FB field when we play those school in the next few years. I still think our competitiveness is being significantly diminished by the unusual standards of the school.

[This message has been edited by Stallion (edited 02-06-2003).]

[Ponymon]

A lot of our success next year depends upon the quarterback position. I would personally like to see both Meeks and Phillips redshirted. I really believe that Bartel has the ability to be something special, but he will have to overcome his lack of experience and a questionable offensive line. If the line can do the job than I think we have a good chance for a successful season. I think that the defensive problems that we experienced last year will be corrected and we will be competitive in this area. Our problems winning, since the penalty, have always been on the offensive side of the ball.

[FloridaMustang]

Agreed, and I'm sure they both will be redshirted, unless one just blows away Bartel in practice. I think Bartel can run the offense right now, and I also believe a lot of these freshman will be starting next season. If not starting, at least playing. Of course this all depends on their performance during two-a-days.. I agree with Stallion that we are still at a competitive disadvantage; by accepting JUCO's, I don't believe academic standards would be compromised...whatsoever. I think it's a ridiculous rule and you alumni need to start putting more pressure on Turner and Copeland to change it. I don't agree with accepting partial qualifiers or putting ourselves in a position that would hurt us going into a possible new conference...

I disagree with Stallion in his thinking that we won't be competitive next year. I saw a lot of good things happen this year, and although we'll have a young team, I think they're going to surprise a lot of people. I look forward to hearing Stallion optimistic again