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Guru,
I like to think I know as much about S.M.U. recruiting as most but I would like to get your opinion on something. I subscribe to two different recruiting services(not Rivals)and have put together quite a list of kids who mentioned S.M.U..
However, a lot of those names are now commiting to other schools and our list is getting smaller. Then, this past Sunday, the DMN published its Rival's Top 100 National, State, and Local lists.
O in National
1 in State( Meeks, who has committeed)
A few in Local(none in top 50)
Do you interpret this to mean that Bennet may be having a harder time then expected? To keep saying that a kid come come here and play immediately may not be working as we have been saying that for about 14 years. Your thoughts?

No, I don't think there's any reason to worry at all. The kids I've talked to (and I talk to hundreds of players pretty regularly) seem to think very highly of Coach Bennett. The impression I've gotten from players is that Coach Bennett's enthusiasm is as contagious with recruits as it is with alums and fans of SMU. I've probably had dozens of players tell me they're at least considering SMU this year, when in any other year they wouldn't give SMU a second thought, and the reason is Coach Bennett.

Remember, at this point, he doesn't do the majority of the recruiting, his assistant coaches do. So when a coach calls a kid and starts talking about SMU and Coach Bennett, you don't have Coach Bennett doing the selling himself. So kids frequently talk to their coaches and former teammates who have been recruited, and the reputation Coach Bennett developed at Kansas State, Oklahoma, A&M, etc., shines through. High school coaches have endless respect for the man and they tell their players that. The assistants can be great salesmen, but Coach Bennett will be one of the main selling points for the team.

As for the dwindling lists, I wouldn't worry about it at all. It's true that more players are committing early than ever before, but there are still an awful lot of players - some of whom are bona fide stars - still out there. And players can still change their minds. Remember, it was just a day or two before Signing Day when Jamey Harper switched his commitment from TCU to SMU. And how many times did Darrin Johnson change his mind? Twice, publicly, but the rumors circulating through recruiting circles suggested that he was flip-flopping on a daily basis. And Coach Bennett has shown in years past an ability to get players to change their minds - in his favor.

The lists of top players are as arbitrary as preseason predictions. Pick up any football magazine and look at how the "experts" are picking teams to finish in a division. For instance, I've seen the Dallas Cowboys picked anywhere from first to fourth in the four-team NFC East. Recruiting lists are the same way - all the recruiting magazines and websites have their own. There are some top-tier guys who will make every list, but rest assured there are more than enough quality prospects still out there.

Lastly, consider how things have changed at SMU. Two years ago, the first commitment for SMU was WR Jay Taylor, who committed to play for the Ponies the day before the final game of the year. SMU has four commitments now (reports that Justin Boren is wavering are unfounded, to the best of my knowledge), which is a significant improvement. And from all reports, Coach Bennett will only improve things. If the Ponies start winning, that improvement will be accelerated.

There are a lot of guys out there considering SMU, and there will be some in the February signing class who haven't even begun to think SMU. Yet.

Thanks! You make good sense and I appreciate you taking the time to reply.

Agreed. That's good stuff.

Request for 50s PONY: can you copy and post your list of players still considering SMU?

Much appreciated.

No problem. I'm glad to answer any questions. As I've said before, I'm an SMU graduate and I visit this site as often as possible.

Thanks for the question. Feel free to throw more my way, and if I can answer any, I will gladly do so.

Yeah, can you post your list? My office has some sort of firewall that prevents me from getting to recruiting sites (or even to mm.com, actually.)

Thanks

GO MUSTANGS!

To HorsePower and Kiper -- will try and do sometime over the weekend.
From 50's PONY

Hey 50s Pony, any luck posting those lists?

I am about 3/4 finished and hope to have it out and to you late this weekend.