I'm going to be honest.....

[LSUSMU]

I transferred from SMU to LSU after my sophmore year. Had some good times at SMU, but anyway...after spending a while at top school, I have noticed some things, differences, about SMU...

This is not a flame, more an observation...

SMU is improving, but is no where near ready to compete. Maybe, maybe in the WAC, but no where near ready to dominate anywhere. Nick Saban came here and we were on the decline. We were being dominated by SEC schools and falling into weakling mold. Saban came here and immediately turned it around. He didn't have all the talent he needed, but he did coach us to. I think, an 8-4 record his first year here. Phil Bennet is a great coach. But there is something missing at SMU. You can't promote the conferences as part of recruiting because the WAC isn't something you can promote. You can try and promote the academics, but UT and A&M can still use that as part of their recruiting. SMU is a great school, but UT and A&M both have good schools too. Plus, LSU is up there because they have built a brand new, state of the art Academic Center which is used to help recruit guys here. Like I said, not flaming, just pointing things out...

Also, to really change a team to compete nationally, you need to recuit guys like Rashaun Woods, Michael Clayton, Roy Williams...these guys are teams you build around. And right now...SMU is no where near to landing anyone like these guys. Yes, SMU is improving their recruiting...but lets be honest, I don't think SMU will land anyone like these guys anytime soon.


While I thought SMU may be a little better this year, so far...nothing has changed. It might be a little harder than most thought. Once again, I am not trying to talk trash. I just thought since I have been to SMU and now to a true National Contender, I would share what I see...

[FloridaMustang]

I think a conference change will help recruiting because you could not sell TV time to the recruits. I'll have to say though... when Nick Saban took over LSU, the talent level was still nowhere near the level of SMU when Bennett took over. Bennett also isn't the coach that Nick Saban is... he's nowhere near Saban..yet. Let Bennett get a litte more experience under his belt and get the talent level up to that of ****e SEC or ACC team like Vandy...or Duke perhaps?

I transferred to UNF in Jacksonville, FL and there's no football here. To think I almost transferred to Alabama *sigh*

[bhop]

SMULSU's observations are certainly valid. But its really just stating the obvious. Comparing a large state school that is in a BCS conference and has an enormous athletics budget to a small private school in a non-BCS conference whose already small athletics budget operates at a significant defecit is a little silly. SMU will never again play on the same level as schools like LSU as long as the BCS is in place. I'm just hoping for a little respectibility.

[Stallion]

LSU rarely finishes outside the Top 20-25 in recruiting no matter who the coach has been in the last 20 years. Since Saban has been there they finished in the Top 5 and last year had the No. 1 class in America according to Rivals. Louisiana has perhaps more top prospects per capita than any state in the nation and LSU essentially has no competition in recruiting from in-state competitors. LSU gets the majority of the cream of the crop every year. SMU would do just fine every year if we could recruit in the Top 40-50 every year because we don't face Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and the other great SEC programs. How do you think TCU has gone to 5 straight bowls. Recruiting is relative to your competition.

[The Q]

Originally posted by UNFMustang06:
.... Bennett also isn't the coach that Nick Saban is... he's nowhere near Saban..yet....

I don't see how that statement can be made.

That's like saying Marvin Lewis isn't as good a coach as Jon Gruden. Maybe, maybe not. Gruden went to Tampa and inherited a team that had tons of talent, and was challenging for a Super Bowl berth. Lewis went to Cincinnati and inherited a team full of players who had known nothing but losing in the NFL, and many of whom might not make another NFL roster. We have no way of knowing whether Lewis is as good a coach as Gruden, because at least for now, they're not competing on a level playing field. The talent difference masks evidence of true coaching ability.

I think Coach Bennett is going to be a terrific head coach, but I admit that at this point, it's impossible to tell. But based on the level of talent he's brought in, we'll be able to tell in a couple of years.