Tulane is a must win for Bennett

[Billy Joe]

Tulane is a must win for Bennett or his job will be in jeopardy. If he wins Saturday, he is 2-2 with two tough road games ahead. Based on the past decade of SMU football, I am not confident we can win against Marshall or UAB on the road. Bennett returns home with a 2-4 records with winnable games against Rice and E. Carolina. I do not expect to beat UTEP, Houston, or Tulsa. Those schools recruit Juco players and get a couple of Division 1-A transfers to compliment their rosters. As I have pointed out several times, SMU does not and it shows on the field. There are four wins for the year with one win over TCU. Not great but improvement. Bennett keeps his job. However, if we lose to Tulane, Bennett returns to Ford with only one win and five losses. If he slops up against E. Caroina or Rice then we could be looking at a two win or even one win season. No improvement and Benentt is gone for sure. This is the most important game of the season. I hope the people in attendance have a different outlook on this game after reading my post. You can thank me on the Blvd. over a beer.

[ALEX LIFESON]

you must have missed my "gut check" post a couple of hours ago.

[Billy Joe]

I did miss your gut check post. Well said. It appeared watching the A&M game on tv that SMU simply quit. I have seen too many of those type games under Benett.

[DallasDiehard]

A must-win in the fourth game of the year? So if we lose Saturday and run the table after that, he should tighten up his résumé? Just stop it. If this starts a skid that runs through the season, then you can point to the Tulane game as one that started the slide. But to say now that it's a must-win is wrong. It might be a "we-really-would-like-a-win" game, but it's too early to call it a must-win.

[feelan]

A must-win in the fourth game of the year? So if we lose Saturday and run the table after that, he should tighten up his résumé? Just stop it. If this starts a skid that runs through the season, then you can point to the Tulane game as one that started the slide. But to say now that it's a must-win is wrong. It might be a "we-really-would-like-a-win" game, but it's too early to call it a must-win.

According to some I believe this is the third "must-win" game of the season. Baylor was a must-win, then TCU, now Tulane.

[Billy Joe]

A guess all of the remaining games are a must win for a coach with a win-loss record of Bennett's.

[RunPeruna]

I think that whether or not Bennett is back next year could be an indication of how much the administrations wants (or thinks) to win. If the team doesn't finish with a decent record, then changes have to be made in order to become competitive. His first years were so bad that he needs a very successful year to earn his job for next year. I'm not saying the guy should definately be fired, but if things don't improve this year, then changes need to be made or the administration is showing how little they truly want to be successful!

[PonySoprano]

In the past 16 seasons leading up to this one, we have had four different head coaches and only one winning season. Bringing in a new coach won't change anything. We have already been down that road.

[huntnfish]

BUT CHANGING THE AD WILL!

[RunPeruna]

A new coach can change things. I know that we aren't at the level of many programs, but you can see the difference a new coach can make. The point is, if the season isn't successful, then Bennett should be gone. If he is not, then it shows that winning isn't important to SMU. Why have a team if you aren't going to at least try to win.

[Ponymon]

I think it all depends upon the terms of the TWO year extension that Bennett signed. I seriously doubt that the administration will fork out for 3 years @ $800,000+/year unless there is an "out" clause in the contract. I bet he gets at least one more year no matter what his record is!

[jtstang]

A new coach can change things.

Four years ago, Bennett was a new coach, and he didn't change jack sh-t. We were a doormat then, and we are a doormat now. The problem is not the coach.

[RunPeruna]

I just don't think give the coach enough credit. Now, SMU may not have the resources in place to allow a coach to be successful, but it doesn't seem that way from the outside. I agree that since he has signed an extension that he probably will be here no matter what, but don't you think that four years ago Bennett wasn't a good hire? I hope he runs the table and wins the conference, but after seeing his resume for the past three years, I think it is time to perform or leave.

[Hoop Fan]

I realize it didnt change the world, but i'm a little surprised that everybody is SO down on everything less than two weeks after the TCU win. The A&M game was embarrassing, but you had to think that was a possibility given all the circumstances.

I want to see a little more before I give up on the 2005 team. If that gets me sunshiner status, well whatever.

[SoCal_Pony]

I am more concerned about the recruitng turd he is now laying than our play on the field. Both should be considered when judging Bennett. As I have stated earlier, 3 wins and I hope he and Copeland are goners...unless he can turn around this recruiting class.

HF, you are a reasonable poster....wanna lay odds on us winning 3 or more games this season? wanna lay odds that Rivals will rank this class at #80 or higher???