Reasons for optimism

[DallasDiehard]

Anyone who saw Navy give Notre Dame all the Irish could handle this afternoon should realize that the Midshipmen are not the talentless bunch many thought before the season opener, and that losing to them - while disappointing - was not nearly as embarrassing as it seemed at the time.

Also, remember that our win over LaTech was against a team that beat Oklahoma State, which beat Nebraska, which beat Texas A&M ....

The record is not what any PonyFans have wanted to see this year. And there have been several games in which we did not perform as hoped. But there is some talent on the Hilltop, and more on the way. As Coach Bennett learns how to be a better head coach - his defensive knowledge is beyond question - things will get much, much better at SMU.

[fbdad]

I was thinking the same thoughts while Navy was giving ND fits and you can't argue the La Tech comments. I do question the statement that Coach Bennetts "..defensive knowledge is beyond question." I would question it as many others would based on our defenses performance this year starting with wrong strategy for Navy from which we never really fully recovered. Our defense was the strongest tool he had going into the season. He had no QB.I believe he took on too much concentrating on being the head coach as he should have.He tried to coach at all levels. What happened to his defensive coordinator who he brought from Kansas State, Coach Gush? He basically coaches the LB's only. I constantly see Coach Bennett on the sidelines with his chalk board and the defense.How about Roark,the DB coach? I never see him, I guess he's up in the booth doing who knows what.I would think that Coach Bennett may want to reassess his coaching staff after his first season. He expects a lot from both coaches and players and he hasn't received what he should have.I think he's learned a lot about the players and will make appropriate adjustments during spring workouts. He could have made further adjustments this season but probably thought they might have been disruptive in some way.Lets win the final two games and get out of the bottom ten ranking. The players need some positive reinforcement.....

[Higher Authority]

FYI: The biggest ND plays, including the game-winning 67-yard touchdown, were made by WR Omar Jenkins, from Dallas Jesuit. He's another guy Cavan didn't bother to recruit because he thought private school guys didn't play good enough competition to prepare them for D-I football. Which explains why Cavan is now a fundraiser, not a coach.

[click]

I don't believe that for one minute,there are private school kids on this team now that Cavan recruited. If you think that that this kid would have chosen SMU over Notre Dame than you are living in a dream world.

[Higher Authority]

I talked to Jenkins when he was a senior in high school. He said at the time that he would consider SMU, because he wanted to play in front of friends and family, and that he liked the academics at SMU, as well as the weather. While that certainly doesn't mean he would have ended up at SMU, it does mean we should have at least pursued him.

But let's finish DallasDiehard's thought.
Oklahoma beat Texas.
Texas A&M beat OU.
Nebraska beat A&M.
Oklahoma State beat Nebraska.
Louisiana Tech beat OSU.
SMU beat LaTech.

Therefore, it's clear that SMU is better than LaTech, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, A&M, Oklahoma and Texas. Not a bad start for Coach Bennett, right? That's got to put us in the running for a BCS bowl bid!

[ponystudent]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by fbdad:
<B>What happened to his defensive coordinator who he brought from Kansas State, Coach Gush? He basically coaches the LB's only. I constantly see Coach Bennett on the sidelines with his chalk board and the defense.How about Roark,the DB coach? I never see him, I guess he's up in the booth doing who knows what.</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
This is probably the most ignorant thing I have ever read on this board. First of all, EVERY team has coaches in the press box during a game. When Schumann was here he was in the box, but since you could not see him does that mean that you "guess he's up in the booth doing who knows what"? When Schumann was here he "basically only coached" the DB's. And let me get this straight...you are upset because Bennett has a board coaching players during a game? Isn't that what a coach is supposed to do?

So in answer to your "questions" the coaches are doing what they are supposed to be doing. So instead of ripping them for doing their job and not being very successful this year, step back, realize you are biased because you have a son on the team, which obviously isn't playing, and see that the talent level at SMU right now is nothing more than about 10 capable players and a rest of decent high school players. Give Bennett some time...PLEASE.

[fbdad]

Pony student,you missed the whole point of my post and that is Coach Bennett took on too much of a load this year.My comment as to Roark being in the box still stands. Our DB's have not had a very good year.Coach Schumann was the defensive coordinator, NOT coach of the DB's, who do you think was running the defense,Cavan?? Coach Bennett has run the defense all year.Until you know more about the program and whats happening, keep the "ignorant" comments to yourself or I'll have to get my non playing high school level son to kick your A**.

[Guest]

For once I do agree with you fbdad. ponystudent, you don't understand what he meant. Coach Gush truly only coaches the LB's, and he barely does that without Bennet breathing down his back. I actually think Bennett takes aside the mike LBs during practice as well. Gush and Roark are basically puppets b/c Bennett thought he could manage the entire defense. Go to any practice and tell me I'm wrong. What Bennett is realizing now is that being a head coach means managing both sides and letting your coaches do their jobs. If they're not, replace them

[This message has been edited by SMUStudent06 (edited 11-12-2002).]

[fbdad]

06,what do you mean by ".for once I do agree.."?? I thought you always agreed with me..Thanks for the support. I don't know where Ponystudent gets his info..

[Guest]

Guess I don't always agree much with this board I'm coming around though!

[ProudPonyPa]

Whew, and I thought I had the most ignorant posts!!!lol

[Guest]

And what's that supposed to mean PPP?

[toofarawaymustang]

Not that it really matters, but Schumann did coach the secondary.

[ProudPonyPa]

06, don't be so thin skinned. I was just being facetious about the above comment. I don't even know who made the original comment.. just having fun! Relax and enjoy the rest of your life. Read a Dr. Richard Carlson book and don't take yourself so seriously.

[fbdad]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by toofarawaymustang:
<B>Not that it really matters, but Schumann did coach the secondary.</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You are wrong...it does matter that we try to be accurate in our posts..I guess I don't know what Coach Pat Henderson was doing the 2001 season. He coached secondary and special teams. Schumann participated at all defensive positions to some extent as defensive coordinator.