Can't Fault the Team

[Nacho]

Don't ask me, ask the new coach. Ouch! Sorry for that but I just don't see Bennett here next year, unless some kind of almost miraculous turn-around happens.

[SoCal_Pony]

Understand that Nacho, but seriously...can you name anyone?

[Nacho]

Of the LBs I like Carrington a lot. McCray is ok but undersized. I don't know enough about the freshmen to say anything.

Of the DBs Hudman, Lindley, Sloan, Blackmon and Fitzgerald might contribute nicely.

DE is trickier--I guess Therien could step up. Muse is already replacing Don.

[PK]

And for the record PK...it is 16 years, not 15.

Geez...your right. My how time flies when you're having a good time.

[abezontar]

Why can't we fault the team....I think they should be watching Varsity Blues and following in the footsteps of James van Der Beek (sp) and that really fat guy and telling the coach to take a hike that they don't need him to win.

[Mustang_Matt]

I am new to this board, but not new to SMU football; I have missed only a few home games in the last 11 years. I think it is premature to call for Bennett's ouster just yet. Our defensive stats might compare poorly, but I think texas a&m and the later quarters of our past two games (after the D has been on the field all game and is worn down) drags down our numbers. Our special teams looked much better last week. If improvements can also be made on our OL and at QB next year -- and the offense can consistently stay on the field -- we will see a dramatic difference.

[SMU Football Blog]

I am new to this board, but not new to SMU football; I have missed only a few home games in the last 11 years. I think it is premature to call for Bennett's ouster just yet. Our defensive stats might compare poorly, but I think texas a&m and the later quarters of our past two games (after the D has been on the field all game and is worn down) drags down our numbers. Our special teams looked much better last week. If improvements can also be made on our OL and at QB next year -- and the offense can consistently stay on the field -- we will see a dramatic difference.

NARC!!!

[abezontar]

What in the 16 year history since the death penalty shows that we are going to be able to improve our OL and QB play with: a) the recruits we have coming in next year, and b) the ability of our successive coaches to continue building a program when they have lost all the momentum of their recent hire?

[Nacho]

Come back after UAB Matt and tell us all about it.

[jtstang]

Our special teams looked much better last week.

Well, I guess when you play a perennial bottom ten team which is, apparently, maginally less inept than you, it might appear that your special teams have improved when in reality they have not in the least. I mean if you consider NOT HAVING A PUNT BLOCKED for the first time as marked improvement then your team is still bad.

But, on second thought, having already seen GoRedGoBlue announce his departure from the sunshiner ranks, and in the interest of maintaining proper balance and entertainment on this board, I say WELCOME ABOARD MATT!!!

[Nacho]

Rock on JT until the last Sunshiner goes down. Whe ponyboy gives up the Sunshine I know it's over.

[SMU Football Blog]

NOT HAVING A PUNT BLOCKED for the first time as marked improvement then your team is still bad.

We did have a punt blocked last week. Albeit, the punt was Romo's.

[Mustang_Matt]

SMU Football Blog: A "NARC"? No, not exactly. Just a former member of the band bred to be an eternal optimist.

* * *

Special teams improvements: we didn't fumble and subsequently turn over a kickoff or punt return last week.

The defense played stronger at Marshall than the week prior. Had we played Tulane with the same energy -- and throw in the proper call on Morris' fumble last week -- and we're 3-2. Also, remember that the Tulane offense only really "earned" 10 of their 31 pts. Three TDs came on short fields (16, 24, 34 yds), two of the three off ST mistakes.

Granted, this is revisionist history. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. I suppose the point is this: we're not as bad as some of the posters on this board suggest.

[abezontar]

you could say that about Cavan's 1st and 2nd year, a few blown calls, or short field situations, and instead of 6-5 and 5-7 we are 7-4 (going to a bowl game) and 7-5 and probably going to another bowl game, low and behold our recruiting probably gets better because of the bowl games and instead of ending up firing Cavan and continuing our cycle of dispair we aren't as bad a program as the record of the past 8-9 years shows

[jtstang]

I suppose the point is this: we're not as bad as some of the posters on this board suggest.

That's a pretty good try for a novice sunshiner, but no, we are every bit as bad as most posters on this board suggest.