Will attitiudes change?

[lugus830]

I am just curious what every one thinks about this.

I am wondering if even the negative posters might have a little bit of optimism if SMU wins 2-3 or the next 4. I think that we should be able to get 3 if we play up to our potential, and I have to think that if it does happen attitudes will become much more positive about the program and PB. Just want to see what you guys think, especially those in the non-sunshine crowd.

[couch 'em]

Copeland needs to go no matter how well we do.

If Bennett can get to 5 wins, then he has earned a stop on the staff for next year. Barely. Far too many complete disasters and bad calls for my taste without a ton of wins.

[BRStang]

I think if the team manages to pull 3 of the next 5 out (*cough, cough) AND Bennett doesn't make anymore bonehead calls, I would actually SUPPORT him staying another year. (Regardless of my "support", I think if he gets one more win he stays.)

If the above comes true, you have to look at it as if SMU technically had a winning season. IOW, Marshall should've been a win--even C-USA admits it--and the team "would have been" 6-5 (*cough, cough).

As far as having the ability to win 3 of the next 5, I definitely feel it's possible. It all boils down to which team shows up for the games--the TCU/UAB winners or the Baylor/aTm/Tulane losers.

[smu96]

Fire Copeland now. Wait 'till end of season to see what to do with PB.

[abezontar]

I think the big question becomes that if we do win three of the next five, and end up at 5-6 for the year, do we have the personel to improve on that next year, or will this be the high water mark of PB's version of SMU football?

[SoCal_Pony]

I agree that Copeland should be fired pronto.

PB’s future should be decided by our new AD.

Our longer-term prospects are not promising based on last year and this years’ recruiting class.

I suspect our defense, currently ranked #87 in the nation, will decline next year due to loss of seniors.

[Hoofbeat83]

agree that copeland needs to go no matter what. i sit on the alumni association board and when our move to CUSA was first announced he couldn't name all the teams in the conference at our meeting. i knew them all BEFORE we moved over and i'm just a dumb banker who follows college football. the guy has no business running our athletic program. whether he's a yes man for dr. turner or not, he's uninspiring and has to go no matter what the record this year.

i WANT phil to be the coach that turns us around, and if he wins a few more games and pulls out a decent recruiting year, then i'm all for keeping him.

[abezontar]

I just don't see how he is going to pull out a decent recruiting year this year unless he is able to convince guys that are committed elsewhere to come to SMU, and I think he will only have a shot at doing that if we do something impossible, like win out and go to a bowl, otherwise I just don't think the high school guys are going to listen to him when they have already signed up with a team that has won more often more recently.

[Corso]

I disagree. I don't think a bowl is required to steal a recruit here or there. There's always someone who wants to play near home or wants a particular academic program or something.
As for the original question: my attitude hasn't changed -- no decision, positive or negative, should be made until the season's over.

[Pony_Fan]

Beating Rice and ECU would not be a huge surprise. Based on the past, PB has showed me nothing.

1. can't evaluate talent
2. doesn't know when to play players
3. makes stupid gametime decisions every single game
4. special teams have sucked for 4 years
5. offense has never been played based on personnel.
6. recruiting getting worse
7. the swinging gate is a huge waste of time

PB and Copeland need to go after the season - clean house!!

[BarbaraAnn]

I still have no hope. I will continue to scream and yell and cheer at games, but I have no hope of winning.

It's always after just ONE WIN, people start talking about hope.

Wrong.