Gary Patterson on ESPN Radio Last Night

[jtstang]

Look man, I haven't seen any evidence of Bennett's recruiting prowess equating to on-field improvement which is the only thing to measure. On the other hand, I have seen a TCU program which for the last 4 years has played, and therefore must logically have recruited, on a much higher plane than SMU.

I don't mean to belittle your opinion of what Patterson said, but don't attriibute his ire for SMU to somthing that's not there.

[Stallion]

in recruiting you really need to look 4-5 years back and Bennett's first recruiting class are really redshirt sophmores. That being said I don't have ANY DOUBT that Patterson has done much much more than Bennett with what he got over those classes 2-3 years ago. Bennett has to a large degree failed to integrate his young players into the program-many have left for various reasons. Add in the junior college studs, Division 1A Transfers from BCS schools and I still think TCU is loaded in comparison to SMU-despite this year's game-and while Bennett completely wastes freshman years such as Givens Patterson isn't afraid to stick a standout freshman like Aron Brown despite the presence of an established RB in Merrill. And Brown is about the 3rd in a line of great freshman that Patterson got on the field early and WON with. Bennett doesn't trust freshman which is great when you are loaded-not so great when you need help across the board at most every position> If I was a freshman that wanted to play early this would be the last place I would go.

[Hoop Fan]

I am in no way saying that Bennett has outrecruited, outcoached or outperformed Patterson. Not at all. But losing even one recruit to SMU is probably one to many to Patterson. They want to keep an absolute and total edge over us and its obvious in almost everything they say and do. All I am saying is that Bennett is dangerous to Fat Pat, even if you dont think so, people respect him, particularly parents and high school coaches. Patterson and TCU would love to see Bennett fail and for us to recycle another coach.

[KnuckleStang]

Please. Brown demonstrated that he was ready for prime time from the git go. Givens dropped two certain TD passes. I don't think you can draw a parrallel between those two. They responded to gameday pressure in polar opposite ways. And I have to say, to characterize Bennett as someone who is afraid to play freshman early is absurd. The guy burned the shirts on about two thirds of his class 1-2 years ago, they all played. And guess what, it didn't help, we still sucked. Wheeee!!!

[Hoop Fan]

by the way, name the last year we had 2 quality wins before middle October. Better yet name the last time we had 2 quality wins in a season period. Things are better this year so far. If we crap the bed tomorrow, it taints it, a win and 3-4 is much better than what has happened since the mid 90s.

[gostangs]

I agree with knuckle - Patterson is playing his freshman running back now because SMU showed he had nothing without him. And without that freshman they would have lost to Utah and we are talking about last yr all over agin for TCU.

Bennett bet on his freshman and lost - but you can't say it was not a good bet - he does not flat out drop the ball and you guys would be saying Bennett is a genius and atttributing the wins to that decision.

Shakey calls on game day or not, I would take Bennett over Patterson recruiting wise and game day with an equal school/team. I would not say that about every coach by any means - just saying I think Patteron is no big deal - except in circumference.

[Stallion]

OK name some freshmen that Bennett has played early and stuck with in the starting lineup that wasn't an emergency.

Phillips-emergency starter in 8th game when 2 starting QBs were disciplined
McCray-played in an emergency due to string of injuries
Desmond Jones-good example but we had no one else to turn to but freshmen
Devin Lowery-blew possible redshirt year
Givens-blew possible redshirt year
Lindley-played soradically at best-blew possible redshirt year
Blake Warren played soradically
McGee played sporadically
Bonds played sporadically in emergency-no body else
Brandon Jones-played sporadically early -wasted a redshirt year went he went to end of the bench

Several other promising players never saw the field. Bennett would rather play walkons who will never help this team in a winning season that build for the future by getting freshman experience. Once the desion has been made to play a freshman he should play and play alot. Your Givens example is a COACHING MISTAKE. He's paid to evaluate who is ready to play-you don't get a do-over-once that decision is made you show confidence in the kid rather than sending him to the end of the bench . I wonder how long it would have taken Eric Dickerson to get on the field as a freshman when he found himself third string behind James and Waggoner. Probably would have transferred.

[jtstang]

Givens dropped two certain TD passes.

Exactly. And he's with SMU, not TCU. Patterson surely did not want him.

[KnuckleStang]

Givens dropped two certain TD passes.

Exactly. And he's with SMU, not TCU. Patterson surely did not want him.

Well if the frogs didn't want him, offering him a scholly was a funny way of showing it.

So let me get this straight Stallion. You just listed 10 FR Bennett played before they were ready because of EMERGENCY, and you're saying "why stop there?" Put more FR on the field, even the ones we don't need? Not sure I'm following that logic. I do agree that the Givens example was a coaching mistake in that he should not have played Givens in the first place. But once you put a kid in, and he chokes more than once, you'd have to be an idiot to leave him in. Especially when your job is on the line and you're 7-67.

I assume your "walkons" comment was directed at Sledge? Agreed, he's not going to win any track meets any time soon. But somehow he manages to get open, and 17 times out of 20, he seems to find a way to catch the ball.

I have a queasy feeling about tomorrow's game. I think we may lose to the pirates. I hope not, but I feel it deep in my gut.

[Stallion]

what a silly comment-NO you don't take freshman out and put them at the end of the bench because they drop 2 balls or make a mistake. FRESHMEN always make mistakes. You put freshmen in because it matters in 2006 and 2007 when you just might be able to turn the program around. In 2006 and 2007 it really won't matter at all whether SMU won ZERO in 2003 or 3 games with no-future upperclassmen in 2004. What will matter will be experience on the field in 2006 or 2007. This is how its done in rebuilding programs all across the nation. That's how SMU turned it around in 1980 by playing every talented youngster on the roster because long term benefits outweigh short term considerations in a rebuilding program. Its almost to the point that I wish Bennett would just keep his hands off the freshmen because he has bungled the situation over and over with freshmen getting into 1 or 2 games early in the season only to be sent to the bench when they make the ineviable mistake. The Givens, Lindley, Lowery, Bonds etc decisions were nothing more than flushing a year down the toilet.

[SWC2010]

The truth is his sweaty fat little self feels threatened by Bennett in recruiting and will take jabs wherever he can.

Why? By all accounts Bennett hasn't done squat in recruiting this year.

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Well, it's still early JT. Hmmm, what can I say. Let's see, this year:

Bennett's recruits 21
DoughBoy recruits 10

[PonySnob]

Well, it's still early JT. Hmmm, what can I say. Let's see, this year:

Bennett's recruits 21
DoughBoy recruits 10

While it is great that we did beat TCU this year, they will become bowl eligible with a victory today and have rebounded back into the top 25. Our biggest claim is that with a win today, we'll be .500 in conference play for the first time in 4 years.