Fire Bennett now!

[Sic_em]

Anybody?

[Mustangs35SMU]

Maybe next year.

[BUS]

Good Post Sic em.

PB was not and will not be ging anywhere for a few years. One SMU is not flush with money to change and two, PB is being given time to BUILD a team.

At SMU that is harder than at most places. He got no huge JUCO class his first year.. or any other. Its harder to transfer here than most other schools.

PB is make SMU better and he is getting better.

[LA_Mustang]

Our defense and special teams continue to improve, but we must get a division I caliber QB on the field next year.

[BRStang]

And Offensive Line!

[mrydel]

And Offensive Line!

\

I am expecting the line to show improvement next year. QB is the question. Either Phillips has been held back and can step in and take over, or we have to deal with inexperience either from never having played (Willis) or another JC that has to learn the system.

[mustangbill67]

I wonder if Phillip's injury resulted in a lingering disability as far as his throwing is concerned. There does not appear to be much confidence in him but that is just speculation.

[LawSchoolPony]

I think that Bennett legitimately deserves a chance to show what he can do w/ this upcoming year, w/ a schedule more in line w/ SMU's ability

[BrianTinBigD]

I still have serious concerns about clock management at the end of the game. The 49 yard field goal should have occurred 1 play later. Not after we managed to screw up the clock. We took one time out home with us. I wonder if Phil has it in his office waiting to use it next week?

My other concern is with the OC. We were pathetic in the 1st half and not real good the whole game. One pass to Kennedy, and why we were mixing runs into Massey and Dorsey is still a mystery to me. Couldn't figure out how Houston could run hot routes to their TE but it is never anything we seem to do. We needed to run the ball more in the 1st half but we never attempted to really force the run.

Thank God the Defense didn't break after the offense left them in a lurch all game long. Too many 3 and outs for my taste.

[Mustangs35SMU]

I think that Bennett legitimately deserves a chance to show what he can do w/ this upcoming year, w/ a schedule more in line w/ SMU's ability

If SMU isn't ATLEAST 3-1 going into conference play next season, it's time to start questioning his stay here once again.

[PonyPride]

Good thing you're not getting ahead of yourself there, 35!

[ponyrider1947]

I also found it odd that PB's brother had to basically talk him into taking the field goal....

from the dmn:

"With the clock winding down, SMU was going to attempt one more play. On the sidelines, assistant coach Jerry Bennett yelled, "We should take a field goal. Phil Bennett listened to his brother and sent McMurtray on the field."

[ponyboy]

He didn't have to talk him into the field goal. He had to emphasize that the time was RIGHT THEN instead of a play later.

[PK]

We were tied at the time with 8 seconds left. One more play hoping for a home run hail mary or trying a field goal are pretty equal choices although the odds for success are probably greater for the field goal. Both plays have a possible down side of either Houston intercepting a pass and running it back for a score or a field goal attemp blocked and the ball picked up and taken back for a score. A lesser evil possibility would have been a failed attempt in either case and we go into overtime. I don't care who's idea it was, it was the right decision by Bennett to go with the field goal and it was a successful attempt.

The game may have been ugly at times, but the final score was beautiful.

[SMU Football Blog]

I'm no Bennett apologist but I am not going to quibble with the decision not to put the ball in the offense's hands for one more play with time running down. There were plenty of ways to screw that game up in the final seconds. Hell, he made the kick.