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Postby EastStang » Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:41 am

Big Easy, there were no academic scandels in all those years leading up to the death penalty, they were financial scandels. Paying players, giving them cars, money, apartments, etc. That is why the academic "reforms" were so unnecessary. Its like we figured that if we went after only good students, they wouldn't ask for money. Our graduation rates were consistently near the top of the SWC. That is the really crazy part of all this. Yes, we need some academic standards for admitting athletes and retaining athletes. Over the 60 years prior to the death penalty we lost some good players to eligibility in various sports, that happens and guess what, it still happens even under the new tighter admission rules. Just because we might admit some less accomplished students as athletes, doesn't mean that we'll go anywhere near the financial scandel days past. Although it certainly is tempting given that everyone seems to be getting slapped on the wrist these days. But if we went back there, we'd be the example and get the death penalty again.
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Postby PerunaPunch » Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:05 am

Sorry Stallion,

I find it amusing that Cavan's own recruits and players continue to pop up on this board from time to time and affirm the fact that basically Cavan got in waaay over his head at SMU. Nice guy, personable guy, sure. But he simply wasn't the right man for the job. Whatever he did or didn't do at Georgia is immaterial. He thought he could turn it around at SMU, and when he realized he was in way over his head, and he simply checked out.

Bennett came in under slightly better circumstances (the building of Ford Stadium) no doubt, but arguably his biggest impact – and what clearly sets him above Cavan in his effectiveness – is that when the scenario at SMU didn't suit him, Bennett fought to get it changed. Everything you've been [deleted] about... admissions, JUCOs, and athlete-friendly major... Bennett played a role in changing.

So time to stop kicking the proverbial dead horse (pardon the pun), and give the man some credit where credit is due.
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Postby NavyCrimson » Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:34 am

in a nut shell, if bennett left now, it would be disastrous for the program / PLEASE STAY COACH!!!
BRING BACK THE GLORY DAYS OF SMU FOOTBALL!!!

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Postby Stallion » Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:36 am

this is just revisionsist B.S. Bennett has a SLIGHTY better job? Really? Just SLIGHTY better? Ford Stadium? Remember Bennett called SMU's policies under Cavan ridiculous and absurd and the SMU job a coaching graveyard which he was warned not the take. If there ever was a coach that appeared over his head-it was Phil Bennett in the worst season ever in SMU history. Bennett would be out of a JOB this very moment if some of the recent changes had not been made. Just where would Bennett be right now if he hadn't been allowed to play the JUCO card with Haywood, Chase and Romo. I personally believe those players played an integral part in at least 4 games. I'm serious Phil would be at 2 wins and looking for a new job under the circumstances that Cavan coached under-ABSOLUTELY no doubt in my mind. Its really sucks that you have to blame the victim rather than placing it squarely where it belongs at the feet of the administration-basically it stems that MOST of you were wrong from the very beginning in wanting to fire coach after coach when that was not the problem. The problem as pointed out from DAY 1 was and still is the Model.
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Postby NavyCrimson » Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:48 am

well said stallion!!!
BRING BACK THE GLORY DAYS OF SMU FOOTBALL!!!

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Postby Mickey » Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:04 pm

I second that NavyCrimson!
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Postby Treadway21 » Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:33 pm

Water under the bridge. The model sucked and is improving. Cavan is long gone. Who knows what he would have done with the same circumstances, but Bennett certainly has the energy for the job and is starting to get results.
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Postby giacfsp » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:00 pm

Stallion wrote: .... Remember Bennett called SMU's policies under Cavan ridiculous and absurd and the SMU job a coaching graveyard which he was warned not the take.
As I recall, Coach Bennett said OTHERS called it a coaching graveyard. Nobody would take a job in which he was virtually guaranteed to fail, especially a "hot" candidate like Coach Bennett was at the time. If HE actually thought it was such a dead-end situation, he wouldn't have taken it, and something else would have appeared shortly thereafter.

Stallion wrote: .... Just where would Bennett be right now if he hadn't been allowed to play the JUCO card with Haywood, Chase and Romo. I personally believe those players played an integral part in at least 4 games.
I happen to agree with you. But this flies in the face of your "Bennett's unwillingness to play Phillips is the reason he's going to get fired" mantra from earlier in the season.
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Postby giacfsp » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:01 pm

Treadway21 wrote:Water under the bridge. The model sucked and is improving. Cavan is long gone. Who knows what he would have done with the same circumstances, but Bennett certainly has the energy for the job and is starting to get results.
Best post in this thread. Good stuff, Treadway.
Time to move on and focus on recruiting season!
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Postby PerunaPunch » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:03 pm

Stallion,

I can't argue the point that the blame for this mess lies soley with the FORMER administration. My only beef with Turner, Copeland & Co. is that they're not rectifying the situation quickly enough. But I also know that nothing has ever changed quickly on the Hilltop...

However, I cited up front Phil's advantage of having Ford Stadium. But you're the one who's gone on record ad nauseum that nothing (and one would assume that to include Ford Stadium, no?) would change until the admissions policies changed...

But I guess you're forgetting the fact that Cavan SHOULD have benefitted from Ford Stadium too – as much or more than Bennett. Ford Stadium was on the drawing board since around 1988 – Cavan should have been able to sell the shiney new stadium under construction concept. Ford Stadium was completed in 2000. Are you forgetting that it was Cavan, not Bennett, who was coaching on Ford's opening day? The fact is that Cavan should have been able to take advantage of a brand spankin' new Ford Stadium, but he didn't.

You forget, or maybe aren't aware of the fact that Bennett has been instumental in EVERY ONE of the positive changes you cite. If you don't believe me, ask President Turner.

Sure Bennett's JUCOs have been instrumental in wins this year. He pushed for the JUCOs he wanted and got some of them in. Cavan didn't. Thanks for proving my point.

I believe you may be right in that Phil might be looking for another job if he had to work under the same restrictions that Cavan did. But that's not the crux of the issue is it? The point that you keep missing is that rather than suffering under the same restrictions as Cavan, Bennett got them changed.

There's a lot more to being a head coach than hiring and firing assistants, recruiting, personnel moves and Xs and Os. The point you seem to keep missing is that in many ways, Bennett's most significant contributions have been in clearing the maze of administrative red tap rather than on the football field.
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Postby smu01 » Tue Nov 29, 2005 8:17 pm

i agree stallion!!! head coach has got to get it done!!!! and those juco's are the way to go...he has succeeded where caven failed...so more power to him..i think he is a petter sales men then caven
stay low boys...keep those feet moving....be perfect.........
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