Just a Friday morning question

[BUS]

Do you really think Bennett is going to leave. I bet not.

Now, if he does.... Why not get his bother Jerry the job. Not that could be fun!

[JasonB]

1) Bennett won't leave right now.

2) Bennett won't get the K State job anyway

3) Gush. That D looks great and you have to do something to keep him from going with Bennett to k-state, because their defensive coaching staff is going to be out.

[The PonyGrad]

I thought Burns had no interest in being a HC. What about Gush, and bring back our old DC from Tulane.

Oh, and not Hatfield.

[McClown27]

Now, if he does.... Why not get his bother Jerry the job. Not that could be fun!

I would be in favor of his brother + a new OC. I think his brother would be a better recruiter and seems to be a nicer guy.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

re: Hatfield @ SMU

NO!

[Charleston Pony]

I think Hatfield is a good coach, but my preference would be for more of a salesman type...young, energetic, etc... Of course, I was one who was intrigued by the Charlie Waters scenario and still wouldn't rule him out.

Bottom line is that even though we are improving, we've got a long ways to go to attract higher profile recruits and even more importantly, to win back fans. My biggest concern is that SMU will begin to field teams that win 7-8 games every year but is still shunned by the bowls...because we have so few loyal fans. This time of year we should all be reminded of that as the big state schools jockey for their post season destinations.

A winning SMU team coached by a media darling (would Waters be one?) might just attract an increased fan base. SMU needs to do a better job of selling itself as Dallas' only Division I program. We are entirely too "elitest" and it's hurt us in the modern era of college sports.

[ponyte]

Sorry to be so long in replying to mrydel. Bennett has had Burns for a couple of years. The offense (not necessarily the one we saw last fall) has requirements that do not compliment an option offense. Burns needs receivers and I back type runners. More importantly, the O-line needs to have certain skills. Smash mouth option lines are far and few between. In the days of yore, wishbone offenses were made obsolete by great athletic defenses. And that is the norm today. Burns has not recruited smash mouth type linemen to date. Hatfield enjoys a niche offense that few defenses are accustomed to defending. That is a slight advantage against marginal opponents but not an advantage against very athletic opponents. I don't see Bennett recruiting to run an option offense. Even Romo took off running less this year than last year. We have seen a decent running game but that running game is closer to an I back type running game than an option game. And the O-line has been recruited to provide blocking for running and passing. Hatfield needs a line that is more geared to run. The subtleties between an option game and an I-back type game are difficult to see on the field but very important in the execution of an offense. My fear is that the current offensive philosophy will not blend well with an option philosophy and put SMU offensive improvement back several years. It takes an incredible amount of talent to go from a pass-run offense to a run dominated offense (and I more than anyone benefited from a change from balance offense to run dominated offense).

[mrydel]

I follow what you say Ponyte. I never was involved with that much detail of the offensive side since I played defense forever. I do know the blocking schemes are different, but with the problems we have on occasion pass blocking, maybe we need to be doing some more run blocking. I agree with the good defenses catching up with the option. That showed this year with us and Rice. My initial thoughts, and these were only if Bennett were to leave since I have been a Bennett backer from day 1, was if Hatfield were to come, he would actually have less restrictions at SMU than he had at Rice, and would have some name recognition. I would rather (again if Bennett were not here) have a more youthful entergetic type myself. But having known Hatfield on a very casual basis, I do admire him as a good man and good molder of youth. He was a good fit for Rice for what they apparently wanted to do with their football team. Maybe they will make some SMU progressive baby steps now.

[ponyte]

Looks like our pontificating is for naught as Bennett is staying put (thank goodness). I like Hatfield as well. He had unlimited funds at Arkansas and still ran an option offense. He is very comfortable with the option regardless of where he coaches. But we do not have to worry with that possibility. Now if Bennett wins and we go bowling next year, I bet we have very serious discussions about a new coach.