Is Coach Phil gone this week?

[PhirePhilBennett]

no, not this week. But if we lose to SHSU, then Rusty can coach us the rest of the way.

[MrMustang1965]

Arkansas St. will kick our *ss. No question.

You're forgetting Sam Houston State...

Shouldn't have a there. With absolutely no offense, one accident is all we'll need for SHSU to win that game. This is pathetic.

The was because the post completely skipped over next week's game against Sam Houston State. Don't take the Bearkats lightly.

[bubba pony]

what does it cost us to buy out his contract? we spent a fortune on Tubbs. Copeland gave PB an extension and a raise while he never had a winning season. thank god Copeland is gone or he give him another extension to help him recruit.

at this point in time I suspect he'll finish the season as Orsini needs some time to find a replacement and would have to be in place for the next recruiting season. Your Alumni contributions at work.

[smu diamond m]

what does it cost us to buy out his contract? we spent a fortune on Tubbs. Copeland gave PB an extension and a raise while he never had a winning season. thank god Copeland is gone or he give him another extension to help him recruit.

at this point in time I suspect he'll finish the season as Orsini needs some time to find a replacement and would have to be in place for the next recruiting season. Your Alumni contributions at work.

I imagine a cool $5mil would do the dirty work.

[RockStang]

In addition to the bad and unimaginative play calling, which of course, is Bennett and not Rusty, you all are missing an important point.

I tried to make this point 3-4 years ago and got shot down, but it is still relevant. We have the athletic ability. What our boys are missing is CONFIDENCE. CONFIDENCE that your own damn coach believes in you. Just ask some of the ex-Bennett players. They will tell you, they were put down again and again.

Even this YEAR, there is a story in the DMN about Willis having to remind Bennett who was touting the Highland park quarterback, that he, Willis shook the HP QB's hand twice - when he beat him in the state finals. So how does that make your starting quarterback feel when your own damn coach is talking about the greatness of the QB that you beat in high school.

I could go on and on about one put-down after another that Bennett gives his players. It is psychology 101. Tell me I'm good and that you believe in me and I'll be even better. Tell me I'm a piece of crap, but don't be surprised when I lived up to that.

Four years ago I posted this topic and was shot down by comments like, "These guys have to be tough. They can't be babied. waaa waaa Etc. etc." Ok, I'll agree with that, but they don't have to be ground in the dirt either. And that is what has happened to some of them if you ask around. Lots of grinding in the dirt. Again and again. From what I've heard that cannot be overstated. Bennett will get it in for one of them and whether they are the best player or not, they end up on the bench or put down in a big way in front of the entire team.

We should have invested in some sports psychologists. Not for the boys - but for the head coach. I've never seen so many missed passes in my life. That is confidence, confidence, confidence. Where is the confidence that these coaches have in the boys? And not some sound bites in a damn press conferences. TO THEIR PLAYERS' FACE. Where it counts. Ask around and you will find out. This is the elephant in the room that no one is talking about.

You are ABSOLUTELY correct. I worked for the man. I hated him, and so did many of his players. Ask any of his ex-players, as you said. He's NOT a motivator..

When are some people just going to realize that some coaches.. cant coach? Here's hoping Phil Bennett and Ron Zook end their careers very soon.

My 10 y/o kid was in his 3rd summer in the SMU Football camp and his dorm room was on a floor with 13 and 14 y/o kids who were bullying him. When he became upset one of the asst. coaches called him a "Mama's boy". Sure motivated his enthusiasm for SMU football.

[Ponymon]

In addition to the bad and unimaginative play calling, which of course, is Bennett and not Rusty, you all are missing an important point.

I tried to make this point 3-4 years ago and got shot down, but it is still relevant. We have the athletic ability. What our boys are missing is CONFIDENCE. CONFIDENCE that your own damn coach believes in you. Just ask some of the ex-Bennett players. They will tell you, they were put down again and again.

Even this YEAR, there is a story in the DMN about Willis having to remind Bennett who was touting the Highland park quarterback, that he, Willis shook the HP QB's hand twice - when he beat him in the state finals. So how does that make your starting quarterback feel when your own damn coach is talking about the greatness of the QB that you beat in high school.

I could go on and on about one put-down after another that Bennett gives his players. It is psychology 101. Tell me I'm good and that you believe in me and I'll be even better. Tell me I'm a piece of crap, but don't be surprised when I lived up to that.

Four years ago I posted this topic and was shot down by comments like, "These guys have to be tough. They can't be babied. waaa waaa Etc. etc." Ok, I'll agree with that, but they don't have to be ground in the dirt either. And that is what has happened to some of them if you ask around. Lots of grinding in the dirt. Again and again. From what I've heard that cannot be overstated. Bennett will get it in for one of them and whether they are the best player or not, they end up on the bench or put down in a big way in front of the entire team.

We should have invested in some sports psychologists. Not for the boys - but for the head coach. I've never seen so many missed passes in my life. That is confidence, confidence, confidence. Where is the confidence that these coaches have in the boys? And not some sound bites in a damn press conferences. TO THEIR PLAYERS' FACE. Where it counts. Ask around and you will find out. This is the elephant in the room that no one is talking about.

You are ABSOLUTELY correct. I worked for the man. I hated him, and so did many of his players. Ask any of his ex-players, as you said. He's NOT a motivator..

When are some people just going to realize that some coaches.. cant coach? Here's hoping Phil Bennett and Ron Zook end their careers very soon.

My 10 y/o kid was in his 3rd summer in the SMU Football camp and his dorm room was on a floor with 13 and 14 y/o kids who were bullying him. When he became upset one of the asst. coaches called him a "Mama's boy". Sure motivated his enthusiasm for SMU football.

I was trying to convince my 7th grade kid to go to the camp next year, but after hearing these horror stories, FORGET IT! Personally, I know that I never liked being put down, especially in front of others, and NEVER found it to be motivating to me. This probably explains Bennett's lousy recruiting. The word may be out. If I'm a recruit, I'm going to ask other players and former players what the coach is really like before committing. I would definitely mark SMU off my list if I found reports like this one to be confirmed!

BENNETT needs to be canned PRONTO if he can't positively motivate his players to play for him!

[EastStang]

Remember the scene from the Natural where they hire a psychologist in the middle of a slump. "Losing is a disease, its a state of mind". Whereupon Robert Redford walked out of the room and said, I was hired to play baseball not listen to this (expletive)." Sports is about stepping up and doing it when you are called upon to do it. If you don't get it done, you don't play. Its just that simple. There are two very simple truths. If you mess up in practice and don't get called on it, you'll mess up in the game. And you play as you practice. And the unimaginative play calling is not Burns, but Bennett? What proof do you have of that? Burns works up a game plan and Bennett either accepts it, tweaks it or says go back to the drawing board. We didn't see Willis practice, we are now seeing more of his strengths and his limitations. Perhaps the unimaginative play calling was because he's not ready yet for a more complex diet of plays. I do agree that no win is certain for our teams and it hasn't been certain for about 18 years now. After week two there are some new things we've learned. In CUSA, Tulane, ECU, Marshall look more beatable. UTEP, Rice, UAB look less beatable.