NTSU observations

[ponyte]

There isn't a Pony fan that is not disappointed by the loss Saturday night. Unlike many previous loses, this one was clearly earned by the players. Blocked punts, pathetic penalties and over all poor effort were the players responsibility.

During the week, there was a report of sloppy catching by the receivers and Bennett having a talk to the team about intensity. The FBI would call that a clue. The players simple didn't have their heads in the game and it showed Saturday night. SMU doesn't have the caliber of athletes to afford less than 100% from players (both physically and mentally).

Naturally, there will be many to blame Bennett for not correcting this issue. Imagine those of you that have kids and trying to get their attitude adjusted. Sometimes, kids just lose focus and it takes something more than a parent figure for the kid to focus. These are kids and they will sometimes do stupid things. And in this case, the players did the stupid thing of goofing off in their preparation. They didn’t respond to the coaches’ efforts (pushup for miss catches, talk for the head coach etc.).

This week’s game is a wonderful opportunity for this team. Work hard and win. Winning has a way of motivating. It will also be an opportunity for our kids to work on things and improve. A win, any win at this point is a positive and can help refocus this team on what it needs to do to win.

I remember a particularly poor effort by an SMU team in 1980. A team where the players simple didn't prepare and were not working to improve. That team had stereos in the locker room before the game and had don a lousy job in practice. Ron Meyer had tried to refocus the team but it just didn’t work. That team lost to Houston with a miserable performance. That team also got its head together and focused. The result was a defeat over their next opponent...#2 UT in Austin. But it took a bad loss to a bad team to get the players attention.

This team can turn it around but it will require the players stepping up. There needs to be on field leadership on both sides of the ball. This season is not over and it still has the potential to be a great season. It is now up to the players to take their destiny into their hands.

[PonyPride]

.... This team can turn it around but it will require the players stepping up. There needs to be on field leadership on both sides of the ball. This season is not over and it still has the potential to be a great season. It is now up to the players to take their destiny into their hands.

Well said. Let's start by beating Sam Houston State.

[PhirePhilBennett]

I think 68-6 (aggie) and 32-10? (Tulane) should be enough.

Oh, and 35-3 (Tech) this year qualifies.

no, this coach has a problem. he cannot get his team prepared until he plays 4-5 regular season games.