Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda...

[BRStang]

Should be 5-2 (NTSU), could be 6-1 (UTEP). Imagine what could have been.

So, care to speculate? What happens if SMU goes 7-5 with no bowl invite? 6-6 with no bowl invite? This was Bennett's schedule. Next year, we're back to becoming the pound-ee.

I think if SMU goes 7-5, even with no bowl game, Bennett stays. If we go 6-6, it'll be tight.

[BUS]

I am still saving money to go to a bowl game. If that does not happen, well, I guess I put a bunch of chrome of the V-Star.

Fort Worth, New Orleans or maybe Houston. Heck I could even get up for El PAso and the Sun Bowl.

[jtstang]

I think if SMU goes 7-5, even with no bowl game, Bennett stays. If we go 6-6, it'll be tight.

Kind of depends on whether you think Orsini is itching to put his own stamp on the football program. At 6-6, he might take that opportunity.

[BRStang]

I think if SMU goes 7-5, even with no bowl game, Bennett stays. If we go 6-6, it'll be tight.

Kind of depends on whether you think Orsini is itching to put his own stamp on the football program. At 6-6, he might take that opportunity.

Yeah, I think 6-6 is a lot easier for him than 7-5. At 7-5, you'll have those who'll criticize him for firing the coach just when he was turning things around (a la Rossley).

[mrydel]

I could be very very wrong, but I think we are still too weak in both athletes and lack of restrictions to attract anyone that would be of sufficient "name" and talent to do a quick improvement I truly do not want to go through another 5 year rebuild. At this point I think Coach Bennett has done fairly well with the hand he was dealt initially and has done some pretty good on the job learning. If we finish well (bowl eleigible), I see no reason not to stay behing him and support what he has done to date. If there is a year end collapse, I reserve the right to change my mind.

[93Mustang]

Assuming we don't implode and we win a few more games - even just 2 - I think Bennett should stay. While I don't think he's lived up to expectations, our replacement options are limited and the last thing we need right now is another 5 year plan. He also seems to be growing into the job and his mental errors are more limited. Let Bennett play it out with Willis, Sanders, Martin, McCann, et al., and see if we've truly turned the corner or whether our soft schedule is making these guys look better than they are.

[jtstang]

... and see if we've truly turned the corner or whether our soft schedule is making these guys look better than they are.

If that's the case, aren't we looking at a five-year plan (or more) anyway?

[Billy Joe]

I would hold off on the bowl talk fellas. There are still a lot of really tough games left on the schedule. Houston and Tulsa are good teams and will take SMU's best game to win. ECU and Rice on the road will be no easy task. We must beat UAB at home. It is encouraging to beat Marshall with the QB situation and all of the injuries to key players.

[NavyCrimson]

Well said - mrydel

[SMU Football Blog]

Hold off on the "bowl talk" and equally hold off on the "fire the coach talk."

Jeez, there are five games left and we have the best record through seven games in twenty years.

[SMU Football Blog]

I could be very very wrong, but I think we are still too weak in both athletes and lack of restrictions to attract anyone that would be of sufficient "name" and talent to do a quick improvement

I thought we learned not to say stuff like this after the AD search and the basketball HC search.

[SMU Football Blog]

I'd be curious to know how many people already lamenting that SMU is not going bowling again have any idea how many bowl slots there actually are this year? Or how many teams there even are in NCAA Div. I-A? Or how many teams last year were bowl eligible but didn't go to bowl games? Or how many teams the last time there was a 12 game season had six or more wins? Or how many teams this year will be bowl eligible if they go .500 from here on out? Or how many of those people realize that C-USA did six bowl teams with just five tie-ins last year?

[jtstang]

I'd be curious to know how many people already lamenting that SMU is not going bowling again have any idea how many bowl slots there actually are this year? Or how many teams there even are in NCAA Div. I-A? Or how many teams last year were bowl eligible but didn't go to bowl games? Or how many teams the last time there was a 12 game season had six or more wins? Or how many teams this year will be bowl eligible if they go .500 from here on out? Or how many of those people realize that C-USA did six bowl teams with just five tie-ins last year?

I don't know any of that. I just know, absent an automatic bid, that in addition to being bowl eligible, some bowl has to want to invite you too.

[mrydel]

I could be very very wrong, but I think we are still too weak in both athletes and lack of restrictions to attract anyone that would be of sufficient "name" and talent to do a quick improvement

I thought we learned not to say stuff like this after the AD search and the basketball HC search.

That is why I "could be wrong". That and several other reasons my wife keeps handy.

[Stallion]

the reality is that SMU at 6-6 will likely get a bowl unless some very unusual things happen in CUSA East. That entire Division is a mess and it is especially doubtful that the East can produce more than a single bowl eligible team especially if SMU in particular beats UAB which is the team with the second best record. Similarly, beating ECU would give them 5 losses making a bowl run from 2-5 very unlikely. Because these horrible teams play each other one of these teams may rally but its pathetic over in the East. However, if an East team does making it to 6-6 they may be chosen over SMU because there are bowls in Mobile, Birmingham which are closer to the East and those schools likely will bring more fans.