Bennett on TV tonight!

[EastStang]

Why did Orsini let him stay another year, then? The fact is there has been improvement and whether it is because of relaxed recruiting restrictions or Bennett is very hard to quantify. Clearly, we are on more equal footing than before and we are getting some good players. We are also in our 11th year as a member of a mid-major conference. We no longer can win the recruiting wars with UT, A&M, OU and TT because players do not view us as equals with them. How are we recruiting compared to schools in the MWC, MAC, CUSA, WAC and SBC? We're probably in the middle third somewhere. Not at the top, not at the bottom.

[Stallion]

The goal of the Program is to be in the Top 25 in every sport. Is that a slogan or is that a commitment?

[ponydawg]

Why did Orsini let him stay another year, then?

A) He believes in him and where the team is.
B) Bennett sold himself.
C) Orsini compared who he thought he could get to Bennett and the pros didn't out weigh the cons, so he gave him another year to see if his big splash hire would then be there.
D) We just spent an arse-load of money on the b-ball program.
E) All of the above.

[mrydel]

Ever since the extended evaluation that went on between Orsini and Bennett, I have considered Bennett to now be an Orisini hire on a one year contract. (This of course does not consider any buy out if needed.) I am under the impression that Orisini weighed all of the options and much in line with what PonyDawg just posted, felt it was in the best interest to keep Coach Bennett for the time being. This way, with firm goals (73 points for improvement?) and understanding, if Coach Bennett falls short there can be no question on the course of action. Had Orsini pulled the plug last year (and I personally felt he should not have), there would have been a lot of grumblings by players, parents, fans, etc. as to the decision, right or wrong. A lot of it would have centered on Orsini just wanting his own guy and "unfairly" canning the coach. I think this was a fair and smart move that gives Coach Bennett a more than fair chance to move the program in a positive manner or change directions. But, make no mistake about it, now is the time for significant improvement. It should have happened last year and it did not. Overall, our schedule is not much harder, if any harder than last year. I have been a Bennett backer from day one but this is it.

[Water Pony]

myrdel, good summary and accurate, I believe.

As I think about the season, I don't view it as win or else, but winning will reflect the investments and commitments we have made to FB over the last 5+ years. If the results are not measureable, e.g. winning season and a bowl game, plus defeating TCU and/or Tech, then Orsini will have the opportunity to raise our performance with someone else without rancor.

If we don't win, our disappointment should be tempered by our appreciation to Coach Bennett for everything he has done for the team and players. I believe he and the team have the ability to excel and the Mustangs will have a 'coming out' party.

Let's enjoy and support this group of young men, who have been recruited by Phil. And have some fun in 2007! No sunshine, let's just have some fun for a change with our renewed FB tradition.

Go Ponies!

[jtstang]

He said he feels the buzz around campus that people on campus and around Dallas are getting excited.

That's probably just spring allergies.

[jkflamebo]

bennett had to stay if we wanted to see willis takin snaps in '07

[RE Tycoon]

Phil Bennett should be judged on a different scale than all previous post DP coaches and it is time to produce or move on.

Quite a paradigm shift for you Stallion. It's a complete 180 from your "the coach is not the problem" rants. I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment and it's the same thing I've been saying the past few years.

I personally think he should have been canned after last year's pant wetting episode against NTSU and then again after the Rice game. Some people have IT, Bennett does not. He constantly under prepares this team and lays an egg when the game has any semblance of meaning for this program. Having said that, I wish him luck and hope he takes us to a bowl game every year for the next decade.

[PonyFan]

bennett had to stay if we wanted to see willis takin snaps in '07

WHAT? You think Steve-O gives a damn who plays QB? He'd let one of us take snaps if he thought it would help the Ponies win and get into the top 25.

[abezontar]

Isn't Steve-O one of the guys from [deleted]? Does this mean that we will soon have halftime shows featuring our AD doing stupid stunts that risk his health/life?

[Stallion]

Nacho I've had that philosophy for some time. I didn't call for Bennett's firing in 2006 and I'm perfectly happy to see if can do it this year. But this is definitely a changing situation and for the reasons I've pointed out numerous times a much easier job than it was in 2000. Expectations should be raised to accomplish at least what Rice has done. No excuses for not going to a bowl game once in awhile with a relaxed schedule and playing in a very weak conference most of which is composed of teams in the bottom 1/3rd of college football. Rice couldn't beat a Top 60 team and is probably no better than a Top 80 team(88th in Sagarin Ratings) and they went bowling. Now do you want to know if I think we have a Model in place to meet Orsini's goal of being a Top 25 program-which has ALWAYS been my goal-that's another question. I'm glad to have some company on the bandwagon that SMU's goal should be to be a Top 25 program-now I'm going to hold them to that goal. SMU was 96th in the Sagarin ratings last year-treading water. We only need to jump over 3/5ths of the Division 1A programs ahead of us.

[smupony94]

Nacho I've had that philosophy for some time. I didn't call for Bennett's firing in 2006 and I'm perfectly happy to see if can do it this year. But this is definitely a changing situation and for the reasons I've pointed out numerous times a much easier job than it was in 2000. Expectations should be raised to accomplish at least what Rice has done. No excuses for not going to a bowl game once in awhile with a relaxed schedule and playing in a very weak conference most of which is composed of teams in the bottom 1/3rd of college football. Rice couldn't beat a Top 60 team and is probably no better than a Top 80 team(88th in Sagarin Ratings) and they went bowling. Now do you want to know if I think we have a Model in place to meet Orsini's goal of being a Top 25 program-which has ALWAYS been my goal-that's another question. I'm glad to have some company on the bandwagon that SMU's goal should be to be a Top 25 program-now I'm going to hold them to that goal. SMU was 96th in the Sagarin ratings last year-treading water. We only need to jump over 3/5ths of the Division 1A programs ahead of us.

So are you saying we are going to a bowl

[smu diamond m]

Nacho I've had that philosophy for some time. I didn't call for Bennett's firing in 2006 and I'm perfectly happy to see if can do it this year. But this is definitely a changing situation and for the reasons I've pointed out numerous times a much easier job than it was in 2000. Expectations should be raised to accomplish at least what Rice has done. No excuses for not going to a bowl game once in awhile with a relaxed schedule and playing in a very weak conference most of which is composed of teams in the bottom 1/3rd of college football. Rice couldn't beat a Top 60 team and is probably no better than a Top 80 team(88th in Sagarin Ratings) and they went bowling. Now do you want to know if I think we have a Model in place to meet Orsini's goal of being a Top 25 program-which has ALWAYS been my goal-that's another question. I'm glad to have some company on the bandwagon that SMU's goal should be to be a Top 25 program-now I'm going to hold them to that goal. SMU was 96th in the Sagarin ratings last year-treading water. We only need to jump over 3/5ths of the Division 1A programs ahead of us.

So are you saying we are going to a bowl

I think he's saying it's pathetic that we haven't gone.

There are so many bowls out there it's almost ridiculous to not be in one, even though in the grand scheme of things, a chunk of the bowl games played are mediocre teams playing mediocre teams.

[smupony94]

If we don't beat UNt my donations evporate

[DickerJames]

Ever since the extended evaluation that went on between Orsini and Bennett, I have considered Bennett to now be an Orisini hire on a one year contract. (This of course does not consider any buy out if needed.) I am under the impression that Orisini weighed all of the options and much in line with what PonyDawg just posted, felt it was in the best interest to keep Coach Bennett for the time being.

I agree with you, Orsini made the correct decision to give Phil one more year. I have serious doubts about Phil's ability to be a head coach and I was expecting him to get the axe after the Rice loss, but the more I thought about it the prudent move was made.