CFB publications and what they think of SMU

[Sam I Am]

The SMU Blog man maybe speaking the truth, in which case he is in despair and that makes me depressed. Surely there are consequences for PB depending upon his W/L record.

[CalallenStang]

It's nice to see SMU picked to do rather decently this year...but these preseason magazines don't win games for us. IMO Phil Bennett is out unless he gets to a bowl, and this year I think that means 6 wins, which is what most magazines are predicting. For once, expectations are that he reaches a bowl. If he can't meet expectations, I don't see us retaining him.

[ReedFrawg]

Disclaimer: I'm not bashing here because I've stated numerous times that I like and respect Bennett - he was one of my favorite coaches at TCU. I'm just wondering if 6-6 should be enough for Bennett to keep his job. It would mean no improvement over last year in terms of overall record and no marquee win (this assumes SMU loses to TCU and Tech). Or, did this team lose so much from last year's team (in terms of talent) that 6-6 this year is actually better than 6-6 last year? The only difference would be an extra conference tie-in that allows a 6-6 team to play in a bowl game.

Personally, I think he will keep his job at 6-6 but it would have to be seen as a disappointing season (i.e. no improvement over last year).

[mrydel]

I realize that most say Bowl game = Bennett staying, but if I were Orsini I would say winning record = staying. 6-6 may get a bowl and then a loss puts us at 6-7. I want a winning season. I want at least 7-5 and the bowl gives you either 8-5 or 7-6. Otherwise let's start over. I have been a Bennett backer from day 1 and still am today, but the thought of another losing season regardless of bowl game makes me ill. And I will go to a bowl game whereever it may be if we go to one even at 6-6.

[Arkpony]

I'm with you 100% on this one Mrydel! A winning season or Bennett goes. And I will also be at whatever bowl game we get into regardless of our record.

[Mexmustang]

The real problem is that without a winning season and a bowl, he will be setup for the next season to fail. Put simply the recruits won't come. I don't believe that they did this past year and two years in a row will sink him.

[ReedFrawg]

I realize that most say Bowl game = Bennett staying, but if I were Orsini I would say winning record = staying. 6-6 may get a bowl and then a loss puts us at 6-7. I want a winning season. I want at least 7-5 and the bowl gives you either 8-5 or 7-6. Otherwise let's start over. I have been a Bennett backer from day 1 and still am today, but the thought of another losing season regardless of bowl game makes me ill. And I will go to a bowl game whereever it may be if we go to one even at 6-6.

I'm with you on this. Rather or not he were to come back, I'd be expecting 7 wins or the season is not a success.

[George S. Patton]

The real problem is that without a winning season and a bowl, he will be setup for the next season to fail. Put simply the recruits won't come. I don't believe that they did this past year and two years in a row will sink him.

Right, and you can see where De'Von Bailey, the No. 6 player in Oklahoma, Josh LeRibus, Derrius Bell, Aldrick Robinson (watch him in the future) and Youri Yenga were just pigslop thrown off an old farm truck for the animals to graze over. Oh, come on. I remember reading on this board back in January where everyone was pumping fists over reeling in these kids.

A recruiting class is only as good as hard as they work and as well as the coaching staff brings out their best.

And these ratings and stars and yada, yada, yada are enough to make anyone blow chow.

[LakeHighlandsPony]

Disclaimer: I'm not bashing here because I've stated numerous times that I like and respect Bennett - he was one of my favorite coaches at TCU. I'm just wondering if 6-6 should be enough for Bennett to keep his job. It would mean no improvement over last year in terms of overall record and no marquee win (this assumes SMU loses to TCU and Tech). Or, did this team lose so much from last year's team (in terms of talent) that 6-6 this year is actually better than 6-6 last year? The only difference would be an extra conference tie-in that allows a 6-6 team to play in a bowl game.

Personally, I think he will keep his job at 6-6 but it would have to be seen as a disappointing season (i.e. no improvement over last year).

Yeah and I liked and respected Pat Sullivan. I sure wish you still had him. I am kidding-I like and respect Bennett too.

[Mexmustang]

I am not knocking those kids we signed. We were lucky to get them. But the class was far from a complete class in terms of quality. We had to reach for potential. I hope I am dead wrong and they all possess the talent in the world and I hope that they all develop into all all-conference players. But, third parties beleive even NTU and Rice outrecruited us. This year, unless I've missed something, we don't have enough commitments to fill a two seat sports car, much less turn a football program around.

[ReedFrawg]

Disclaimer: I'm not bashing here because I've stated numerous times that I like and respect Bennett - he was one of my favorite coaches at TCU. I'm just wondering if 6-6 should be enough for Bennett to keep his job. It would mean no improvement over last year in terms of overall record and no marquee win (this assumes SMU loses to TCU and Tech). Or, did this team lose so much from last year's team (in terms of talent) that 6-6 this year is actually better than 6-6 last year? The only difference would be an extra conference tie-in that allows a 6-6 team to play in a bowl game.

Personally, I think he will keep his job at 6-6 but it would have to be seen as a disappointing season (i.e. no improvement over last year).

Yeah and I liked and respected Pat Sullivan. I sure wish you still had him. I am kidding-I like and respect Bennett too.

True enough. My 4 playing years were all under Sully. In fact, I tell everyone I played a role in turning things around because I graduated in 1997.

[PonySnob]

.......But the class was far from a complete class in terms of quality. We had to reach for potential...........This year, unless I've missed something, we don't have enough commitments to fill a two seat sports car, much less turn a football program around.

Hasn't this been the case for close to 20 years? "You have some diamonds, and you have some poo poo, but it all looked like poo poo"

[RGV Pony]

Really and truly, I think we need to cut through all the bs and quit posturing, equivocating and euphemizing and listen to Craig James for once. With SMU's location, facilities and claims to make things easier on admissions etc, our team needs to be running roughshod through CUSA. 9-3, 10-2 etc. That's not to say I'm taking a sunshine position, but 7-5 MAYBE but 8-4 SHOULD be what's required to keep PB's job.

I don't think I could stomach watching this team go 6-6 again and have to watch everyone pat themselves on the back for being not only bowl eligible but also going to a bowl. Can you imagine? 6-6, a bowl game, someone throws a party and we hear PB talk about turning the corner, then we go get beat 52-3 by Troy in the NO bowl. And then we have to read in the media guide for ANOTHER year how "PB's 2007 team turned the corner, going to a bowl for the first time in 23 years, playing as CUSA's rep in the NO bowl." Ugh.

[perunapower]

Really and truly, I think we need to cut through all the bs and quit posturing, equivocating and euphemizing and listen to Craig James for once. With SMU's location, facilities and claims to make things easier on admissions etc, our team needs to be running roughshod through CUSA. 9-3, 10-2 etc. That's not to say I'm taking a sunshine position, but 7-5 MAYBE but 8-4 SHOULD be what's required to keep PB's job.

I don't think I could stomach watching this team go 6-6 again and have to watch everyone pat themselves on the back for being not only bowl eligible but also going to a bowl. Can you imagine? 6-6, a bowl game, someone throws a party and we hear PB talk about turning the corner, then we go get beat 52-3 by Troy in the NO bowl. And then we have to read in the media guide for ANOTHER year how "PB's 2007 team turned the corner, going to a bowl for the first time in 23 years, playing as CUSA's rep in the NO bowl." Ugh.

Not cool. I was almost ready for lunch, but you made me lose my appetite. 52-3!?! Let's be realistic here, Troy isn't that good!

[Frognosticator]

Frankly, considering how little Tech has coming back on both lines, the loss of three top WRs, and their history of playing poorly on the road, I would not be surprised if SMU beat Tech. I think its the first game of the season, so their lines will be especially rusty.