"I'm Not Putting All The Marbles On This Game" Coach Bennett

[MustangIcon]

I think the point is here that he already appears to be setting up yet another crutch to lean on for his short comings. I agree he was specifically talking about Muse, but for goodness sakes I would like to see something from my head football coach that makes me say "hey that guy is a winner" every once in a while.

[jtstang]

Maybe he's like W and just has trouble with the english language?

[DiamondM]

Well, I personally spoke to Coach Bennett last night at a meeting, and expecting to lose is definitely not what he's thinking. He is VERY excited about the offense, and, understandably, is pleased with the talent on defense but acknowledges the lack of experience and the learning curve that the defense is going to have. He really thinks this is a game we can win.

But he really can't win with some of you guys. If he says "Hell yes, we're gonna win and we're going to throw everything at em, even our healing but not quite ready players" -- he's just blowing smoke up our arses and being reckless, and if he talks realistically about how we have to approach the game like any other, then he's setting us up to lose by 40.

I too am disappointed Muse probably won't play. But the key to this game is a possession offense. When playing Tech, the best defense is a good, steady ball control offense that puts up points. That is what most people -- even those not named Phil Bennett -- are saying what we are going to have and going to do well at this year with Willis/Sanders/Martin and the rest of the crew.

I don't think saying that the season isn't over after this game -- win or lose -- is the same as saying we're not going to give it our all but instead are just planning to tank it.

[jtstang]

I don't think saying that the season isn't over after this game -- win or lose -- is the same as saying we're not going to give it our all but instead are just planning to tank it.

Except what he said was:

"I'm not putting all the marbles on this game."

See what I mean about the language problem? He may have meant what you said, but he certainly did not say it. I think that is what has a bunch of the ponyfans up in arms today.

[George S. Patton]

I don't think saying that the season isn't over after this game -- win or lose -- is the same as saying we're not going to give it our all but instead are just planning to tank it.

Except what he said was:

"I'm not putting all the marbles on this game."

See what I mean about the language problem? He may have meant what you said, but he certainly did not say it. I think that is what has a bunch of the ponyfans up in arms today.

C'mon Jt, you know a lot of the people on this board thrive on panic and split hairs -- big time. Present company included.

I really think a lot of folks are craving for another reason to moan and complain.

This is not like when Gerald Ford said in the 1976 campaign that there is no Soviet domination of eastern europe.

[jtstang]

C'mon Jt, you know a lot of the people on this board thrive on panic and split hairs -- big time. Present company included.

I really think a lot of folks are craving for another reason to moan and complain.

This is not like when Gerald Ford said in the 1976 campaign that there is no Soviet domination of eastern europe.

Believe it or not, this time I understand him completely. I would not want to risk Muse for the rest of the year on a game where we will not be close to favored.

Let's play our best, but get past Tech relatively healthy and focus on our real opener against NTSU. Bennett's future depends on that game.

[KnuckleStang]

Well said DiamondM! Y'all listen to DiamondM. He was clearly talking about Muse, I don't really see what the big deal is, except that he actually said something smart, which ought to make people on this board happy, not freak everybody out.

[Horseshoe]

A few years ago, Coach Bennett got BBQ-ed for saying his goal THAT SEASON was to win the conference title, and now he's catching heat for saying that he's not going to jump off a bridge after one game against an opponent that will be a prohibitive favorite?

I agree — it sounds to me like he was referring to Muse. Remember how he felt when Muse blew out a knee covering a punt as a freshman? He said at the time that he shouldn't have had him out there, because he's such a talented player, etc. He's better now than he was then, so there's no reason to risk his senior season if he's not healthy for one game. Rest him and go for broke with the healthy guys.

Coach Bennett has built up the talent level on this team, and this is nothing more than wise management of that talent. Yes, he could have worded the quote better, or maybe it could have been presented in clearer context in the story. Either way, it's a non-issue.

BEAT TECH

[jtstang]

Well said DiamondM! Y'all listen to DiamondM. He was clearly talking about Muse, I don't really see what the big deal is, except that he actually said something smart, which ought to make people on this board happy, not freak everybody out.

I agree, but any opportunity to use the "I've forgotten more" bit with marbles is not to be passed up.

[KnuckleStang]

B+

[jtstang]

Thanks Knucklestang. Ordinarily, being the self-appointed grader, I would not stand for being graded, but them's high marks coming from half a Hizza winnner. Which do you proudly display on your mantle, the "hiz" or the "za"?

[George S. Patton]

C'mon Jt, you know a lot of the people on this board thrive on panic and split hairs -- big time. Present company included.

I really think a lot of folks are craving for another reason to moan and complain.

This is not like when Gerald Ford said in the 1976 campaign that there is no Soviet domination of eastern europe.

Believe it or not, this time I understand him completely. I would not want to risk Muse for the rest of the year on a game where we will not be close to favored.

Let's play our best, but get past Tech relatively healthy and focus on our real opener against NTSU. Bennett's future depends on that game.

Agreed. Lose the battle to win the war. I want us to beat Tech and think we have a shot. But a lot things are going to have go right.

[KnuckleStang]

Thanks Knucklestang. Ordinarily, being the self-appointed grader, I would not stand for being graded, but them's high marks coming from half a Hizza winnner. Which do you proudly display on your mantle, the "hiz" or the "za"?

I am keeper of the Hizza. Kneel before the Hizza.

[George S. Patton]

The dopes on the board really need to, oh, I don't know, READ the damn sentence that set up the quote to Bennett, who referred to ONLY Cory.

Not the season.

For a refresher, please take a look:

Coach Phil Bennett said he doesn't want to rush Muse back and end up losing him for longer.

"It hasn't happened as fast as I wanted," Bennett said. "I'm not putting all the marbles on this game."

But of course, if some of you would prefer to have an unhealthy Cory Muse run around against Tech and then mess up the groin even more to the point where he can play much this season -- see DeMyron Martin of 2006 -- then you just go on right on thinking that.

UNBELIEVABLY STUPID PEOPLE OUT THERE!!!

[thefamousguy]

Let's play our best, but get past Tech relatively healthy and focus on our real opener against NTSU. Bennett's future depends on that game.

This is the perfect example of a loser mind set. As longtime sportsfans, we've all heard teams say things like this and they all have something in common. They end up losing. I can think of numerous teams that failed after saying this but I can't think of one championship team that takes this approach. If the real opener is against UNT, why are we spending money to go see the Tech game.