Channel 8 story on Bennett last night

[SMU Football Blog]

There was a quick feature on SMU/Bennett on the 10PM news on Channel 8. Mostly filler...disappointing season...yada yada yada. Willis said the players like Phil Bennett, which is odd because I keep hearing they had a falling out (not just on here). Off camera, when George Riba when asked if his job was on the line this season, Bennett said, "he had to win."

Then Dale Hansen said he hoped SMU doesn't fire him ... unlike that guy in Nebraska who deserves to be fired.

Coach Bill Callahan: 22-15, two bowls, won Big XII North once.
Coach Phil Bennett: 17-41, no bowls.

[MustangIcon]

Then Dale Hansen said he hoped SMU doesn't fire him ... unlike that guy in Nebraska who deserves to be fired.

Of course he doesn't want PB fired. The longer he sticks around the longer we are assured of mediocrity and Dale can keep kicking us around every chance he gets.

I cannot say that I am 100% sure that things will be successfully turned around by a new coach, noone can say that. But I can say that I don't think things can get much worse, which is nice when you look at it from that perspective.

[mustangnation]

Dale Hansen is a spare!!!

[SMU Football Blog]

I was at dinner last night and a UT guy said he thought firing Bennett was a mistake. I just love how people that haven't been to a game or even watched or listened to a game have an opinion.

[George S. Patton]

You just look at the tone of Kate's story and now this with George Riba, and it appears Phil knows it's over and is talking about this.

[jtstang]

Actually we were pretty fortunate to beat NTSU considering the offensive numbers they put on us. But you're right, zero wins is not much worse than one win, against NTSU no less.

[that's great raplh]

change can do us some good

we need someone who can manage a game - bottom line, we could have been at a bowl already with better coaching

[EastStang]

Dale has made a career because he was the lucky one to break the SMU payroll scandel. I would think it would be in his best interest for us to get rid of Mr. Clean Phil Bennett, and get some really shady guy in here. Then Dale will have a purpose in life again.

[KnuckleStang]

(Paid for by JerryReedforNextSMUFootballCoach.org)

[RGV Pony]

(Paid for by JerryReedforNextSMUFootballCoach.org)

at least he got his team into the Bourbon Bowl. A bowl 'w' is better than no bowl.

[smudad]

Didn't Bennett himself say after last year, if he didn't improve on last year's records he should be fired.

If they don't have a plan for significant improvement at the HC position and in the other areas that lead to opportunity for success for the team, I'm not sure I'm in favor of firing him either.

While I was more often disappointed, I can think of a few times I really enjoyed watching SMU football recently. Tom Rossley teams were fun to watch, even if they didn't win enough. And, the Cavan year - his first, I guess - when we beat Utah, Wyoming, Rice, Tulsa, et al, was fun to watch. And, I wish Arkansas hadn't fired Danny Ford and had continued to schedule us. Combine all those positive events and I might come back and watch from time to time.

But, the talk of hiring a new coach simply doesn't raise that hope for me. I've seen this hole pplayed before.

[JesuitPony]

I still think Bud Kilmer deserves a shot. Look at what he did for Johnny Moxon's career.

[EastStang]

With the notable exception of the Tech games, SMU has pretty much been in every game this year. They were close to ASU and lost, close to TCU and lost, close to UTEP and lost, close to USM and lost, and close to Tulane and lost. Last year was pretty much a play or two here or there and we would have been 10-2, same thing. Its not fun losing, but you have to admit that close, high scoring games have a bit of a fun factor.

[smu96]

With the notable exception of the Tech games, SMU has pretty much been in every game this year. They were close to ASU and lost, close to TCU and lost, close to UTEP and lost, close to USM and lost, and close to Tulane and lost. Last year was pretty much a play or two here or there and we would have been 10-2, same thing. Its not fun losing, but you have to admit that close, high scoring games have a bit of a fun factor.

This is exactly why we need a new coaching staff. We lose every week for the same reason. The staff is not capable of putting the pieces together and taking it to a level to win these close loses. I believe the pieces are there to win most of these games. Phil and company don't have what it takes.

Go Ponies! Beat Tulsa!

[MrMustang1965]

(Paid for by JerryReedforNextSMUFootballCoach.org)

Where's The Bandit?