Channel 8 story on Bennett last night

[perunapower]

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!

Except we don't lose every week for the same reason. Almost every loss has been for one reason or another.

Against Tech we couldn't catch, so we couldn't get any drives going. Since all our drives stopped pretty soon after we caught the ball, we had to punt and bring out our defense again. They got tired and it all went south from there. Didn't help that the defense couldn't get any pressure on Harrell and Crabtree is Mr. Velcro-Hands.

Against ASU we turned the ball over on stupid decisions and couldn't long passes that went for long TDs.

Against TCU we had a blocked punt, an interception, and we couldn't capitalize off the TCU turnovers.

Against UTEP we couldn't freakin' tackle.

Against USM we couldn't put points on the board in the red zone because we turned the ball over.

Against Tulane we couldn't freakin' tackle.

I'm not saying that Bennett shouldn't hold accountability for some of this debacle, but to say it's been the same problem week in and week out is moronic.

[smu96]

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!

Except we don't lose every week for the same reason. Almost every loss has been for one reason or another.

Against Tech we couldn't catch, so we couldn't get any drives going. Since all our drives stopped pretty soon after we caught the ball, we had to punt and bring out our defense again. They got tired and it all went south from there. Didn't help that the defense couldn't get any pressure on Harrell and Crabtree is Mr. Velcro-Hands.

Against ASU we turned the ball over on stupid decisions and couldn't long passes that went for long TDs.

Against TCU we had a blocked punt, an interception, and we couldn't capitalize off the TCU turnovers.

Against UTEP we couldn't freakin' tackle.

Against USM we couldn't put points on the board in the red zone because we turned the ball over.

Against Tulane we couldn't freakin' tackle.

I'm not saying that Bennett shouldn't hold accountability for some of this debacle, but to say it's been the same problem week in and week out is moronic.

I'm not saying it's the same specific problem such as red zone offense or tackling every week. I'm saying Bennett and staff is the problem every week.

[perunapower]

How so?

Bennett is a good coach. Yeah, I said it. Bennett is a good coach. This ride this year hasn't been remotely close to what we wanted, but to say that every week Bennett et al have been the root of why we lost is a bit out there. Surely there is something the coaches could have done to help out a little more, but hindsight is 20/20. It's really easy to come on here Sunday and lambaste the coaching staff for each decision they made. Anyone can play coach when they know exactly what the other team is doing. Anyone can play coach when they know the outcome. It's like playing poker with mirrors strategically placed to see your opponents' cards.

Phil said himself that he deserves to be gone if there is no improvement this year; that is looking more like an inevitability than a possibility, unfortunately. I like Phil. He's a good coach and a good guy. People may make fun of what he says and mock his coaching abilities, but this guy sticks his neck out for the players. He takes the force of the media and takes responsibility for the losses, but he allows the guys to take the glory for the wins. That is the definition of a good coach and a good leader. No matter the outcome of this season or whether coach is SMU's coach next year or not, I wish him the best.

[that's great raplh]

hindsight rules!

[westexSMU]

Good old SMU Supporter Dale Hansen is now giving us coaching advice. Dale just wants his dear Mustangs to stay in the Top 125 ! THANKS DALE for all your brilliant advise......Oh, by the way, have you joined the Mustang Club yet ? I'm sure they would appreciate your additional financial support too!!

[jkflamebo]

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

HAHAHAHAHAH bud kilmer does deserve a shot! either him or jon voight himself could do better than bennett

[LakeHighlandsPony]

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.

Tell him you wished they had kept Mackovic.

[mr. pony]

or Akers.

[EastStang]

I agree that Bennett is a good coach and is a great person. However, after 6 years at a sub 20 percent won-loss record, its time to make a change, for his good as well as for the program. Recruits are beginning to just not listen to him, this year is the first year where the program has blipped downward after the 0-12 season. Those of you who invest in stocks, do you sell when the stock takes its first downward turn, or do you wait for it to go all the way down to zero? That is where I see us at this point. This year we have been very close, but in the end, we still are losing. If this year was an aberration, perhaps. But I don't see any players in the cupboard to make our defense any better next year. I hope I'm wrong. And the offense shouldn't be put in the situation where it puts up 30-40 points and LOSES. I like Coach Bennett and fully expect him much success in the future. But right now, we need to give recruits a fresh face.

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

or Akers.

or McWilliams.

[2112]

Recruits are beginning to just not listen to him





beginning?

[OC Mustang]

How so?

Bennett is a good coach. Yeah, I said it. Bennett is a good coach. This ride this year hasn't been remotely close to what we wanted, but to say that every week Bennett et al have been the root of why we lost is a bit out there. Surely there is something the coaches could have done to help out a little more, but hindsight is 20/20. It's really easy to come on here Sunday and lambaste the coaching staff for each decision they made. Anyone can play coach when they know exactly what the other team is doing. Anyone can play coach when they know the outcome. It's like playing poker with mirrors strategically placed to see your opponents' cards.

Phil said himself that he deserves to be gone if there is no improvement this year; that is looking more like an inevitability than a possibility, unfortunately. I like Phil. He's a good coach and a good guy. People may make fun of what he says and mock his coaching abilities, but this guy sticks his neck out for the players. He takes the force of the media and takes responsibility for the losses, but he allows the guys to take the glory for the wins. That is the definition of a good coach and a good leader. No matter the outcome of this season or whether coach is SMU's coach next year or not, I wish him the best.

As an example of coaching boo-boos, I have to point out the following:

I have watched the team run the ball with everybody in the box, and I have watched them pass with 5 to 6 guys in the box. That is football 101 for a coach. It is to a coach what tackling and blocking are to the players. If you don't understand those basics, why are playing the game?

So I will agree with you for diplomacy's sake that Bennett is a decent coach and an even more decent man, but somebody made those calls. If Bennett were to stay (b/c of some unforeseen circumstance), then I must say that at least a couple of assistants need busting down or to be gone.
They might be decent coaches too, but the record speaks for itself, and when one watches the game day decisions, one understands why.

[Stallion]

SMU recruiting declined after 0-12 fiasco-and Bennett never really recovered his momentum in recruiting. Count 4-5 years from each recruiting class. That declined was somewhat softened by our entrance into the CP-USA(Conference Pillowcase-USA)He had some kids come through in the redshirt sophmore class but not nearly enough. You need to congregate at least 3 strong classes to really turn a program around.

[SMU Football Blog]

How the hell do any of us know if Phil Bennett is a good coach or not?

I do know I have questioned his judgment on and off the field more times than I can count. Over the years, I have questioned it in the offseason in recruiting, in the Spring Practice, in August. I have questioned in almost every game. I have questioned it during the week between games.

I gave up on the lunches/breakfasts with the coach when I figured out his bit. He takes the two biggest questionable decisions he makes in every game and defends the first one and says he forgot more about football than we'll ever know. Then the second questionable call, he'll admit was a mistake but then he'll say the chart said to go for two or he was trying to get momentum or he thought the defense could hold them. It was the same bit every week.

Looking through old posts, around the time he was let go, I can find a couple of dozen "Mike Cavan is good coach" and "Mike Cavan is a good man" posts. It is the same drill.

[BIGHORSE]

Cavan would always say were just not there yet.