www.firephilbennet.com is coming soon.....

[KnuckleStang]

i10, please tell me you were drunk when you posted this. He's been here a little over a YEAR, and he's 3 plays away from being 3-2. There's not a coach in America who ever feels he coached a perfect game. Ever. The difference is, Bennett is the only guy I ever hear admitting it. This is admirable, since I suspect half the time he knows full well that right now, he doesn't have many players who can step up and make a play. You can preach tackling over and over, but on gameday, the players have to do it. Everybody get off Bennett's back.

[GURU]

"His System" is his playbook, philosophy on how to play, and team chemistry. The ability to know what everyone is doing on the field and not have to see it is very important. And if you have ever played, then you would know that. And yes, have all of his recruits in 3-4 years. I am not saying that he will just start to win automatically, but there should be some gradual improvements. And by seeing the games this year, I honestly believe that there have been some strides made. All I am saying is why fire someone after only one year. After all, Dement has been around awhile, and what exactly has he won?

[SMU4u2000]

I have no problem understanding the purpose of "a system." The system, however, must be defined and demonstrated by a confident, comfortable head coach. Bennett is learning to be a head coach. If he had experience, we would see more immediate results. We can use the 'Bennett recruits' excuse while we are waiting additionally for a wiser Bennett to develop.

[i10pony]

What is this! I thought SMU was trying to compete at the D1 level. So you guys are telling me that we have to wait for Phil to develop into a competent head football coach. I didn't see TCU wait for D. Francione to develop into a head football coach.I didn't see USC wait for Paul Hackett to develop into a head coach they fired his [deleted] and put someone in there who put the Trojans where they belong. I would be more accomodating to Phil's plight but these are the facts regardless if he has inferior talent or Cavan's recruits. His team is never prepared to take the field, his coaching staff does not make the necessary adjustments to compete. There are million things he could have during the Baylor game that could ahve changed the outcome. Man I am so pissed off right now!!!, anyway So you guys are saying along with all of our freshmen and red shirt freshmen we have a freshman head coach and staff. Maybe Phil needs to learn how to coach at the D-1 level by coaching at another school. Not SMU. Troy State, Utah state or the Sunbelt are better options for him. Anyway half of those Sunbelt teams would lay the wood to SMU heck the whole Southland conference would kick SMU 's [deleted].

[Diehard Pony]

As my pen name implies, I can take a lot of punishment as a fan and, of course, I have like everybody else on this board. I had a personal matter that kept me out of town on Saturday, so I ponied up the $14.95 required for a one day ESPN Game Ticket to record the game. Even after knowing the score, I watched it....hence "Diehard".

I'm afraid I'm now in the camp of "good recruiter, poor game day coaching and motivating". I'm not proposing that Coach Bennett and his staff be dismissed this early into his tenure, but I have to admit I am very disappointed, and expected far better results than we have witnessed thus far. To not win a single game against Baylor (yes I know they beat Colorado, but they got killed by NT the week before us), Nevada, or UTEP is incredibly disappointing. I had both Baylor and UTEP as likely wins, and felt very confident we would win at least one of the two.

We just lost at home to our weakest opponent on our full schedule, with their starting quarterback out. Where in the world does that leave us (besides the obvious 0-5)?

I will continue to hope that we pull out of this seemingly eternal nosedive, but am starting to have some doubts.

Good luck to Coach Phil and the team for the rest of the season. Miracles can happen, and it appears that is what we need.

<small>[ 10-05-2003, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: Diehard Pony ]</small>

[Arkpony]

I would LOVE for a few "Babysteps" to be discerned. So far..none. The team continues to amze me with its lack of fundamentals..like catching and holding onto the football..like take less than forever to punt the ball..like giving a smal amount of time to the Q-Back to throw the ball..like not making critical mistakes at critical moments..like having the WILL to play the game to the end.

[Sam I Am]

Bennett ain't got it, sorry about that. Let's move on.

[FloridaMustang]

I echo GURU's last post. And I see gradual improvements, and I see the defense learning the system. They have a much better grasp of it than they did last year.

The problem is.. this is a system that requires speed and talent at every defensive position. That means this system will be far from perfect for another 2-3 years at least.

Yet still, there is the matter of poor coaching. I just don't think Bennett and the staff are exposing and taking advantage of their opponents' weaknesses.

[abezontar]

To all of you who want to get rid of Bennett now after only 1.25 seasons......you all are the problem with America, instant gratification is all anybody cares about any more. Yes it has been 15 years of hopelessness on the hilltop, and you expect someone to turn that around in 21 months?!? That's the kind of thinking that got enron in trouble, lets make as much profit as we can now, who cares how we do it, and leave the consequences until later. If we fire Bennett now, without giving him a real chance then we won't ever be able to hire a compentant coach again. No one would want to come here. They will look at the position that we are in, and then look at our unrealistic expectations and laugh in our faces. I want to win just as badly as everyone else, and I have a father-in-law who saw his first game and do nothing the rest of the weekend but tell me how much my favorite football team sucks and that I should stop watching before I lose my mind. You are the same people that push recall elections, you all need to learn a thing or two about patience, and you need to learn it fast. Don't give me that hogwash about I've been patient for 15 years and now I expect some results. Grow up, keep cheering on our boys WHO DID NOT GIVE UP ON SATURDAY, UNLIKE A LOT OF YOU, and eventually it will turn around SMU has invested too much money into the program, and even if Bennett can't eventually get the job done, there will be someone someday who can. But getting rid of Bennett now is not the answer unless you want to see SMU never recover.

[Lefty]

Well said, A. I saw no players give up. I did, however, see countless fans leaving the game AT HALFTIME! Why? That's inexcusable! We were down two points! And that doesn't even matter. You pay for a ticket to support your school, stay there and support them - win or lose. Opening kickoff to the final whistle.

[Duke Blue Blood]

No chance Bennett would or should be fired. I am starting to question his actual coaching ability in close games however.

Should have gone for it on 4th down. Good football accumen tells you not to, but our offense is horrible.

DBB

[SMUHouston]

I think PPP hit the nail on the head. Bennett is very rigid in his thought process. He makes an initial judgement and it takes hell and high water for him to admit that initial judgement was in error or that a simple personel change might make the difference. He appears to be a great X's and O's guy, shoot our defense was leading the league up to Sat. playing 75% Big 12 teams. For example we have had 4 blocked punts in five games, heaven forbid we put in a faster, consistant snapper and to simply teach the punter a 2 step punt. Or how about Fitzgerald to simply relieve Kincade once and a while a fresher RB in the 4th qtr might mean something. What ever has gone on in practice hasn't shown up in the game. Or maybe a little creativity, how about a flea flicker, where KK is handed the ball only to pitch back to Bartel, I guarantee Rushbrook or Cunningham will be open on a fly pattern.

Bennett will simply not pivot and change an initial thought we don't have the depth to play hard nose in your face football we are about 5-6 plays from being 3-2 or 2-3 a little creativity and a little faith in some bench players may have gone a long way.