What losing at Rice did for us last year

[RGV Pony]

...per one of the DMN articles, it voided PB's contract extension through 2009. All this gets a little more clearer now. When Copeland extended PB, and lightened up last year's schedule, he was trying to help the guy out. I imagine PB said something like "I need a contract extension to help with recruiting;" Copeland said "ok well you need to when some damn games...7 minimum" to which PB responded "not with the schedule I keep facing," and Copeland finally caved, adding Ark St & SHSU.

This kind of makes Orsini's decision to keep PB this year more understandable as well. Didn't really have anything to lose...if he bought into what PB said, great-maybe SMU will win. They don't, and he only has to pay 1 year on a buyout.

1st and goal from the one twice, plus NC State beating ECU all on the same day last year saved SMU 500k.

[ponyfan84]

the rice game just delayed the inevitable. if the players didn't stick up for PB last year, he would have been/should have been gone then.

[DickerJames]

The revelation that Bennet's last year was incentive based cleared up HIS motivation to stick around for me. If the remainder of his contract had been guaranteed it would have been in his best interest to be fired last year. He would have gotten the money and been able to walk away looking like a coach that was close to turning this thing around with his 6-6 record. If he had been fired last year I think he would have gotten another shot as head coach somewhere. As it stands now, its assistant for life.

This is exactly why Orsini DIDN'T pull the trigger last year.

[ponyinNC]

It is interesting to think what might have happened if we had beaten Rice last year. Bowl game of course, but would anything have been different this year?? Would our Defense be any better? No. Our record?? Who knows? And would we have given Bennet another extension??

[Stallion]

look at Rice -back in a hole with a new Coach. Rice has not built a program-they've experienced a miracle that happens every 45 years when Jupiter aligns with Mars-or is that the Age of Aquarias. Well never mind. That's why I stress building the program the right way that will last under any Coach-well maybe not any Coach-but TCU's program withstood a very disappointing Coaching change. The Goal is not a 7-5 miracle every 12-40 years-that could happen any year and I don't deny it. I want to build a perenially strong program so we can build our fanbase and get our pride back.

[PhirePhilBennett]

...per one of the DMN articles, it voided PB's contract extension through 2009. All this gets a little more clearer now. When Copeland extended PB, and lightened up last year's schedule, he was trying to help the guy out. I imagine PB said something like "I need a contract extension to help with recruiting;" Copeland said "ok well you need to when some damn games...7 minimum" to which PB responded "not with the schedule I keep facing," and Copeland finally caved, adding Ark St & SHSU.

This kind of makes Orsini's decision to keep PB this year more understandable as well. Didn't really have anything to lose...if he bought into what PB said, great-maybe SMU will win. They don't, and he only has to pay 1 year on a buyout.

1st and goal from the one twice, plus NC State beating ECU all on the same day last year saved SMU 500k.

Life is simpler than that. He couldn't justify buying out the contract for a the list coaches that were available.

That's all that happened. I understand. Sucks that we had to endure another year.

[PhirePhilBennett]

It is interesting to think what might have happened if we had beaten Rice last year. Bowl game of course, but would anything have been different this year?? Would our Defense be any better? No. Our record?? Who knows? And would we have given Bennet another extension??

Yeah, we would have gotten destroyed by Troy in the bowl game, then had crappy recruiting, and still be 1-7 today. Woop.

[mathman]

look at Rice -back in a hole with a new Coach. Rice has not built a program-they've experienced a miracle that happens every 45 years when Jupiter aligns with Mars-or is that the Age of Aquarias. Well never mind. That's why I stress building the program the right way that will last under any Coach-well maybe not any Coach-but TCU's program withstood a very disappointing Coaching change. The Goal is not a 7-5 miracle every 12-40 years-that could happen any year and I don't deny it. I want to build a perenially strong program so we can build our fanbase and get our pride back.

Exactly. Couldn't agree more.

[BRStang]

look at Rice -back in a hole with a new Coach. Rice has not built a program-they've experienced a miracle that happens every 45 years when Jupiter aligns with Mars-or is that the Age of Aquarias. Well never mind. That's why I stress building the program the right way that will last under any Coach-well maybe not any Coach-but TCU's program withstood a very disappointing Coaching change. The Goal is not a 7-5 miracle every 12-40 years-that could happen any year and I don't deny it. I want to build a perenially strong program so we can build our fanbase and get our pride back.

Exactly. Couldn't agree more.

Yeah, but the real coincidence is that the stars just happened to align for Rice the one year they hire a talented coach.

[ponyboy]

I want to build a perenially strong program so we can build our fanbase and get our pride back.

Yes, yes, yes.