Keep the Faith

[smu'06]

The going is rough right now on the hilltop...a lot of the faith has been lost...and the once faithful now question whether even hope remains.

It does. Let's look at a case study:
The University of South Carolina
In Lou Holtz's first year (1999):ZERO wins...
The year before - Brad Scott's last: 1 win
In that span of 24 games, they had 1 win and 23 losses, those 23 were consecutively. In 2000 and 2001, they went to consecutive Outback Bowls and beat Ohio State in each.

Now Case Study #2: SMU in the 1970s
Ron Meyer's first season, he went 3-8
then 4-7, 4-6-1, 5-6, and finally in 1980, he turned it into 8-3 and it was a Holiday Bowl birth. In 1981 - it was a SWC Championship.

Reference #1: SMU Fight Song
Here's to the Red and the Blue
We're the Mustangs from SMU
Give a cheer, give a fight
There's victory in sight
And our battle cry will be
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
Spirit's the best in the land
And right to the end we'll stand
for the M-U-S-T-A-N-G-S
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

I note one line - Spirit's the best in the land and then And right to the end we'll stand.

Let's restore meaning to these words.
When South Carolina was in the middle of a 23 game losing streak, the fans and students kept the faith. In many ways, I wonder if I would have kept the faith if I would have chosen SMU over USC...and while I would be a bit flustered with the performance of the team, faith would remain. The season still has quite a bit of life in it...it's only early October. You never now...Phil Bennett was 3-9 in his first season, maybe he'll be 4-8 this year, and in a few seasons it will be a bowl birth and then a conference championship. KEEP THE FAITH.
GO PONIES!

<small>[ 10-07-2003, 07:23 AM: Message edited by: smu'06 ]</small>

[SMUstang]

Me thinks you have a pair of rose colored glasses on.

I have "Kept the Faith" since 1986. That's about 17 years. I have supported the Athletic Department by being a Mustang Clubber, and a season ticket holder in both football and basketball. I have a right to be upset by another 0-5 start and the very real prospects of an 0-11 season. Don't get me wrong. I support Bennett. I hope he can turn it around. But this is his second season. And the team looks worse than it did his first season. Is that what you call making progress? I'd like to see some play calling that not everyone on the opposing team knows is coming. Run, run, pass, punt is not going to get it. Not without Eric Dickerson and an offensive line. Anybody knows you can't run against a stacked 9 man front.

Thank God for No. 2 and No. 3. But if you can't punch it in from 15 yards out, that's pathetic.

[PonyTales]

And methinks we need more fans like SMU'06!
We need to have pride in SMU - and in the Mustangs - simply because of who they are and what they represent: us. Then, when they start winning regularly, we'll appreciate it even more.

[echothat1]

South Carolina also has Lou Holz, someone who already knew how to coach a football team...not Phil Bennett

[KnuckleStang]

You know, with a name like "echo that," the least you could do is agree with everyone else. It would be so much less confusing.

[echothat1]

My handle just happens to be more accurate the first day and a half AFTER a game.
:shifty:

[Stallion]

South Carolina also now challenges Kansas St as the No. 1 team in the country in recruiting JUCOs. Its amazing how Lou Holtz' values changed after leaving the Golden Dome.

[smu'06]

Why not recruit JUCOs - would you rather have 8 wins with a few Jucos or 3 without...

It's a new era - it may not be a bad idea, until SMU can recruit the best.

South Carolina can now recruit the best - just look at Demetris Summers and what he did vs. Tennessee as a true freshman.

[SMUstang]

Ponytales - all I want to know is when are we going to start winning regularly? I have been waiting for that for 17 years. Almost as long as you have lived.

[abezontar]

SMUstang, I think everyone on this board wants to know that, and hopes it is a whole lot sooner rather than a whole lot later.

[smu'06]

Winning needs to come soon.
Maybe Bennett was not the right choice. In some ways Cavan's replacement should have been a big name - maybe a has been - a Gene Stallings type - that can recruit...recruit...recruit...and bring publicity. SMU's glory days are all but forgotten. The days of Doak are long gone...and the Mustang Mania that crowded around the Mustang Express are pictures in a story book.

JUCO players may be a quick fix...look to basketball and Bobby Knight.

Let's give Bennett one more year...or at least til the end of this one. Then, before we hire our next coach, let's see if we can attract a decent name.

<small>[ 10-07-2003, 06:41 PM: Message edited by: smu'06 ]</small>

[ponyboy]

Sorry if I'm repeating what's already been said. I've been away and haven't fully caught up. But let me say this: Cavan's last two recruiting classes were among the worst in the NCAA. Absolutely dreadful. Bennett's first was good for the WAC -- even with a shortened start -- and his second was lights out.

I am tired of losing too and would have loved to have pulled out a Baylor, Nevada, and UTEP win. It didn't happen. It will. Bottom line is that we are two years into a four year plan with a first time head coach. Chill.

[Charleston Pony]

1st of all, let's not try to compare SMU with USC. There simply is no comparison. USC has the advantage of being the largest public university in the state (along with Clemson) and has the absolute best fans in all of college football. In 112 yrs of football at USC, they've won ONE conference title (look it up...1969 ACC champs), so they haven't enjoyed anywhere near the success SMU has...but they have never had any trouble packing their stadium with rabid fans, who also travel to follow their Gamecocks, meaning any 6-5 USC team is an attractive Bowl team. USC has the advantage of offering degree programs that allow them to recruit JUCOs and quite frankly, some pretty marginal "student"-athletes. They have the financial resources to hire a Lou Holtz and because of football, their athletics dept actually makes a profit.

The world of college athletics has changed dramatically since TV has taken over, and the small private schools with small followings are having problems competing. When I hear talk of the "Miami model" for SMU, it allows me to be optimistic about SMU's future, but we are light years away from being able to accomplish what Miami has. I do believe Phil Bennett has to be given a chance to succeed and to judge anything in his 2nd year is a joke, but an obvious sign of the frustration level of SMU faithful. How long have we been waiting for thye Messiah to arrive on the Hilltop?

Bottom line is that Bennett was able to pull in a pretty good looking recruiting class last year, in what really was his 1st true recruiting season. The question is whether he can do it again this year, despite the possibility this year's team could go 0-12 (until we win that 1st game, yes, it remains a possibility). He will have to do as well or better for 5 consecutive years before he is likely to field a team capable of, and expected to win a conference title. If we see success ahead of that time frame, I will be pleased...but my personal hope is that Bennett is the guy who can turn this thing around and that he will do so in the same time frame that Ron Meyer did, without the obvious advantages Meyer had in his day.

Sorry about the rant, but the USC reference got me going. If we had half as loyal a following as the Gamecocks enjoy, we'd still be playing in the SWC or the equivalent.

[The Hammer]

Another point to consider--if the school lets Bennett go this year, how attractive are we to future "big time" coaching candidates as a coach? Who would want to come here to coach, with the mandate to reverse 17 years of futility in only one year? That's impossible. And very bad for the school. We need to support coach. He did have the number one recruiting class in the WAC this year. Not bad for a 3 win team. And Bennett was the head of a top 5 defense--that's pretty big time to me.

[ponyboy]

I can understand frustration, but the anti-Phil talk really is silly. You'll see.

Go Mustangs!