In two or three years after SMU wins.....

[i10pony]

about 6 or 7 games. Bennet will be fired. We need to get R.C. Slocum to the hilltop. He has a name. I think he still wants to coach. It would bring publicity to the program. It would be like Ken Hatfield going to Rice.He could probably deliver 7 or 8 wins a season. Thats what he was doing at A$M. And there isn't any pressure at SMU to contend for a conference or national championship.

[PerunaPunch]

Good idea, but R.C. (a good friend and admirer of Bennett's) would probably tell you we already have the right man for the job.

[FloridaMustang]

So before recruiting stars to take a hit, how do you propose we start winning games without JUCOS?

[Stallion]

You know I'm going out on a limb here and claim that SMU will have better success in coming years whether thay recruit JCs or not. What we are seeing this year is truly a fitting end to the Pye Model. Next year the majority of players although not senior class will be the result of the relaxed Model. I expect a lot of improvement just on that basis although I'll reserve judgment because I don't even know what conference and who are opponents will be. But the real question is if you are satisfied with modest improvement or do you think SMU should be allowed to recruit the same athletes as every other team in Texas. For the life of me I don't see why many of you think this is such a radical idea.

[FloridaMustang]

Do that many of us really see it as a radical idea? I personally don't understand what the big deal is. People seem to think that letting JUCOS in will somehow cheapen the value of an SMU degree.. and that's the kind of thinking I'd honestly expect from some SMU alums.

I predict next year will be better. We've got a talented freshman TE and his juco WR brother. We've got Foy Munlin and Richuel Massey, along with a talented corp of LBs to replace the veterans. QB is up in the air. I don't think Chris Phillips is the solution that everyone seems to think he is. Is he tearing it up in practice or not? What about Meeks?

OBVIOUSLY, BARTEL HAS A GREAT ARM. It's also obvious that his decision making skills are just beyond comment. He's not learning. Could this be coaching? I dno, Edmonson coached a pretty good QB and had devised an awfully potent offense down in Lousiana.

Recruiting JUCOS is part of the solution. Rebuilding is going to come a hell of a lot slower if we stay on this track forever. Like Stallion said, how can anyone be against this?

[ponyte]

The Pye model has been like a case of genital herpes. It is always there causing trouble and always out of site.

Pye and the post DP administration have caused far more damage than a few coaches or athletic directors can cure. 15 years of Pye infestation will take time to cure. SMU is slowly beginning to realize that. Bennett has to work with the results of the Pye model for now. In a year or two we will start to see the results of a new model and we will start to see wins. Right now it is frustrating and embarrassing and an utter disappointment but things will improve.

[PerunaPunch]

FloridaMustang brought up a good point. Can someone explain to me what the big deal is with JUCOs not being able to come to SMU. As far as I can tell (i.e. Bobby Chase), they can.

If they can't qualify academically, won't we just be wasting a scholarship on a great athlete who will never be eligible to get on the field due to his grades (i.e. Marcus Mosely)?

I don't think this university is going to add athlete-specific curriculum, and I know they're not going to turn a blind eye should on athletes trying to circumvent the system (cheat). We already have put into place a terrific learning center for athletes. I don't think the university is going to do any more than that, and I'm not sure they should.

I don't think there's any particular knock on Meeks, I just think the general consensus is that Phillips is closer to being ready.

[Corso]

I've heard the same thing Peruna Punch has - Meeks is fine, but Phillips probably is closer to being ready to play. Is he ready to start? No. The offense would be simplified if he had to play (fewer check-offs, limited routes, etc.) The elements that give him a leg up on Meeks are that he's bigger and faster. I don't get the impression that he's consistently "tearing it up" at practice, but there are times when he's shown flashes that he could be really special. He's not just fast, he's also a naturally elusive runner who can escape a rush on pure athleticism, and he has a strong, accurate arm. He isn't ready to take over now, but has given indications that he one day could be a very good QB.

[LA_Mustang]

I think the offense was simplified two months ago.

[Hoop Fan]

exactly, can the offense get any simpler?

[KnuckleStang]

Apparently so. I think Corso was referring to Bennett's comments a couple of weeks ago about possibly taking off Phillips' redshirt, when he said, "we would have to simplify our offense--even more than it already is." Big difference between a freshman and a redshirt freshman.

[Pony_Fan]

Ha, how can this offense be any simpler? Handoff KK, handoff KK, Handoff KK, incomplete pass, Handoff KK

[abezontar]

you could get rid of the incomplete pass

[MizterTea]

Originally posted by Pony_Fan:
Ha, how can this offense be any simpler? Handoff KK, handoff KK, Handoff KK, incomplete pass, Handoff KK

I believe we run the Can Can Dancin' offense (1..2..3.. KICK - 1...2...3..kick)

<img src="http://www.curtaincalldancerevue.com/cathyroe/images/3spanish.jpg" alt=" - " />

[FloridaMustang]

Why shouldn't we add athlete friendly majors? You do realize accepting JUCOS doesn't exactly lead to trouble. It equals competiveness. Competitiveness that we seriously lack because instead of filling holes with quality JUCO players, we're filling them with true freshmen and wasting precious redshirt years.