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by **Nacho** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 8:36 pm

I hesitated to post this. We are quite simply--and I want to put this as delicately as I can--horrible. Study this latest Sagarain ranking. There are Ivy League teams ranked above us. Ivy League. They don't give out scholarships in the Ivy League. Bethume-Cookman (I've heard of it but I have no idea where it is or what it is) is above us. I think I can safely say that we have hit rock bottom.

I don't know Copeland. Does he care? Is it just a job for him? Does he have passion for what he does? I ask this in an honest way. Does this embarrass him? Is he bending over backwards to get us out of this hole? I know he has worked on the stadium and C-USA but what about the team on the field. Does it bother him that we are this terrible? Does it bother Dr Turner? Does it bother the big contributors? Is it just us little guys who are a tad down about all this? Does anyone in a position of power at SMU really care? If not why are we doing this?

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbc03.htm

[ 10-26-2003, 05:37 PM: Message edited by: Nacho ]

by **echothat1** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 8:45 pm

Nacho, you are reading my mind...I was just wondering the same thing...are Copeland and Turner just as embarrassed about their jobs as I am about being an alumni? Or do they really even care?

If I were Copeland, heads would be rolling!!

by **Hoop Fan** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 9:54 pm

I think they care but...

Turner is friend of athletics, but he is also an idealist with alot of other demands.

Copeland is highly respected and very capable in the traditional AD role. It seems though that he thinks he is a somewhat 'above' the SMU job. Not sure he wants to do the dirty work that the SMU job now needs and maybe he resents the lack of support and resources that a small school offers. Thats not a sin, but it seems kind of obvious to the casual observer. He has done alot of good things including the stadium, CUSA now it appears and finally getting recruiting procedures fixed. There are no perfect people , everybody has strenths and weaknesses. There is something to be said for having professional non-alum management as opposed to a rabid fan in the AD chair. In fact, given SMUs history, having fans in positions of power would probably not be good internal control in terms of rules compliance.

[ 10-26-2003, 07:00 PM: Message edited by: Hoop Fan ]

by **PonyFan** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 1:53 am

The rebuilding process obviously is taking longer than any of us anticipated. Clearly we needed to reach rock bottom -- this season is just that. But I remain supportive of Coach Bennett and I firmly believe the continued influx of new talent will right the ship. We'll see hints -- only hints -- of it next year. The big jump will be in 2005.

by **Corby** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 10:03 am

I would have zero qualms of displaying patience if I was given a sign of hope. Just ONE! Players are completely unmotivated, fan support is dwindling by the day, and the same poor excuses are ringing throughout the facilities at SMU. I'm not looking for immediate results, but please give me something to come back for. We could go 0-12 as long as the players are fighting and the coaching staff shows some imagination, motivation tactics, adaptations to coaching styles, adaptation to players' talents, etc. Instead, I see nothing, hear awful excuses, knee-jerk reactions, and no positive reports from any players at all. I hope Bennett can recruit like everyone claims he does, because this coaching style is nauseating and I hope the young players don't have to suffer like the rest of the classes from the past 5 or 6 years.

by **MustangStealth** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 11:08 am

Well, I can tell you that I was sitting right next to Copeland's Luxury Box in Tulsa, and it was hard to tell what he was thinking. Maybe he's just good at puting on a happy face, or maybe I couldn't see through my tears, but if he was terribly upset he didn't show it.
And in case anyone is curious, after the game an elderly Tulsa fan came up to me and said that we needed to fire our coach ASAP.

by **Pony_Fan** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 11:13 am

You think there is any chance Bennett gets fired after 0-12? You have to wonder what Copeland is thinking now.

by **ponyte** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 11:16 am

Copeland and Turner just pulled off the biggest positive for SMU in 2 decades by getting us into CUSA. How easy was that accomplishment with the football team we have had over the last decade?

Neither Copeland nor Turner recruit. Copeland has been stuck with all the key sports of women's equestrian and rowing and such. Not that this is an excuse, but he has had to devote (waste) time taking care of Title IX requirements (quotas).

Not an excuse or defense of Copeland but he has several obligations other than simply football.

by **abezontar** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 11:42 am

To all of you complaining about the state of our football team (it sucks that's the fact) and our coaching (doesn't seem to be any better now than it has the last few years) what would you have Copeland and Turner do? What is it that they can do during the middle of a season that will make the team better?

by **Arkpony** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 11:44 am

ONe thing that disturbs me is people saying give Bennett time to recruit good players..like if he has enough GOOD players they will win for him regardless of his coaching ability! Forgive me, but I would expect him to show something positive with the class we have now. You cannot convince me that we have the worst players in the nation..the worst! Our players may be so-so, but he is doing nothing with what he has..and he should! If it wil take us having outstanding recruiting classes to win a few games..then the coaching is at fault here.

by **abezontar** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 11:51 am

but what do you expect Turner and Copeland to do about it in the middle of the season?

by **Nacho** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 12:33 pm

Dr Turner could start an AD search. Copeland, not knowing what Dr Turner is up to, could start a head coach search. Bennett, not knowing what Copeland is up to could start a search for different coordinators. That would be my mid-season scenario. We could call it the Days of Our Lives, but I think that title has been taken.

by **Nacho** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 12:40 pm

In case no one got it that was tongue-in-cheek.

Let's say for the purpose of saying anything that Bennett does get new coordinators. Personally I don't see this doing much good but let's say it happens. If he is such a control freak as many have stated will anything really change? Will he let them coach the way they want to? The head coach must always have the final say but will he listen to anyone? Is it always going to be his way or the highway? Does changing coordinators do anything?

by **Water Pony** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 12:43 pm

Nacho:

In other words, your specific recommendation or the result of these actions is to fire Copeland, Bennett, Assistants, etc. mid season or no later than end of season. Once Searches are announced, everyone is out.

Thanks for the practical suggestion.

by **Water Pony** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 12:55 pm

Thanks for the tongue in cheek comment. Certain assistants should be challenged and Phil does owe us his thoughts on the situation.

I for one would give him more time, but as others have said, we deserve a better understanding of his game plan for improvement and greater confidence that the team is "buying into" his methods. I agree with that.

[ 10-27-2003, 09:56 AM: Message edited by: Water Pony ]

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