by Recruiting Guru » Wed Sep 04, 2002 4:46 pm
No, I don't think there's any reason to worry at all. The kids I've talked to (and I talk to hundreds of players pretty regularly) seem to think very highly of Coach Bennett. The impression I've gotten from players is that Coach Bennett's enthusiasm is as contagious with recruits as it is with alums and fans of SMU. I've probably had dozens of players tell me they're at least considering SMU this year, when in any other year they wouldn't give SMU a second thought, and the reason is Coach Bennett.
Remember, at this point, he doesn't do the majority of the recruiting, his assistant coaches do. So when a coach calls a kid and starts talking about SMU and Coach Bennett, you don't have Coach Bennett doing the selling himself. So kids frequently talk to their coaches and former teammates who have been recruited, and the reputation Coach Bennett developed at Kansas State, Oklahoma, A&M, etc., shines through. High school coaches have endless respect for the man and they tell their players that. The assistants can be great salesmen, but Coach Bennett will be one of the main selling points for the team.
As for the dwindling lists, I wouldn't worry about it at all. It's true that more players are committing early than ever before, but there are still an awful lot of players - some of whom are bona fide stars - still out there. And players can still change their minds. Remember, it was just a day or two before Signing Day when Jamey Harper switched his commitment from TCU to SMU. And how many times did Darrin Johnson change his mind? Twice, publicly, but the rumors circulating through recruiting circles suggested that he was flip-flopping on a daily basis. And Coach Bennett has shown in years past an ability to get players to change their minds - in his favor.
The lists of top players are as arbitrary as preseason predictions. Pick up any football magazine and look at how the "experts" are picking teams to finish in a division. For instance, I've seen the Dallas Cowboys picked anywhere from first to fourth in the four-team NFC East. Recruiting lists are the same way - all the recruiting magazines and websites have their own. There are some top-tier guys who will make every list, but rest assured there are more than enough quality prospects still out there.
Lastly, consider how things have changed at SMU. Two years ago, the first commitment for SMU was WR Jay Taylor, who committed to play for the Ponies the day before the final game of the year. SMU has four commitments now (reports that Justin Boren is wavering are unfounded, to the best of my knowledge), which is a significant improvement. And from all reports, Coach Bennett will only improve things. If the Ponies start winning, that improvement will be accelerated.
There are a lot of guys out there considering SMU, and there will be some in the February signing class who haven't even begun to think SMU. Yet.