About as official as I've seen....

[Grider]

I got this off of one of the K-State Websites. I still like Charlie, but I'm a mustang fan and I'll be a fan no matter who the coach is

<A HREF="http://kansasstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=66251" TARGET=_blank>http://kansasstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=66251</A>

Bennett tells K-State team he's new coach at SMU

By: Tim Fitzgerald
Date: December 4, 2001

Kansas State defensive coordinator Phil Bennett informed the K-State football team and Coach Bill Snyder on Tuesday that he has accepted the head coaching position at Southern Methodist University, multiple sources with the program and in college football have told Powercat Illustrated.

Bennett is departing immediately for Dallas to take over the program and begin hiring his staff. He told the team in his brief remarks that he would not be coaching the defense at the Insight.com Bowl but intends on attending.

Neither Bennett nor SMU officials have commented on him becoming the school's new coach, and it remains unknown when he will be officially introduced.

At a K-State football press conference last week, Bennett, who turned 46 on Monday, sounded much like a man who knew his time was coming to become a head coach.

"I think everything in life is about timing and opportunities," he said. "I think it's a stage in my career. I'm (46) years old ... and if the right opportunity arises, I think I could make somebody a good head coach."

It remains unknown who will coordinate the defense for the bowl game, or if Coach Snyder will attempt to have a new coordinator in place by the time the Wildcats play Syracuse on Dec. 29 in Phoenix.

[HulaCat]

You guys have just hired one of the best and a true class act. We will miss him here in Wildcatland.