dismal. actually beyond dismal.

[The Q]

before we cut our head off, let's at least get our top recruits into the starting lineup-you know guys like Phillips, Muse, Lindley, Henderson, V. Chase, David Haynes, DeMyron Martin, Kyle Griffin, Kenard Burley, and Fred Turner. Other guys in their redshirt freshman season are playing but only because there is no one else to play-none should be expected to play on even an average major college football program in their redshirt freshman year -guys like Justin Boren, Desmond Jones, Avery Cleveland, Lucky DeLay, Cedrick Dorsey, Zach Hall, Devin Lowery, Joe Sturdivant, and Wilton McCray. We've barely scratched the surface of what these guys will mean to the program. I'm not sure if they will lead us to bowls or even winning seasons but I am reasonably sure they will greatly improve the program. Maybe they only build the foundation of future success but the talent level on this team will significantly improve. Take a look at whose on the field-maybe its your problem if you expect these guys to excel.

You know, I don't always agree with everything Stallion says, but he's exactly right here. We have a ton of guys who aren't playing right now who are big (Burley, etc.), strong (Vincent Chase, etc.) and fast (Henderson, LaCori Johnson, etc.) They can't help us win from the sideline, and while I'm sure the coaches are dying to get these guys on the field, it's in the best interest of the program to redshirt those guys. The freshmen who are playing now are playing out of sheer necessity, because of a lack of numbers. Take that group as a bunch of 20-22-year-olds and the results are much different. The guys who make a positive impact as freshmen are rarities, not the rule. And they're playing for USC and OU. It will be nice if we get that kind of player one day, but until then, we have to allow these guys a chance to get better and stronger and more mature. How effective was Keylon Kincade as a freshman (or redshirt freshman)? He went unnoticed, because he had several years to get ready before he took over as a junior. When these kids have that time and the maturity that comes with it, we'll see the results.

And let's not forget: the option has always given us fits. Navy a few years ago, Rice the last few years .... this wasn't totally unexpected. We were over-eager because of the way we spanked SJSU and the way we more or less hung in there with Boise State. Had we been annihilated last week, the over-reaction to tonight might have been far less. But we started to believe we have progressed a little farther than we have. Still working on walking before we run.

[SoCal_Pony]

I can understand red-shirting our linemen in an effort to beef them up.

Don’t understand at all keeping Henderson red-shirted, nor do I exactly understand Chase. We need play-makers on offense THIS year. Holding them back only means more losses and more lost momentum. Bennett should have enough confidence in his recruiting abilities that he can continually replace these players with like-quality athletes.

[BrianTinBigD]

He is statistically the worst coach ever at SMU based on winning percentage. He is currently behind even Forres, since t Gregg who had a tougher conference schedule and a few other problems to work with like restarting a program.

I am tired of all the empty promises, accepting of blame for an unprepared team, and horrible play calling. If we don't garner at least 2 more wins this year then I say it is time to send Phil back to Manhattan, KS and start looking for a new coach.

In fact since we really have nothing better to do until after the La. Tech game let's play who do you think SMU will hire as a replacement.

My brother loves to mention that Barry Switzer is sitting on his sofa only 3 hours away. That is an insane pipe dream. Sorry Bro. However, here are a few that I was tossing around recently:

Charlie Waters - Respected defensive coach and a Dallas legend
Todd Dodge - Southlake Carroll HS coach
Jeff Bower - Southen Miss coach - if Bobby Collins was willing to make the jump then shouldn't Jeff
Chuck Broyles- Pittsburgh State, KS- Division 2 powerhouse where Franchione started
Steve Spurrier appears to need a job
Butch Davis looks to be working his way back to the NCAA pretty quickly
Mike Sewak-Georgia Southern Head Coach- Top 1AA team

[MrMustang1965]

My brother loves to mention that Barry Switzer is sitting on his sofa only 3 hours away. That is an insane pipe dream. Sorry Bro. However, here are a few that I was tossing around recently:

Charlie Waters - Respected defensive coach and a Dallas legend
Todd Dodge - Southlake Carroll HS coach
Jeff Bower - Southen Miss coach - if Bobby Collins was willing to make the jump then shouldn't Jeff
Chuck Broyles- Pittsburgh State, KS- Division 2 powerhouse where Franchione started
Steve Spurrier appears to need a job
Butch Davis looks to be working his way back to the NCAA pretty quickly
Mike Sewak-Georgia Southern Head Coach- Top 1AA team

Yeah, your brother needs to put the pipe down!
And this 'talk' of a replacement is b.s. We heard the same thing last year at about this time with the same names on the list.
I'm willing to give Bennett at least until the end of the season.
Hold on to your 'Christmas wish list' until then.

[Charleston Pony]

Stallion is right and it's got to be very difficlut for Bennett not to take the redshirts off some of thos guys, but anyone with any realistic expectations knew we were at least a year away from fielding a more competitive team. I allowed myself to get hyped into thinking we could beat Rice and turn this thing around this year, but last night put me back in my place.

As for that miserable recruiting year theory, if we can hold on the OL and LB we already have commitments from, I think we are off to a decent start already. Don't expect a boatload of blue chippers to jump on the SMU bandwagon as we continue getting blown out by Rice, but I don't see another 0-11 or 0-12 season in these guys' future, either. Gotta remember we have only two seniors on our OL/DL 2 deep and some of our best skill guys are being redshirted or just getting their feet wet.

[OldPony]

Of course you are right CP. The loss was devasting last night in that we weren't even close to competitive. Bennett obviously doesn't have a clue about the option but luckily we don't see it often. Can the fire Bennett talk though. It is stupid and would prove to the world that this is a nightmare job. We would attract no qualified candidates if we gave Bennett less than a full 4 years. He has improved the quality of player and I believe will coninue to. Give these guys 2 more years with weights and gaining playing experience and we can be, at worst, a mediocre team. With a couple of difference makers, a good team. To talk about firing anyone is counterproductive and wrong minded.

[SoCal_Pony]

If you read Stallion’s post under ‘Bennet’s recruiting thus far’, SMU is not the leading candidate among any 3-stars and only a few 2-stars, so while we have started the recruiting season again with some good recruits (as Bennett has historically done), I question if this years’ class will be as good as last years’. I hope so, but doubt it. There is little debate that last years’ was a drop off from the prior year.

I would not support lifting any red-shirts this far into the season, but still don’t know why Chase and especially Henderson did not see playing time. If there has been 1 consistent in the Bennett-era so far it has been anemic offense, Henderson brings much needed speed and holding him out a year will not make him any faster.

And finally, having to wait 4 years before harvest (versus plugging in much needed JC help) is a lousy strategy.....and one you cannot blame Bennett for.

[OldPony]

So Cal- We would all like to get some JC players but like you said, this is not Bennett's fault. Holding out people doesn't make them faster ususally but it does make them stronger. It also puts better players around them (more experienced and stronger) when they come into the lineup. Last year, for instance, we could have had the fastest reciever in the world but it would not have helped much because the QB was usually running for his life or on his back. I wish everyone could have been redshirted but he just can't do that. The more of these guys that we can wait until after a redshirt year, the better we will be. My main concern right now is morale and how recruits view what is happening to the program. I hope they can see that we will be much better next year and the year afterward.,

[Charleston Pony]

one word everyone on the redshirting issue: PATIENCE

I know it's hard for us as fans. You know it's even tougher for the coaching staff. Nobody enjoys losing, but we will be better off in the furture for having redshirted a lot of these guys.

One very big issue that hasn't been discussed is whether Chris Phillips might get a medical RS this year. We need to let him sit the rest of this year if there is any hope of him getting that RS. It will pay big dividends by 2006.

[Stallion]

someone go fetch the sheriff-looks like a lynch mob forming!!!!!!Coming Attractions- Jim Copeland playing the shocked French Vichey Inspector in Casablanca and his immortal words -"Dr. Turner the SMU Head Coach Sucks-Round up the usual suspects!!!!!" Evil villian this time played by Phil Bennett. For some of you driving the Fire Yet Another Head Coach Bandwagon-this could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship! Fade to black as Dr. Turner and Big Jim walk heroically hand in hand into the dark laughing at the farce they have just pulled off.

[huntnfish]

You have to cut off the head! Fire Copeland!

[Ponymon]

Take a look at the ROSTER guys. There are 80+, let me repeat that, 80+ freshman and redshirt freshman out of 120 or so players on it. I would expect us to be more competitive next year not this. The one thing that does concern me is the quarterback position. Phillips is the only young guy at that position and he should have been redshirted LAST year. Nixon should have been the starter to give Chris a chance to get the plays down. If he does not get a medical redshirt this year he will only have 2 years left. There isn't anyone else behind him so it is obvious to me that we need to get a top recruit at this position THIS year to start grooming him to replace Phillips when he graduates.

[Stallion]

in case some of you haven't noticed those figures being put out by the SIDs office are a bunch of malarky. Go to the chart they are using mathmatical sleight of hand-by comparing SMU's roster after all uninvited walkons joined the team after school started with the preseason rosters of other schools which don't include walkons. We don't have 120 scholarship players we have less than 85. We don't have a big freshman class-only about 12 recruits-almost the entire class has been redshirted. How does that make SMU the youngest team in America? It makes me puke sometimes when I see this type of argument year after year. Under this type of analysis Nebraska and Texas Tech would have been the "youngest teams in America" because they historically used to have 100+ walkons.

[ALEX LIFESON]

You are right on this Stallion! Built in excuses, SMU must have discovered the fountain of youth! We have been told that we are young since 1989.

[MustangTu]

For those of you on the fire Copeland/ Turner Band wagon, just remember that the board of trustees could pull the plug any time they wanted to do so. So far they haven't and they won't. Keep in mind there are contracts involved, unless someone has deep pockets to pick up the contracts(SMU is currently paying Dement in one fashion or another for doing nothing) forget the firing BS.[/quote]