Bennett is a great coach!

[Mexmustang]

Regarding "bags", I hope not, these are college kids, not highly paid professionals going through the motions to collect a check or to go to arbitration at the end of the season.

[Really Fat Guy]

PK,

It shocks me that you are this tacky. I actually go to the games, and I have never seen you there. After that post, I sincerely doubt that you have a degree from SMU.

You and Stallion are probably at home together looking at recruiting lists, giving each other manicures, listening to the Ticket, and laughing at their neverending fart and gay jokes.

Judging from the caliber of your post, you are either freshmen or just plain....oh screw it, you're just not worth responding to.

[White Helmet]

hey Really Fat Guy, since you just joined in the last week perhaps you didnt know that Bo was on the field for "The Miracle on Mockingbird", you know that game where we beat UConn after coming back from the DP. So he's been there and knows the kind of heart it takes to play and win. You on the otherhand just blame Bennett, with no justification and no credentials. Do I think Bennett is the problem, well partially, do I think effort is a problem, you bet. And yes I am at every game, even the horrid efforts at tcu and OK State. The only really fat guy I want to see post on this board, besides myself, is PX.

[Stallion]

if Pat Hill were coaching SMU and signed the same players as he did at Fresno JC then SMU would have to forfeit the football season because over half of the players on his best teams were either non-qualifiers, partial qualiers, JC/CC or low qualifiers who wouldn't have gotten into SMU. BTW that's not an exaggeration.

[Dark Horse]

If anyone has the right to make such statements, it's Bo. For those who are new around here, he transferred when we lost football for a couple of years, and then transferred BACK TO SMU to finish his career as a Mustang, knowing full well that it would be a rough ride most Saturdays. He was the emotional leader of our team, or at least one of them, returned kicks against bigger, faster opponents who often ran through our blockers (risking his physical well-being) caught the winning touchdown in the Miracle on Mockingbird. I don't know what he does now, or where he is, but I'd like to see Bo back in Dallas as a member of the coaching staff, even if his only job is to get guys fired up before games. I'm just one fan at every game, but it's seemed before games like many (not all) of the guys are just out for a friendly game with some buddies. When Bo played, he looked so riled up before games I thought he should be checked for rabies. And that was back in the day when we'd face a top-10 team from A&M, Notre Dame, Arkansas, etc., every other week or so.

Am I wrong on this? Are the guys more fired up than they appear? They seem to jog through that inflatable helmet (that's another discussion) like they don't really have a sense of urgency. (I don't know - maybe that's the sun in my eyes skewing my vision.)

Kudos to Bo and Stallion. Coach Bennett and Coach Burns do have the resumes to prove they can coach, and we, as SMU fans, need to support them, not undermine them. If the players need to be whipped into a frenzy, then do it. I don't know if that's a player (one of the seniors?) who should do it, or a specifically wired-up coach, or Chuck Faucette, or a cheerleader or an ankle-taping trainer. Frankly, I don't care who it is. But when these guys come out against Fresno next week, and especially against Tulsa, I want to see them hit the field like rabid dogs looking for raw meat.

[EastStang]

I know how to fire up the football team. Have all the girls at SMU establish a no nooky til you win rule. Those guys will run through walls because their do dads will be the same color as their helmets.

[Stampede]

mega ditto, Dark Horse.

[buspen]

I think Stallion and the rest of us understand that the year would be different with Carrington, Lee, Muse, etc., etc. and maybe we could see a more representative Bennett team. With that I feel sorry for those guys as well as the team.

I've been on the fence with Bennett and was willing to give him another year on the simple fact that he was willing to punch out Leach. There is no doubt Bennett can coach X and O's, he's had game plans that worked. The problem I wrestle with is we don't have K-State, OU or A & M talent. Is his coaching more a factor of the right game plan or is it using what talent you have and recognizing who to put where.

I still say we have and had as much or more talent as Tulsa, (even considering a couple of JUCO's) but it took a third coach to come up with the right combination. Tulsa's proved it and Stoops after Blake at OU proved it may be creatively using what you have that makes as much difference as game planning, after all I think that's a big part of coaching that goes overlooked.

[Stallion]

yeah well so much for the great Tulsa rebuilding job-they are 1-5 right now. If Tulsa gets some big thrill out of their "great" year beating Bottom 10 schools like Texas State, Arkansas State, SMU, San Jose St , UTEP and the rest of their insignificant wins last year then go ahead and throw them a parade but I'll pass.

[buspen]

yeah well so much for the great Tulsa rebuilding job-they are 1-5 right now. If Tulsa gets some big thrill out of their "great" year beating Bottom 10 schools like Texas State, Arkansas State, SMU, San Jose St , UTEP and the rest of their insignificant wins last year then go ahead and throw them a parade but I'll pass.

I don't even pretend to defend Tulsa, but but they still went to a bowl last year with the same talent.

[Charleston Pony]

Actually, I have Tulsa on my list of teams we might be able to beat this year. And, if past trends hold, virtually nobody will be there to witness that game.

I won't go as far as Bo and call Bennett a great coach, but I agree with those who think the guy should at least get his full 5 years to see what he can build. I'm anxious to see how this team comes out of it's off week. Ready to finish strong(er), I hope! We've got a couple of winnable games left on the schedule and I think we can all agree it's critical to finish well going into the home stretch of recruiting

[EastStang]

Bennett knows that next year he must produce. He knows that there will be no contract extension in year five if he doesn't win in year 4. If there is no extension forthcoming, he will probably resign after 4 years or agree to a buyout.

[ClassOf81]

Thankfully, his class of "new" players next year will include a few more JUCOs (hopefully), as well as Chris Phillips, Cory Muse, Reggie Carrington, D.D. Lee -- wouldn't it be nice if all recruiting classes brought that kind of players?

Go MUSTANGS!