New Coach?

[Mustangs35SMU]

The judgement year begins NEXT year...unless we go 1-10 and get blown out by the patsies.

If we still win 2 or 3 more, still within reach, there won't be any firing going on. 4-7, or 3-8 after 0-12, considering out schedule, with virtually all of your starters coming back should warrant one more look. You just worry that recruits will objectively see 3-8, and not subjectively see 3-8. "considering" the circumstances and the future.

The real competitive year is 2006. Then you can make your judgments absolute.

Having said that, I am disappointed with how the QB situation was handled at Rice, and that points to a lack of a 'feel' for head coaching a game.
You don't EVER take the hot QB out of the game just because it is in the 'pre-game plan'. It was understandable against SJSU, when Tony seemed to peter off. But, after being on fire, to take him out was really unwarrented (against Rice). The resulting Sack for a safety really hurt.

I give him next year unless we lose out.

*claps* Totally Agree

[Diehard Pony]

There ain't no quick fix. Plan your work and work your plan. Phil Bennett is the best thing that has happened to Mustang Football in a long time. No, it does not show in wins and losses, YET. But, good things are happening.

Please help me understand what good things are happening. I can't even make up any good things from what I have witnessed the last two years.

[sam]

East Stang,bennett is the problem.And if he did resign not one player would transfer. and there is something going on. I heard that bennett and all the coaches had to meet with Turner and Copeland and the Regents either late last week or early this week and I would be willing to bet that it was not for a pat on the back. bennett has done less with more than any coach since the penalty. I will challenge you tell me one positive thing that bennett has done in his three years and please don't use the recruiting angle because that sure has not proven out. One thing

[RGV Pony]

Good point, Diehard Pony. I agree. I'd love to list the comparative scores the last three years of our schedule. Among other things, we'd see LaTech go from a 'w' where we scored 30+ to back to back woodshed whoopin's.

On another note, what's Frank Solich up to? (again, I hope Bennett turns it around, I still support our team, and I'll be there for homecoming...I'm just wondering what Frank Solich is up to )

[SoCal_Pony]

East Stang,bennett is the problem.And if he did resign not one player would transfer. and there is something going on. I heard that bennett and all the coaches had to meet with Turner and Copeland and the Regents either late last week or early this week and I would be willing to bet that it was not for a pat on the back. bennett has done less with more than any coach since the penalty. I will challenge you tell me one positive thing that bennett has done in his three years and please don't use the recruiting angle because that sure has not proven out. One thing

Sam,

It would take a lot of gall for Turner/Copeland/Regents to call out Bennett and staff for lack of performance since their failed policies are the main reason for our 16-year famine. In earlier posts you insinuated that many of the players had problems with Bennett. Do you think this meeting was related to our poor performance or something else?

By the way, as much as I admire Turner for his fund-raising abilities, an earlier post by Stallion got me thinking…do you realize that Turner has been our President for 10 years now? At this rate, it will take another generation before he fixes all our problems…I wouldn’t hold my breath.

[Kiper]

And sam, we will use "the recruiting angle" because it's a valid point. The problem is that recruiting classes can't be accurately analyzed until 4 or 5 years after they sign. We're not 3 years in yet. Say what you want about the wins and losses, and those complaints are hard to argue with, except when you go to practice and see the kids who are waiting in the wings. These guys are different animals from what was here before. Once they mature (I know, you're tired of hearing it, but it's a fact), you'll see the difference as they get wins for Coach Bennett and his staff.

[leopold]

Look, would the people who want Bennett gone please shut up? Unless, that is, you are ready to put up the money to:

a) By out his current contract.
b) Put up another 500,000 to $1M a year for the new coach, depending on who you want.
c) Get ready to put a few more million in upgrades to the program. Remember, Bennett said he took the job only because he thought the new stadium and easier recruiting standards would level the playing field. Considering his record other coaches are going to want even more in these departments.
d) Sweet talk the university into a more sensable academic policy concerning its athletes. Maybe a new engineering building would do, or perhaps another tacky parking structure, but it's going to cost you.


And one more thing - With the exception of Howard Schnellenberger at Louisville (And I may even be wrong in his case) I can't think of one major coach who wasn't considered damaged goods moving down to a "mid-major" program after being successful at a top school. Here are a couple of examples:
Ken Hatfield - Run off at Clemson
Bobby Ross - Health issues
June Jones - Fired from NFL
Ray Perkins - Fired from NFL
John Robinson - Fired from NFL, fired from USC, now retiring
Johnny Majors - Fired from Tennessee, past his prime
George O'Leary - Lied on resume
Mike Price - Duh
And thats just the football coaches. That doesn't include the Larry Eustacys, John Caliparis and Tom Penders of the world. And I'm sorry, Spurrier doesn't count as "damaged goods" and we all know it. Neither does Frank Solich, now that Nebraska looks like a bunch of idiots. And anybody who thinks Neuhiesel is coming here needs his head examined.

So get over it. Bennett is the coach, at least for now.