I believe Bennett will succeed if...

[Charleston Pony]

he hasn't lost any of his enthusiasm and determination and if his players still believe in him and this coaching staff. Why? Well, let's face it...SMU football has been the laughing stock of college football since we were handed the death penalty. In the 1st year of our return, Houston drills us 95-21. The low points are too numerous to count. The one winning season SMU experiences ends by losing to our 0-10 cross town rival and that is followed by another recruiting scandal and self imposed penalties that are later reinforced by the NCAA. BUT...improvement has to start somewhere and I still think Bennett has recruitied some decent talent and as these guys mature and gain experience...and as long as potential recruits see a positive atmosphere around this football program...these guys will eventually taste some success and things will get rolling from there. We have nice facilities for a non-BCS program. SMU is a great place to go to school and get a good education. Granted, we aren't recruiting from as broad a pool of athletes as we'd like, but I'm not anticipating SMU ever competing for a national title in football again. We are going to be competing in CUSA against Houston, Tulane, Rice, Tulsa & UTEP. There is no reason we can't win against those schools. I put a lot of stock in those posters who seem to know what is going on with the kids and their parents and despite the lopsided losses they are experiencing, things still seem to be amazingly upbeat. Now, let's go out and get another win before this season ends. That's my little bit of rah-rah for the day.

P.S. for guys like Pony Snob...when you stop believing, then it's all over. I feel sorry for guys who go through life with that "woe is me" attitude that so many appear to have. Granted, SMU football hasn't given us much to be upbeat about, but as long as our coaches and players continue to believe in themselves...it will get better.

[PonySnob]

Living in Charleston probably does not allow you to see the Mustangs on a regular basis. Maybe if you saw how non-competitive this team is on a regular basis, you might not blow so much sunshine out your [deleted].

While I still maintain hope that Bennett can turn this program around, clearly something he is doing is not working right now.

[Charleston Pony]

While I don't get to see every blowout loss, I try to get to Dallas at least once a year and I've seen enough to know we stink and have stunk for a long time. That's why I know it has to get better. How can it get any worse...maybe we could pull a Prairie View A&M and go years without winning? Anyways, if it's really seriously depressing you, try finding another form of entertainment. Or, follow some of the others lead and just go for the party on the Blvd. That way, if the Ponies actually step up and win a game, it's just an added bonus

[PK]

As we all sit around feeling sorry for ourselves because our beloved football team is not meeting our expectations, I'm thinking the team and coaches need some TLC right now. They are all working hard to turn this disaster around, but it's almost like we are snakebit. The snap comes too early and bounces off Ekert's helmet...recovered by Fresno. Pellerin makes a catch and on the tackle his own knee knocks the ball out of his hands into the hands of a DB. Ekert extends his arms out at the goal line to get the ball through the plane of the goal line only to have it slapped out of his hand before he can break the plane...Fresno recovers. It doesn't take too many of these things to happen to beat a team down and break their spirit, especially a team in the position this one is in. I wouldn't be suprised if they are to the point of dreading the next game. It certainly hasn't been fun for any of them, just like it hasn't been any fun for us. We will never know what those first three games did to their psyche although we do know that it made the list of injured grow considerably.

I have no idea what the future holds for these kids and coaches, but as long as they don't give up, I won't either. I have no control on anything happening except for what I do...and I refuse to quit.

[StangEsq]

Can anyone tell me what gives them reason to think that Bennett can coach? Serious question -- not trying to be sercastic here.

[Hoss]

I look at his résumé and I believe firmly that Coach Bennett can coach. When's had athletic, mature players, every defense he's put together has been anywhere from very good to outstanding. From what I've seen in my trips to Dallas and the game last year at Tulsa, it looks like he's starting to collect those players now. I wish there was a way he could snap his fingers and get these players to suddenly be strong, physically mature 21-year-olds, but so far, nobody's been able to figure out how to do THAT (dangit). If he's kept until his first full class reaches its senior year, I think he'll suddenly start looking like a "better coach." I don't think his ability to coach is the problem. I hope I'm right.

And now, on to the matter at hand. I live in Tulsa. I married a Tulsa grad. I work with a bunch of them. And we're headed to Dallas this weekend -- BEAT TULSA!

[ponyte]

Could Gregg coach? How about Rossley? And could Caven coach? Why all of them did so well. Rossley is the sainted one for glorious defeats while Caven is demonized for having the only winning season since the DP. Bottom line, none of these coaches had a chance. The Pye model insured defeat. The lingering effects of the Pye model have hampered Bennett since day one. And that model also affects all other athletics. Ever wonder why BBall has such a mediocre record?

Bear Bryant, Woody Hayes and Knute Rockne couldn't win with the utter lack of support that we Mustangs fans can expect from the University administration.

Quit blaming every coach we hire and start asking what the University can do to support athletics. The coaches aren't the problem. If that were the case, we would have found one winner out of the last 4 coaches. The problem is deeper than mere coaching and we are the only ones that can affect the administration.

Bennett can win. Despite all the lackluster on field performances by the Mustangs, Bennett is getting some athletes. We are making some progress (QB being one). It will take time. The Pye model didn't happen overnight and it has been slow in being dismantled. WE have to continue to make progress and that progress has been slow. We have come from an abysmal point in D1 football and have a long way to go. We need to address the administration’s efforts as well as the coaches’ and players’ efforts.

[Hoss]

Wow - I sit before you, completely humbled. I looked at the surface reasons Coach Bennett can coach. But ponyte says it a lot better than I did. Kudos.

[WildBillPony]

I don't think Bennett is the problem. I think he is a real step up from Cavan. I can even tell by some of the little things he does on the sidelines. He inherited a mess. Don't get me started. I've been to ALL of them: Losing to 0-10 TCU in '97 & blowing that big lead against Ole Miss the next season. Inexcusible! The recruit potential began to evaporate. Rossley: Losing to Missouri in '96 with his "I don't believe in preparing on special teams" football philosophy. The difference between 5-6 & 6-5. He would still be here if it wasn't for that one game!

Once several of the current players become 21 years old, they will mature as players mentally, but they won't be any bigger, stronger or faster. The 4' 10" WR isn't going to compete any better with the 6' 4" TCU, Tech or OSU CB when he's a senior than he does today.

The biggest dilemma that concerns me is that when the team loses all the time, what talented recruit is going to want to come to SMU? They aren't going to like what they see on the field. They can get a fine education somewhere else that has a decent football program. It's going to take persuasion from beyond to get them to come here. I do believe if Bennett can muster up some persuasion from above and get some quality recruits, he can be as successful as anyone. Things seem to point to a couple of root causes: Copeland, plus the administration. Gee, I miss Willis Tate.

[Charleston Pony]

don't underestimate the difference in both physical and mental development of a guy between ages 18-22. Remember those guys who lost to Houston 95-21 as Fr and RS Fr ? Remember how great you felt for them when they beat Houston 35-16 for homecoming their senior year? Time will tell how the guys on today's roster who still have 2-4 yrs of eligibility (Bennett's guys) will ultimately fare at SMU.