Observations from Fresno

[SoCal_Pony]

I realize we are a young team that will get better next year, but honestly, will 10 months make that big a difference? The first time Fresno punted the ball was late in the 3rd quarter and that was only due a personal foul penalty took them out of FG range. Their first 6 possessions led to 6 TDs. Had this team wanted to score 70 on us I think they could have. So play it out. A full effort by Fresno and a few breaks our way and the final score could realistically be 70 – 14. Is anybody going to tell me that having Chris Phillips or Corey Muse or 10 months of weight-lifting and maturity or whatever will make THAT big a difference. I don’t. I actually think this team is worst than last year and that is saying a lot.

Given the mood of this board, I easily fall into the pro-Bennett camp. Nobody in this camp has yet to praise his game-day coaching skills; at best we feel the verdict is still out until ‘later’. He gets almost all his support due to his recruiting ability. Yet if we go winless over our next 3 games and our recruiting class tanks, Bennett will lose many of his remaining supporters. SMU is becoming a very hard sell. I hope he is up to the task.

Other Ramblings:

FYI – Saragin now ranks over 40 D-AA teams ahead of us.

If there is a coaching change in the next 2 years, big Jim should not make that selection. Don’t care if it is fair or not, he should suffer the same consequences Pony fans do from this unbelievably failed model.

Bobby Chase was the MVP of this game; he has great hands.

That roughing the passer penalty on Stansbury which kept Fresno’s first drive alive was comical, nobody in Bulldog stadium was buying it.

Jerad Romo must be a class act. Yes he went to high school and junior college out here, but it was still a 180-mile drive to Fresno and yet he had some 30 friends cheer him on…that is impressive. Friends of Justin Rogers’ grandfather also sat through the entire game to support Justin.

MM65, you should have really thought through that two-in-a-row pledge before you made it.

[giacfsp]

Copeland didn't create the model. I'm not saying he's to blame or exempt from blame, but that's Pye hangover. The faculty/board need to change the way the administration supports football. I know a bunch of them will say "hell with football, we're an academic institution." That's true. But the benefits of a successful football program will reach across the entire university community.

With that said, I don't know if Copeland should make the next hire - hopefully that's a question we won't have to answer for years. I still think Coach Bennett will succeed, given the right circumstances and the chance to let his players grow and mature.

[EastStang]

I think economically, Bennett will at least last through next season. If we don't show great improvement he'll be gone. Right now, unless some sugar daddy wants him gone, the funds are not there to fire him and hire someone new. So, let's hope that these kids mature, and that we get some holes plugged, injured players back, and some W's later this year and many more next year. I don't think Copeland was the only decision maker on hiring Bennett, there was a committee which included some pretty heavy hitters.

[HFvictory]

I think economically, Bennett will at least last through next season. If we don't show great improvement he'll be gone. Right now, unless some sugar daddy wants him gone, the funds are not there to fire him and hire someone new. So, let's hope that these kids mature, and that we get some holes plugged, injured players back, and some W's later this year and many more next year.

If things continue how can you afford to keep Bennett? With attendance and support continually dropping it may cost SMU a lot more in the long run not to make the change. Personally, I thought Bennett waas a good hire at the time. By now he should shown a lot more improvement.

[DallasDiehard]

I just don't see a move being made. Whether it's because of money or because of patience being shown to allow hiw players to mature, I don't know. Keeping him through next year is the right thing to do, and I hope that's what actually happens.