Coffee with Coach Bennett

[DiamondM75]

Did anyone on this board make the meeting this morning? I was unable to attend today and was wondering what was said (that can be repeated in public) and what was the overall mood?

Really sorry I had to miss this one.

[PerunaPunch]

The morning coffee went about 1.75 hours.

The most significant piece of news IMO, is that it appears as though Copeland, the Board of Trustees and President Turner are addressing some of the admissions and JUCO issues we've all hashed over again and again. It's not for general dissemination yet, but suffice it to say they're working to minimize or eliminate our remaining major restrictions. This isn't a done deal by any stretch, but at least they're seriously addressing the issue. This should remedy much of what Stallion and others have criticized and should help us get competitive more quickly. This should happen in either December or February.

Bennett was pretty upfront. He took the heat from a hostile crowd and returned with some fire of his own. I think he was convincing in his arguments and knows how to get the team from where we are to where we want them to be. He was applauded pretty soundly when he had to excuse himself to prepare for Tulsa.

A couple of the player's parents were there. It was gratifying to hear them soundly endorse Bennett. These kids may not yet have the experience to deal with the adverse situation, but for the most part, they're coming along and are still practicing hard.

Having a better understanding of all the different things the coaches and AD are doing to remedy the situation, and understanding how they're working with President Turner and the Board is what leads me to believe that they're not going anywhere... at least for this year. It would be a mistake to change regimes before the work in progress is complete. As fans we tend to be very reactionary. But the results we're seeing on the field today are the result of the last 15 years of post DP anti-football bias from the Board, faculty and Ken Pye. Just as the Pye era made a fatal mistake by going to one extreme, I think it would be a fatal mistake going to another extreme of tearing something down right at the time it was about to be fixed.

[DiamondM75]

Thanks PP. I really regret having to miss this one, but will definately be there on the 11th. Hopefully, the mode will be upbeat after we stomp TU. I also hope the player's parents will continue to attend. Hey better yet, maybe some of the players themselves can attend. Is there some underlying, secret rule against that?

[PerunaPunch]

Not sure there's a rule against players, but it is a Mustang Club function, so I doubt an invitation would ever be extended. Suffice to say, MANY fireworks this morning.

[Dwan]

thanks for the recap. for those of us who missed it, what did bennet fire back about and what was the best firework?

[PerunaPunch]

Everybody was very civil, but the discussion did get a little passionate at times. Two of the best exchanges were:

When questioned about his coaching ability Bennett fired back something to the extent of "I understand your frustration, and there's probably a lot of things you might take issue over. But my ability to coach is beyond reproach. I've probably forgotten more about football than everybody in this room combined knows about the game."

The other was when Bennett was questioned about UTEPs rapid rise from a dismal season last year (they were like 2-9 last year) to bowl caliber this year (they have a several top players who are in their senior year and they added 16 JUCOs). The question was: "How can a team go from 2-9 last year to 9-2 and a possible bowl this year?" Bennett stopped in his tracks, fixed the questioner with a steely glare and said, "I think you meant 8-3."

[Sir Trolls A Lot]

When questioned about his coaching ability Bennett fired back something to the extent of "I understand your frustration, and there's probably a lot of things you might take issue over. But my ability to coach is beyond reproach. I've probably forgotten more about football than everybody in this room combined knows about the game."

It is nice to have such a humble coach. I think he realizes that he is soon out of a job, and is getting defensive. Believe it or not, I would certainly challenge his statement as I think he is almost clueless. Before this job, he has been lucky enough to get by on superior talent. It's not like he is Lombardi, Gibbs, or even Parcells.

I wonder if he also made this statement at the "Football Instruction for Women" day.

[Stallion]

thanks for the assist. I've really dropped the ball with an explanation of just how UTEP turned it around so quickly. I don't think I ever noticed that UTEP had signed the 16 JUCOs. I did notice they got the two Parade All-Americans but they are not eligible to play until next year. Check out the oncoming BCS Division 1A transfers for UTEP- 2 from UCLA, 1 from Arizona, 1 from Washington St. and 1 from Oregon St. UTEP is the likely favorite in CUSA West next year. By the way last years genius-Tulsa's coach- has 1 Division 1A win this year. I could care less if a new coach gets lucky and has one great year. When I discuss the Model that SMU should use I'm referring to a Model which will allow long term sustainable success at the highest level possible.

[KnuckleStang]

It's not like he is Lombardi, Gibbs, or even Parcells.

Gibbs and Parcells have less-than-stellar records this year. They must both be very, very bad coaches. Fire them.

[PerunaPunch]

Yes, and wasn't Tulsa's coach named WAC Coach of the Year last season? They're struggling as much as we are, so he should be fired too.


Sir Trolls,

Another "firework" was when coach Bennett said "Sure, I look much better when I'm coaching Terrance Newman than I do when I'm coaching Joe Blow." But that's the core of the argument isn't it? Stallion will be the first to tell you that you can't win without talent no matter how good a coach you are. For the last 2 years, Bennett has pulled the top rated recruiting classes in the WAC. He's been stymied by the JUCO restrictions, so he's unable to do some of the things other schools do to achieve a quick fix. But the incontrovertible fact is that Bennett and his staff are GREAT recruiters. Best in the league. Better than Baylor, better than TCU. Next year some of those kids will be true (academic) juniors and sophomores. The year after that, seniors and juniors. But the reality is that you need 4-5 solid years of recruiting to fill a team with talent if you can't rely heavily on JUCOs.

Bennett has had two years (his first class was primarily Cavan's kids). It's a work in progress.

[Stallion]

and I think it fair to point out that only 1 freshman from last year's class has really even made it on the field. So basically the complainers are saying that Bennett should have turned it around with redshirt freshman MINUS Muse and Phillips the best of the bunch. That really is a laughable proposition.

[ponygrad90]

I' sorry but for Bennett to imply that he will outcoach Mike Price and UTEP is hysterical! The only Bennett is missing are floppy shoes and a red nose! I will bet anyone we don't even score on UTEP!

[rich_alum]

Yeah....get off Bennett's back a-h*les!!!! Bennett has taken on probably the most difficult challenge in D-1A. He had the balls to stand up to Vince Gill in the opener and really took up for his players. Bennett is trying to win with high school seniors......

I think the jury is still out on Bennett before we can say he is a poor coach. I have been disappointed at times with some things he has done, but again he is not the one making plays on the field. You people are like a bunch of NBA GM's......fire the coach after a year or two.

[Sir Trolls A Lot]

Gibbs and Parcells have less-than-stellar records this year. They must both be very, very bad coaches. Fire them.

Perhaps talking about football is new to you. Sometimes, coaches have leverage due to the things they have done in the past. Examples of coaches like that are Gibbs and Parcells who have won multiple championships. Bennett has won four games in his three years of being head coach, which does not give him a lot of room. Your comparison does not really hold under any scrutiny.

[Dwan]

I think that it is worth noting that Price was able to get guys like Tyler Ebell to transfer to UTEP because of his reputation as a coach. If Bennet had started at UTEP this year, there is no way he would have been able to get that type of talent to even sniff at UTEP.