Questions and observations

[BRStang]

Since I was not able to attend and see the Baylor game (and I guess I'm glad I did not spend the money, now), I have a couple of questions for some of you:

1) What were Bennett's comments after the game about why we lost and his (apparent) bonehead calls? Was it the same ol'-same ol' "we just didn't prepare properly" yada yada or was it something else?

2) What makes THIS LOSS the reason that "Copeland must go"? What is it about THIS GAME that makes it urgent that we fire him now? After all, HE didn't make any poor play calls or punt any footballs. He has been marginal for a long, long time.

An observation: I have been around this board for a long time (including under previous handles), and it seems now that we have some "newer" folks just repeating the same angry, frustrated, tired mantras of old, that we have all made at one time or another in the last 10 or so years. I could be wrong, but for some of you older posters, was there something about THIS GAME that has made reality hit in a way that it did not last year or the 0-12 year? Is it just knowing positively that we will be 0-4 soon?

Oh, and, here's my favorite line from years past: "Just wait till next year!"

[Hoop Fan]

BR, I think perception of Baylor being beatable made this a must win for us. I think everyone knew it was a tossup game at best for us, but we just had to have a win. The fan base is down, you can feel it in the stadium. How could we not be? There is little enthusiasm left. The fans that are there trying to represent are tired and looking around wondering where everybody else is and when something good is gonna happen.

There were games just a few years ago, even against Tech, where our fans put up a good fight and tried to carry the team. I didnt feel that the other night. It leads me to believe people are just beyond frustrated. If something good doesnt happen, it will just get worse too. If you are a fan and you care at all, its really hard to sit your seats in your own stadium and be surrounded by opposing fans and drowned out by the opposing band. The honeymoon with Bennett is long over now in year 4. Its time for something to happen one way or the other.

[Dooby]

We all see where this season is headed, don't we? Lose to TCU, lose to A&M. We start 0-3. We may or may not lose to Tulane. Then two bowl teams in Marshall and UAB. That is 0-6 or 1-5 going into the ECU game, which is the only game most outsiders predicted SMU to win. Problem is that ECU already one a game they were expected to lose. Barring the unpredictable, SMU will be an underdog in every contest this year.

Copeland has to go because he has had 11 years to accomplish something. He did get a stadium built, though how much was the alumni and how much was Turner is up for debate. He has picked two football coaches that have gone done nothing. He picked a basketball coach that wen to one NIT in eight years and a second that hte jury is still out on.

If this season goes way south, Bennett will have to be let go. There won't be a choice. And I won't stand for that Copeland having any hand in picking the next football coach. Name the most successful hire by Copeland? Near as I can tell, it is Jay Loar, the men's golf coach that has won one conference title and gotten to the NCAA's once.

[Hoop Fan]

I would agree, Copeland went out on a limb with Bennett. This is his guy. Either Bennett makes this it happen or someone else has to be in charge of the next hire. No two ways about that. That might not be fair, but thats life.

[SMU Football Blog]

I would agree, Copeland went out on a limb with Bennett. This is his guy. Either Bennett makes this it happen or someone else has to be in charge of the next hire. No two ways about that. That might not be fair, but thats life.

I am not sure where you get, "Copeland went out on a limb with Bennett." The guy had as solid credentials as anybody else that was considered or available. This ain't the late 70's and early 80's. Do you think in this day and age the head coach of UNLV would leave for SMU or the head coach of SMU would leave for UNLV? Do you think at this day and age the head coach of Arkansas would leave for SMU or the head coach of SMU would leave for Arkansas? Do you think at this day and age the head coach of SMU would ever tell his players that he'd never leave for another college job and then only leave for the NFL, like Meyer did?

The fact is that it is more than coaching. We need a plan. We need a plan to be successful and a new coach is only part of that plan. We need to reenergize the alumni; reenergize the student body; reenergize the community. We need to unwind all the ridiculous changes of the Pye administration.

[Hoop Fan]

I would agree, Copeland went out on a limb with Bennett. This is his guy. Either Bennett makes this it happen or someone else has to be in charge of the next hire. No two ways about that. That might not be fair, but thats life.

I am not sure where you get, "Copeland went out on a limb with Bennett." The guy had as solid credentials as anybody else that was considered or available. This ain't the late 70's and early 80's. Do you think in this day and age the head coach of UNLV would leave for SMU or the head coach of SMU would leave for UNLV? Do you think at this day and age the head coach of Arkansas would leave for SMU or the head coach of SMU would leave for Arkansas? Do you think at this day and age the head coach of SMU would ever tell his players that he'd never leave for another college job and then only leave for the NFL, like Meyer did?

The fact is that it is more than coaching. We need a plan. We need a plan to be successful and a new coach is only part of that plan. We need to reenergize the alumni; reenergize the student body; reenergize the community. We need to unwind all the ridiculous changes of the Pye administration.

Hey, I am well aware of the situation and I didnt think Bennett was a bad hire at all. Much better than Cavan, at least Bennett has Texas ties and wanted to be in Texas. But I dont get paid to make such decisions and I do clearly recall that Copeland kept the hiring process and decision close to his vest. Let there be no mistake that this was Copelands hire, his second hire. If it doesnt work out, no one gets a third, that would be crazy.

[couch 'em]

We need to reenergize the alumni; reenergize the student body; reenergize the community. We need to unwind all the ridiculous changes of the Pye administration.

What we NEED is a sucessful alum/supporter to cough up a very large sum of cash to buy us a famous, proven, big name coach who will draw talent. Nobody wants to come to SMU, but everyone loves money. We might as well live up to the stereotype and BUY success...... legally, of course.

[The PonyGrad]

While SMU has not been successful over Bennett's tenure, the cupboard is not bare like the last time. Bennett has to get credit for that, but if we are not successful this year the only way to keep from emptying the cupboard is to get a new coach that can energize the recruiting base again.


I hope Bennett can pull it out despite the bizarre calls in the last game but if not we really need to look at the situation.

[SouthernMustang]

I wasn't at the game, due to helping friend moving to new med school out from Tulane, but listening to it on the radio made Bennett sound like he has no idea what he was doing... fortunately, Baylor's passing attack and running game were not as quick moving as Navy's option offense.

Romo may not have been able to complete a pass, but neither could Eckert. And at least Romo was running and gaining yards. The young RB had a fumble, so he yanked Romo? That made no sense. And the kid's a young RB, he's going to make a mistake. If we're supposed to allow him to be so knee-jerk in his reactions, he should accept ours to him getting the axe.

Obviously, the 4th and 4 play... I for sure thoughta pooch punt was coming. Nope -- we went for it.

From what I heard, it sounded like we held up well ... and the boys were much stronger and quicker. You just can't leave your D on the field for 22 minutes of the second half and expect to hold on to a win with a 14-6 lead.

Bennett is a great guy, and a good recruiter. He's just not a HC. Don't want to see him fail -- but don't want him to stagnate our program, and therefore let it wander down further.

It's time to bring someone in who can develop these guys into winners, and who has a big name that will draw in the fans. Put one winning season together, and the following season the students will come. After that, the locals will come. Right now, it seems as though we're on the cusp of being able to be a decent team -- we just need a coach that has the capability to take these athletes there ... Bennett just doesn't appear to be that guy.