Keep the Faith

[FloridaMustang]

No one is calling for the firing of Bennett. I'm willing to give him all the time he needs because I think he's the best thing to happen to SMU in awhile. But I'm still suspect of his coaching skills. It IS his first head coaching job and I'm just not excited at the prospect of this rebuilding process taking longer because of it.

[PlanoStang]

OK, Cavan's last 2 recruiting classes maybe were very bad although I think I remember we still got 2 or so top Texas recruits each year. Seems like we stayed about the same as the years under Rossley. How many scholarships were cut because of the minor probation violations (Malin?) ?

That's NO excuse for not fitting an offense to your current players. Hayden Fry did it in 1962, and took a team predicted 0-10 to go 2-8. The next year they beat Roger Staubach's #2 ranked Navy team, and went to the Sun Bowl.

Ron Meyer did similar with Mike Ford, and ET in 77-80. For you younger folks, ET was an All-America if my memory doesn't fail me

[PlanoStang]

We already fired the BIG TIME coaches. See Hayden Fry, Forrest Gregg, and Tom Rossley.


OK, Forrest Gregg (SMU All-America/ NFL Super Bowl coach) wasn't fired, but was told he couldn't be both AD, and head coach at the same time. This was the one BAD move that doesn't belong to Copeland.

Gregg brought former NFL assistant, and All-American receiver Rossley to rescue the Ponies
(aka scapegoats) after the Death Penalty dealt by the Division 1A college presidents who send representatives to the NCAA.

Bennett doesn't exactly qualify as big time. My "little" brother even knocked him around pretty good from the 8th grade through senior HS years while Bennett played for Marshall. My brother was a TE, DE at Forest Park JH, and Longview from about 68-73.

[PlanoStang]

We already fired the BIG TIME coaches. See Hayden Fry, Forrest Gregg, and Tom Rossley.


OK, Forrest Gregg (SMU All-America/ NFL Super Bowl coach) wasn't fired, but was told he couldn't be both AD, and head coach at the same time. This was the one BAD move that doesn't belong to Copeland.

Gregg brought former NFL assistant, and All-American receiver Rossley to rescue the Ponies
(aka scapegoats) after the Death Penalty dealt by the Division 1A college presidents who send representatives to the NCAA.

Bennett doesn't exactly qualify as big time. My "little" brother even knocked him around pretty good from the 8th grade through senior HS years while Bennett played for Marshall. My brother was a TE, DE at Forest Park JH, and Longview from about 68-73.

[smu'06]

What was the faith like in Ft. Worth a few years back? What is it now for the toads?

[OldPony]

PlanoStang- You have a little revisionist history going on here. When Fry took over SMU had Jerry Rhome. Rhome quit and went to Tulsa because Fry wanted to run the ball even though Rhome had led the US in passing percentage the year before. Tulsa got good before SMU did. If I'm not mistaken Fry's team in 1964 was 1-9-1. He almost lost to Arlington State (UT Arlington now). It wasn't until Jerry Levias started playing that Fry put some good teams on the field. Mike Livingston started only about 5-6 games in his career at SMU.
A more valid point was that it was Fry's first job. He went through a lot of growing pains at SMU as is Bennett right now. Bennett has still not come up with anything as stupid as Fry's Flying Wishbone. Fry ran fake quick kicks. Think about that for a second. Fry grew and became a good coach but he always played favorites with players. How has Iowa done since he left? Good coach- not great. He had a lot of wins because he coached as a head coach for a long, long time.
This isn't meant to knock Fry but I get tired of people acting like he was the greatest ever. He did one smart thing for sure. He gave SMU an advantage recruiting by going after some outstanding black players like Levias and Rufus Cormier. The advantage was short-lived because the rest of the SWC soon woke up.
I hate to sound like Stallion (: but recruiting was Fry's forte- not game day coaching especially early in his career.
Bennett is learning. We didn't have the choice of a name coach unless you wanted a 70 year old. Bennett's recruiting has been outstanding. The turn should start taking place next year but a good team maybe as far as 3 years off. Bennett has done some dumb things but we could easily have a couple of wins despite them. Give the guy a chance. We are all disppointed this year by the lack of progress on the field. I think it is way to premature to be calling for anybody's job though or even considering it. If the naysayers got their way, no one with any credentials would touch this job.

[OldPony]

BTW- I forgot to mention that the Fry team which beat Navy pulled a surprise by starting an unknown John Roderick who ran a 9.3 hundred. Navy was totoally unprepared for it. Again recruiting a track star. Also that team only won 4 games. It may have been the worst record to ever get a bowl bid.

[PlanoStang]

Yep, I remember listening on the radio with my Dad to that Navy game when I was about 10 years old. It was probably to a Kern Tipps' broadcast.

[MrMustang1965]

Originally posted by OldPony:
If I'm not mistaken Fry's team in 1964 was 1-9-1. He almost lost to Arlington State (UT Arlington now). It wasn't until Jerry Levias started playing that Fry put some good teams on the field. Mike Livingston started only about 5-6 games in his career at SMU.
A more valid point was that it was Fry's first job. He went through a lot of growing pains at SMU as is Bennett right now. Bennett has still not come up with anything as stupid as Fry's Flying Wishbone. Fry ran fake quick kicks. Think about that for a second. Fry grew and became a good coach but he always played favorites with players. How has Iowa done since he left? Good coach- not great. He had a lot of wins because he coached as a head coach for a long, long time.
This isn't meant to knock Fry but I get tired of people acting like he was the greatest ever. He did one smart thing for sure. He gave SMU an advantage recruiting by going after some outstanding black players like Levias and Rufus Cormier. The advantage was short-lived because the rest of the SWC soon woke up.

And Fry is being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. :whistling:

[MrMustang1965]

Originally posted by PlanoStang:
Yep, I remember listening on the radio with my Dad to that Navy game when I was about 10 years old. It was probably to a Kern Tipps' broadcast.

I was there. What a game! And there was another football game played that same day in the Cotton Bowl that alot of folks watched BEFORE the SMU v. Navy game. Many fans of those two universities stayed around to watch Roger Staubach since he was up for the Heisman Trophy and, instead, were treated to the Mustangs' upset win over the Middies! Anyone else remember what game that was?

[SMUstang]

I was there too. One of the most memorable games I have ever seen. The only two losses Navy suffered that year were in the Cotton Bowl. SMU and later at the Cotton Bowl game, Texas beat them.

[couch 'em]

Sorry if I'm repeating what's already been said. I've been away and haven't fully caught up. But let me say this: Cavan's last two recruiting classes were among the worst in the NCAA. Absolutely dreadful. Bennett's first was good for the WAC -- even with a shortened start -- and his second was lights out.

I am tired of losing too and would have loved to have pulled out a Baylor, Nevada, and UTEP win. It didn't happen. It will. Bottom line is that we are two years into a four year plan with a first time head coach. Chill.

Ponyboy - how'd that work out for ya?

[zimo]

The Padres use this phrase as their slogan "Keep the Faith". It always bugs me hearing this because they're known for their low payroll and losing seasons.

[ender3]

Can we please stop reviving these decades old posts?

I just nearly criticized SMUstang's math, and pointed out that 1986 was a LOT longer than 17 years ago.

[GiddyUp]

You know, with a name like "echo that," the least you could do is agree with everyone else. It would be so much less confusing.

we need a song! - wow, 2003. Time flies