CBS Sportsline.com coverage of SMU

Dutch · Post by **Dutch** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 5:12 pm

I know we've all been reading about it for a couple days, but it's good to see as much national pub as we've been receiving and that we're on some radar screens.

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9065338

Climbing up the hill: SMU (5-6) finished with its best season since 1997 with that convincing victory over UTEP.

If there is any program that deserves our sympathy, this is it. Coach Phil Bennett's wife was killed by a lightning strike while he was an assistant at Kansas State.

For most of the past 18 years, the NCAA has proved that the death penalty works. SMU came within a game of posting only its second winning season since The Big Haircut came down in 1987.

The program has its first three-game winning streak since 1999. SMU lost three of its games on the final possession. Five games came down to the last play. SMU was 2-3 in those.

"I'm not big on saying a program has turned the corner on a 5-6 record, but I think we've improved dramatically," Bennett said. "Right now, at this date, we're playing as good as any team in Conference USA. There's a belief that these guys can win."

Laura Bush Lover · Post by **Laura Bush Lover** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 6:00 pm

That's great we're getting some good pub now.

That said, why does every story about Bennett or the team mention his wife's accident? I mean, it was a number of years ago at his old job and I'm pretty sure he's since remarried.

I'm not trying to downplay the tragic situation, but c'mon, let's talk about the football team and not the personal tragedies of the head coach. I imagine PB is also ready to move on as well.

Just my two cents.

Treadway21 · Post by **Treadway21** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 6:26 pm

Here is some more good pub from Foxsports.com:

Quick outs: SMU's road to recovery
Very quietly this fall, the once-mighty SMU Mustangs have showed signs of life. With three huge upsets, Rich Cirminello says SMU is back.

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/5062076

Thanks for using FOXSports.com

Corso · Post by **Corso** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 6:37 pm

"Not how much UTEP choked, but how far SMU has come under head coach Phil Bennett."

Dig it.

PK · Post by PK » Mon Nov 28, 2005 7:27 pm

"Best of all, SMU is young, and where it needs help, such as quarterback, Bennett with (sic) mine the junior-college ranks with a pick axe right up until signing day next February. Unlike his first couple of years in Big D, a whole different caliber of recruit may now be willing to hear his pitch."

We certainly hope so.

smupony94 · Post by **smupony94** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:40 pm

Where is phirephilbennet??? Sorry, watching the UTEP game and just saw the Chase fumble, catch and touchdown