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After rehashing his team's win over Marshall, MSU head coach Ryan Beard talks about Saturday's game against SMU.

He says all the things you would expect — complimentary of the Mustangs' players and coaches, etc. — and when asked specifically about quarterback Kevin Jennings, he heaps praise on Jennings, even alluding to the fact that Missouri State recruited him, "might have been his offer" and said Jennings "finally" will have a chance to play in MoState's Plaster Stadium.

But at around the 7:56 mark of the press conference in the clip, he also makes an off-hand remark about "the expensive athletes (Jennings) has around him." Brief comment, quickly followed by praise for SMU's offensive and defensive linemen ... but many coaches will stay away from comments that even vaguely allude to NIL deals or another team's roster construction.

Ryan Beard was pretty diplomatic about the Kevin Jennings situation. Bobby Petrino was the Missouri State HC back then and had some issues with how that recruitment ended up and how a certain SMU assistant did some negative recruiting. It's part of the business, but the MSU head coach is Petrino's son-in-law, the Bears D coordinator is another Petrino son-in-law, and the offensive coordinator is Bobby's son Nick. There is no love lost there.

Ryan's press conference comments seemed benign to me. Oregon fans were all over Mike Gundy for his very realistic and honest comments recently about the financial disparity between Okie State and Oregon. Ryan wasn't nearly that aggressive yesterday in what he said publicly in my opinion. I am sure Rhett and Casey will blow it up and let the SMU players know about it but that is Michael Jordan level creative disrespect right there.

I agree — pretty benign. I just found it interesting that he even mentioned it ... and I agree — I thought about Oregon/Oklahoma State as soon as I saw it. This is nothing compared to that!

Forgot that Jennings had actually committed to Missouri State before Lashlee saw him play in that H.S. Championship game and decided to offer him. Jennings is looking like that rare DITR recruit that Stallion always used to complain appeared to be all SMU could lure as a G5 program. Looks like we scheduled as many teams that offered Jennings as possible this year:

https://247sports.com/player/kevin-jenn ... ol-264991/