It's What We Always Do...
I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to update the blog last week. I hope everyone had a nice holiday. The Orsini family certainly has a lot to be thankful for this year – most recently the opportunity to lead SMU Athletics to its full top-25 potential.
Now onto what I’m sure you’re looking for – info on our football program. With such a large amount of speculation out there, I want to correct some misinformation that is circulating. First and foremost, Phil Bennett is still our football coach. As I stated earlier, we evaluate all our programs at the end of each season. This year is no different. Phil and I have been meeting to discuss the football program. When we’re finished, I’ll meet with Schellas Hyndman, John Cossaboon, Dave Wollman and Lisa Seifert to talk about our soccer, cross country and volleyball teams. Right now, people just seem to be reading too much into our meetings.
Our goal is to have top-25 programs in all sports – including football, men’s and women’s soccer, cross country and volleyball. I meet with our coaches to discuss the progress of each sport and talk about what areas we need to address to move forward. We will have winning programs at SMU and we will sustain that winning.
On a different note, our men’s basketball team will play host to the Paul Quinn Tigers tonight at Moody Coliseum at 7 p.m. We have won the first two games of this homestand, knocking off Dayton – the same Dayton team that just beat Louisville - and Louisiana-Monroe, and hope to keep the streak alive tonight. Come out and support Coach Doherty (who will be evaluated at the end of the season!) and the Mustangs tonight.
See you at Moody!
I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to update the blog last week. I hope everyone had a nice holiday. The Orsini family certainly has a lot to be thankful for this year – most recently the opportunity to lead SMU Athletics to its full top-25 potential.
Now onto what I’m sure you’re looking for – info on our football program. With such a large amount of speculation out there, I want to correct some misinformation that is circulating. First and foremost, Phil Bennett is still our football coach. As I stated earlier, we evaluate all our programs at the end of each season. This year is no different. Phil and I have been meeting to discuss the football program. When we’re finished, I’ll meet with Schellas Hyndman, John Cossaboon, Dave Wollman and Lisa Seifert to talk about our soccer, cross country and volleyball teams. Right now, people just seem to be reading too much into our meetings.
Our goal is to have top-25 programs in all sports – including football, men’s and women’s soccer, cross country and volleyball. I meet with our coaches to discuss the progress of each sport and talk about what areas we need to address to move forward. We will have winning programs at SMU and we will sustain that winning.
On a different note, our men’s basketball team will play host to the Paul Quinn Tigers tonight at Moody Coliseum at 7 p.m. We have won the first two games of this homestand, knocking off Dayton – the same Dayton team that just beat Louisville - and Louisiana-Monroe, and hope to keep the streak alive tonight. Come out and support Coach Doherty (who will be evaluated at the end of the season!) and the Mustangs tonight.
See you at Moody!
posted by SMU Athletics at 12:20 PM
7 Comments:
Bennett deserves another year! He's brought us back from the worst situation in collegiate football.
Mike Sullivan (1985 & 1991)
GIVE BENNETT ONE MORE YEAR!
I agree...please give him one more year! I have been a huge fan and supporter (emotionally and financially) of this program for years and he has changed the face of the program in so many ways...all for the better. I continue to believe he is the man for the job!
I think Bennett deserves to stay. I think the general SMU public believes that as well. People on the outside are shocked that SMU is even considering firing PB. Public perception is definitely changing under PB and that can be very powerful. He needs one more year to break through and I truly believe if he goes we will be revisiting this discussion with a new coach in 5 more years and I believe our record will be much, much worse. In sum...keep PB.
Keep Phil Bennett.
Considering where the team was when he got here - he was saddled with 50+ scholarship players he would not have even recruited - this team has made light year jumps. The 2006 version was really Phil's first team of his own. Very young and getting better. And, isn't it nice to see SMU beside so many of the State Top 100 in the paper? Lets keep the Texas talent coming to Dallas, rather than the cesspool of Austin.
If Phil leaves, he will win a Championship (probably with Miami). Keep him, and make SMU a perineal contender.
Steve Gwinn (1986 & 1990 Law)
I was brought up on SMU football with a father and uncle playing there. Even though I'm at another University at this point, SMU Football is STILL my favorite and I would be heart broken if you fired Bennett, and so would many other Mustangs. GIVE HIM ANOTHER YEAR. PLEASE!!!!!
Well I hope when you do talk to Phil you ask him why he thinks his handpicked jr-sr class of defensive back recruits is the worst performing group since he began at SMU. As someone who is respected for his history of defensive renaissances I would think he would find this disappointing. 110th in the NCAA in pass defense but 27th-t in run defense, I think we can find a defensive goal for the new season in those stats, don't you? I would also suggest to Phil that now that SMU has a dynamic QB in Justin Willis (and a equally dynamic receiver in Emmanuel Sanders), we might attempt some dynamic play-calling to compliment. Running up the middle 2-3 times in a row isn't very mind-blowing to opposing defenses and he should know that. You might also go over why it isn't smart to run a shotgun formation 1st and goal from the 1 yrd line and then try that 2 more failed times, and then again on a second occasion 3 more times. On that note, maybe a fullback would be nice...or throw in a linebacker that likes to get hit. any big guy would do for 1st and goal from the 1 type situations.
But also when you chat with him be sure to compliment his recruiting, because I think he's done a very very good job with some key recruits (esp kicking, special teams, qb and linebacker). Good uniform picks as well...its rumored that SMU has the more attractive home jersey in the NCAA.
A few more key recruits, some consistency/tenacity, and a few more creative lines and squiggles on the clipboard and I think we should be very competitive for reaching a bowl game next year.
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