Heading into the bye week with 4 games left on the schedule we are 1-6...

We have shown improvement no doubt but can we compete with the top schools by next year? Can we have a 3 game winning streak heading into next season?

Thoughts from Mustang fans? or just anybody?

Bennett should be fired.

Honestly, I'd be happy with one win for the remainder of the year. Not only are we young, but weren't not a healthy team either. Our starting QB, RB, best DE, best two middle LB's are out for the year. I can't think of many top BCS schools that could even endure that type of decimation from the injury bug. My preseason prediction was for 2-9. I give us a 50% chance of achieving that level & 50% of being 1-10. We have trouble putting 4 quarters together. I wish that weren't true, but it is.

Can we be competitive with the top teams next year? I don't think we'll be able to beat the Southern Miss's of the world, however I don't think we'll be a doormat in those games either.

Next year, I'm hopeful that we'll develop a few leaders on the field. Right now, I don't see any of our junior/senior players taking on that role. If SMU is 'truly' on a level playing field with the rest of D-1, we'd have a much better chance of competing next year given that we could recruit a few JUCO's (speedy WR, physical, fast DB, possibly QB) at the skill positions & one or two impact OL/DL. It would add more depth & give us more competition where we need it most. I think we'll have more impact players next year when the redshirts come off of this years current crop, however we'll still be a young team. Realistically, I expect improvement in 2005 (4-7) but think our best chance at success will be 2006 when Bennett has a true Senior class and leads us to a winning season.

Unlike many other universities, a turnaround for us is more likely to take 4 years because of SMU'd education requirements and limited 'athlete friendly' majors that LIMIT our ability to recruit JUCO players. Almost every other D-1 school can do it in 2 years due to ability for JUCO's (see Texas A&M).

If University of Southern California can offer a Kineseology major why can't SMU? Hell, USC is a better school anyways. I find this very frustrating, especially since our academic leadership is not 'committed' to winning!! A winning athletics program (football & basketball) can be a great recruiting tool for future students however SMU is missing a golden opportunity and has taken the path of the osterich and buried it's head on the matter hoping for things to 'magically' get better (see TCU). Sorry for the rant, less I digress. Just my thoughts.

At this point the wins don't matter. Bennett's job now is to keep the young kids from quitting and build for the future.

Must agree

We all knew that the first competive year would be in 2005. If we arent competive by next year..must say good bye Bennett

Mustangs35SMU Wrote:Must agree

We all knew that the first competive year would be in 2005. If we arent competive by next year..must say good bye Bennett

There's better skilled coaches out there than Bennett. Bennett can recruit, but he can't put together the right gameplan.