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Winless Mustangs off to worst start ever
By The Associated Press
DALLAS — Southern Methodist has had some awful years since coming off the
death penalty. Never, though, have the Mustangs been 0-10.
Still, second-year coach Phil Bennett remains confident in his plan to
rebuild a program that hasn't been the same since their once-powerful
program came to a stunning halt.
``Not winning is disappointing,'' said Bennett, who is 3-19 with the
Mustangs. ``But I am not discouraged. We will get there.''
Boosters have heard the same thing from predecessors Mike Cavan and Tom
Rossley, and have yet to see results. SMU has had just one winning season in
the last 15, and that was six years ago.
All fans are asking for is progress.
``I expected some rebuilding this year and we're not doing that,'' said Ryan
Phillips, a 1991 graduate and real-estate investor. ``If Coach Bennett
doesn't perform well next year there should be some questions being asked
about what is going on. We need some tangible evidence of improvement.''
The Mustangs weren't even this bad in 1989, their first year back after the
NCAA shut down the program for a year and the school voluntarily made it two
to clean up rampant violations. That squad went 2-9.
With games left against Rice (2-7) and No. 10 TCU, SMU already has tied the
school record for losses. At least the 1990, '91 and '95 teams also mixed in
a single victory. The Mustangs' only winless season was 1960, when they were
0-9-1.
SMU has been outscored 325-101 and is on a 10-game losing streak. Only a
12-game skid by Army is longer among Division I-A schools.
Many of the losses have been ugly: 58-10 to Texas Tech in the opener; 52-6
to Oklahoma State, allowing an NCAA-record seven touchdown catches by
Rashaun Woods; 45-3 to Boise State, allowing a WAC-record 395 yards passing
in the first half to Ryan Dinwiddie; trailing by 31 in the second quarter of
a 41-6 loss to Louisiana Tech.
The Mustangs' most points came in a 21-19 loss to UTEP, which ended a
17-game road losing streak for the Miners. UTEP has gone 0-3 on the road
since then.
The good news? Three losses were by a field goal or less, including one to a
Big 12 school, albeit Baylor.
``As bad as it appears, I see the kids coming along,'' Bennett said. ``I
think we can be so much better.''
The problems begin at quarterback, a position that's been a revolving door
since Bennett arrived.
Long before his first game, Bennett lost one QB to a rock band and another
took a job in accounting. SMU wound up with a redshirt freshman who had
spent the previous season learning to play tight end. He gave way to Richard
Bartel, a freshman who also played minor-league baseball.
Bartel left the Cincinnati Reds organization to spend this past summer
focusing on football. Bennett was optimistic he was going to blossom this
season. Instead, he was benched after seven games and left the team.
Now SMU is going with another true freshman, Chris Phillips. He's yet to
throw a TD pass in three games and had just 80 yards, two interceptions and
was sacked twice against Louisiana Tech last Saturday.
No wonder the Mustangs are last in the nation in passing efficiency and
scoring offense.
``I thought we could win three to five games this season providing we had
consistency at quarterback, and we haven't had that,'' Bennett said. ``We
need a guy that can lead us and make good decisions.''
SMU was a powerhouse in the glory days of the Southwest Conference, riding
high behind Doak Walker and Kyle Rote, then Don Meredith. Another heyday
came with the Pony Express teams led by Eric Dickerson and Craig James,
going 11-0-1 in 1982. There also were 10-win seasons in 1981, 1983 and 1984.
The death penalty changed everything, as did the end of the SWC.
Overshadowed locally by the Dallas Cowboys and relying on a small alumni
base, SMU has had trouble generating attention or fans ever since.
``This didn't happen in two or three years,'' athletic director Jim Copeland
said. ``It will take a while to turn it around, but I know Phil is the
person to do it. He just needs some time.''
Bennett came in with a solid reputation as a defensive coach and recruiter.
He's been successful at many programs, including Texas A&M and Kansas State,
and has tapped into his connections to try upgrading the roster.
Big bucks have been spent upgrading facilities. Admissions standards have
changed, too.
The losing, though, continues.
``Phil is building this program basically from scratch,'' Copeland said.
``He had to create structure that we didn't have. He is doing the right
things to improve the team.''
©2003 The Associated Press. Bonesville.net contributed to this report. All rights reserved.
This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
02.23.07 11:02 AM
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