Starting a coaching career by going 3-9 would be a reason for any coach to be a little less optimistic about the upcoming season. But head coach Phil Bennett expects to win championships.
On National Signing Day, Bennett stressed the same values he did last year. He will not waver on his goal of being a top-25 football team. However, his strong speech and high-energy optimism is not the reason he is making believers out of many.
SMU may have just assembled its best recruiting class in 15 years. Now the question becomes what will be the state of SMU’s football program after the addition of 23 new players.
At quarterback, SMU recruited Chris Philips of Seagoville, Texas, and Ricky Joe Meeks of Mount Vernon, Texas. Both players carried their respective teams to impressive records in their senior seasons of high school. The gunslingers committed early knowing that the two of them would both compete for the same job. Bennett believes their commitments represent extreme confidence in their abilities.
SMU started two different quarterbacks last season. Both players return as sophomores, but Bennett thinks that his new quarterbacks are both very competitive.
“They have a chance to compete to be our starting quarterback,” Bennett said.
The Mustangs signed three impressive running backs: Cedrick Dorsey of New Boston, Texas, Richuel Massey of Hillsboro, Texas, and Fred Turner of Arlington.
The most intriguing of the three is Richard Massey, who chose the Mustangs over Georgia Tech, Arkansas, Texas, Colorado, Wisconsin and Miami.
“I talked to [Massey],” Bennett said, “and he said ‘coach, I’m coming to break Eric Dickerson’s records.'”
Although all three players have a lot of talent and may become great players, there was no talk of them playing in the upcoming season, largely due to the fact that past starters ShanDerrick Charles and Keylon Kincade will both return.
Bennett, however, will give every player a chance to prove himself, no matter his position.
“If you can help this football team win, you’ll play,” Bennett said.
On the defensive side of the ball, Desmond Jones of Dallas and Joe Sturdivant of Lilburn, Ga. are recruits that claim a lot of attention.
Jones is a player that has a chance to come in and contribute early for SMU. Sturdivant plays safety and may be the most highly recruited player of the class.
The late Paul Sturdivant, Joe’s father, who passed away in October 2002, started at linebacker for SMU in 1976.
The safety position was not a strong point of the 2002 SMU defense. If sources like Rivals.com are right, the Mustangs have filled this need for the near future. Sturdivant led his team to three straight state championships and a 45-0 record.
Sturdivant’s high school coach called the safety someone who will make everybody in SMU’s football program better. He chose the Mustangs over Georgia Tech, Navy, Michigan and Florida State.
In an effort to retool the offense, 14 of the 23 players who signed on Wednesday morning play offense. The class, overall, boasts a combination of rejuvenation and tradition.
In addition to Sturdivant, place kicker Ryan Wolcott was a late addition to the class. Wolcott is the grandson of SMU legend Doak Walker.
“I guess you can call Ryan a legacy,” Bennett said. “Originally, my plan was not to take a kicker, but Ryan had been in our camps, we’ve liked Ryan all along.”
The class of 2003 has Bennett’s seal of approval. It is the first class that fully represents his ability and taste in recruiting.
“I feel good about this class,” Bennett said. “I’m as excited as I was the day I took the job.”
