With the Mustangs (0-8, 0-5) listed by ESPN.com as the worstteam in the nation and enduring what may be one of the mostdisappointing season starts in recent history, head coach PhilBennett is plucking veterans from the starting roster and replacingthem with handpicked recruits.

The most unexpected starter pulled was quarterback RichardBartel. Recruited by former SMU head coach Mike Cavan, Bartelgraduated from Grapevine High School in 2001.

For the season, Bartel has completed 68-of-151 throws for 797yards and four touchdowns. His career numbers at SMU are 157-of-299for 1,875 yards and 12 touchdowns.

In a press conference last week, Bennett said that Bartel waspulled for not being productive and would transfer at the end ofthe semester. The following day, both Bartel’s bio andphotograph were removed from the team roster.

“My relationship with coach Bennett is somethingI’ve never had before. There are positives and negatives, butI’m going to focus on the positives,” Bartel said.”I have some weaknesses in taking criticism personally, and Ineed to learn that I can’t always transfer in life orleave.”

Bartel lists professional baseball as an avenue he might takeand is currently in talks with other schools about continuing hiscareer as quarterback. Bartel still plans to attain his degree nomatter what path he takes.

“I’m going to miss not only people on the team, butalso people outside of it,” Bartel said. “I still wantto get my degree, and I’m sad that I’ll be having togive up the prestige of a degree associated with SMU.”

Teammates suggest factors other than performance were involvedin Bartel’s departure.

Earlier this month, Bartel and backup quarterback Tate Wallishad gotten into an altercation with an intramural referee. The SMUpolice department was called to the intramural field tointervene.

“Being in a leadership position, Bartel should have hadthe ability to brush something that minute off,” theanonymous player said.

Both Bennett and the intramural office had no comment on thematter, but members of the team reported that Bennett was upset. Nopolice report was filed.

The Daily Campus has also learned from Bartel that he and Walliswere asked to sign waivers by Bennett stating that they would beevaluated on their leadership skills on and off the football fieldthroughout the remainder of the season. Both waivers were signedbefore the intramural field incident and the Boise State game onOct. 18.

Leadership may not have been the only issue that caused Bennettto replace Bartel. According to the player, Bartel also had ahistory of breaking curfew and was involved in a disturbance in aresidence hall that warranted police response last year.

Following the incident, just before the team’s departureto Hawaii, Bennett called a cab for Bartel to bring him back tocampus from D/FW airport. Subsequently, Bartel did not make thetrip to Hawaii, the player said.

Another player who also wished to remain anonymous called Bartel”a prideful kid.”

“He had a history of little things, and some bad thingsfell into his hands,” he said. “It just seems that heand coach Bennett weren’t on the same pageanymore.”

Taking Bartel’s place is true freshman quarterback ChrisPhillips.

“He has a stronger arm than Bartel and Wallis,”Bennett said.

Other smaller changes include Reggie Carrington starting atmiddle linebacker over D.D. Lee, Justin Rogers starting over MelvinWilliams before Rogers’ injury, and Clay Glockzin starting atdefensive end over Don Ieremia-Stansbury.

Bennett also mentioned that Johnnie Fitzgerald would be seeingmore carries at running back to ease the load on KeylonKincade’s shoulders.

Some players on the team have not taken the changes well but arehesitant to talk about them openly.

“It feels like Bennett is trying to get his guys ininstead of Cavan’s, but people are going to see the numbersand start to question the changes,” said a football playerwho wished to remain anonymous. “Still, we are 0-8 so I dounderstand the pressure that coach Bennett is under.”

Making changes on offense seems to be needed more than ondefense. For two weeks, the Mustangs ranked No. 1 in defense in theWAC, while the offense ranked lowest in the nation. As for Bartel,he is looking elsewhere now.