Football looking for first win against OSU

Head coach Phil Bennett has cooked up some controversy in preparation for Saturday’s contest against Oklahoma State. Even without the Iron Skillet, Bennett has put some heat on quarterback Tate Wallis and his offense in the media recently.

Sitting at 0-3, SMU’s staff will do what it takes to light a spark under their offense – including cranking the quarterback carousel.

The Mustangs are preparing to battle Oklahoma State. The Cowboys are 1-2, having lost to No. 23 UCLA on Saturday. Despite their record, OSU boasts a strong offense that produces 35 points per game.

Bennett knows that the Mustangs will have to score points in order to give themselves a chance in Stillwater. Bennett openly questioned Wallis’ performance thus far this season.

“We’re looking for someone to lead us,” Bennett said, “and right now it’s not getting to the point that we’re [getting done] what needs to get done. Tate has done some good things but he’s got to get better fundamentally.”

In the offseason, Wallis was named SMU’s starting quarterback after the top two quarterbacks on last season’s depth chart transferred or quit football. Having practiced as a tight end in 2001, Wallis had to re-learn the quarterback position before earning the job.

Wallis has completed 41 percent of his passes for 389 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions in three games. Bennett believes Wallis’ technical grasp of the position fades in game situations. He blames Wallis’ inexperience and time away from the position for what Bennett perceives as inconsistency and lack of focus.

“Tate is a good competitor and does a lot of good things,” Bennett said, “but we’ve got to get better production from the quarterback position.”

Tailback Keylon Kincade has carried the load offensively with the stalling of SMU’s passing attack. Kincade has 93 carries on the season for 406 yards and two touchdowns. His 93 rushing attempts lead the WAC. The player in second place has nearly 40 fewer carries than Kincade.

“We can’t go into a game and always say ‘we’re going to run Keylon 36 times,'” Bennett said. “It’s time to get it done or we’re going to have to look at Richard Bartel.”

Bartel has not taken a single snap in a college game. He was highly recruited out of Grapevine and, like Wallis, was red-shirted last season.

“Richard hasn’t had an opportunity to play yet, and if we’re not getting better execution this week, then he’s going to get that opportunity.”

Oklahoma State expects SMU to be a formidable opponent. Cowboy head coach Les Miles anticipates a lot of pressure on their high-powered offense.

“I think they have a good defense,” Miles said. “They were one of the top defenses in the WAC a year ago. They are run-around guys, with two really good corners. They appear sound and solid.”

One of SMU’s concerns defensively will be OSU senior receiver Rashaun Woods. At 6 feet, 2 inches, Woods is a big target and has the athleticism to chase down passes.

“He is a special, special player,” Bennett said. “He’s made some really big plays.”

Woods has 26 catches for 444 yards and four touchdowns so far this season-over half of sophomore quarterback Josh Field’s 756 yards on the season. Fields has a near-perfect quarterback rating of 123.1 despite throwing four interceptions in the loss to UCLA.

SMU’s highly-respected cornerbacks, senior Kevin Garrett and junior Jonas Rutledge, will be tested by Woods and senior receiver John Lewis. In his first game of the season due to injury, Lewis caught seven passes for 113 yards last weekend.

SMU finds itself under its own magnifying glass. 0-3 is not the start that Bennett envisioned for the start of his tenure. He knows the players play hard and he believes in the system put together by the staff; the question now lies in execution.

“If we’re not getting what we need then we’ve got to give [Bartel] an opportunity,” Bennett said.

Football looking for first win against OSU

Football looking for first win against OSU