Rumors buzzed around campus earlier this week in regard to whystarting quarterback Richard Bartel would part ways with theMustang football team and be released from his athletic scholarshipin May.
“Richard and I spoke and decided that we are going indifferent directions,” head coach Phil Bennett said. “Ithink Richard wants to continue to play football, and I will helphim in any way I can, but I told him I didn’t think this wasthe right environment for him to do so.”
Bartel, who has also attracted attention from the CincinnatiReds organization for his baseball talent, isn’t sure abouthis future plans concerning school or sports. He was offered thechoice to stay on as scout team quarterback but declined theproposal.
“A lot of emotions are inside me right now,” Barteltold the media earlier this week. On Tuesday he was unavailable forcomment.
Quarterback moves are nothing new in recent Mustang footballhistory. Bartel’s leave will mark the fifth signal-caller toleave SMU since 1999. Bennett has been in this situation before.Prior to starting his job as head coach in 2002, Bennett loststarter Kelan Luker, prompting the use of redshirt freshman TateWallis and classmate Bartel later in the season.
This season, Bartel has been at the helm of a struggling Mustangoffense that failed to score a touchdown in last Saturday’scontest against Boise State, even after another 100-plus yard gamefrom tailback Keylon Kincade.
It was also rumored that back-up quarterback Tate Wallis wouldpotentially leave the team for uncomfirmed incidents. On Tuesday,Bennett verified this as nothing more than gossip. Wallis will stayon as a back-up quarterback as he has been all season.
With the loss of Bartel, Bennett will look to true freshmanChris Phillips to lead the Mustangs to their first victory of theseason in Saturday’s game at Tulsa. Phillips, who is said tobe a solid drop-back passer, hasn’t seen time with theMustang offense this season. Hopefully for Mustang fans, the rookiecan lead a team who is soul-searching right now.
“We’re all kind of upset about the whole situation.Richard was like a heartbeat of this team. He brought such apersonality to our locker room. We’ll miss him,” saidone member of the team, who wished to remain anonymous. “Westill feel positive that we’ll get that first win,” thesource said.
The Mustangs travel to Tulsa to take on the Golden Hurricane(3-4, 1-2) at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be broadcast liveon 1310 KTCK-AM.
