Over Phil Bennett’s first four seasons as Mustang head football coach, there certainly have been some ups and downs. This is my fifth and final year on the Hilltop as a student, and at the beginning of each of my first four I was pretty confident that this was the year that Mustang football would get back on the map. That worked out real well, let me tell you.
I was sick of looking like a fool, sick of standing out in the rain without an umbrella; so, coming into this year I was no longer telling my friends, who went to real football schools like Notre Dame and Colorado (pre-sex scandal), that we were going to turn it around.
I was done being an optimist, because it only led my to perpetual frustration and agony. On top of the lack of wins, the best part of game days, tailgating on the Boulevard, was becoming less and less fun.
I was growing tired of Bennett and his promises of playing for championships here at SMU, and I had begun praying for a Steve Spurrier or a Stoops brother to return us to glory.
Every year began with promise: a new coach, a great recruiting class, new uniforms, but it seemed like no matter how well the team started out a game, Bennett would get out-adjusted at halftime, and dwindling loyal fans would go home heartbroken, again.
In 2005, I was done hoping. My buddy, junior wide-out Bobby Chase, tried to tell me the team was going to win eight games. Although I loved his enthusiasm, I smirked and thought to myself, “Is he serious?”
As we all remember, the year began with a tough loss to the Baylor Bears and a blow-out loss to Texas A&M. I was at that game in College Station, and despite the 66-8 score I still slept well that night knowing three things to be true. First, that Bobby burned the Wrecking Crew defense for a 65-yard touchdown catch. Second, that I do not go to school in a town as boring as College Station, and third, that my school did not have creepy dudes in white jumpsuits for cheerleaders.
And then, on the way to another monotonous three-win season, something funny happened.
SMU was set to square off with the Metroplex rival Horned Frogs from Fort Worth, whose ridiculous colors and mascot I will not even discuss. Many analysts, including pretty-boy Kirk Herbsreit, picked the Frogs to crash the BCS party and sneak in as a non-BCS conference team.
We all know well what happened that night: the student section was louder that I could even contemplate, no one left the game at halftime and, oh yeah, Bennett’s team got it done, and it was the first time in 20 years we beat a ranked team.
That was TCU’s first and only loss of the 2005 season, including a bowl win over Iowa State. Some may have called it a fluke, but SMU’s defense was nasty that night in September, and the offense did just enough to pull out the win.
At this point in the year I was back on the “bandwagon.” Suddenly Bobby was a genius – we were going to win eight games, maybe run the table and go 9-2.
Sure, we only went 5-6, but who outside of the Mustang locker room really thought even that would happen? I know I didn’t.
This off-season, long-time Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder retired after bringing the Wildcat football program from the laughing-stock of the Big 8 to a perennial powerhouse in the Big XII.
When I heard the news that Coach Bennett, a former KSU defensive coordinator, was being considered for the job, I started to freak out. I thought that naturally, just when we get started to something good going, we go and take another three steps back and lose our coach.
To my delight, however, Bennett stayed the course, and now after getting another year added on to his deal, he is going to be here until at least 2009.
I recently met Coach Bennett at a neighborhood restaurant, and right away I was fascinated. He has a certain aura about him that made me want to lace up my cleats and go to work and hit the sleds. Unfortunately for me, my football abilities are limited to the intramural field and XBox.
For some reason, being in the presence of the coach felt like being around a celebrity. He gives off a glow that I am sure his players feed off of. I became somewhat enamored by the very same guy that I was ready to throw under the bus just a year ago.
National Signing Day is Wednesday, marking a big year for Bennett, as he is at somewhat of a crossroads. Will he take this team to the next level, maybe a Conference title game and a bowl? Or, will he take a step back and lead the Ponies back to their more familiar surroundings of three wins and a relaxing winter break?
I truly hope Bennett becomes our version of coach Snyder, the guy who takes the program from the dusty basement floor and through the roof. The possibilities really may be endless, I honestly believe that. We have a rich, albeit occasionally notorious, football history and are located in the center of the country’s best football state.
Just when I started to doubt Coach Bennett for the first time, he went and proved me wrong; I don’t think I am going to make that mistake twice.
Brian Capstick is a graduate student studying for his master’s in accounting. He can be reached at [email protected]
