SMU’s season opener on Saturday marks the beginning of Phil Bennett's fourth season as the schools head coach. Last year's three win season came with players that didn't have much experience, but he hopes this year will be different.
Talking at a weekly luncheon, Bennett said, “Last year when we played Texas Tech, we had a bunch of guys who had never played in a college game. This year, we're going to have twenty five or twenty six guys who have started 3-or more college games during their career.”
A move to Conference USA also shows a change in philosophy, as the school tries to play more and more teams that are geographic neighbors.
Bennett says playing teams in Texas saves travel money. A trip to Hawaii for the football team, cost $200,000.
So is he yearning for the good old, days of the Southwest Conference? “Yeah, in some ways,” he says, “With a little more integrity. Ha! Ha! Ha!”
Bennett says his team has also matured enough, that they’re finally showing signs of growing up.
Rolando Humphrey, a cornerback from nearby Cedar Hill says, “We've been so young for so long, but after a while, you can't be young forever. Everybody is progressing and maturing and the more we mature, the better we get out here.”
Humphrey is expected to be a leader on defense this year, even if he is a Junior. “I'm more confident coming into this year. We have a lot more senior leadership. As far as the younger players they have a lot more to expect, because we're leading them in the right direction. I'm looking forward to this season, because I know its going to be a different team. Its not the same team.”
SMU will host Baylor in their season opener Saturday, one of five former Southwest Conference teams on their schedule, and six teams from Texas.
SMU has had only one winning year since 1986. It’s been a long time since winning had a home in University Park, but Phil Bennett hopes this is the year, that history begins to change. Afterall, it has to change sometime
Here is a look at the games ahead.
09/03/2005
Baylor Dallas, Texas 7:00 PM Live Video
09/10/2005
TCU Dallas, Texas CSTV 8:30 PM
09/17/2005 at Texas A&M College Station, Texas FSN 11:30 AM
09/24/2005 Tulane* Dallas, Texas 7:00 PM
10/01/2005 at Marshall* Huntington, W.V. 3:30 PM
10/08/2005 at UAB* Birmingham, Alabama 6:00 PM
10/15/2005 East Carolina* Dallas, Texas 2:00 PM
10/22/2005 at Tulsa* Tulsa, Oklahoma 2:00 PM
11/05/2005 Rice* Dallas, Texas 2:00 PM
11/12/2005 at Houston* Houston, Texas TV (PAX) 6:00 PM
11/26/2005 UTEP* Dallas, Texas 2:00 PM
12/03/2005 C-USA Championship TBA
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