SMU: 50+ days and counting in their head coaching search

by J Mathis

University Park — Who wants to coach the Ponies?I don’t know what has been more unbearable to watch this winter: primetime television because of the writers’ strike or the SMU head coaching searching. I guess I will give the edge to SMU, because at least the writers and studio heads are making progress. SMU? Not so much.

Southern Methodist University Athletic Director Steve Orsini fired head coach Phil Bennett in late November, when it was assured that SMU would not make a bowl game. Everyone saw the move coming from a mile away, and only a few people disagreed with the move. I don’t think Bennett is even quoted anywhere objecting to the decision by Orsini. Bennett even attended the press conference that announced his firing. He said wonderful things about his players, the institution, the administration and even, his now-former boss. Here are the rumored replacements and what is the latest with each:

• Steve Kragthorpe of Louisville - Announced he wasn’t interested. And, why would he?
• Fired Texas A&M Coach Dennis Franchione - On the very short list.
• Former Miami coach Larry Coker - Has to be the frontrunner.
• Hawaii coach June Jones - He said he is staying on the islands. Can you blame him?
• Former Navy coach Paul Johnson - Almost signed, but he took the Georgia Tech job.

That is not good. No one thought the coaching search would likely continue into 2008. It might even continue after the spring semester starts. If that happens, Roger Clemens has a better chance of winning 20 games in 2008 (without the benefit of weekly shots into his ace) than SMU going .500 in 2008. And if the coaching search has not ended by national signing day, then SMU might want to resurrect its baseball program and focus on that sport. I was going to say basketball, but Matt Doherty’s young hoops team already has losses to Southern University (75-61); Alabama State (64-54); Centenary (93-76); Dayton (82-57) and USC (58-56). That is USC-Upstate, by the way, not the Men of Troy. Wait, why doesn’t SMU have baseball anyway? And, besides the Ponies could find more pitching than the Texas Rangers. Although, their inability to find a head football coach proves otherwise.