Richard Bartel started the last five games of the 2002 season, and SMU won three of them. Then a redshirt freshman, Bartel was hailed as a gunslinger who could open up the Ponies' inconsistent passing game. Entering the 2003 season, similar expectations were heaped on the sophomore from Grapevine.

But the season didn't start out the way Bartel, his coaches or SMU fans would like, as the Ponies have fallen to 0-4. Losses to Texas Tech and Oklahoma State were lopsided affairs; losses to Baylor and Nevada were heartbreakingly close.

Bartel started the first three games of the season, but was replaced against the Cowboys by Tate Wallis, with whom he had split time last season. OSU's defense was applying relentless pressure, which led to Bartel getting hit frequently, running for his life and making hurried throws to avoid sacks. Wallis added an element of mobility to the position.

SMU Mustangs Quarterback Richard Bartel.

Throughout the week prior to the Nevada game, the quarterbacks battled in practice, and Wallis ended up starting against the Wolf Pack. With Wallis at the helm, the Mustangs were efficient and methodical. But near the end of the game, Wallis was ejected for kicking a Nevada player in frustration.

Bartel now resumes the reins of the Mustangs' offense.

"It was hard," Bartel said of watching the Nevada game. "Tate and I are both really competitive, so we both want to be in there all the time. I'm ready to get back in there."

Offensive coordinator Larry Edmondson said that part of the coaching staff's confidence in putting Bartel back in comes from the way Bartel has responded.

"Richard's had a good week in practice, a real good week," Edmondson said. "Nobody likes it when you get pulled, and they shouldn't. He supported Tate in the Nevada game, and he's responded well. He's ready to go."

Wallis probably was the better choice against OSU, because his mobility allowed him a better chance to survive against OSU's lightning-fast front seven. But Edmondson said the offense can be as effective, if not moreso, under Bartel, who owns a more powerful throwing arm.

"Really, the offense is built more around Richard than around Tate," Edmondson said. "We need to open up the passing game, and Richard can really do that because of his strong arm. That's not a knock on Tate - he does a lot of things really well. But we want to open up the passing game more, and Richard allows us to do that. Keylon (Kincade) has been running the ball really well, but if we can get the ball downfield more, we can open up more running room for him, too."

Bartel said the UTEP defense creates its pressure through variation and multiple looks, rather than through raw speed or power. But Bartel said he is confident the SMU offensive line will give him ample time to throw.

"They move around a lot, and come at you out of different looks," Bartel said. "But if you saw the Nevada game, they did the same kind of thing, with all the movement, and our offensive line did a great job. They'll do that again Saturday."

Edmondson said that opening up the offense - SMU has average 8 points per game thus far - is vital to the team's success.

"We (SMU's offensive coaches) tell the offense 'hey, the defense has been carrying us.' As long as someone is doing well, they set the bar," Edmondson said. "We need to help our offense get to where the defense is at right now."