More from the DMN Blog...
It's been 22 years since SMU went to a bowl, so I have a hard time picturing the Mustangs in a bowl game until it happens. Improvement doesn't always follow a natural progression when you're coming from as far down as SMU has been. Not that it can't happen in 2006, but SMU will be breaking in a new quarterback. A big key to five wins in 2005 was Jerad Romo being more comfortable his second season.
Remember, it's a 12-game schedule next season. The last I heard, seven wins would be required for bowl-eligibility, but the NCAA may lower it to six wins because of the proliferation of bowl games.
The non-conference schedule does look promising, except for the opener at Texas Tech. The other non-conference games, I believe, are North Texas, Sam Houston State and Arkansas State. Expect North Texas to be pumped to play SMU, as always.
If SMU wins three in non-conference, obviously it makes things easier, but that means bucking a tradition of slow starts. Another hurdle is finding a bowl that will take the Mustangs. WIth SMU's small fan base, the Mustangs may have to win a title to ensure a bowl bid. However, any bowl that invites SMU will get plenty of pop from the many "SMU comes back from the dead" stories that will be done by the media.
Posted by Keith Whitmire at 5:44 AM (E-mail this entry)
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