Another SMU Preview

[ponydawg]

From the charleston gazette:

http://sundaygazettemail.com/Sports/200908030816

August 3, 2009
Marshall opponents: Southern Methodist

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the 20th in a series of previews on West Virginia and Marshall football opponents.

Date with Marshall: Nov. 21, 4:30 p.m.
Site: Joan C. Edwards Stadium (38,019, FieldTurf), Huntington
Coach: June Jones (second year, 1-11 at SMU; 11th year, 77-52 overall)
Checking them out

The Mustangs have lost 10 in a row overall, 17 in a row in Conference USA and 19 in a row to Football Bowl Subdivision teams. So why should Marshall, or anybody else, worry about this bunch?

Well, the first reason comes right at the top. June Jones brought Hawaii from the 0-11 doldrums to national prominence before SMU dangled a seven-figure salary in front of him. He has a way of cultivating a high-powered passing attack that can turn a program's fortunes around quickly.

It seems that step one last year was installing his own quarterback, Bo Levi Mitchell, as a true freshman starter and enduring the inevitable growing pains. Those came quickly, as Mitchell threw eight interceptions in his first three games. He finished the season with 23 picks.

One figures Mitchell, whom Jones originally recruited for Hawaii, could get the kinks worked out this year. If he does, he has a strong stable of receivers - Emmanuel Sanders has nearly 1,500 receiving yards over the last two years, and Aldrick Robinson topped the 1,000-yard mark last season. SMU's top six receivers from last year, including former QB Justin Willis, are back.

For what it's worth, Chris Butler is listed ahead of Miami transfer Shawnbrey McNeal at running back (the Mustangs topped 64 yards just once in 2008, vs. Tulsa). Three starters return on a sophomore-dominated offensive line.

Defensively, the Mustangs need all sorts of help beefing up their 3-4. They yielded 480 yards and 38.2 points per game last year - and that was an improvement over 2007! Jones went for quick help from the junior college ranks, snagging 6-foot-4, 281-pound defensive end Marquis Frazier.

All-conference candidates

Offense: T Kelvin Beachum, QB Bo Levi Mitchell, WR Aldrick Robinson, WR Emmanuel Sanders,
Defense: LB Pete Fleps, LB Youri Yenga.
Notes

Let's get one bit of bowl speculation out of the way: Should the Mustangs become bowl eligible, expect them to head to the Hawaii Bowl. Organizers in Honolulu are frothing over a potential June Jones return to the islands. ... Any such bowl would be the Mustangs' first since 1984, before they were kneecapped by the NCAA's "death penalty."

[One Trick Pony]

Every story always has to mention the freaking DP. WTF

[SmooBoy]

Every story always has to mention the freaking DP. WTF

We become relevant again = decreased DP references.