Winning Ugly

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

Much was made of June Jones' early success at Hawaii, where he turned around a moribound program almost overnight. I think its fair to say there was some level of disappointment that the same thing didn't happen when he came to SMU. But the results this year have got me thinking that perhaps a better analogy is the 1998 TCU squad that beat USC in the Sun Bowl. TCU went 1-10 in 1997 and fired their coach. In 1998 they limped into the Sun Bowl at 6-5. In looking at their 1998 record, it is interesting to note that the Frogs were actually 4-5 after 9 games, having lost 4 straight (including a scintillating 10-6 thrashing at the hands of arch-rival SMU). But they won their last two against a couple of crappy teams, backed into the Sun Bowl, and have never looked back. Bottom line is that they started their remarkable run by winning ugly. But they seized the opportunity that came to them against USC and successfully built on it for the long-term.

A historical parallel to the 2009 SMU team. . .only time will tell. But for right now, here's to winning ugly.

1998-Texas Christian (WAC)

9/5 @ Iowa State (3-8) W 31 21
9/12 vs. Oklahoma (5-6) L 9 10
9/26 vs. *Air Force (12-1) W 35 34
10/3 vs. Vanderbilt (2-9) W 19 16
10/10 vs. *Fresno State (5-6) W 21 10
10/17 @ *Southern Methodist (5-7) L 6 10
10/24 @ *Colorado State (8-4) L 21 42
10/31 vs. *Wyoming (8-3) L 27 34
11/7 vs. *Rice (5-6) L 12 14
11/14 @ *Tulsa (4-7) W 17 7
11/21 @ *Nevada-Las Vegas (0-11) W 41 18
12/31 vs. Southern California (8-5) W 28 19 @ El Paso, TX

[ponyte]

Winning ugly has not and probably never will apply to SMU.

However, over the past 2+ decades SMU has found new and innovative ways to lose ugly. Blocked kicks, missed kicks, pick 6, fumbles returned for TDs, penalties, timely fumbles, poor special teams play, blown coverages are just a few ways we found to lose.

The key for us is to stop losing ugly and just win regardless of its appearance.

[Sam I Am]

What's all the talk about losing ugly. We are still 3-2 aren't we, and we did beat ECU, right? I am not sure we will win 6 games either, but let's beat Navy and see what happens.

[MidlandMustang]

What's all the talk about losing ugly. We are still 3-2 aren't we, and we did beat ECU, right? I am not sure we will win 6 games either, but let's beat Navy and see what happens.

Sam,
I concur. I have said it several times, I believe we can beat Navy. It will be an uphill battle, but I think we have a good chance. The win this last weekend surely didn't hurt our confidence.