CUSA Spring Review - Low Expectations for SMU

[jtstang]

JT, nothing is wrong with being a realist, but don't confuse being a realist as being the opposite of being an optimist. One can be a realist and still be an optimist...or a pessimist depending on his outlook on life. A realist is one who sees the situation as it is, but has no way to see or predict the future with complete accuracy. An optomist will predict that it can and will get better. A pessimist will predict that there is no hope for things getting better. Neither possition is in opposition to being a realist. The classic example is the ole half a glass of water. The reality is that the water level is at the half way mark on the glass. Whether it is preceived to be half full or half empty is a matter of the perspective of the person looking at it...not the reality.

Everyone knows why our athletic programs in FB and BB are where they are today, and that is the reality that no one is disputing. Some of us truely believe that things are going to get better...others obviously think the opposite. Neither of us knows for sure and neither future condition is a reality until it gets there. So find a new term to describe your position, because we are all realist with different beliefs about the future.

Sorry, but your wrong when it comes to people on this board, PK--or maybe we're just missing each other here. The ponyfans optomist sees SMU going 7-4 and to a bowl next year, our first in the new conference. We are 3-and-a-helluva-lot-of-losing in our last two seasons, and that kind of sunshine is just not realism in any sense of the word. Now you and I, being the realists, know that there's no way that comes to pass. We hope for a better future, as we have for the past 15 years, but know better than to predict anything unrealistic under the current circumstances. Were the glass truly half full on the hilltop, your analogy would hold...ahem...more water, but right now it is far from it. So in closing, I disagree, in the context of the sunshiners, there is a huge gap between optomism and reality. Not that there's anything wrong with that....

[PK]

The ponyfans optomist sees SMU going 7-4 and to a bowl next year, our first in the new conference. So in closing, I disagree, in the context of the sunshiners, there is a huge gap between optomism and reality. Not that there's anything wrong with that....

JT, you're not reading what I'm writing. Neither optomism nor pessimism is reality...merely a personal perception (or prediction) of the future, based upon a possitive or negative point of view. The future does not become reality until it becomes the present or the past. Neither the optomist nor the pessimist has a lock on the future reality...so don't get too full of your self or smuggley condesending towards those who have a different outlook on the future than do you.

BTW, the glass is half full.

[MrMustang1965]

I like to tailgate with PK and Special Delivery because they ALWAYS keep my glass FULL!

[Hilltopper]

I'm a proud member of the optimism gang, but calling Rice our "cupcake" game is interesting, to say the least. (Wasn't East Carolina winless? Shouldn't THAT be the "cupcake" game?) Whoever coughed up this "story" (without doing an ounce of research, I contend), clearly hasn't seen the recent results of our series with the Owls. Having said that, let's turn the tables on the Owls in 2005!

[Hilltopper]

I'm a proud member of the optimism gang, but calling Rice our "cupcake" game is interesting, to say the least. (Wasn't East Carolina winless? Shouldn't THAT be the "cupcake" game?) Whoever coughed up this "story" (without doing an ounce of research, I contend), clearly hasn't seen the recent results of our series with the Owls. Having said that, let's turn the tables on the Owls in 2005!

[Hilltopper]

I'm a proud member of the optimism gang, but calling Rice our "cupcake" game is interesting, to say the least. (Wasn't East Carolina winless? Shouldn't THAT be the "cupcake" game?) Whoever coughed up this "story" (without doing an ounce of research, I contend), clearly hasn't seen the recent results of our series with the Owls. Having said that, let's turn the tables on the Owls in 2005!

[Hilltopper]

I'm a proud member of the optimism gang, but calling Rice our "cupcake" game is interesting, to say the least. (Wasn't East Carolina winless? Shouldn't THAT be the "cupcake" game?) Whoever coughed up this "story" (without doing an ounce of research, I contend), clearly hasn't seen the recent results of our series with the Owls. Having said that, let's turn the tables on the Owls in 2005!

[MrMustang1965]

Hey, Hilltopper: you only need to say it once!

[PK]

I think there is an echo in here...

[jtstang]

JT, you're not reading what I'm writing. Neither optomism nor pessimism is reality...

Well, at least we agree on that. Realism has nothing to do with optomism or pessimism. So when I suggest this team will only win 2-3 games this year, please don't confuse that prediction with pessimism--it's just an appraisal based on the reality of our talent, our shedule and our history. And as you pointed out in your original response, there's nothing wrong with being a realist. I will choose to remain realist and let the sunshiners carry on as usual.

And I don't mean to condescend--the sunshiners know I wish all their predictions of grandeur would come true even as I am amused to no end by them.

[Dooby]

I doubt most people would call me a sunshiner. But JT, the truth is most pessimists call themselves realists. I look at the schedule and conclude a few things:

1) 3 of first 4 games are at home against sub .500 teams. This is much better than previous years. Copeland has done a terrible scheduling job in the past (and yes, I know that Baylor thinks their game with us is an easy win).

2) weakest nonconference schedule in years.

3) Best two rectruiting classes in years are starting to mature.

4) 6 home games. 5 against sub .500 teams.

5) Theoretically, we will be healthier.

6) Actually have some junior college help outside of QB for a change.

7) Second year in a new offense. You could say the offense started to make strides at the end of the year.

8) no matter who is QB, they will have experience and will actually have been recruited at that position.

Now, I don't think any of these things can be disputed. The fact of the matter is that we should be getting better and at some point that is going to show up on the field. I personally think this is going to translate into at least 1 more win next year. As I already said in another thread, put me down for 4 wins.

And I also admit that one reason I desperately want to see at least 4 wins, is that because if we only win 2 games, this forum is going to suck and the handful of people that give a cr@p are going to be demanding blood.

[jtstang]

I don't think you are particularly sunshinesque. And the points you make look good on paper. But the reality is we play a non conference schedule in which we will be lucky to win one, and a conference schedule of teams the majority of which are used to playing higher caliber teams than SMU. I just don't see the talent development, particularly at QB, which will win us 4 this year. I hope I'm wrong.

[Captain E J Smith]

I was talking to my good friend Capt. Joseph Hazelwood, and if we are able to dodge a few obstacles and clean up up our act, there is no reason we shouldn't be able to keep our head above water.

[Charleston Pony]

This program is a long ways from declaring any game on the schedule a "cupcake" game. There's not another program in I-A that fits that definition where SMU is concerned, although we may fill that role for a couple of teams on our schedule.

The only cause for optimism next year is that we are finally maturing on both lines and I expect for that reason alone, SMU will begin to play more competitively with a majority of our opponents. I'm as optimistic as the next guy, but winning more than 3 games would be a significant improvement given the fact that some of our most talented skill guys are still youngsters.

[ponygrad90]

I was reading that outlook for SMU and I have to laugh!!!!!! I re-read their outllok for 2004 and they picked UTEP for the bottom of the WAC in 2004. The point is they have no clue what kind of team SMU has been building under Bennett. I admit last year I was calling for Bennett's head until he covered at Boise ST. ( I happened to be in Vegas that weekend and the SMU game saved my bacon) however the way SMU finished out their schedule, everyone should start being optimistic! Why? (You're thinking) Because they started winning at home! They are on a two game home winning streak, protecting their home field is the way a team starts to re-build! (consider the Chicago Bulls last year) My prediction is that bennett wins one of the OOC games with either Baylor or TCU. If I were Bennett I would spend the summer trying to figure out how to defend RICE because not beating them has become an embarassment! If smu can win one early there is no reason not to see us hit 5 wins next year! Anything above that, Bennett gets a nod for coach of the year!