MIKE FORD: Finishing what he started

[Stallion]

it will look better on his resume-makes him appear years younger. But we'll claim Ford-we need the dues

[rich59]

Really good article on Ford. I am happy for him and glad he is back in the fold. For those not familiar with the Ford story, I am going to relate it as I remember it. I am sure there will be corrections.

Ford was a sought after QB, a dropback passer from Mesquite. When Meyer signed him he said something like;" when Ford is a senior, SMU will win the national championship and Ford the Heisman Trophy." Meyer had come to SMU believing in the pro set and a dropback passing attack. In 1980, Meyer had on the team, Dickerson, James and had also recruited Charles Waggoner(sp?) all three stellar running backs and SMU also had a very good defensive team. But against a good team, the Mustangs would get into the four down zone( now called the Red Zone) and had difficulty scoring. That year around mid season we lost to an inferior( I thought) Baylor team 28-32 and had several scoring opportunities, with Ford at QB, which were not productive. One of the QBs waiting in the wings was a freshman, Lance McIlhenny, from HP. When he was recruited, I wondered why because he was an option QB and not a good passer as well as being fairly short. He was a legacy though so I thought maybe that was why he got offered.

The week after Baylor, we lost again to Houston, still running the dropback passing attack. The next week, SMU went down to Austin and whipped the yellow bellies, running the option out of the I formation with McIlhenny at QB and you know the rest of the story. Ford never started another game, McIlhenny won more games as QB than any other QB in SWC history and SMU won more games in the first five years of the eighties than any other program in the USA.

A funny thing occurred to me. SMU now has a pretty good defensive team, throws the ball a lot but has been having a hard time getting it into the end zone. We have Pope, who allegedly reminds of Earl Campbell, Fields who allegedly reminds of Eric Dickerson and Line who was the leading ground gainer in ConUSA last year. We have Greenbauer, who from the tapes I have seen has it all over McIlhenny as an option QB. How about if we come out against the Aggies running the option out of the I Formation?

Just kidding!

[ponylb]

it will look better on his resume-makes him appear years younger. But we'll claim Ford-we need the dues

Kinda salt in our wounds. Wish I had delayed my degree by 30 or so years to look younger. What was I thinking back then?

[Stallion]

Mike Ford was the QB on Dave Campbell's Texas Football Blue Chip First Team All Texas team after leading Mesquite to the State Championship. Then his whole high school team graduated and Mesquite had a disappointing Senior Year-but he was still one of the first high profile kids who committed to SMU-so his commitment was huge in building the reputation of the program

Mike Ford's greatest game and he had a bunch was in Columbus Ohio. I was lucky enough to attend that game with a bunch of SMU classmates. He hit on about 70% of his passes that day-even though SMU was down by more than a touchdown to Art Schlister and Ohio St, I knew we had a shot because Ohio St literrally had no clue on how to stop him and never did. SMU missed a makeable FG on the last play and the game ended 35-35. On only 2 occassions have I seen 80,000 people so stunned. That game and interestingly the 17-17 tie in the Alamodome against No. 6 A&M. Those two games have to be the two greatest Ties in SMU History-opps forgot the Cotton Bowl Tie and the TCU Tie(s) during Doak's days. Here's a story about that 1978 Game from the SMU's Greatest Moments Series

http://smumustangs.cstv.com/sports/m-fo ... ts-34.html

[ponyte]

Ford was 4-2 as a starter in '80. He was in actuality 5-2 as a QB. McIlheney was injured very early in the Ark game that year. In fact, SMU was behind when McIlheney went down. Ford was the QB that brought us back and ahead (of course that was a rushing dream game as we only had 3 separate rusher go for over 100 yards rushing that game).

See SMU greatest moment # 41:
http://smumustangs.cstv.com/sports/m-fo ... ts-41.html

Ford was bench but kept his head in the game and was prepared when put back into the spotlight. That is a real testament to his character as a competitive athlete.

Not sure how big a role it played but the blocking rules and holding rules changed in '80. A lot of passes were called back because of arms outside the shoulders (not holding). It was a 5 yard penalty but erased a lot of first down completions. That could have affected Ford's performances in '80. It is a subtle thing but little things make huge differences at times.

Going into the fourth quarter at OSU, SMU trailed by 14 points. No team had ever overcome a 14 point deficit to beat/tie a Woody Hayes OSU team in Columbus. Ford and his receivers were magnificent (and to the D). As Stallion said, the only reaction at the end of the game from the OSU faithful was all the empty booze bottles and angry insults they hurdled at us as we left the field.

[Big Easy Pony]

What an unbelievable story.
Congratulations, Mike! We were proud of you on the field, and proud of you for this, too.

[rich59]

Please understand that my post was not meant as a knock on Ford. He was a talented dropback QB. It is beside the point but I don't believe that SMU would have ever achieved the record they did in 80-84 if they had stayed in a dropback passing attack. And as I have posted before, I believe that the present coaching staff, as long as they stay in the R&S, will get us better but never where we ought to be which on par with TCU. I admit being an old codger though who grew up in the split-t and belly series.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Stallion, that tie with A$M was 21-21 in 1994. Led by a gimpy Ramon Flanigan at qb, SMU drives down the field with time running out, and Crossland missed a very makeable fg, that would have won the game. I do remember it was sooo loud in there, you couldn't hear yourself think.

[SMU89]

Nice fish.

[westexSMU]

I can't remember the actual score, but I do remember also in 1978 QB Mike Ford led SMU to a lead over TOP 10 Penn State at Penn State late in the 4th quarter. Penn State was driving at the end of the game and clearly fumbled around the SMU 20 with time running out, but the eastern refs. gave the ball to Penn State. We lost that game because of the fumble no call, but don't forget the fact Mike Ford also led the Mustangs to Victory over Florida 40-15 at Florida that year the week before. 1978 was also the start of MUSTANG MANIA ! Man, do we need another Marketing Promotion like that again to fill our stadium.

[rich59]

A good reference that I keep as a favorite is Southern Methodist historical scores. That victory over Florida and the near miss with Penn State were the same year. Penn State was 11-1 that year.

[The Q]

Your football accomplishments are many, and well-documented, Mike.
Being an SMU graduate is something you'll have forever. Congratulations!

[Rayburn]

That 1978 game in Columbus was pretty fine and Mike Ford was a great Mustang, congratulations.

[GoRedGoBlue]

Hopefully after he sees that picture he will finish p90x

[SMUguy]

Very class, GRGB.

Congratulations, Mike! Hope you can hear PonyFans cheering for you again, because we are.