The real season starts with Rutgers

[leopold]

So at what point does 6 wins become something that is not successful? Also as bad as the AAC is I don't know if the schedule is actually harder.

UConn and Cincy should consistently be better than Tulane and Rice - on any given year the latter may be better, but the former should be considered harder games at this point, and those are basically the schools we dropped to pick up the 2 UC's. Therefore, I consider it a harder schedule.

As far as 6 wins are considered, it's all relative - 6 wins for Tulane would not be the same as 6 wins for TCU. I think we HAVE hit a plateau, and we should expect to consistently get better, but when you change to what should be a harder conference, then I'll let them have a year for adjustment.

[Stallion]

You know the Aggies are surrendering about 30 points a game and June and Mason expect SMU to be a "Top 20 Defense" this year

[leopold]

I actually think we'll put some points up on the Aggies, it just won't be near enough.

My early prediction:

Aggy 56-28

[ojaipony]

We can beat TCU.

At some point, you have to have some pride and say "just go out and make a name for yourself/have fun" against aTm. You can make sportscenter highlights - up to you if you want to be the one making the play or being "posterized".

[Rebel10]

So at what point does 6 wins become something that is not successful? Also as bad as the AAC is I don't know if the schedule is actually harder.

UConn and Cincy should consistently be better than Tulane and Rice - on any given year the latter may be better, but the former should be considered harder games at this point, and those are basically the schools we dropped to pick up the 2 UC's. Therefore, I consider it a harder schedule.

As far as 6 wins are considered, it's all relative - 6 wins for Tulane would not be the same as 6 wins for TCU. I think we HAVE hit a plateau, and we should expect to consistently get better, but when you change to what should be a harder conference, then I'll let them have a year for adjustment.

Well since Tulane is coming to the AAC next year it should make the AAC that much worse off. Tulane and Rice are better than Temple and Memphis. Therefore it is not a harder schedule and add to the fact that UConn and USF are pritiful this year. And we are talking about this year's schedule.

[ghost]

You need fan support both financially and in the seats. You need positive coaches who have a passion for the game...still and will recruit. (especially in the hot bed that is Texas high school football). That means maybe a two week vacation in late June and the rest of the year in at 6am and home around midnite 6 days a week. No tee times or shortcuts. Players need to attend class and work year round and there needs to be competition at every position. If players don't play each play like their lives depend on it then you better be an extreme talent. this isn't baseball or basketball, this is an extremely violent game played with passionate play that comes from the head coach. Going through the motions in a business-like manner will lose most times to teams less talented who are well-coached and physical. See TCU

[leopold]

Well since Tulane is coming to the AAC next year it should make the AAC that much worse off. Tulane and Rice are better than Temple and Memphis. Therefore it is not a harder schedule and add to the fact that UConn and USF are pritiful this year. And we are talking about this year's schedule.

We played Memphis last year so that is a wash - even though the Tigers should be better this year.

We played the worst USM team in memory (0-12) and now play USF. That should go slightly in slight favor towards USF, but hey, that's a wash too if you want.

We also dropped 3-9 UTEP to pick up 4-8 Temple. 'Bout the same, so, again, I say we break even.

It's all a rough guess, I know, but I believe this years conference schedule is harder, even if not by much. I would say the same record this year is an improvement over last year.

[Rebel10]

Well since Tulane is coming to the AAC next year it should make the AAC that much worse off. Tulane and Rice are better than Temple and Memphis. Therefore it is not a harder schedule and add to the fact that UConn and USF are pritiful this year. And we are talking about this year's schedule.

We played Memphis last year so that is a wash - even though the Tigers should be better this year.

We played the worst USM team in memory (0-12) and now play USF. That should go slightly in slight favor towards USF, but hey, that's a wash too if you want.

We also dropped 3-9 UTEP to pick up 4-8 Temple. 'Bout the same, so, again, I say we break even.

It's all a rough guess, I know, but I believe this years conference schedule is harder, even if not by much. I would say the same record this year is an improvement over last year.

If you factor is a bad UConn team it is a worse schedule than last year no matter how it you spin it. I agree with JasonB in that 6-6 would be disappointing.

[leopold]

Can't disagree enough, and I genuinely believe this isn't close.

I don't care if we lost to Tulane, they were horrible last year. UConn this year is the better team - multiple publications have them ranked higher than Tulane (who just lost to Southern Alabama this past week) and they will be at the end of this year, too. Cincy has been consistently better than any team in our conference over the past five years.

In the end, I can't see any way that dropping Tulane, Rice, and UTEP and picking up Cincinnatti, USF, and UConn isn't a consistently harder schedule, especially this year.

[Rebel10]

Cincinnati just lost their starting QB. Say what you want but since we don't play UL and UConn is having a down year. I don't know if you saw UConn and USF play but it it like watching brass grow. Just because you believe that doesn't make it true. If you have not seen the teams play and are just reading publications you might want to watch them so you will have first hand information. As JasonB has said as well that we have a better team this year so we should do better. Especially in a weak conference like the AAC.

[SMU 86]

I have to agree that the AAC is weak this year. That is why I think we can win the conference.

[leopold]

I did watch Cincy beat up Purdue - that was 'first hand' info. Can't do anything about Cincy losing their QB, but we should all know by now that losing your starting QB isn't the end of the world. Cincy is the most consistent program, has the most experienced, most proven HC coach of all the opponents we've been talking about, and is the only serious contender to unseat Lousville this year (or was, until said QB went down).

I love Tulane, but Tulane last year was a joke - that's why everyone is still mad we lost to them. UConn may turn out to be a joke, but we have a long way to go until then. But the Wave losing to South Alabama should not do anything to bring confidence in them. Not unless whipping Jackson State is worth anything.


But I agree we could have a better team this year. If GG continues to get things done, it could get interesting.

[SMU 86]

Tuberville is a new coach at a new school so they still have an adjustment period to go through and we will see how losing their starting QB will affect them. Only time will tell. I am telling you we could when conference. 6-6 should not even be on the radar. Go SMU.

[dirtysouthpony]

You need fan support both financially and in the seats. You need positive coaches who have a passion for the game...still and will recruit. (especially in the hot bed that is Texas high school football). That means maybe a two week vacation in late June and the rest of the year in at 6am and home around midnite 6 days a week. No tee times or shortcuts. Players need to attend class and work year round and there needs to be competition at every position. If players don't play each play like their lives depend on it then you better be an extreme talent. this isn't baseball or basketball, this is an extremely violent game played with passionate play that comes from the head coach. Going through the motions in a business-like manner will lose most times to teams less talented who are well-coached and physical. See TCU

This sounds like the Saban/Alabama blueprint. They are so hardcore that they run kids off if they don't produce in two years. It's a cutthroat environment, but they are winners.