Why I am optimistic about next season

[friarwolf]

8-5 sounds about right to me next year...............

[Corp]

As usual, Stallion's observations are accurate

and to the point. No illusions, no hyperbole.

[The PonyGrad]

I think we will be better but I am not sure that will translate into a better record, or even one as good as 8-5.

I think we will see the RnS that we expected when June got here.

The secondary early in the year may be a concern. Is Derrius going to be back? Otherwise, I think we will be OK.

[ParkyPony]

It seems that JJ and his staff have upgraded the recrcruiting at SMU. The defense seemed much improved in 2009 and the overall team seemed to be extremely well prepared for the bowl game. I don't believe I have seen any SMU team play as well as they did in the bowl since 1986.

Having said all that, here is what really worries me! Shawnbrey McNeal came out of nowhere and was a major cog in the offense. Margus Hunt came out of nowhere and played somewhat of a major role by blocking seven place kicks as well as getting a few big plays on defense. BLM got an injury and Padron came out of nowhere to look like a first class QB who may have the potential to play on Sundays.

Arguably, if you subtract any one of those three happenings from the recipe and SMU may have lost a few more games and not have been bowl eligible. Is the improvement seen in the football fortunes at SMU more apparent than real?

I think we come out ahead in 2010. JJ said it today at his last luncheon (which was most excellent BTW) that he will probably play around 15 of the incoming frosh next season because they are much more athletic and better than what we have now or, or losing. The key thing to remember is "what we have now." Yes it is going to be hard to replace a Kennemer in the middle and a Sander's in the offense, but WOW...look at what we have coming in that will be able to contribute right away.

I don't know about everyone else, but "I FEEL GOOD" about 2010!

[ponyboy]

I'll remind everyone to remember Hawaii's record the second season under JJ: 3-9 and 6th in conference. They really took off after that. I think a winning record next year is a reasonable expectation.

[rich59]

I hope JJ's optimism about the new players is warranted. All in all, I believe that 09 was somewhat of an abberation. SMU was more likely a 5-7 or 6-6 team but all the planets were aligned, (for a change) To be realistic, I think another 8-5 would be outstanding and something a little worse than that would represent progress.

[Pony_Fan]

Is this basically right?

Non-conf
@Tech
TCWho
WSU
@Navy

Home:
Houston
Tulsa
UAB
Marshall

Away:
@ECU
@Tulane
@Rice
@UTEP

[Football4ever]

15 playing sounds a little high to me. l would hope that no more than 3 or 4 of the youngsters are starting next year. The speed and competition level is so much higher than what they are used to. Even with someone who looked dominating in highschool films like Fields will take time to get used to the difference there is with playing against college teams. He wont be seeing midgets like I saw in those games in the highlight tape.

Just being honest. Although, i would love nothing more than to have some Freshman come in and have a huge impact on this season

[SmooBoy]

And if we assume an 8-5 record, does he push to go back to the Hawaii Bowl? I want to attend a bowl game in the contiguous 48, with us in it.

[RGV Pony]

And if we assume an 8-5 record, does he push to go back to the Hawaii Bowl? I want to attend a bowl game in the contiguous 48, with us in it.

I think I'm kind of spoiled w/ Christmas in Hawaii. I may do both.

[Terry Webster]

Only if Jesus can be born on a different day so I can get to Hawaii.

[PonyLove]

I think I'm kind of spoiled w/ Christmas in Hawaii.

No kidding. Please don't make me go to the Nowhere Bowl and sit in freezing, crappy weather.

[CalallenStang]

And if we assume an 8-5 record, does he push to go back to the Hawaii Bowl? I want to attend a bowl game in the contiguous 48, with us in it.

I think I'm kind of spoiled w/ Christmas in Hawaii. I may do both.

Agreed. If we are not conference champions, I hope that we go back to Hawaii. Tremendous experience.

[SmooBoy]

Course, I guess it would be a cool atmosphere if we played Hawaii, instead of Nevada and 55K empty seats.

[CalallenStang]

Course, I guess it would be a cool atmosphere if we played Hawaii, instead of Nevada and 55K empty seats.

Were you even there? There are 50k seats at Aloha Stadium. Tickets sold were somewhere around 34k. Turnstile attendance was just over 20k. 30k empty seats.

55k empty seats...you've got a flair for the dramatic. Oh, and even with 30k empty seats, it was a decent atmosphere. It was amazing how loud the few fans that were there seemed - the acoustic design of that stadium makes it sound louder than it does at Ford.