Key to winning at Tulane

[KnuckleStang]

how's that worked out for all you eternal optimists over the last 17 years. I'm not saying SMU will lose but calling Tulane "crappy" and we should beat them like a "red headed stepchild" and considering the Tulane program inferior to SMU's program is ignorant. This is a jump-ball.

Well, at least it's a "jump ball" now and you're not expecting us to lose anymore. Oh, and you left out "bucktoothed."

[Big10Ponyfan]

I'm not saying SMU will lose but calling Tulane "crappy" and we should beat them like a "red headed stepchild" and considering the Tulane program inferior to SMU's program is ignorant.

I'd rather be an eternal optimist than an eternal pessimist.

Our credibility is a moot point. It's not like we're going to hang our heads in shame if we lose. But how many of us can truly say -- the UNT game notwithstanding -- that we have more reason to feel good about this team than others. If we were 1-3 and limping into New Orleans, this argument would not be taking place.

As it stands, the fans feel good about what's happened in the last two weeks and hope it can continue. We want a bowl team in December. Don't be afraid to say it. Expect something but work hard at it.

Yes, this program has kicked us in the teeth since DP, but you know what, all of us keep coming back because deep down, we want it to succeed. The pessimists are fearful of making it public. It's hard to be a fan but we are.

We should embrace this opportunity against Tulane and not run from it. We should hope for the best. We should be inspired.

Maybe, just maybe, Tulane should be concerned about us as some of our fans appear to be concerned about them.

We will not be conquered by Fear. We will conquer the Fear.

As I wrote on another thread,

SMU WILL WIN AT TULANE!!!

Why? Because we can.

[BRStang]

I'm not saying SMU will lose but calling Tulane "crappy" and we should beat them like a "red headed stepchild" and considering the Tulane program inferior to SMU's program is ignorant.

I'd rather be an eternal optimist than an eternal pessimist.

Our credibility is a moot point. It's not like we're going to hang our heads in shame if we lose. But how many of us can truly say -- the UNT game notwithstanding -- that we have more reason to feel good about this team than others. If we were 1-3 and limping into New Orleans, this argument would not be taking place.

As it stands, the fans feel good about what's happened in the last two weeks and hope it can continue. We want a bowl team in December. Don't be afraid to say it. Expect something but work hard at it.

Yes, this program has kicked us in the teeth since DP, but you know what, all of us keep coming back because deep down, we want it to succeed. The pessimists are fearful of making it public. It's hard to be a fan but we are.

We should embrace this opportunity against Tulane and not run from it. We should hope for the best. We should be inspired.

Maybe, just maybe, Tulane should be concerned about us as some of our fans appear to be concerned about them.

We will not be conquered by Fear. We will conquer the Fear.

As I wrote on another thread,

SMU WILL WIN AT TULANE!!!

Why? Because we can.

[Stallion]

Rah! Rah! Rah!

[Peruna2001]

I think that a lot of great points have been made. First of all, Tulane is going to be a tough game. There's a lot of emotion going into the game from both sides. Last year, it was a different team. Comparing this game to the last meeting is ignorant. Both teams are completely different from the last meeting. SMU ended the season with several wins, whereas Tulane ended the season with a long losing streak (including some losses to teams that we beat). Yes, we got physically outmatched, but some of that was because we came out flat. The previous game against A&M took a lot of wind out of us. As PB mentioned, several of our players had family in town from Houston because of Rita. Mentally and physically we were not in the game. It was a different team from what we saw against tcu a couple of weeks before and a different team from what we saw later in the season.

This Saturday is going to be a rough game. I personally think that this year, SMU has the edge physically. I think we want this game. Our players have some confidence back from two huge wins (even if they were against teams that were inferior). The deciding factors will be mentality and coaching. GO PONIES!

[ponyte]

For what it is worth, the Arky fans that noticed the SMU - ASU game think we will take Tulane. Many witness the OSU - ASU game were ASU hung in with OSU for a half. Most are shocked that SMU put up 55 points against ASU and most believe that SMU has a good team this year.

These opinions are not from great students of either SMU or TU and that is why I mention that this is for what it is worth.

[Stallion]

OK mark my words SMU's offensive line is not physically superior to Tulane's defensive front.

[ThadFilms]

My number 1 key to winning at Tulane is to score more points. You win more than you lose when you do that.... or so I'm told.

[smupony94]

Easy, don't play like [deleted].

[mrydel]

OK mark my words SMU's offensive line is not physically superior to Tulane's defensive front.

If true, a good coaching staff runs misdirection, moving pocket and roll outs to compensate. A bad coaching staff allows numerous tackles for losses and sacks. That is what we will learn with the beginning of conference play.

[Col. Nathan R. Jessep]

OK mark my words SMU's offensive line is not physically superior to Tulane's defensive front.

If true, a good coaching staff runs misdirection, moving pocket and roll outs to compensate. A bad coaching staff allows numerous tackles for losses and sacks. That is what we will learn with the beginning of conference play.

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You should not argue with the "Great One", mrydel.

After all, Stalion would tell you that RIVALS had the Tulane D-Line listed as all 4-stars when they were recruited. Not only that, but their d-line also had 3 asterick marks after their names in the same RIVALS HS database. PLUS... 2 of Tulane's D-Line had 2 exclamation points after their asterick marks.

To top it all, Tulane's star D-Line recruit had RIVALS 4-stars, 3 astericks, 2 exclamation points, and a partridge in a pear tree rating! We have no chance to even get a 1st down...

[SmooBoy]

OK mark my words SMU's offensive line is not physically superior to Tulane's defensive front.

Please, someone, mark his words. That was a direct order!!!

[PK]

OK mark my words SMU's offensive line is not physically superior to Tulane's defensive front.

Please, someone, mark his words. That was a direct order!!!

Done.

[mustangfan01]

Tulane is ranked in the middle to bottom (majority) of the conference in pretty much all stats except Punting and Punt Return.

We are the #1 rushing offense in the conference right now playing with our backups.

We also have one of the best offensive line coaches in the conference in Vinclarek. Their D-Line is stout, but our O-Line will be up to the task. Just wait.

[mrydel]

OK mark my words SMU's offensive line is not physically superior to Tulane's defensive front.

If true, a good coaching staff runs misdirection, moving pocket and roll outs to compensate. A bad coaching staff allows numerous tackles for losses and sacks. That is what we will learn with the beginning of conference play.

----------------------------
You should not argue with the "Great One", mrydel.

After all, Stalion would tell you that RIVALS had the Tulane D-Line listed as all 4-stars when they were recruited. Not only that, but their d-line also had 3 asterick marks after their names in the same RIVALS HS database. PLUS... 2 of Tulane's D-Line had 2 exclamation points after their asterick marks.

To top it all, Tulane's star D-Line recruit had RIVALS 4-stars, 3 astericks, 2 exclamation points, and a partridge in a pear tree rating! We have no chance to even get a 1st down...

I honestly am not arguing here. I do not know how our DL will stack up against their OL. All I am saying is that if you are deficient in an area, you coach around the deficiency and play to your strengths. If "on paper" was always the outcome the games would be useless. This is the type of situation where coaching will actually matter. Getting the team focused, exploiting the weaknesses of Tulane, and maximizing your talent will all have to be done this week to win. In the past 2 weeks we were dominant up front and we were successful because the other teams could not compensate for their weaknesses. If we are out manned on either line in this game, we need to coach our way around the weaknesses.