Losing confidence

[PonyKai]

"What is all of this lying around @#$#, was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor, Hell no."


Nacho, this is a marathon not a sprint. SMU has finally hired a HC who knows how to turn around a losing program. Are we going to go 12-0 this year?No. I have no clue what this year will bring, I do believe it will be fun and exciting. Finally, SMU has a bright future in football. Also, in Basketball. I do believe the second half of the season will be better than the first half. We may not beat Rice, but do not be surprised if we do.

The future is looking good

PONY UP!

Flounder...you %$*&#$ up...you trusted us!

My advice is to start drinking heavily.

[Stallion]

UT has some of best big, athletes at LB in the Country in Kennan Robinson and Sergio Kindle. They were both told to get ther weight down. You simply have to be able to run with backs and receivers to be a great LBs these days. Odiari's weight is probably a big reason he was moved from OLB to Middle LB after 24 hours of fall practice. The best combination is size, strength and speed these days and excess weight really isn't the benefit that some seem to think it is.

[Dooby]

Flounder...you %$*&#$ up...you trusted us!

My advice is to start drinking heavily.

You should listen to him. He's pre-med.

[SMU89]

"What is all of this lying around @#$#, was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor, Hell no."


Nacho, this is a marathon not a sprint. SMU has finally hired a HC who knows how to turn around a losing program. Are we going to go 12-0 this year?No. I have no clue what this year will bring, I do believe it will be fun and exciting. Finally, SMU has a bright future in football. Also, in Basketball. I do believe the second half of the season will be better than the first half. We may not beat Rice, but do not be surprised if we do.

The future is looking good

PONY UP!

I'm sorry, wasn't it the Japanese who bombed Pearl Harbor?

Ask Flounder

[San Antonio Mustang]

Every day I talk myself out of going to the Rice game. I can't bear to drive down there, sit through 4-5 hours of misery, spend the night then come home beaten down the next day. I think it's ESPN for me. I can wear red or blue at home.

Come on Nacho. We need you in Houston. We need to show the team and coaches we are behind them and support what they are doing. The players are working hard to learn a new system and they need to know that they are appreciated. If we do not beat Rice it will not be because we do not have the coaching or effort to win. If we want them to continue to make the effort and ultimately win then we need to be there. I hope to see you in Houston and we can celebrate or cry in out beer together.

[Dr Death]

You'll forgive me for not reading through every post in this thread... I saw the first post and felt the need to respond... To the original poster, if you saw Hawaii at all last year you would have seen how smooth they were and how, even when they trailed by large deficits... 21-35 with 8 minutes to play... 0-21 and 7-28 to Washington in the final game... that team never gave up.

They played with confidence and passion... and they rallied to win those game en route to a 12-0 record... but those things don't materialize over night. What June is building here will take time. I sincerely hope there aren't any SMU fans hoping for a BCS Bowl game this year... that won't happen.

But know this... June will have this team on the right track. It may not happen as soon as you want... but it will happen. Patience Pony fans... things will get better...

[PK]

After 20 years of disappointing seasons, you have to understand the fragility of our confidence.

[ponyboy]

I'm sorry, wasn't it the Japanese who bombed Pearl Harbor?

You need to rent the movie Animal House.

[Mustangsabu]

I'm sorry, wasn't it the Japanese who bombed Pearl Harbor?

You need to rent the movie Animal House.

Thanks.

[mr. pony]

We will kick Rice's &ss. Next question.

[Alaric]

Before the season I will make a fuller prognosis but I am somewhat pleased at this point with how the jig-saw puzzle on defense is playing out because I see better athletes playing bigger roles based especially on audio reports of our DC on PonyStampede.* Newer guys like

Dizer
Herron
Odiari
Smart
Taylor Thompson
Derrius Bell
Rock Dennis
Sowe
McElroy
Bennie Thomas
Chris Banjo


Other new guys who I'm not sure I've heard mentioned but I think have the physical ability to help include guys like

Zac Thomas who has bulked up over 6-4, 290 and is one of the strongest players on the team. Also Jourdan Johnson at 6-3, 250 I think if given an opportunity could help us. Maybe Victor Jones.

These are 14 new guys(not really focusing on the returning players) who may help against the pass or may help against the run or both, but they are better physically at some aspect of defense than those inexperienced group we were throwing out there at the end of last year. For example, I have my doubts about Smart as a middle LB in passing situations-also have some doubts about Felps and Bonilla even. But I'm expecting to see guys like Herron and Odiari in passing situations that will make us better against the pass. I'm also expecting SMU to use a 5 DB package in which some LB will replaced in passing situations. In some running situations we may be about to use both Odiari and Smart to give us a much more physical presence inside. We have more interchangeable, versitle parts we can plug into a particular defensive situation. However, Odiari is going to win some starting spot on this team by mid-season if not earlier but I sure would like to see him in the 235 range rather than pushing 250.

The other side of the coin which is probably going to be real tough to deal with is that so many of these kids have never started or played at their position in D1A or have relatively little experience. Should be tough in the early weeks to combine all the ingredients necessary to bake a cake. This juggling act is very unusual-it really is-the turnover from 2006 and 2007 is pretty unprecedented, but I'm thinking we will be better significantly on defense at least by mid-season. But then again I was never a big fan of what was going on on Defense from Game 1 in 2007.

* This analysis is based on the SMU sliding scale of competing in CUSA West which I consider to be among the weakest in the Country. It is not reflective of a team that hypothetically was competing for consideration of a Top 25 nationally competitive program.

cheerleader. you changed your prognosis from saying we're going to suck in CUSA because all we've got is a bunch of 2 star kids to saying you're somewhat pleased based on audio reports from the new DC? i really think you're starting to think coaching will make a difference and you're making these posts so people won't say you didn't think Jones would make a difference.

[Nacho]

You won't snare me in this trap. I've suffered for 20 years. Houston is way too humid. I hope the guys wear white. That said like JJ I will make up my mind once and for all on Saturday. I have to decide what's in it for me. Houston is hotter than Hades in August and I have delicate features and a tendency to sweat profusely. You will know my answer on Monday.

[FWMustangGirl]

You won't snare me in this trap. I've suffered for 20 years. Houston is way too humid. I hope the guys wear white. That said like JJ I will make up my mind once and for all on Saturday. I have to decide what's in it for me. Houston is hotter than Hades in August and I have delicate features and a tendency to sweat profusely. You will know my answer on Monday.

Wah. I played field hockey down there in early September one year when the air was so thick that you couldn't see the other goal. We are taking our kids out of school for the day and driving down. Be a hard-core Mustang fan and make the trip. I can think of many worse ways to spend a Friday night, win or lose.

[ozfan]

The Rice game could go either way as I have read some of the blurgs out of Houston and Rice seems to have only one good receiver (yeah I know very good) and need a lot of help in the defensive backfield not very deep
at db and two untried safties. If JJ has his system working only 60 to 70 % could come home a winner.

[kent dorfman]

I'm sorry, wasn't it the Japanese who bombed Pearl Harbor?

You need to rent the movie Animal House.

Thanks.

Take it from me, it's a good one.