AAC looks somewhat weak in football so far

[Planter's Punch]

Catamounts refuse to die, TD on 4th down

[blackoutpony]

I don't knew why you're picking a fight with me ECM, but if you're tired of me being negative about June based on pure facts, imagine how tired I am of blind optimism based off of pure BS.

I used to think June was great. I was even glad he didn't end up going to ASU at the time, but in the aftermath, that's when it all changed for me. But whatever man. If you see a bowl game as something to be happy about, good for you.

Side note, you say I'm a "look at me" kind of guy? I'm not the one starting threads titled "ECMs post happy hour strategy bla bla bla..."

Dude, you're never optimistic about anything. A bowl is not enough and then if we say College Football Playoff or BcS its delusion. What is it you want SMU to be?!

Please continue to stay away from the basketball board in that case.

[East Coast Mustang]

Thank you, Jason- people acting like our conference is some ghetto gets old fast. No, we're not the SEC or even the Big 12. But I'm damn glad we're not in CUSA/MWC/etc for various reasons.

I really don't understand where people like BOP and others get off on bragging about how fast and far the sky is falling. It's like ya'll are rooting for everything to go to [deleted] so you can say "I told you so!" I don't think we'll beat Baylor, or A&M, and I highly doubt we'd be favored vs. TCU, but part of being an actual fan of a program is having some degree of unwarranted optimism. That's not to say you should be a galaxy-gazing moron like Big12Mustang, but it's not a crime to be excited about our season starting in approx. 18 hours. I sure as hell am.

And as for the bowl game comments- I think it'd be a hell of an accomplishment for us to win a bowl this season considering our OOC schedule and the fact we're breaking in a new QB with a relatively inexperienced line. Now, if we get our doors blown off by BU, A&M, and TCU, and go 6-6 by eeking by the likes of Memphis, Tulsa, USF, etc that won't be as exciting. But if we're competitive against P5 competition (and maybe pull out an upset of TCU) and take care of business in conference, that would certainly create some fun expectations for 2015- Burcham (or Davis) returning at QB with all 5 OL returning and most WRs returning , and the defense returning 8 or 9 starters. I, for one, hope that happens. We'll see.

Pony Up

[gostangs]

Well stated EC. Be realistic, but also be hopeful. Much as I want new leadership, I would rather this team do as well as they can.

[Big12Mustang]

Thank you, Jason- people acting like our conference is some ghetto gets old fast. No, we're not the SEC or even the Big 12. But I'm damn glad we're not in CUSA/MWC/etc for various reasons.

I really don't understand where people like BOP and others get off on bragging about how fast and far the sky is falling. It's like ya'll are rooting for everything to go to [deleted] so you can say "I told you so!" I don't think we'll beat Baylor, or A&M, and I highly doubt we'd be favored vs. TCU, but part of being an actual fan of a program is having some degree of unwarranted optimism. That's not to say you should be a galaxy-gazing moron like Big12Mustang, but it's not a crime to be excited about our season starting in approx. 18 hours. I sure as hell am.

And as for the bowl game comments- I think it'd be a hell of an accomplishment for us to win a bowl this season considering our OOC schedule and the fact we're breaking in a new QB with a relatively inexperienced line. Now, if we get our doors blown off by BU, A&M, and TCU, and go 6-6 by eeking by the likes of Memphis, Tulsa, USF, etc that won't be as exciting. But if we're competitive against P5 competition (and maybe pull out an upset of TCU) and take care of business in conference, that would certainly create some fun expectations for 2015- Burcham (or Davis) returning at QB with all 5 OL returning and most WRs returning , and the defense returning 8 or 9 starters. I, for one, hope that happens. We'll see.

Pony Up

Even though you did take a swing at me, I respect this post. And I respect you as a poster.
I am excited for tomorrow and hope we pull an upset. PONY UP and BEAT BAYLOR!!!!

[Charleston Pony]

I think most will agree that while there may be a significant talent gap between our roster and most P5 school rosters, the AAC has no really strong football programs so we have a chance to be very competitive in conference play. I agree that 6-6 would be a significant accomplishment for this year's team. We will know more after seeing how well we compete tonight

[blackoutpony]

Careful ECM, you and B12 appear to by syncing up in your thought process......

No I don't want to say I told you so. I'd much rather be wrong and we go 12-0 and win the national championship. DUH. It just won't happen. If you want to try and find a reason to get pumped, go for it man.

It's the typical PF cycle of BS.

Before first game- "If we can have a respectable showing, we should be able to win the conference"

2 hours after kickoff - "I can't believe in Junes (insert year here) we can't even be competitive against our old southwest conference rivals"

Before first conference game - "well now that we have our way too hard schedule out of the way, June can focus on the conference which is all he cares about anyway. Not that strong of a conference. No reason we can't win it".

End of season after meddling through conference and after only beating bottom dwellers - " if (insert ridiculous number) of things had gone our way, we'd be conference champs".

If you want to call me negative, so be it. I'm a damn realist and I'm just tired of watching my school go through the same perpetual cycle of crap. I wasn't alive during the pony express and had no idea what SMU was until I started looking for colleges. I don't care how bad we were post DP, it's just an excuse.

I had to watch the USC game with my sister who's a alumn from there yesterday and it's just sad knowing that they can legit think about national titles and big bowl games it'd be nice to have a legit shot at something like that someday. Making excuses and believing just to believe won't do that.

[Big12Mustang]

Careful ECM, you and B12 appear to by syncing up in your thought process......

No I don't want to say I told you so. I'd much rather be wrong and we go 12-0 and win the national championship. DUH. It just won't happen. If you want to try and find a reason to get pumped, go for it man.

It's the typical PF cycle of BS.

Before first game- "If we can have a respectable showing, we should be able to win the conference"

2 hours after kickoff - "I can't believe in Junes (insert year here) we can't even be competitive against our old southwest conference rivals"

Before first conference game - "well now that we have our way too hard schedule out of the way, June can focus on the conference which is all he cares about anyway. Not that strong of a conference. No reason we can't win it".

End of season after meddling through conference and after only beating bottom dwellers - " if (insert ridiculous number) of things had gone our way, we'd be conference champs".

If you want to call me negative, so be it. I'm a damn realist and I'm just tired of watching my school go through the same perpetual cycle of crap. I wasn't alive during the pony express and had no idea what SMU was until I started looking for colleges. I don't care how bad we were post DP, it's just an excuse.

I had to watch the USC game with my sister who's a alumn from there yesterday and it's just sad knowing that they can legit think about national titles and big bowl games it'd be nice to have a legit shot at something like that someday. Making excuses and believing just to believe won't do that.

BOP- I get that you see the pattern that has been the norm these last few years, but I certainly hope this year becomes the beginning of a new era. If June has indeed changed things up in the offense and Mason has built back our defense, then we may be in for a decent season.


Then again I will ask you: what would you consider to be a "decent" season in 2014?

[Planter's Punch]

For a decent season, the record isn't my biggest concern. Not completely falling apart in the 4th against FBS opponents, by showing depth on defense. Not being bottom of the barrel when it comes to red zone efficiency. Signs of innovation on offense. Not having games where the offense is completely inept and unable to score against inferior opponents. Off the field, sustaining the summer recruiting drive.

A 6-6 record leading to a bowl game with no sign of change, but the renewal of the statusquo of mediocrity is probably the worst season we can have as it will not spark any real call to reform

[Digetydog]

USF is losing to "Western Carolina?" That has to be the worst beat since our basketball team lost to Outh Carolina Upstate.

How many CFB fans know what state that school is in?

There is also a Coastal Carolina

Coastal Carolina is conveniently located near Myrtle Beach.

[Planter's Punch]

Coastal Carolina is conveniently located near Myrtle Beach.

Made famous by their coaches speach on cats & dogs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EChnZTJicw

[Big12Mustang]

For a decent season, the record isn't my biggest concern. Not completely falling apart in the 4th against FBS opponents, by showing depth on defense. Not being bottom of the barrel when it comes to red zone efficiency. Signs of innovation on offense. Not having games where the offense is completely inept and unable to score against inferior opponents. Off the field, sustaining the summer recruiting drive.

A 6-6 record leading to a bowl game with no sign of change, but the renewal of the statusquo of mediocrity is probably the worst season we can have as it will not spark any real call to reform

I agree, I want to see improvements and that famous June Jones offense we were told about but haven't seen yet.

Overall I agree with your post.

[SMU 86]

Houston was absolutely shocking, but they make a pretty good habit of playing awful in the first game and fixing things after that.

2 years ago Houston stared badly and fired their OC after the first regular season game under HC Levine. They went to then the same OC that they have now who is Travis Bush who did not do well that season. They then hired Doug Meacham the next year and did well. Meacham goes to TCU and they go back to Bush and they are getting the same result as they had when Bush was OC before. So they may not recover. Again, no reason SMU should not get 6 wins in conference play this year imo. Also if you look at the past 6 years Houston has a habit of having a good first game and not an awful first game and fixing things after that.


2008 55-3 win over Southern
2009 55-7 win over NW St
2010 68-28 win over Texas St
2011 38-34 win over UCLA
2012 30-13 loss to Texas St and the season did not go well
2013 63-13 win over Southern

[Planter's Punch]

Interesting match-ups for next week:
Navy - Temple, Navy favored by 5
MD - USF, MD favored by 10
GT - Tulane, GT favored by 5
ECU - SC, SC favored by 16

The AAC team is the underdog in every game, but with four games, we could easily see at least one upset.

[Charleston Pony]

we certainly did our part this week in reinforcing the AAC's football reputation