Game Thread: SMU v. Rice 11-25-06

[Arkpony]

Rice's coach does it in his first year. Whon says coaching doesnt matter?

[PonyTime]

See you all on the BLVD next year . . .

Or perhaps in NO. Though not deserved - I will be at any Bowl game regardless. We owe it to the players who put forth a considerable effort this year.

[Hoop Fan]

its a bitter bitter loss. it was all or nothing and we spit the bit in the second half. We simply found a way to lose, which is all too familiar and really sours the season. there will be no consolation bowl and we dont deserve it. Even if we somehow snuck in, the excitement and support will be half of what it would have been. no, that was a must win.

[expony18]

Rice's coach does it in his first year. Whon says coaching doesnt matter?

who's Whon?

[docabel]

Know what happens when you don't convert 1st and goal at the one twice? You have to convert 4th and 10 to win.

Know what happens when you don't beat your ugly stepsister UNT?

You stay home from the prom with her....

[JasonB]

1) Willis choked. But, you know what? So did Colt. Frosh QBs choke in big games. Period. The kid had a great season and will be great for SMU, but he was rough. Looked at the line instead of making quick reads. Long balls were overthrown. Coaches could have helped him out a bit by calling some WR screens, which they never did.

But a huge deal is Sanders not playing. Willis is a lot different with him int he game, because they improvise well with each other.

2) So, one coaching mistake is the lack of the WR screen. But all year, we haven't been able to get one yard. whether it is 3rd and 1, 4thand 1 or first and goal from the 1. We really struggle with the playcalling, and that is on the coaches. Third thing on the coaches is that they made the catch on that fade several times, lets get a saftey over there to help out.

3) Great effort by the D, they got beat by a great receiver. Bonds going out was absolutely huge.

I will go if we get an invite, but we just don't deserve a bowl this year. Losing to NT and Rice without their best QB are killers. Great travelling support for SMU today, hopefully that will help us with future Bowl chances.

Heartbreaking loss and another heartbreaking season for SMU. Tought for PB, because I don't know that Orsini will keep him around because this was the team and the schedule to get to a bowl with. Next year's schedule is much more difficult and we have to reload at d-line and secondary. That said, PB should only be let go if we can go out and get somebody really, really good.

[Ponymon]

Willis showed his freshman credentials. The game is on the line and he runs it himself three times. He has got to learn to give his receivers a chance. Finally when he threw it on fourth down he throws it for the endzone instead of a shorter pass for the first down. He had a great year for a freshman and I can only hope that he learned something from the game today. I guess we will find out now whether Bennett was right and we are still going to get a bowl invite. Given our 6-6 record, its my feeling that we still don't deserve it!

Not sure you can really put this on WIllis. The protection broke down the entire drive, and Willis had no time to find his receivers. Well guess there's only one thing left to say: "Go NC State!!" Kinda feels like we'd be backing into a bowl bid though

The offense as a whole lost this game for us. The offensive line was pathetic most of the game, especially with 1st and goal TWICE from the one yard line. (Why didn't Martin or Dorsey get some straight ahead run plays. Does this show the lack of faith that the coaches have in the offensive line's ability to get a push when it counts?) However, Willis did have some time to throw on the last drive, but he looked like a deer in the headlights. His happy feet was expected by Rice as they had their middle linebacker keying on him all day. He rarely was able to break one. The playcalling was unimaginative. (Did we run one gadget play or end around (misdirection) play all year. Even Oklahoma, Nebraska (Bumaruski), and Texas run these plays a few times a game.!) All in all a bad game for SMU. Will be interesting to see if we get that bowl bid that Bennett said he had in his pocket. As I said earlier, I don't think we deserve it this year. Two words: NEXT YEAR!

[FloridaMustang]

Momentum was everything. I will NOT go to a bowl game if they somehow sneak into one. Screw em.. they don't deserve my support.

[Peruna94&07]

Momentum was everything. I will NOT go to a bowl game if they somehow sneak into one. Screw em.. they don't deserve my support.

Dude, You don't deserve a team that truly played their heart out. These guys tried their best, didn't get it done but never quit.

They should expect the same from their fans. We should never give up on them.

Period!!!!!!

[FloridaMustang]

Momentum was everything. I will NOT go to a bowl game if they somehow sneak into one. Screw em.. they don't deserve my support.

Dude, You don't deserve a team that truly played their heart out. These guys tried their best, didn't get it done but never quit.

They should expect the same from their fans. We should never give up on them.

Period!!!!!!

Whatever man. Bring in a new coaching staff and I'll get behind the program again. Keep Bennett and I just can't put myself through another season.

[thefamousguy]

We haven't given up on the players. They did their best and wanted to win as badly as we. We are tired of having coaching staffs that don't give our hard working players the best chance to win!

[Peruna94&07]

Momentum was everything. I will NOT go to a bowl game if they somehow sneak into one. Screw em.. they don't deserve my support.

Dude, You don't deserve a team that truly played their heart out. These guys tried their best, didn't get it done but never quit.

They should expect the same from their fans. We should never give up on them.

Period!!!!!!

Whatever man. Bring in a new coaching staff and I'll get behind the program again. Keep Bennett and I just can't put myself through another season.

I think we need a change, but the guys on the field DESERVE our support. If we aren't in the stands, or on the boards, it makes it very hard for them to get up in the morning, as well as the 2 days, etc....

Let's hope for good things, we have some great players we just need to put the puzzle pieces together in the right way. Not unlike what Rice did this year.

[FloridaMustang]

Momentum was everything. I will NOT go to a bowl game if they somehow sneak into one. Screw em.. they don't deserve my support.

Dude, You don't deserve a team that truly played their heart out. These guys tried their best, didn't get it done but never quit.

They should expect the same from their fans. We should never give up on them.

Period!!!!!!

Whatever man. Bring in a new coaching staff and I'll get behind the program again. Keep Bennett and I just can't put myself through another season.

I think we need a change, but the guys on the field DESERVE our support. If we aren't in the stands, or on the boards, it makes it very hard for them to get up in the morning, as well as the 2 days, etc....

Let's hope for good things, we have some great players we just need to put the puzzle pieces together in the right way. Not unlike what Rice did this year.

Sounding way too similar to the "we need to pull out of iraq and bush is a moron but we need to support the troops" argument. I don't buy it.

[PonyPride]

Bad football weekend all around in this house. If ND beats SC, I may have to jump off a bridge.

Couldn't agree with you more.

Maryland had better drill Wake Forest.

[Peruna94&07]

Momentum was everything. I will NOT go to a bowl game if they somehow sneak into one. Screw em.. they don't deserve my support.

Dude, You don't deserve a team that truly played their heart out. These guys tried their best, didn't get it done but never quit.

They should expect the same from their fans. We should never give up on them.

Period!!!!!!

Whatever man. Bring in a new coaching staff and I'll get behind the program again. Keep Bennett and I just can't put myself through another season.

I think we need a change, but the guys on the field DESERVE our support. If we aren't in the stands, or on the boards, it makes it very hard for them to get up in the morning, as well as the 2 days, etc....

Let's hope for good things, we have some great players we just need to put the puzzle pieces together in the right way. Not unlike what Rice did this year.

Sounding way too similar to the "we need to pull out of iraq and bush is a moron but we need to support the troops" argument. I don't buy it.

Wouldn't go quite that far, think about it. PB is the one that got JW, DM, and many of the seniors we have leaving. He can't be that much of a moron.

I have heard it mentioned before on the board that the OC is the one doing the play calling, PB is a defensive guy, maybe that is is the biggest issue is either he needs to stick to D which did great today or we need a new OC that can really work with JW and DM.