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Personally, I think we'll score more than 17 & Tech doesn't put up 40+...

I agree with you, SWC. We might not win, but it will be closer than that.

Listen to me folks. I am as optimistic as anyone on this board, but if you tell me we are going to put up 17 points (after an average of 11 last year) and "hold" Tech to 48 with their scoring machine, I am tickled pink. Do I want better...sure, but 48-17 depending on how it get to that is not something that would be the worst that could happen. Now if it is 48-0 after 1 quarter and the game is already over that's different. But if Tech were to score 6 or 7 times out of 12 to 15 tries and if we score 3 times out of 12 to 15 tries and 2 of them touchdowns, that is progress.

And no I do not count moral victories. I am just realistically looking for improvement in the 1st 3 games over last year. A victory in September is a reasonable beginning goal for this team and this game is not the one to count on. After September I expect things to pick up tremendously unless there are excessive injuries or morale has dropped which I do not believe it will.

All that said I was there when Lance and Eric and Craig et al beat then #2 Texas when there was no chance, so my hope springs eternal.

One thing that won't be there with an 0-3 start will be fans in the stands. Using the Copeland philosophy of renting fans for one game will hopefully allow us to hit the 15K avg this year. Hopefully, there will 30K at the game on Saturday.

I think we will be fine on fans this year with a little luck and some kind of promotions. During my days we had a decent SWC team and still could not draw very well. It is a tough venue. I honestly feel that Bennett has us on a right track to be in a competitive position when CUSA starts and our attendance should take care of itself with a closer conference. 15k is not that much if you have a decent product and a visiting fan base, both of which have been lacking for several years.

Without TCU, it is hard to say if CUSA will really bring many fans from visiting schools outside of UTEP. Certainly there are always a few Rice fans at games in Dallas, but it is not like any of the visiting CUSA teams will ever bring 5-10K to a game in Dallas.

Four words to remember: "On any given Saturday...". 'Nuff said.

CollegeFootballNews.com ranked SMU's non-conference slate as the fifth toughest in the nation in 2004.

Cripes. That's from the Mustang Insider.

So they pick us to lose 48-17. Let's look at why we could expect better.

Simply last season at Tech the score was 58-10 and the year before at SMU it was 24-14. So if this years team is the average of those two and likewise Tech should we expect 42-12? Ah but it is at SMU, should we expect 24-14? Or maybe something in between 33-13?

Looking at last season Tech's scoring averaged 42.46 while SMU had 11.17. Are they going to be better, the same or worse than last season. It seems that if there is a drop off it will not be much. How about SMU? Seems like it must be better but how much? Munlin vs. KK? Bartell/Wallis vs. Phillips or others? OL? Offensive scheme (this almost must be better) WRs must be better given more depth and experience.

Last year our defense (whole team) gave up 32.2 points per game vs. Tech giving up 34 per game. I believe our D will be better and I think Bennett does too. Much more experience. The secondary are all Juniors.

Our TO margin last year was -1.08 vs. Tech's -.62. We need to keep that even this year or better.

So what do I think given all that? Kinda looks like mid/upper 30's to around 20 to me, so say 38-20.

But who knows.

Even with TCU out of CUSA, we still have them on the schedule for most years. So, we still get that crowd pretty much every other year. But yes, we do need to rent fans until we start winning. I think Baylor is a Big XII opponant that is beatable, as are the FAggies. Also any old SWC opponant is good for us to schedule. SMU fans will come out to see us play schools we have traditionally played over the years (except for Rice).

Tech is a much different team on the road. Granted, they will have lots of fans, but it aint Jones Stadium. And they have a new qb playing in a season opener. That makes them vulnerable. I dont know how vulnerable or what the chances are, but I play to win on Saturday all the way. Heck, didnt the Tech defense give up 60 pts a few times last year? SMU should concede nothing on Saturday. And nothing the following Saturday at TCU. Now, the Stillwater game might cause me to protect the egos a little bit based on last year.

My point is not to conscede anything but rather to know what an accomplishment it would be to beat Tech. The offense would need to be hitting on most if not all cylinders. We must not turn the ball over. Tech needs to have a rough start (possible but remember the QB is a senior.)

Let's hope for that win and appreciate it if it comes, but it is a big step to take from last season. That is all.