Comments about the '04 Mustangs

[BRStang]

This is a much improved team. For the first time since Bennett has become the coach, I feel like he may be the guy to get us back to competitiveness.

Our win against SJSU has given us some confidence. These guys are playing with spirit even until the bitter end. Mark it down, we will win at least 2 more games this season. They WANT to win.

Take away the fluke punt return by BSU, and it is a CLOSE game (11 points) against a nationally-ranked opponent. Take away the TCU and OSU games, and we have a competitive Div. 1-A team.

Eckert is a good quarterback; Romo...ok...The fact that Eckert was able to play as well as he did against BSU's D, you gotta hand it to him...

We will win a couple more this year, but NEXT YEAR....look out C-USA!!

We hit rock bottom last year, but I can definitely see a light at the end of the tunnel burning brighter than it did against TT, and even SJSU...I NEVER thought I'd say it, but I think Bennett is helping this team turn the corner...I say everyone should now give him a little more slack...

Mustangs, continue to press on!! You should come out of this game with even more confidence...you played WELL against a nationally-ranked opponent! Keep fighting! And THANK YOU, from a loyal fan and alum!!

[RGV Pony]

And of incidental note, BRStang, my stepdaughter in Baton Rouge pointed out that it's possible come Monday that the Broncos will be ranked about the same as LSU...or higher.

[Mustangs35SMU]

Amen to that BRStang

BTW Nevada is down 13-6 to UNLV at the halftime..just thought I update everyone on that cause we better win that game againist them

[BRStang]

I wouldn't doubt it. Everyone's in a pretty somber mood around here.

But, the Mustangs lifted my spirits tonight.

[Arkpony]

I'm encouraged for the first time! Go POnies!

[Stallion]

Reality Check. Eckert/Romo just QBed the least productive half of offense in the history of SMU football with 1 first down..

[Diehard Pony]

My sentiments are pretty well aligned with BRStang's view of the team and Bennett. I was sickened by what I saw in Ft. Worth, and came out of that thinking we had regressed (if that was possible).

The last two weeks have been very different, and I saw a lot of fire in this team tonight. Foster ran great routes all night and caught the balls thrown to him. He appears to be our best option at that position right now.

As to QB, I think it is clear that Eckert is the better option. Romo simply does not throw the ball as well, and looks to run far too often. With that said, he is not a total loss by any stretch. He has some talent and will do better against lesser competition, I just believe Eckert gives us a more consistent chance to win when we are facing competition in or around our level.

I would like to have seen a better performance out of Munlin tonight, but it didn't appear we were opening many holes.

The defense hit with consistent authority and spirit all night.

Overall, I was pretty darn pleased with the performance, except Ch 52 who forced me to go the ESPN PPV route.

[Mustangs35SMU]

We had more than just 1 first down. We got 2 straight first downs to start the 2nd half!

Edit: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=242760068
We had 13 first downs thank you very much
And we had 299 total yards

[BRStang]

Uh, Stallion...try 13 first downs...I actually watched the game on ESPN...did you?

Not blazing a trail, but at least we are starting to resemble a competitive Div. 1-A offense.

Last year, it was "Run up the middle by KK"...now, we are spreading things out a bit, and are much more fun to watch...

[Mustangs35SMU]

blazing a trail

Omg not the theme from last season! NOOO

[JasonB]

Stallion was talking about the first half - he is correct, one first down.

I also liked eckert, but made some bad decisions out there, and who had the monster drive at the end of the game?

[Charleston Pony]

that game last night was over mid-way through the 2nd quarter. It was obvious BSU had way too much team speed for SMU to have any chance of upsetting them. Our offense was totally inept in that 1st half. Give the coaches and players credit for making some adjustments and not quitting on this one. We were better in the 2nd half, but we weren't doing it against BSU's best effort.

When all is said and done, I'm encouraged. We didn't get blown out (I had feared a 50-7 score) and I see some encouraging signs. We all have to remember how may RS Frosh and Sophs SMU has out there on the field and that most of those guys will be back for at least another couple of years. The 2nd half of the season will be much more competitive as we get to ;ine up against Nevada, Tulsa, UTP and after last night, I'm much more hopeful we can possibly end our losing streak against Rice in Houston.

[PonySnob]

Not blazing a trail, but at least we are starting to resemble a competitive Div. 1-A offense.

Teams with a "competitive Div 1-A offense" gain more than 35 yards and one first down in 2 quarters of football. In the first half, our offense looked worse than it did against TCU.

The drive to start the second half was very impressive but clearly way too many yards for SMU came after they had let Boise St put the game away.

[ponyte]

Special teams were pathetic last night. And it hurt us. We lost the field position game because of poor special team effort. A blocked extra point. A punt return for a TD. Long kickoff returns. All add up. Our first half offense was the worse we have ever had. We simply got nothing form the O in the first half. That said, the D did a wonderful job despite the special team and O's lack of productivity. And a good D will serve us well in up coming games. All in all, we had an encouraging effort against a quality opponent. We didn’t give up, the O put some good drives together and the special team improved. And for once this year we had the advantage in turnovers. We need to improve the specialty teams and get the O to be a little more consistent. Bring on Rice!

[The PonyGrad]

It may have been a game plan thing (we were facing the #3 rush defense in the country) or needed adjustments for our inexperienced line when facing a stand-up (literally) defensive line that was constantly moving around like LBs before the snap. There were too many 2nd and long and 3rd and long situations and BSU just teed off on us.

The problems seemed to get solved and we put together a long drive to start the second half and won the second half. That says something even if they did put in backups along the way.