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according to an article in the Lubbock Avalanche Journal SMU will complete the old contract with TT with a game in Lubbock in 2006 and then has signed a new contract with TT as follows:
2007(Lubbock)
2008(Dallas)
2009(Lubbock)
2010(Dallas)

What sort of Avalanches occur in Lubbock?

the 2007 game replaces Wake Forest on the same date so I would think that 2 game series has been cancelled.

That is good news. I don't think there is a team I dislike more.

Damn. Wish we were playing them here before 2008! I'm ready for round 2 of Bennett v. Leach!

If accurate, this is VERY GOOD news for several reasons...filled/mostly filled Ford Stadium (especially if SMU has a highly competitive team), old SWC foe, solid media interest and coverage, reduced travel expenses for OOC away game(s) (vs. WF), new contract is a 2 for 2 deal (according to above post) instead of a 1 for 2 (Texas A&M) - of course Tech wants games in DFW for recruiting and TT alumni relations purposes...

Dates for five future SMU vs. Texas Tech football games are shown on nationalchamps.net.

http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/futu ... future.htm

I personally don't like this news. I understand the need to fill the seats twice a year, but i think it does lasting damage to our undersized/undertalented team to lose these non-conf. games and go into conference play with little confidence.

I would much rather we schedule a regional school that has a decent alumni base in Dallas (Sam Houston, SFA or whatever it's called now, UNT - glad that happened) which would also draw local fans to the games, or a school like a Grambling/Prarie View/Southern that would fill the seats with a number of fans from South Dallas (probably not a popular idea w/ the HP alums)

I am also aware that not playing Tech, means not getting a nice check from them as well, but I think winning would fix the problem and attendance would increase as a result.

please - scheduling just about any former SWC team has done lasting damage to our record every year. This is a program dominated by the Rice Owls for god sakes. Do we have a 25% winning record against any former SWC school?-probably Arkansas. We play a Cheesecake schedule that you don't really notice because we lose so often. Might as well drop down if we are too frightened play a Top 30 team every now and then. Worry a lot less about scheduling challenging teams and a hell of a lot more about what is necessary to beat quality teams. NOBODY wants to see SMU play SFA or Sam Houston or Grambling-what's more they just might beat us-you laugh but they've probably sent more players to the Pros than SMU lately because these schools get some quality Division 1A transfers. Baylor almost lost to Sam Houston lately.

We need to play the big boys now and then (1) so that you can tell recruits that they will get to line up against the Raiders, Aggies, etc. (2) so that you can accurately gauge the improvement of the program, or lack there of; (3) to get a big check; (4) to allow us a few quality games so that if we do get better, we can have a quality win on our schedule. Utah's victory over the Aggies last year was probably a big factor in their making the Fiesta Bowl. I'm not saying that we're ready to reach that level, but in 5 or six years, who knows?

Posted by Stallion:

“We play a Cheesecake schedule that you don't really notice because we lose so often. Might as well drop down if we are too frightened play a Top 30 team every now and then...NOBODY wants to see SMU play SFA or Sam Houston or Grambling…”

A Cheesesteak schedule would look a lot like this when (2006?) all D-1A teams play 12 games (excluding conference championship and bowl games) each season:

North Texas (Ford Stadium)
Navy (Annapolis, MD)
Tulane (New Orleans, LA)
Kansas State (Ford Stadium)
Rice (Houston, TX)
Texas Tech (Ford Stadium)
Texas (Ford Stadium)
Baylor (Waco, TX)
Houston (Ford Stadium)
Texas A&M (College Station, TX)
Arkansas (Little Rock, AR)
TCU (Ford Stadium)

I agree with EastStang. Not having the SWC has hurt our recruiting, so playing a SWC like schedule should help us. Why would a state top 100 recruit come to SMU to play SFA, SHSU, and a couple schools from district 12-5A?

Stallion wrote:NOBODY wants to see SMU play SFA or Sam Houston or Grambling-what's more they just might beat us-you laugh but they've probably sent more players to the Pros than SMU lately because these schools get some quality Division 1A transfers. Baylor almost lost to Sam Houston lately.

STOP THE PRESSES!!!! Stallion has FINALLY admitted it! Former SMU QB Josh McCown is one of those 'quality Div. 1-A transfers' who went to Sam Houston after getting stiffed at SMU. And he's in the pros...Arizona Cardinals.

But don't kid yourself, Stallion. The Bearkats got smoked by Baylor in 2003. As much as I would love to see my alma mater, Sam Houston, play SMU...it would not be wise for either school. Sam Houston would get STOMPED by SMU and the game would be played here in Dallas...it wouldn't fill the stands...there aren't that many SHSU alumni in the D-FW area to make it worthwhile. And frankly, I don't want to see SMU playing a Div. 1-AA school. There are plenty of Div. 1-A schools that we can play...and DEFEAT!

I'm dreading Sept. 17, 2005...Sam Houston plays Texas Tech in Lubbock. But I'll be in College Station that day...watching the Mustangs DEFEAT the Aggies!

Just to add a little more fuel to Stallion's post about Div. 1-A transfers going to Div. 1-AA schools...

The Sports Network rates the top I-A transfers, junior college transfers and high school seniors to sign with I-AA programs, and a list of the top classes in I-AA. Each of the junior college and high school athletes listed were rated by multiple national recruiting services.

Top 10 I-A Transfers:

1. Blayne Baggett, QB, Indiana State (6-2, 225, Western Michigan) Completed 63 percent of his passes for 993 yards and nine touchdowns; finished in the national top 10 with a 141.0 passer rating in 2004.

2. Marvin Byrdsong, LB, Northwestern State (6-2, 240, Mississippi State) 147 tackles while playing every game in three seasons at Mississippi State

3. Pierre Rembert, RB, Illinois State (6-0, 209, Michigan) 131 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons at Michigan after No. 17 ranking by Rivals.com coming out of high school

4. Travorous Bain, DB, Hampton (6-0, 190, Miami (FL)) Reserve DB and special teams standout at Miami ran a 4.35 in the 40 and was rated No. 5 DB by Tom Lemming out of high school

5. David Horne, RB, Northern Iowa (6-0, 200, Nebraska) Ran for 441 yards and four touchdowns at Nebraska in 2003

6. Brandon Johnson, DB, Chattanooga (6-2, 200, Tennessee) 29 tackles, 2 INT in seven games at free safety in 2004

7. Nic Costa, WR, Portland State (5-11, 205, Arizona) Played WR and QB at Arizona and adds versatility and speed to the PSU attack; may see some time at QB

8. Chris Jackson, WR, Western Kentucky (6-1, 205, Ohio) Led Ohio with 39 receptions for 390 yards in 2004, with a seven-catch effort against Pittsburgh

9. Alden Blizzard, DE, Hampton (6-5, 260, North Carolina) Led UNC’s defense in sacks as a freshman in 2002 and played in 10 games in 2003

10. David Jolly, RB, Texas State (6-0, 235, Colorado) Big, bruising back scored six touchdowns in 2003 and was rated No. 18 RB by Rivals.com in 2002

Top 10 JC Transfers:

1. Eldra Buckley, RB, Chattanooga (5-10, 190, Northwest Mississippi CC) Ran for 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2004; earned JC All-America honors and rated No.23 among JC players by Rivals. Com

2. Jimmy Wegerer, OL, Southern Illinois (6-0, 310, Butler County JC) Second team NJCAA All-American led Butler County to 23-1 record in two seasons

3. Sam Downs, OL, Idaho State (6-3, 285, Grossmont College) JC Gridwire All-American anchored a line that led Grossmont to 481.5 ypg and 32.3 ppg

4. Dexter Hill, QB, Northern Iowa (6-1, 190, Scottsdale CC) Third team NJCAA All-American led Scottsdale to 9-1 record and No. 5 national ranking

5. Brad Steube, OL, Southeastern Louisiana (6-3, 290, Pearl River CC) Helped guide Pearl River to 2004 NJCAA championship and perfect 12-0 record

6. Barry Quickstad, DB, North Dakota State (6-2, 205, Rochester CC) Former professional baseball player earned second team NJCAA All-America honors

7. Cornell Johnson, RB, Indiana State (6-1, 210, Feather River JC) 1,046 yards rushing, 23 TD and 10.2 ypc in 2004 for the 2003 Nevada HS player of the year

8. (incorrect data)

9. Jason Macciola, DL, Montana State (6-3, 240, DeAnza JC) 20 sacks in 2004 and 31 in two years will bolster the Bobcats’ pass rush

10. T.T. Harper, KR/WR/RB, Chattanooga (5-8, 170, Northeast Mississippi CC) 41 receptions for 550 yards and seven TD in 2004;2002 Mr. Football in Tennessee

Top 10 High School Seniors

1. Sean Santos, QB, Northwestern State (6-0, 180, Holy Cross HS, New Orleans, La.) All-time leading passer in New Orleans Catholic school history with 8,355 yards will add to the Demons’ vertical attack

2. Travil Jamison, RB, South Carolina State (6-0, 200, Greenville/Greenville, SC) Runs a 4.5 40 and ranked No. 21 RB nationally by Rivals.com

3. Sean Smalls, DB, Massachusetts (6-1, 190, Hugenot/Richmond, Va.) 16 career interceptions for No. 47 rated DB

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4. Jacob Crook, QB, New Hampshire (6-1, 200, Glendora/Glendora, CA) California product threw for 1,596 yards and 13 TD and had several I-A offers

5. Jake Gaebler, WR, Western Kentucky (5-11, 180, Mundelein/Mundelein, Ill) Three-time all-state pick had 24 TD in 2004 and finished with 51 in his career

6. Codie Fetters, OG, Northern Iowa (6-4, 250, Providence/Eldora, IA) Two-time 1st team all-state pick as offensive and defensive lineman

7. C.J. Walker, RB, Eastern Kentucky (5-10, 175, Lymon/Seminole, FL) Central Florida’s player of the year rushed for 1,675 yards and 18 TD

8. Jordan Sorrells, QB, Furman (6-1, 200, Greenville/Greenville,SC) 9,405 yards passing and 105 TD in career for son of Furman offensive coordinator and former QB Tim Sorrells

9. Anthony Morrison, LB/S, Eastern Illinois (6-0, 219, Romeoville/Bolingbrook, IL) Illinois Coaches Association first team pick had interest from Big Ten schools and Notre Dame

10. Tie, Justin Sams, P, Coastal Carolina (6-2, 183, Spartanburg/Spartanburg, SC)/Joe Marcoux, K, Villanova (6-4, 185, Don Bosco Prep/Campbell Hall, N.Y.) One look at the kicking and punting numbers of some teams shows what a steal it is to sign a top 10 punter or kicker

Top Classes (High School Recruits)

1. Furman - There is no instant impact transfer like last year’s Ingle Martin signing, but if the Paladins’ players live up to their billing more success should be in store in Greenville. Sorrells is the crown jewel, but keep an eye on center Will Landers, safety Thomas Twitty and QB/WR R.J. Webb.

2. James Madison - To the victor goes the spoils. The Dukes bring in a deep and athletic class of 25 players, headlined by linebacker Trae Kenney, defensive back/running back Wolfver Jean-Pierre and wide receiver/defensive back Tommie Lawrence, among others.

3. Montana - The Grizzlies picked up two transfers, but more importantly signed a strong freshman class. Running back Thomas Brooks-Fletcher, defensive lineman Austin Mullins and Missoula twins Jace and Ty Palmer are part of the core group.

4. Northwestern State - Santos has the tools for future stardom, and could have a solid target in wide receiver Shayne McGee. Tailback Patrick Earl and linebacker Isaiah Greenhouse are solid, and Demons’ fans hope the kicking woes will go away with all-state honoree Robert Weeks.

5. Richmond - Head coach Dave Clawson could have the Spiders on the right track in the A-10 with a strong class that includes two quarterbacks (Levi Brown and Eric Ward), tight end William Bischoff and running back Justin Forte.

Top Classes (Transfers and HS)

1. Northern Iowa - Even with the dismissal of Arizona State transfer RB Hakim Hill, the Panthers bring in a Big 12 transfer (Horne) to share carries with Terrance Freeney, a top JUCO QB (Dexter Hill) and freshman Patrick Grace to compete with Eric Sanders, and a pair of solid freshman lineman (Fetters and DL Chuck Kinney).

2. Massachusetts - Seven transfers and a class of 14 freshman should keep the Minutemen in good shape for this season and in years to come. Quarterback Taylor Humphrey (Hawaii) and defensive back Michael Meggett (West Virginia) rate as the top two transfers and have four years of eligibility remaining. Smalls, running back Tony Nelson and linebacker George Byrd are the best of the incoming freshman.

3. Chattanooga - Pretty soon, the Mocs need to start turning these high recruiting class rankings into some on-field wins. Buckley is one of the best talents coming to I-AA this year, and Brandon Johnson leads a cast of five I-A transfers. There’s not much for the freshman, but head coach Rodney Allison brought in a batch of quality youngsters a year ago.

4. Hampton - Bain and Blizzard are both proven at BCS level I-A schools, and quarterback Antwan Smith started last season at Kent State. Offensive tackle Brandon Walker is the best of the Pirates’ JC transfers, and quarterback Jarrett Dunston and offensive tackle Kevin Wiggins have star potential coming out of high school.

5. Murray State - The Racers reloaded after last year’s 7-4 finish and four- game season-ending win streak with 17 freshman and 11 transfers. Of the transfers, quarterback Ken Topps and wide receiver Maurice Marchman (Kentucky) could form a solid pass-catch duo, and JC transfer defensive ends Curtis Nicholas and Jerome Perez should get some heat on the passer. Jeremy Banks and Akeem Lofton are JC transfers with potential at the skill positions.


http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.as ... 765212.htm