PonyFans.com

the opening theme of the 2005 season focuses on SMU's mini-SWC schedule with 3 former SWC schools in September and another 2 more later in the year against Rice and UH-easily the most since the demise of the SWC. SMU is currently on a 10 game losing streak against its natural and traditional rivals in the SWC and Bennett himself is 0-10. Since the DP SMU is 22-83-2 approximately a 21% winning per centage against its former SWC opponents- and we haven't played UT or A&M in 10 years

I'll let you use the terms 'natural and traditional' since they are int he same state and we played them for so long, but I don't think we can use the term 'rivals' when refering to UT or ATM. Or really anyone from SWC except Rice. We don't play these schools, and we are not considered by anyone short of SMU alums from pre-death penalty as even playing in the same league as them.

couch 'em wrote:except Rice.

We don't even get to include TCU and Houston?

couch 'em wrote:We don't play these schools

We play A&M September 17,

couch 'em wrote:and we are not considered by anyone short of SMU alums from pre-death penalty as even playing in the same league as them.

That group would represent the majority of SMU football fans today. Very few have been developed post death penalty.

Stallion wrote:SMU is currently on a 10 game losing streak against its natural and traditional rivals in the SWC and Bennett himself is 0-10.

Newsflash--there ain't no SWC no more--and those teams do not consider us a rival. Rivalries are a two way street. Our "natural" rivals are now, Rice, TCU, Tulsa, UTEP, etc. Our "traditional" rivals...well, let's face it, since coming back in 1989, we've not had much in the way of tradition, now have we?

Diehard Pony wrote:

couch 'em wrote:except Rice.

We don't even get to include TCU and Houston?

Yes, TCU, I forgot it. We don't regularly play Houston. I don't think someone is really a rival if you haven't played them in in so many years.

couch 'em wrote:We don't play these schools

We play A&M September 17,

But we don't regularly play A&M. We played OSU last year. Are they a rival?

couch 'em wrote:and we are not considered by anyone short of SMU alums from pre-death penalty as even playing in the same league as them.

That group would represent the majority of SMU football fans today. Very few have been developed post death penalty.

Sadly, can't argue that. Hopefully it is a trend that will be reversed before too many of you oldtimers are gone from the earth. At least there has been progress since I've been here. Slow, but progress none-the-less. When we play UT and A&M more than once in the past 20 years, and compete with them, we can call them rivals. Otherwise its just be delusional.

As far as old SWC rivals go, we have had a number of games recently with Texas Tech and Baylor and we have more scheduled with both these teams in the future as well as TCU...and starting this year we will be playing Houston every year as we will now be in the same conference along with Rice.

OK SMU and Bennett are 0-7 in Ken Pye's Mythical Magnolia League which is even more embarrassing.

You're right, we haven't won enough games for anyone's taste. But for someone who claims to be such a fan, you certainly seem to enjoy dwelling on the negative of everything. Doesn't seem to be a "glass half empty" or "glass half full" deal with you. It's more like "we don't have enough water in this glass to water an entire football field, so let's burn down the stadium." Come on, it's easy enough to be pessimistic at the end of a losing season. When is being a fan enjoyable for you?

Speaking of the SWC. check this out.

http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/sports_columnists/article/0,1713,BDC_2417_3745086,00.html

The SWC reunited again with OU, OSU and someone else. Boy would that take the cake or what? Never happen, but I love seeing the Colorado folks get their panties in a wad.

I dont like those 0-fer records under Bennett, but I'm not going to hold it against him. Given the cupboard when he got here, its all about 2005 and 2006. By next season we need to see some good wins and something to get excited about, otherwise someone didnt do their job whether administratively or on the field. The misery has gone on too long and its time to end it and compete.

well I tell you what SMU plays TCU, Baylor and Rice in Magnolia Conference action this year-if we can't expect 1 win by Bennett in his 4th season in the rough and tumble Magnolia Conference in 10 tries just how much lower can you lower your expectations. Certainly, if we lose to Rice for the 4th straight year then I would have big questions concerning the direction of the program.

Stallion wrote:well I tell you what SMU plays TCU, Baylor and Rice in Magnolia Conference action this year-if we can't expect 1 win by Bennett in his 4th season in the rough and tumble Magnolia Conference in 10 tries just how much lower can you lower your expectations. Certainly, if we lose to Rice for the 4th straight year then I would have big questions concerning the direction of the program.

thats what I said, we need to see something in 2005 and certainly by 2006. You changing your tune, you want to fire coaches now? If you are impatient i understand, but you have been banging the drum that it takes 4 or 5 years to turn around a football program. You didnt let anyone forget your prediction back in the early 2000s that the Frogs would run off a long winning streak against us because the recruiting dye was cast. Bennetts first class in 2002 was essentially Cavans class, we all know that. That class will be mostly Juniors in 2005. Bennetts first real class will be Sophomores on the field this year right? Some juniors, but not many. Its time to turn the corner, but its not time to call Bennetts a bust.

I think it is interesting that someone who has said "coaching isn't the problem" about 100,000 times, Stallion sure likes to refer to Bennett by name a lot. He could just as easily say SMU here, but he uses Bennett. Oh, woe is us. If only we had Charlie Waters!

Roach,

Being a Dallas Cowboy fan right now is enjoyable to me, even though they just came off a losing season. Difference is they have a top-notch coach (verdict is still out on Bennett), an apparently good ‘recruiting’ class, but most importantly an owner who is 100% committed to winning. So I am more optimistic about the ‘Boys than the ‘Stangs, although I would much more prefer SMU to succeed than the Cowboys.

This isn’t a ‘glass half full / half empty’ debate. That is for teams with more than 8 wins games against opponents with winning records over the past 16 years.

with 3 of the 4 former SWC mates coming to Ford this year, we had BETTER win at least one of those games.