Phil Steele Predicts CUSA

[Mustangs35SMU]

C-USA East
1. UAB
1. USM
3. Memphis
4. UCF
5. ECU
6. Marshall

C-USA West
1. UTEP
2. Houston
3. Tulane
4. Tulsa
5. Rice
6. SMU

[Corso]

Phil Steele can print a magazine with more unreadably small type than anyone, but he's not what you'd call an expert on football, at least in this part of the country (his midwest coverage is ....OK). We'll finish ahead of Tulsa and maybe Houston. I'll give on UTEP and Rice (although that still annoys me). I just don't know much about Tulane.

[Mustangs35SMU]

Must agree. I believe we might even be ahead of Tulane. Tulane had a horrible team last season. Wonder if they can come back from that.

[that's great raplh]

the lower the expectations the better - we'll catch everyone by surprise and have a cinderella season!!!

[MrMustang1965]

C-USA West
1. UTEP
2. Houston
3. Tulane
4. Tulsa
5. Rice
6. SMU

Whatabuncha hooey! I spit in this idiot's general direction!

[ALEX LIFESON]

if that prediction comes true (though i think it won't) we will have a new coach on the Hilltop.

[BIGHORSE]

A SPIRIT WITH A VISION

IS A DREAM WITH A MISSION.

[BIGHORSE]

A SPIRIT WITH A VISION

IS A DREAM WITH A MISSION.

[Mustangs35SMU]

From CollegeFootballNews.com

If the Mustangs become this year's UTEP or 2003 Tulsa, you've been warned

http://collegefootballnews.com/Conferen ... review.htm

*All excited*

[Charleston Pony]

who knows? this year's team could easily open 0-6, or could beat Baylor and surprise everyone by going on to win 5-6 games. Those 1st two games at Ford are critical to how 2005 will turn out.

[Mustangs35SMU]

Totally agree. I've said all along I believe that the first two games of the season will show us how this season goes.

[Arkpony]

As to the prediction, Mr T would "Pity da Fool"

[ponyte]

I don't pity the fool. I want to prove him to be utterly incompetent. We should be bigger, faster, stronger, with more dept and experience. Bottom dwellers do not have such a complete improvement in capability. Programs on the rise have that level of improvement. It would be a pleasant delight to be the ‘04 UTEP or ‘03 Tulsa. However, it would be a devastating disappointment if this prediction came true. We did improve last season and we should continue that improvement. One should have higher expectations of this coming season's Ponies than one has had in years.

[jtstang]

We did improve last season and we should continue that improvement. One should have higher expectations of this coming season's Ponies than one has had in years.

Well of course we improved last year--after 0-12 there's no where to go down. As for expectations, no thanks, without any I'll just be pleasantly surprised if they win, and not too disappointed when they lose. We can hope the ponies do well, but let's be realists folks.

[ponyte]

Well of course we improved last year--after 0-12 there's nowhere to go down. As for expectations, no thanks, without any I'll just be pleasantly surprised if they win, and not too disappointed when they lose. We can hope the ponies do well, but let's be realists folks.

The 0-12 team had corners that were simple out matched most of the year (athletically, not effort). The O-line was young and couldn't pick up most blitzes. And then the O-line wasn't athletic enough to handle the blitzes when it did pick them up. Our QBs spent most plays running for their lives. Our QB position was a huge area of weakness. Our QBs were inconsistent and made constant mistakes. Turnovers were far too frequent. Our kicking game was mediocre at best. We constantly got beat deep. The D-line was undersized and often overmatched athletically. We had players play hard but too many weaknesses. And then, we had no dept so players simply ran out of gas by the 4th quarter.

Last year, we were better at pass defense. Our corners were not always overmatched. We had significant improvement at wide receiver. Our QB position was vastly improved. The O-line began to show improvement in understand their blocking schemes. We saw our QBs sit in a pocket and read defenses for a change. The kicking game improved in all areas. We added a new dimension on offense called a passing game. We hit people. Something that hasn’t been a part of SMU football for several years. And we had more size and experience.

Now, we have most everyone returning. We have increased our size and improved our speed. We have dept at most every position so we can spell our players more often. We have a very large number of experienced players. We have athletes that can start expanding the level of sophistication on both offense and defense.

As fans, one can choice to have low or no expectations. As competitors, one must expect to win. One hopes that our coaching staff and players have that expectation...to win! The recruiting, experience and dept should amount to a much better season for the Ponies. I for one have expectations of a much-improved season. For me, to expect less from our team is to accept mediocrity as acceptable. This team, the players and the coaches are better than that. It is time to expect this program to perform to higher expectations.