Sunday's DMN: SMU Craves an Early Win
Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 11:14 pmUNIVERSITY PARK – Optimism often turns to disappointment for SMU football fans in September.
The last time SMU had a winning September was 1992, when it went 3-1. In the last eight seasons, the Mustangs are 3-27 in the season's traditional opening month.
Players and coaches hope to change that trend.
When SMU opens the season at Ford Stadium against Baylor on Sept. 3, it's probably the first time in his three seasons as coach that Phil Bennett's team has an even chance to win an opener. The last time the schools met, in 2003, Baylor won, 10-7.
The previous two seasons, SMU opened against Texas Tech's high-powered offense and was outscored a combined 85-23 in the losses.
"It will be interesting to see who makes the most improvement from the last time that we played," Bennett said. "We spent a lot of time talking about what we can do as a football team to get better, and one of those things was making our schedule better."
SMU coaches believe they have more depth and speed at the skill positions to achieve a better start.
Bennett said SMU was overscheduled in nonconference play in previous years. It's one thing to play a rival such as TCU, where the possibility of being in a competitive game is possible. But it's difficult to play against ranked opponents such as Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and former Southwest Conference rival Arkansas.
The schedule remains tough this season. SMU plays host to TCU on Sept. 10 before traveling to Texas A&M on Sept. 17 and returning home for its Conference USA opener against Tulane on Sept. 24. Tulane and TCU each come off of losing seasons.
But future schedules have more competitive balance. Texas Tech is on the schedule: the Mustangs visit Lubbock next season, and TCU remains on nonconference schedules.
In 2006, the Mustangs will play Sun Belt conference teams North Texas and Arkansas State and host I-AA opponents Texas State and Sam Houston State.
One key reason for the shift in scheduling is the toll on the players. Too many times, SMU players seemed down emotionally and physically hurt after difficult nonconference games.
Last Sept. 11, SMU lost starting middle linebacker D.D. Lee for the season with an elbow injury during a 44-0 loss to TCU. The following week, SMU lost 59-7 at Oklahoma State. In that game, pass rusher Cory Muse was lost for the season with a knee injury.
"In the past, we had different people with different agendas," defensive end Justin Rogers said. "I think now, we're on the same page and a much more mature team."
Last season, SMU was one of the youngest teams nationally, with 57 freshmen and 28 sophomores on its 112-man roster. This year, Bennett has plans to redshirt the entire incoming freshmen class and can bring redshirt freshmen in slowly instead of rushing them into the lineup.
And this year's nonconference schedule allows for some of that to happen.
"One problem is the schedule, because it's so tough," defensive end Don Ieremia-Stansbury said. "This year, the schedule is more friendly."
Bennett is hoping strong starts, especially in a game against Baylor, can lead to good finishes. Last season, SMU won two of the last three games and in 2002 after a 0-4 start, the Mustangs, won two of their last three games. In 2003, SMU went 0-12.
"The Baylor game is huge if we win it because it builds some confidence for us," Rogers said. "We have a ton of talent, and we need to get off to a strong start. You just can't dwell on the past, if you do, it will kill you."
The last time SMU had a winning September was 1992, when it went 3-1. In the last eight seasons, the Mustangs are 3-27 in the season's traditional opening month.
Players and coaches hope to change that trend.
When SMU opens the season at Ford Stadium against Baylor on Sept. 3, it's probably the first time in his three seasons as coach that Phil Bennett's team has an even chance to win an opener. The last time the schools met, in 2003, Baylor won, 10-7.
The previous two seasons, SMU opened against Texas Tech's high-powered offense and was outscored a combined 85-23 in the losses.
"It will be interesting to see who makes the most improvement from the last time that we played," Bennett said. "We spent a lot of time talking about what we can do as a football team to get better, and one of those things was making our schedule better."
SMU coaches believe they have more depth and speed at the skill positions to achieve a better start.
Bennett said SMU was overscheduled in nonconference play in previous years. It's one thing to play a rival such as TCU, where the possibility of being in a competitive game is possible. But it's difficult to play against ranked opponents such as Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and former Southwest Conference rival Arkansas.
The schedule remains tough this season. SMU plays host to TCU on Sept. 10 before traveling to Texas A&M on Sept. 17 and returning home for its Conference USA opener against Tulane on Sept. 24. Tulane and TCU each come off of losing seasons.
But future schedules have more competitive balance. Texas Tech is on the schedule: the Mustangs visit Lubbock next season, and TCU remains on nonconference schedules.
In 2006, the Mustangs will play Sun Belt conference teams North Texas and Arkansas State and host I-AA opponents Texas State and Sam Houston State.
One key reason for the shift in scheduling is the toll on the players. Too many times, SMU players seemed down emotionally and physically hurt after difficult nonconference games.
Last Sept. 11, SMU lost starting middle linebacker D.D. Lee for the season with an elbow injury during a 44-0 loss to TCU. The following week, SMU lost 59-7 at Oklahoma State. In that game, pass rusher Cory Muse was lost for the season with a knee injury.
"In the past, we had different people with different agendas," defensive end Justin Rogers said. "I think now, we're on the same page and a much more mature team."
Last season, SMU was one of the youngest teams nationally, with 57 freshmen and 28 sophomores on its 112-man roster. This year, Bennett has plans to redshirt the entire incoming freshmen class and can bring redshirt freshmen in slowly instead of rushing them into the lineup.
And this year's nonconference schedule allows for some of that to happen.
"One problem is the schedule, because it's so tough," defensive end Don Ieremia-Stansbury said. "This year, the schedule is more friendly."
Bennett is hoping strong starts, especially in a game against Baylor, can lead to good finishes. Last season, SMU won two of the last three games and in 2002 after a 0-4 start, the Mustangs, won two of their last three games. In 2003, SMU went 0-12.
"The Baylor game is huge if we win it because it builds some confidence for us," Rogers said. "We have a ton of talent, and we need to get off to a strong start. You just can't dwell on the past, if you do, it will kill you."
