Bewilderment in Birmingham.
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 2:44 amhttp://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 89865.html
SMU needs a miracle ... and gets it
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – We have the Miracle on Mockingbird Lane. The Miracle on Fourth Street. And now, we have Bewilderment in Birmingham.
SMU, a 21-point underdog, beat UAB, 28-27, on a last-second touchdown pass in front of 23,255 spectators in historic Legion Field on Saturday night.
The Mustangs ended a school-record 14-game road losing streak and won their first Conference USA game.
SMU quarterback Jerad Romo completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Chase for the game-winner.
The SMU sideline rocked with players running all over the field in celebration.
"It's a miracle," said strong safety Joe Sturdivant, who had two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
SMU's struggling offense finally lived up to what a spread offense is supposed to do.
Romo completed a career-high 30 passes and threw for 333 yards. It was the first time a SMU quarterback had thrown for over 300 yards since 1999.
After gaining only 318 yards in their last two games, both losses, the Mustangs ran up 413 yards in total offense Saturday.
SMU (2-4, 1-2) ran more plays with the quarterback under center and completed short passes for 4 and 5 yards. It gave offensive coordinator Rusty Burns a better opportunity for success when calling plays on second and third down.
"I'm sure [the offensive coaches] were tired of me being in [their meetings]," coach Phil Bennett said. "They came in this week and said this is what we can do."
It's been an emotional three weeks for SMU.
On Sept. 24, SMU appeared to play without much desire in a 31-10 home loss to Tulane. For the first time this season, Bennett was under fire about the direction of the program.
But SMU found a spark, playing better last week at Marshall. The Mustangs, however, blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and lost, 16-13, in overtime.
UAB (3-2, 1-1) rallied in the fourth quarter behind talented quarterback Darrell Hackney. He completed 22 of 35 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensive coordinator Jim Gush said the plan was to not get beat deep and allow passes within 5 to 8 yards.
Hackney completed two touchdown passes of 89 and 50 yards on two blown coverages. Other than those long scores, SMU's plan worked.
In the fourth, SMU led, 22-17, on a DeMyron Martin 38-yard touchdown run with 13:47 to play. But the Blazers, behind Hackney, rallied to score the next 10 points to take a 27-22 lead.
Then, as longtime SMU trainer Cash Birdwell said, "The Bewilderment in Birmingham" ending.
SMU needs a miracle ... and gets it
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – We have the Miracle on Mockingbird Lane. The Miracle on Fourth Street. And now, we have Bewilderment in Birmingham.
SMU, a 21-point underdog, beat UAB, 28-27, on a last-second touchdown pass in front of 23,255 spectators in historic Legion Field on Saturday night.
The Mustangs ended a school-record 14-game road losing streak and won their first Conference USA game.
SMU quarterback Jerad Romo completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Chase for the game-winner.
The SMU sideline rocked with players running all over the field in celebration.
"It's a miracle," said strong safety Joe Sturdivant, who had two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
SMU's struggling offense finally lived up to what a spread offense is supposed to do.
Romo completed a career-high 30 passes and threw for 333 yards. It was the first time a SMU quarterback had thrown for over 300 yards since 1999.
After gaining only 318 yards in their last two games, both losses, the Mustangs ran up 413 yards in total offense Saturday.
SMU (2-4, 1-2) ran more plays with the quarterback under center and completed short passes for 4 and 5 yards. It gave offensive coordinator Rusty Burns a better opportunity for success when calling plays on second and third down.
"I'm sure [the offensive coaches] were tired of me being in [their meetings]," coach Phil Bennett said. "They came in this week and said this is what we can do."
It's been an emotional three weeks for SMU.
On Sept. 24, SMU appeared to play without much desire in a 31-10 home loss to Tulane. For the first time this season, Bennett was under fire about the direction of the program.
But SMU found a spark, playing better last week at Marshall. The Mustangs, however, blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and lost, 16-13, in overtime.
UAB (3-2, 1-1) rallied in the fourth quarter behind talented quarterback Darrell Hackney. He completed 22 of 35 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensive coordinator Jim Gush said the plan was to not get beat deep and allow passes within 5 to 8 yards.
Hackney completed two touchdown passes of 89 and 50 yards on two blown coverages. Other than those long scores, SMU's plan worked.
In the fourth, SMU led, 22-17, on a DeMyron Martin 38-yard touchdown run with 13:47 to play. But the Blazers, behind Hackney, rallied to score the next 10 points to take a 27-22 lead.
Then, as longtime SMU trainer Cash Birdwell said, "The Bewilderment in Birmingham" ending.