DMN: SMU's Schedule Looks As Good As Win
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 10:27 pmDMN for Monday...by Calvin Watkins
SMU accomplished a few things Saturday night.
For one, it ended a school record 14-game road losing streak with a dramatic 28-27 win at UAB. It also eased some of the pressure on athletic director Jim Copeland, coach Phil Bennett and offensive coordinator Rusty Burns.
Copeland and Bennett have been criticized by fans and alumni the last few weeks about the direction of the program after a 1-4 start.
Burns felt the heat as his struggling spread offense, ranked last in the 12-team Conference USA, was one of the reasons for the woes.
Funny how a win changes everything.
"It's a week-to-week deal in this business," Bennett said Sunday. "I hope the [UAB win] shows the kids what they are capable of. To me, it shows improvement."
The victory propels SMU into a favorable situation. Two of the next three games are at home. All appear winnable.
On Saturday, East Carolina visits SMU. The Pirates, like the Mustangs, are rebuilding.
The next week, SMU visits Tulsa, a team it defeated in overtime last season. The finale of the three-game swing is Rice at Ford Stadium. The Owls haven't won a game and are tied with Army for the nation's longest losing streak at 10.
In its last home game, SMU lost 31-10 to Tulane on Sept. 24.
"The last time we were on our field, we stunk it up," Bennett said. "We have a challenge to not do that again."
To win the next few weeks, the Mustangs must continue to produce on offense.
SMU was averaging 15 points and 243 yards a game going into the UAB game.
The Mustangs had a season-high in points and total offensive yards (413) against the Blazers.
What was also impressive was how SMU handled the last drive of the game with only 23 seconds left.
Quarterback Jerad Romo went 4-for-4 on the drive for 80 yards with a diving 20-yard catch by Bobby Chase.
Reynaldo Pellerin and DeMyron Martin made smart plays after catching the ball. Each ran directly out of bounds to stop the clock and give Romo one shot at the end zone with three seconds left.
Romo, a left-hander, rolled left and heaved a strong throw into the end zone to Chase, who outjumped a smaller defender to catch the game-winning 31-yard pass.
It was an amazing final sequence, especially for Romo, who has been described as a scrambler. But when you complete 30 of 43 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns, does it really matter?
"All I know is we got the win," Romo said. "They can say passer, runner, whatever. We won."
Note from MrMustang1965: I still say get rid of Copeland. Yesterday's win has nothing to do with his ability (or inability) to be a good AD.
SMU accomplished a few things Saturday night.
For one, it ended a school record 14-game road losing streak with a dramatic 28-27 win at UAB. It also eased some of the pressure on athletic director Jim Copeland, coach Phil Bennett and offensive coordinator Rusty Burns.
Copeland and Bennett have been criticized by fans and alumni the last few weeks about the direction of the program after a 1-4 start.
Burns felt the heat as his struggling spread offense, ranked last in the 12-team Conference USA, was one of the reasons for the woes.
Funny how a win changes everything.
"It's a week-to-week deal in this business," Bennett said Sunday. "I hope the [UAB win] shows the kids what they are capable of. To me, it shows improvement."
The victory propels SMU into a favorable situation. Two of the next three games are at home. All appear winnable.
On Saturday, East Carolina visits SMU. The Pirates, like the Mustangs, are rebuilding.
The next week, SMU visits Tulsa, a team it defeated in overtime last season. The finale of the three-game swing is Rice at Ford Stadium. The Owls haven't won a game and are tied with Army for the nation's longest losing streak at 10.
In its last home game, SMU lost 31-10 to Tulane on Sept. 24.
"The last time we were on our field, we stunk it up," Bennett said. "We have a challenge to not do that again."
To win the next few weeks, the Mustangs must continue to produce on offense.
SMU was averaging 15 points and 243 yards a game going into the UAB game.
The Mustangs had a season-high in points and total offensive yards (413) against the Blazers.
What was also impressive was how SMU handled the last drive of the game with only 23 seconds left.
Quarterback Jerad Romo went 4-for-4 on the drive for 80 yards with a diving 20-yard catch by Bobby Chase.
Reynaldo Pellerin and DeMyron Martin made smart plays after catching the ball. Each ran directly out of bounds to stop the clock and give Romo one shot at the end zone with three seconds left.
Romo, a left-hander, rolled left and heaved a strong throw into the end zone to Chase, who outjumped a smaller defender to catch the game-winning 31-yard pass.
It was an amazing final sequence, especially for Romo, who has been described as a scrambler. But when you complete 30 of 43 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns, does it really matter?
"All I know is we got the win," Romo said. "They can say passer, runner, whatever. We won."
Note from MrMustang1965: I still say get rid of Copeland. Yesterday's win has nothing to do with his ability (or inability) to be a good AD.