Observations from Tulsa

[PonyPride]

First of all, let's all make sure we understand one thing: there is NOTHING to look at between Dallas and Tulsa. Thankfully, I didn't do the driving.

Another thing: with one exception, the Tulsa fans were unbelievable. There we were, stretched out in full tailgate mode (SMU flag, tons of food and drink, etc.), and some Tulsa guy came over from another parking lot to welcome us to Tulsa, said he had umpteen kinds of BBQ and imported beer -- "no Bud or Coors for us, ever" -- and invited us to come over and help ourselves. The majority of their fans were as welcoming as any I've ever encountered at another school.

Thoughts:

• The Cory Muse who played today was the Cory Muse we heard about when he was recruited and wwhen he moved to DE (before he blew out the knee). He was everywhere. I don't know his numbers yet, but I'd bet he had a half a dozen tackles and a sack or half a sack, at least. But the play I'll remember from this game came in the first half when the Tulsa quarterback rolled right -- toward Muse's left DE spot. Muse fought off a really big OT, got his balance and shot way up in the air to knock down the pass. It was an extremely athletic play. To be honest, I can't remember the last time I saw one of our DEs make a play like that. Strength, balance, quick reaction, timing, long arms .... he did everything in a single play. To be fair, Justin Rogers also had another strong game on the other end. Extremely encouraging performance by the DEs. For the second straight week, Bonds and Haywood played very well inside, too -- maybe the best game of the year overall for the defensive line.

• I can not begin to explain how that Tulsa team beat Southern Miss or Memphis. I'm sure they're saying the same about us beating TCU and UAB, but that doesn't matter. The teams were very evenly matched today, and they're sitting in first place. We had one defensive breakdown on the long TD (Mills already had probably a half dozen catches .... not sure how he could get that open.)

• Ryan Kennedy looked great when we threw to him, but again, I'd like to see the big guy get more balls thrown his way. Bobby Chase was a man when he caught the ball, although he did have one drop that was a sure catch, and another when the ball was thrown behind him -- he got one hand on it, but it was uncatchable.

• Not sure why DeMyron Martin didn't start. Cedrick Dorsey got the start, and was OK in limited work, but Martin was very good. I'd feed the ball to him until he says he's tired, and at his age, he won't.

• Offensive line looked good again, except for some killer penalties.

• D.D. Lee and Reggie Carrington were terrific. The rest of the LBs were pretty average. Nnabuife should have made the INT. It would have been a tough catch, but he's got to make that catch.

• I honestly think we have more talent than they do. But we turned the ball over repeatedly and Tulsa didn't. Hard to win that way.

[TUfan]

Tulsa appears to play much better on the road than at home.

[Corso]

After the win at UAB, and the loss to ECU, and then seeing us hang in there yesterday, I'd say we do, too. And there's certainly no way to explain it.

[Corso]

Other things I saw:

Hit of the day: on special teams, Kyle Griffin hit Tulsa LB Nick Bunting so hard Bunting's helmet flew off. Bunting was furious. I was amused.

Ryan Kennedy seems impossible to tackle. He's better than Garrett Mills, who has so many receptions he's threatening to get all-America votes. The ball needs to go to #89 in a position where he can turn and get upfield.

Columbus Givens made a great catch in traffic yesterday, but unless I'm mistaken (which I'm not ruling out!), that was the only ball thrown his way.

Nnabuife needs to make that pick. It wasn't easy, but he needs to make that play.

[Stallion]

Corso that goes in the Hall Of Fame of Stupid Comments. Kennedy couldn't hold Mills' jock strap. Have ever seen this guy play? He does it week after week. He beat the hell out of us two years ago. They aren't even in the same dimension. Look Kennedy is a big slow TE with soft hands whose hard to bring down in the open field. That's about it. Mills is the best college receiving TE in the country.

[Corso]

No, the best receiving TE in the country is that kid (#18) at Maryland -- he's amazing. He's in a different world from both Mills and, with all due respect, Kennedy. Mills is good TE in a TE-friendly system that seems to prohibit the QB from even glancing at any of his wide receivers unless he's truly desperate.

[PonySoprano]

No to get into an agurgement about the best receiving TE in the country, but you also have to include the UCLA TE, Marcedes Lewis, on any list. He is a monster.

[Corso]

And just to continuethe discussion, I think it won't be long before Martellus Bennett (or whatever his name is) at A&M is on this list. Extremely impressive athlete.

[PK]

Personally, from my vantage point at the game, it appeared to me that Tulsa's QB was over the scrimage line when he let loose his game winning pass to Mills. Even if he wasn't, because he was scrambling, several of his line men were up field across the scrimage line to block for him according to the guy sitting in front of me. That may be why Sturdivant broke off of Mills and started closing in on the QB.

Regardless, had we punched it in those two times we were down on their two yard line, that pass play would not have mattered. So I'm not going to make that big a deal over it...sh*t happens. However, if by chance anyone tivoed the game or has access to the archive on cstv, it would be interesting to know if my observations were correct or not.

[couch 'em]

Another thing: with one exception, the Tulsa fans were unbelievable. There we were, stretched out in full tailgate mode (SMU flag, tons of food and drink, etc.), and some Tulsa guy came over from another parking lot to welcome us to Tulsa, said he had umpteen kinds of BBQ and imported beer -- "no Bud or Coors for us, ever" -- and invited us to come over and help ourselves. The majority of their fans were as welcoming as any I've ever encountered at another school.

The older folks may be quite nice, but in my experiance their students are truly without class. I didn't make it up there for the game, but two years ago when we played in Tulsa I made the drive with a small group of other loyal ponyfans. Their students went out of their way to come all the way over to our section and get in our face and try to start a fight when we had said nothing to them, and the ponies were clearly getting beat. It was actually pretty sad. If they want to act in such a manner they can at least follow the rules of classnessless like Tech fans, and shout general insults at you until you fire back, THEN get in your face. They just don't know how things are done. And they weren't even creative. A 'yo momma' joke would have been a step up for them.

[TUfan]

I believe they tout Mills as the best recieving TE, because he leads the nation (or is close to it) in recieving yards by a TE.

Sorry you had a bad experience with the students couch. Sounds much like my experiences with adults and students alike at SMU games (though those were basketball games). There always has to be some sour apples in the bunch...

[SoCal_Pony]

No to get into an agurgement about the best receiving TE in the country, but you also have to include the UCLA TE, Marcedes Lewis, on any list. He is a monster.

Lewis is a lock as a 1st round pick in next years' draft...don't think you can say that about any other TE in the nation,

[SMUguy]

I don't know -- I saw the Clemson/Maryland game early this season, and Vernon Jordan (Maryland's TE) looked like Kellen Winslow Jr. was supposed to look if he wasn't suck a knucklehead. And on last week's Maryland/VaTech broadcast, ESPN showed him in the weight room -- the strength coach said he's "making an absolute mockery" of the UM weight room record board. Among his position, he has every school record there is, and he has some strength records over the 300-pond linemen, too. And he's not just a strength freak -- he runs a 4.4 (according to ESPN), runs very precise routes and has great hands.

Of course, I saw Lewis play against Oklahoma, and although it wasn't his biggest game of the year statistically, his ability was impossible to ignore. I think he's taller than Jordan, although a small step slower.

If I'm an NFL general manager, I'd be happy with either one.