Houston Chronicle: SMU's Record Deceiving

[Water Pony]

Mustangs have victory over TCU, 3 narrow losses
By MICHAEL MURPHY
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

A play here. A play there.

And ...

That has been the mantra at the University of Houston during past seasons (and it's even been thrown around a bit the past few weeks), but when this season comes to an end, it would be a good choice for the title of SMU's postseason video retrospective.

The Mustangs, who take a deceptive 3-6 record (2-4 in Conference USA) into Saturday's game against the Cougars at Robertson Stadium, have lost four games by seven or fewer points. A play here or a play there, and the Mustangs could easily have six or seven wins and eyeing the various bowl scenarios.

Instead, they're trying to play spoiler, hoping to deliver a blow to UH's bowl expectations. The Cougars enter Saturday's game with a 5-4 record (3-3 in C-USA) and are looking for that vital sixth victory that will make them bowl eligible.

"This has been a long process," said SMU coach Phil Bennett. "We went a stretch there where for four weeks in a row it came down to the last play of the game, and we only won one of them. I think we're a team that's vastly improved, and I think that we're a team that on any given day is capable of beating anybody."

Problem is, they haven't been able to find that magic on most days.

After a 28-23 season-opening loss to Baylor, the Mustangs handed TCU its only loss of the season (21-10). But after blowout losses to Texas A&M (66-8) and Tulane (31-10), the Mustangs endured a ridiculous four-game stretch that included:

•A 16-13 overtime loss at Marshall on Oct. 1, blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter.
•A 28-27 victory at UAB on Oct. 8 that came on a 31-yard pass from Jared Romo to Bobby Chase as time expired.
•A 24-17 loss to East Carolina on Oct. 15 that was sealed when Romo threw the last of his three fourth-quarter interceptions with 11 seconds left at the ECU 21-yard line.
•A 20-13 loss at Tulsa on Oct. 22 that was iced when a bomb from Romo was intercepted with 1:16 remaining.

A rested group
After a week off, SMU rebounded to spank Rice 27-7, and with another week off before Saturday's game, Owls coach Ken Hatfield thinks UH had better be prepared for a tough game.

"I'll tell you what, Houston had better strap it on and be ready because SMU had two weeks to get ready for us and they've also had two weeks to get ready for Houston," Hatfield said. "And at this time of year, it makes a big difference to get that extra week, both in freshness and also in game preparation.

"You're not going to change much at this time of year. You're going to do what you do best anyway, so the extra week of preparation is mighty big, I know that. I thought those guys played extremely hard the whole ballgame. They were well-prepared and had a good plan. With the extra week, I wouldn't sell anybody short this time of year."

Houston coach Art Briles is fully aware of how the Mustangs' season could have gone differently, but that goes for just about every other team in the conference — including UH.

Margin thin
The Cougars saved victories at Tulsa (30-23) and against Southern Miss (27-24) by forcing last-minute turnovers, but lost close games at UTEP (44-41 in double overtime) and UCF (31-29). A play here and a play there and the Cougars could be 7-2 right now — or 3-6 — so Briles is not about to judge SMU by its record.

Not with talented players such as running back DeMyron Martin (642 yards, six touchdowns), Chase (501 receiving yards, three TDs), return specialist Jessie Henderson (28.24 yards per kickoff return, 10th in the nation) and linebacker Alvin Nnabuife (44 tackles, two interceptions), a Missouri City native.

"They're right on the edge of really having a great year," Briles said of the Mustangs. "Four of their losses have been by a touchdown or less, but that's really pretty common with how the league has gone this year when you think about it. There are a lot of teams whose records could be a lot better or a lot worse, depending on which side of that coin you're on.

"But we have a lot of respect for them because I think they've done a good job of building a solid program there. Those guys are playing hard, and any time you play hard you have a chance, and that's kind of been our theme this year. We're going to go out, play hard and hope good things happen."

[email protected]

[2112]

I wish Hatfield would SHUT HIS FRIGGIN MOUTH about the off week! Give a rest KEN! and go play with Barbie! You loser! Every story I have seen since that game, he brings up that "off week advantage" SHUT UP HATFIELD! YOU JUST GOT YOUR ACE KICKED!!!

[PonyPride]

One word, 2112:
DECAF!

[huntnfish]

Ken Hatfield is on e of the best guys in the business and well respected. As good a Christian man as you will meet-what are your credentials 2112?

The man's having an off year at Rice, but has done more at Rice with less talent than SMU ever has.

[mrydel]

Ken Hatfield is on e of the best guys in the business and well respected. As good a Christian man as you will meet-what are your credentials 2112?

The man's having an off year at Rice, but has done more at Rice with less talent than SMU ever has.

Ken was idolized as a player and a coach in Arkansas and recruited me when he was a young assistant coach at Army. I told him I was committing to SMU and he still tried to get me to come visit just for the experience of the trip and West Point. I foolishly did not go and have always regretted that. He is a good man who was able to beat us several times with as even of a playing field as we could have.

[hunters]

i like this article, it sets up the "i told you so" when Smu upsets houston.

[Mustangs35SMU]

i like this article, it sets up the "i told you so" when Smu upsets houston.

I would like nothing more than that to happen.

[A-town Pony]

I give us a 30% chance of winning the game.

[smupony94]

Depends on which SMU team shows up

[DallasDiehard]

Ken Hatfield is on e of the best guys in the business and well respected. As good a Christian man as you will meet-what are your credentials 2112?

The man's having an off year at Rice, but has done more at Rice with less talent than SMU ever has.

What do his religious beliefs have to do with anything? I think 2112's reaction was a bit extreme, too, but not sure how religion plays into it.

Anyway, do you really think it's an off year? Or do you think the academic requirements at Rice are making it too tough to get the top-shelf athletes needed to run that offense?

[ponyparent]

"Or do you think the academic requirements at Rice are making it too tough to get the top-shelf athletes needed to run that offense?"

Rice runs the triple option precisely because the academic requirements at Rice make it too tough to get the top-shelf athletes needed to run more "athletically" oriented offenses. Same reason Air Force runs it. It works with smart, tough and disciplined players

[ALEX LIFESON]

I have seen at least four articles, where Hatfield is moaning about the "off week". It kind of rubs me raw too, it's like he's trying to put an asterisk on the SMU win. It also would put a shadow on all three of our wins. The TCU folks cry about how they didn't play hard, and took SMU lightly. The UAB win, was a last play of the game "hail Mary". And then you have Hatfield crying "well........ they wouldn't have beat us, if they didn't have an advantage" So put me on the side of..........SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE HATFIELD!"

[The PonyGrad]

If we did not beat Rice like a drum then he might have a bit of legitimacy. As it is, a week off makes over 20 points difference?