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who are the faces on that picture on SMUMustangs.com. Pretty tough. I believe No. 29 is Kris Silverthorn two sport star. Is no. 26 Pat Curry?

That is Kris but not Pat Curry. I recognize all 4, and was on the team at the same time (one year ahead of them),but at my age I have gone blank on the names. If I rememer tonight I will check my Rotunda and get the names.

this would be circa 1971-72 I think right. Just going by numbers No. 23 could be Louis Scott but you'd think these might be DBs. Micky Early?-but I thought he was taller and wore 29. This picture really has me stumped.

My freshman class was 68-69 and I am confident that Kris was one year after. I think Louis was a year ahead. I want to say Louis transferred from somewhere but I may be wrong on that. This should be the freshman class of 69-70 and I am sure I would recognize the names but once again sorry about my old age. The young man standing on the right was a highly touted running back but I do not think he panned out as hoped. I knew the other kid kneeling well enough I should recall his name but alas.....

there was Juco RB named Russell I believe from a Kansas JUCO who really never made it-but I don't think he was a freshman at SMU. Still just guessing.

No,the kid I am thinking of was a true frosh. I want to say his first name was Rafer or something similar. But just the reminder of Louis Scott running routes and catching passes has made me smile.

Also, I think all four were running backs at the time they came in. Kris may have been moved to defense, and he was a punt returner, but this would be a group photo of one position with Sleepy and I think it was RB.

My golfing buddy was the great Rory Best who was a freshman in 1970. So I called him to help you guys out. #23 James Lee Robinson [ the Borger flash], #29 Kris Silverthorn [ TJ high school in Dallas, also lived 5 houses down and across the street from me], #26 Dennis Howell. #30 Rayford Clark. Rory says the picture was taken in 1969. Hope this helps.

like I said pretty tough-Oh well at least I got one. Next!

There you go. I will agree except for some reason Dennis' last name does not sound right. The others are correct to the best of my recollection, and I am sure that Dennis is probably correct too. I can sleep now and Stallion you can too.

OK you corrected Dennis from Holler to Howell and all is right with the world.

While we are on the subject, the 1973 Southwest Conference Record Book lists an SMU freshman, Kenny Harrison, as an all conference selection at end, but he never made all SWC beyond his first year. Does anyone know his story?

Dave Smith doomed him. He was one of the most talented WRs in SMU history but when Smith installed the Wishbone he rarely got a chance. Played a couple years in the NFL I believe. I believe he came out of Beaumont.like Jerry LeVias. Another pretty decent WR who got grounded in those years was Freeman Johns who is a college official-he often works the SMU spring game. These guys were part of a momentary uptick in recruiting in the early 1970s when Wayne Morris committed to SMU. I believe Harrison was also a Blue Chipper or close. Some may have forgotten that Wayne Morris was considered by some to be the top RB in the country out of Dallas SOC about the time the BB team got Ira Terrell out of Roosevelt. Morris had a great career but he never really recovered from a serious knee injury as a Sophmore. He did run for 200 yards against UT as a Senior and played several years with St. Louis Cardinals. There was even an article in the DMN quoting some unidentified grumblers that SMU was trying to put together a Super Team of blacks-seriously. Times have changed.

as I recall, Freeman Johns had a short stint in the NFL.

I remember a MNF game when Freeman was playing for the Rams. He caught a pass (or 2) & Meredith would not shut-up about his Pony brother.

Harrison did play a season with the Redskins. Kenny and Freeman were both kind of left out in the cold by the Smith offense. When we fell behind to Baylor in Smith's first year, he took Keith Bobo off the bench to play QB, put Harrison and Johns at wide outs, Roan at tight end, and we overcame a 24 point deficit to win the game. But after that, they were pretty much relegated to an occasional pass. Morris did play two or three years for the Cardinals.