PonyFans.com

Yesterday, a reader asked: Will SMU earn a bowl bid in 2006?

I believe so. The big question remains the quarterback position. If the Mustangs get some consistent quarterback play, they should win six or seven games in 2006.
I would be interested in knowing what Keith (Mr. SMU) Whitmire and Matt (Baylor God) Mosley think.


Posted by Calvin Watkins at 10:22 AM (E-mail this entry)

http://sportssay.beloblog.com/

Considering some of the wild things he's said on that blog before, that's pretty encouraging that he'd say that even before knowing who the quarterback will be.

More from the DMN Blog...

It's been 22 years since SMU went to a bowl, so I have a hard time picturing the Mustangs in a bowl game until it happens. Improvement doesn't always follow a natural progression when you're coming from as far down as SMU has been. Not that it can't happen in 2006, but SMU will be breaking in a new quarterback. A big key to five wins in 2005 was Jerad Romo being more comfortable his second season.

Remember, it's a 12-game schedule next season. The last I heard, seven wins would be required for bowl-eligibility, but the NCAA may lower it to six wins because of the proliferation of bowl games.

The non-conference schedule does look promising, except for the opener at Texas Tech. The other non-conference games, I believe, are North Texas, Sam Houston State and Arkansas State. Expect North Texas to be pumped to play SMU, as always.

If SMU wins three in non-conference, obviously it makes things easier, but that means bucking a tradition of slow starts. Another hurdle is finding a bowl that will take the Mustangs. WIth SMU's small fan base, the Mustangs may have to win a title to ensure a bowl bid. However, any bowl that invites SMU will get plenty of pop from the many "SMU comes back from the dead" stories that will be done by the media.


Posted by Keith Whitmire at 5:44 AM (E-mail this entry)

http://sportssay.beloblog.com/

I would imagine if SMU earn's a bowl bid it would be one close to Texas, if not in Texas.

MFFL02 wrote:I would imagine if SMU earn's a bowl bid it would be one close to Texas, if not in Texas.

Liberty Bowl
Hawaii Bowl or whatever it's called now..Aloha?
New Orleans Bowl
Ft. Worth Bowl
Houston Bowl

Isn't that the likely order we would see? Let's hope there's a MC charter if it's Hawaii that we could buy our way onto.

If it were to be the Ft. Worth bowl, I say we tell TCU we'd like to practice over there, and would they be so kind as to paint MUSTANGS in their practice field and a Mustang somewhere, much like SMU did the checkerboard end zone for Tennessee.

RGV Pony wrote:Liberty Bowl
Hawaii Bowl or whatever it's called now..Aloha?
New Orleans Bowl
Ft. Worth Bowl
Houston Bowl

Last I heard, the Houston Bowl may not happen next year. I think they are currently looking for a new sponsor and a new conference tie-in.

we also have that bowl in Mobile. The Houston Bowl is contractually obligated to pick us 1 year out of the contract too.

RGV Pony wrote: .... If it were to be the Ft. Worth bowl, I say we tell TCU we'd like to practice over there, and would they be so kind as to paint MUSTANGS in their practice field and a Mustang somewhere, much like SMU did the checkerboard end zone for Tennessee.

Hmmmm .... painting MUSTANGS on the field and Mustang logos everywhere at TCU -- right during the heart of recruiting season? That's a damn good idea, RGV.

I've never seen such tentative comments re: SMU from Whitmire.