Why Not Us?
Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:13 pmhttp://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/teamReport ... nsideSlant
From Foxsports.com
Team Report: Inside Slant
After improving 5-6 last year and going 3-1 against bowl-bound opponents, SMU suddenly looks like a team capable of competing for a winning season, a bowl, and, with a few breaks, the Conference USA West Division title.
Winning the division may seem a little far-fetched, but Tulsa was picked to finish fourth and fifth in the division last year and won the West on the way to the C-USA championship.
"Why not us?" SMU coach Phil Bennett said. "With the parity in our league, if we come out and play every week, I think we can compete with anyone out there."
The Mustangs appeared to take care of one of their biggest questions in the spring -- finding a quarterback -- when redshirt freshman Justin Willis emerged as the likely starter.
"He's done it all spring," coach Phil Bennett said. "I'm impressed by the way he handles things. He has a calmness in what he does."
Defensively, Bennett liked what he saw from the front seven. Bennett, a longtime defensive coordinator, was particularly pleased with the progress of his linebackers, claiming they could be as good as they've been since he came to SMU.
"We're a much more athletic team than we've ever been," Bennett said.
From Foxsports.com
Team Report: Inside Slant
After improving 5-6 last year and going 3-1 against bowl-bound opponents, SMU suddenly looks like a team capable of competing for a winning season, a bowl, and, with a few breaks, the Conference USA West Division title.
Winning the division may seem a little far-fetched, but Tulsa was picked to finish fourth and fifth in the division last year and won the West on the way to the C-USA championship.
"Why not us?" SMU coach Phil Bennett said. "With the parity in our league, if we come out and play every week, I think we can compete with anyone out there."
The Mustangs appeared to take care of one of their biggest questions in the spring -- finding a quarterback -- when redshirt freshman Justin Willis emerged as the likely starter.
"He's done it all spring," coach Phil Bennett said. "I'm impressed by the way he handles things. He has a calmness in what he does."
Defensively, Bennett liked what he saw from the front seven. Bennett, a longtime defensive coordinator, was particularly pleased with the progress of his linebackers, claiming they could be as good as they've been since he came to SMU.
"We're a much more athletic team than we've ever been," Bennett said.