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OK, I'll admit that prior to the end of last season, I tended to take the Stallion/jtstang approach re: expectations and frustrations about SMU football. In fact, jtstang had a nice little summation of this attitude a few threads back. I will say that I am a bit more hopeful and excited about this season that in recent years.

But, geez--Bennett & Co. are just begging for fans to get their hopes up about this season. It's all positive, all the time--not that there's anything wrong with that. In fact, that's great--commit and commit hard if it's the truth. But, how many times have we been kicked in the nads before? What's different? Yes, we are coming off our best season since 1997, but the level of bravado eminating from this program is unlike anything I can remember post-DP. So--OK, I'll bite. I'll leave Stallion and jt in the cave and venture out into the sunlight this year; Something tells me I'm not the only one. But Bennett & Co. beware...the fall could prove fatal this time for many of the lunatic diehards the continue to care about SMU football.

If...and I said, if... I were hedging my bets, I'd predict that the next excitement to come from the SMU faithful will be the buzz surrounding the next former-rising-star coach our man Orsini is looking at to "turn this program around."

EDIT: Sorry, I realize the title to this thread may be misleading, but this article is what led to my comments.

I don't see it as bravado. Players and coaches alike have openly talked about concerns or indecision surrounding new players in the secondary, linebacker, the kicking game and at quarterback. I see this as pointing to a group of players who have worked extraordinarily hard, and have the chance to see it pay off this year. Let's hope there's fire behind this smoke!

When I say bravado, I don't mean to imply a negative...I'm just talking about all the talk about how "anything less than a bowl game is unacceptable", "we've got better athletes than we've had for many years", "EXPECT a bowl game", and how we've now got the personnel for a REAL defense, etc., etc.

I want to believe pretty badly, and I know we are better, but I've just felt like vommiting too many times to count after investing my emotions in SMU football.

Every time you wanted to puke will just make the bowl taste that much sweeter, whether it's this year, next year -- whenever. (OK, somehow that puke/taste reference is a little nasty.)

I'm right there with you BR. Most teams and fans have optimism in August. I think several factors make SMU's coaches and players more optimistic and outwardly confident than usual: 1. we ended the season on a hot streak and beat some decent teams (relative to us); 2. many of our best players are back from last season; 3. our schedule is weaker on paper than it's been in a while; and 4. Bennett has nothing to lose since Orsini's expectations are said to be very high based on this schedule and where the program has been. Does this mean we'll meet these heightened expectations? As a long suffering fan and season ticket holder, I'm not holding my breath. That said, I believe the potential is there for us to have a winning season (based on returning players and favorable schedule), and based on what I've heard it's now or never for Bennett. I will be pulling for him and the team to pull it off and win 7 or more games. August is a time for optimism.

Bennett knows its going to be put up or shut up time this year, so he'd might as well talk big. After four losing seasons, tempering expectations doesn't really do you any good.