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Where was the offense and where, oh where were the fans? The student section was the most packed I've ever seen it in my four years here, and even at half time there was a good chunk left. I think the cold drove most away. But the rest of the stadium? Pathetic. The Athletic and Marketing Department has to find a way to put fans in the stands. The students proved tonight they can show up, but what about the rest of Dallas. I bet it would have been more had it not been Halloween...think how many people around the city were out with their kids, and 6:30 is prime trick or treat time for the youngsters. 11 days left to figure out how to draw fans. We know Houston will have a bunch, but this is pathetic. Houston is going to be a huge, and I mean huge game for us. If this team wants to play in December, we need the home crowd there loud and proud to preserve our undefeated home record.

Also, was anyone else pissed with the offense? I don't know if its because Willis was constantly under pressure when he did throw, but they did not throw it down field at all! Too conservative for my tastes. And the first time they had the ball, they should have gone for it on 4th down.

All in all, great game, sloppy, but exciting and I can't wait to see what PB draws up for Houston.

It was actually better than I expected basically because of an outstanding turnout by the students. I laud the 1/2 of the students who stayed for the entire game for being loud and proud. The 1/2 that left get a failing grade for deserting the team at half time.

Houston won't bring squat, they brought less than us for their last home game (check out the Chron article I posted earlier).

both schools are having good years. Even I would be surprised if they didn't have some increase in turnout since UH is competing for a Championship and SMU for its first bowl in 20 years. If we can't increase turnout in the next two weeks especially if SMU beats UH-then something is terribly terribly wrong and we may have lost some of these old fans forever.

Current STUDent wrote:Houston won't bring squat, they brought less than us for their last home game (check out the Chron article I posted earlier).

They are bringing their band though.

Tulsa will likely be going for a Championship the week they come to Dallas. Surely they can get the 3-4,000 fans they have brought to previous BB showdowns.

The UofH v SMU game is Homecoming. I would hope that there's a better turnout!

The students came out because it was Halloween and the game was on ESPN2, or else it would be another ho-hum showing from the students.

I don't know why the offense isn't throwing down the field more either. The most we threw down the field seemed to be 10-15 yards. I know Willis doesn't have the strongest arm in the world, but earlier in the year vs ASU and SHSU we were throwing the ball DOWN THE FIELD. We're going to need some big plays to beat UH and Tulsa. Overall, I thought the offense was way too conservative again

mavsrage311 wrote:The students came out because it was Halloween and the game was on ESPN2, or else it would be another ho-hum showing from the students.

I don't know why the offense isn't throwing down the field more either. The most we threw down the field seemed to be 10-15 yards. I know Willis doesn't have the strongest arm in the world, but earlier in the year vs ASU and SHSU we were throwing the ball DOWN THE FIELD. We're going to need some big plays to beat UH and Tulsa. Overall, I thought the offense was way too conservative again

Stop talking. Your speculations are unwanted. I, for one, was thoroughly impressed by the student crowd. To be honest, who wouldn't be excited about being on national TV. As for those who just came because it was on TV, maybe they will be hooked now. Maybe they saw something they liked. Maybe they will get excited about SMU football now.

mavsrage311 wrote:The students came out because it was Halloween and the game was on ESPN2, or else it would be another ho-hum showing from the students.

I don't know why the offense isn't throwing down the field more either. The most we threw down the field seemed to be 10-15 yards. I know Willis doesn't have the strongest arm in the world, but earlier in the year vs ASU and SHSU we were throwing the ball DOWN THE FIELD. We're going to need some big plays to beat UH and Tulsa. Overall, I thought the offense was way too conservative again

I imagine it had something to do with the fact that our recievers were NOT open downfield when those plays were called. UAB had excellent coverage.. I think we picked up their blitzes well though.. always having a back to dump the ball off to. We played the short game and passed underneath and picked apart their D. Willis was efficient and moved us down the field when we werent dropping the ball (literally) all over the field. We didn't actually GET to run that many plays, and so our momentum was interrupted several times.. I don't think I'm ready to pass judgement on Burns in this game just yet.. though I do think the middle was soft and we probably could have shot the ball to Sanders on crossing routes for 15-20 yards all day long.

sorry if the truth hurts. My four years as a student here I would see MAYBE the same 10-15 students every game, and occasional others. Some games I could swear there were maybe 20-30 students tops. The 0-12 season, the heat, the losing, whatever it was...thats the truth. It'd be nice if we could get as many students to every game as we did today, but reality is reality. The majority of SMU students don't care about SMU athletics, sorry

FloridaMustang wrote:

mavsrage311 wrote:The students came out because it was Halloween and the game was on ESPN2, or else it would be another ho-hum showing from the students.

I don't know why the offense isn't throwing down the field more either. The most we threw down the field seemed to be 10-15 yards. I know Willis doesn't have the strongest arm in the world, but earlier in the year vs ASU and SHSU we were throwing the ball DOWN THE FIELD. We're going to need some big plays to beat UH and Tulsa. Overall, I thought the offense was way too conservative again

I imagine it had something to do with the fact that our recievers were NOT open downfield when those plays were called. UAB had excellent coverage.. I think we picked up their blitzes well though.. always having a back to dump the ball off to. We played the short game and passed underneath and picked apart their D. Willis was efficient and moved us down the field when we werent dropping the ball (literally) all over the field. We didn't actually GET to run that many plays, and so our momentum was interrupted several times.. I don't think I'm ready to pass judgement on Burns in this game just yet.. though I do think the middle was soft and we probably could have shot the ball to Sanders on crossing routes for 15-20 yards all day long.

Florida, I agree that the middle was open today, but it seems to me the coaches just don't have enough confidence in the players to throw down the field. That wasn't the case when SHSU and ASU came to town. Our offense put up a clinic those two games. I feel we are capable of more, and wish we'd take more chances down the field. Just my opinion

mavsrage311 wrote:

FloridaMustang wrote:

mavsrage311 wrote:The students came out because it was Halloween and the game was on ESPN2, or else it would be another ho-hum showing from the students.

I don't know why the offense isn't throwing down the field more either. The most we threw down the field seemed to be 10-15 yards. I know Willis doesn't have the strongest arm in the world, but earlier in the year vs ASU and SHSU we were throwing the ball DOWN THE FIELD. We're going to need some big plays to beat UH and Tulsa. Overall, I thought the offense was way too conservative again

I imagine it had something to do with the fact that our recievers were NOT open downfield when those plays were called. UAB had excellent coverage.. I think we picked up their blitzes well though.. always having a back to dump the ball off to. We played the short game and passed underneath and picked apart their D. Willis was efficient and moved us down the field when we werent dropping the ball (literally) all over the field. We didn't actually GET to run that many plays, and so our momentum was interrupted several times.. I don't think I'm ready to pass judgement on Burns in this game just yet.. though I do think the middle was soft and we probably could have shot the ball to Sanders on crossing routes for 15-20 yards all day long.

Florida, I agree that the middle was open today, but it seems to me the coaches just don't have enough confidence in the players to throw down the field. That wasn't the case when SHSU and ASU came to town. Our offense put up a clinic those two games. I feel we are capable of more, and wish we'd take more chances down the field. Just my opinion

I disagree. Watch the game again. The middle was open quite a bit.. without even luring in the LBs. which confuses me, because when willis DOES throw long, 90% of the time its a slant or post to bobby chase in the middle of the field. maybe they figured that out. did we even run play action once btw? i would have liked to have seen more quick slants or a reverse.. something creative that we havent shown before on film.. or even something they have seen on film.. like a zach sledge fleaflicker or something, but this game wasnt about taking chances.. clearly. we did what we had to do and came out on top. im happy.. but lets get creative with houston because they WILL break our D.