Frustrated, But Not Giving Up

[OC Mustang]

I think I am probably as frustrated as anyone.
But you know, it's okay. I don't like it, and I wish to hell any number of things went differently, but it's okay.

2 games left. SMU can win both. We didn't beat Houston because in the end, they did a few more things better/successfully than we did.

But if anybody among the Coogs think that they beat us up and down the field, that's a load of crap. #22 was simply faster than SMU to the perimeter and inside, and Houston played good defense when they had to.
Kolb was decidedly un-Heisman like with the exception really of one scramble-pass on 3rd & long. And our pass rush, even with guys out, was exceptional.

I'll remind everyone that game had 3 or 4 moments which, if they went a little differently, produce a different outcome. But they didn't. And Houston was picked to win, and they did.

On a lighter note, my boys and wife came with me, and the crowd was good, and my little one's first home game, despite the loss, was a great time. I was pleased.

Now, I think I am taking a hiatus from the board...I am most disappointed with the bi-polar nature of wins/losses. I know it is a part of it all, but I don't have to participate. So have fun with this thread, or not. I will simply pipe up for myself only and say that I am confidant of our chances vs. both Tulsa & Rice. For me, 6-6 and Bennett remains. 7-5 was pretty much the consensus expectation. We are still there. It isn't pretty, and it's a little to the wire for my sensibilities, but hey, these guys have been thoroughly entertaining this season, and I have enjoyed it.

I'm done now. I figure the peanut gallery will either post new or add comments. Knock yourselves out. My two cents have been added.

[perunapower]

I think I am probably as frustrated as anyone.
But you know, it's okay. I don't like it, and I wish to hell any number of things went differently, but it's okay.

2 games left. SMU can win both. We didn't beat Houston because in the end, they did a few more things better/successfully than we did.

But if anybody among the Coogs think that they beat us up and down the field, that's a load of crap. #22 was simply faster than SMU to the perimeter and inside, and Houston played good defense when they had to.
Kolb was decidedly un-Heisman like with the exception really of one scramble-pass on 3rd & long. And our pass rush, even with guys out, was exceptional.

I'll remind everyone that game had 3 or 4 moments which, if they went a little differently, produce a different outcome. But they didn't. And Houston was picked to win, and they did.

On a lighter note, my boys and wife came with me, and the crowd was good, and my little one's first home game, despite the loss, was a great time. I was pleased.

Now, I think I am taking a hiatus from the board...I am most disappointed with the bi-polar nature of wins/losses. I know it is a part of it all, but I don't have to participate. So have fun with this thread, or not. I will simply pipe up for myself only and say that I am confidant of our chances vs. both Tulsa & Rice. For me, 6-6 and Bennett remains. 7-5 was pretty much the consensus expectation. We are still there. It isn't pretty, and it's a little to the wire for my sensibilities, but hey, these guys have been thoroughly entertaining this season, and I have enjoyed it.

I'm done now. I figure the peanut gallery will either post new or add comments. Knock yourselves out. My two cents have been added.

I pretty much 100% agree with you. The polarity of this board is appalling. I still have faith, despite my frustration with yesterday's outcome.

[ponyfan84]

I think people have these bi-polar reactions because its so damn frustrating to watch this team. With such high expectations, they should be much better than they are, but when your coach plays not to lose, then you have a huge issue. But other than that, good post.

[MrMustang1965]

And you still have the Marshall Mavericks, too!

[Stallion]

I think its the expectations thing. The expectations on this board are so irrational - simply not based on any factual merit. You know miracles do come true but only once every lifetime or so. I really thought SMU competed well yesterday but were really hampered by the injury to Haywood and probably to Bonds too because I'm sure it affected his mobility in the 2nd half when the DLine got bulldozed time after time-even on QB sneaks. Only saw 1 bad coaching decision-the 4th and 1 to Mapps. I think great athletes make great plays which Aldridge and to some extent Battle did. Any kid that is a RB who averages 12.5 ypc(803 yards) and 14.5 ypcatch(245 yards) is a great athlete. But I only predicted 6-6 on the season so I rarely lose my [deleted] after a loss like this-There is a reason for mediocrity and it is talent level.

[PonyPride]

Justin Willis is one of the main reasons I have faith in this team. After the game, he was one of the players brought into media room, and was asked what it feels like to have thrown more touchdown passes -- and as a freshman -- than any quarterback in SMU history. His reaction:

"I don't care."

In the offseason, he might well look back and realize that what he has accomplished this year is pretty amazing, and presumably will find some enjoyment and satisfaction in that.

But all he wanted to talk about was his dissatisfaction with his performance, and his belief that the Ponies will go to a bowl game. THIS year. He said they're going to win the last two games (which, of course, is what you'd expect him to say). But when he started talking about how "there's no quit in this team," it didn't sound like he was just regurgitating standard clichés. He seemed to mean it, it seemed genuine, and he had a very disappointed but intense look about him. He didn't say it, but he sort of looked like he wished the Tulsa game was tomorrow.

[78pony]

PP, if we let Justin have the opportunity to make crucial plays with his arm, feet or mind, I like our chances. I'm sure the guys felt terrible after the game, although I imagine Justin felt the worst (not because he should have - because he is such a competitor).

Tulsa and Rice are games we can win, provided we shake this one off immediately and get refocused. At crunch time, if PB/RB continue with slowly developing plays and ones that have failed time and again, we will reap what we sow.

[mustangfan01]

I don't understand some of you people. I've found myself agreeing with Stallion far too much this week than I would have liked but...

How can we talk about how this team had/has such high expectations?

We were 5-6 last year because we won 3 straight games to finish the year and walk away with some respectability. Realistically, we were a hail mary away and 7 less turnovers by Palmer away from back-to-back 3-8 years.

We start this year 0-2 and people are jumping ship, talking about how terrible this team is. We are all sitting around talking about how we want to murder Phil Bennett and possibly talk to Texas State about trading football teams. Stupid crap like that was all over.


We don't have winning seasons, we aren't used to being .500, we aren't used to talking about bowl eligibility.

We need to run with what we have and quit talking about how an SMU team has fallen below expectations when they are 5-5 and looking to be bowling...and possibly finishing 2nd/3rd in the West.

I don't know what you guys read...or where you read it..but where did Sports Illustrated predict SMU was going to be 9-3 this year? 5-5 is right where we should be...and I am happy to finally be here.

How often does a team run for almost 400 yards on another team and win because the other team can't hold on to the ball or finish a safety?!?! I am proud of the way we played yesterday -- loss, bad plays, bad calls.

5-5 with 2 to go.

[ponyboy]

I think its the expectations thing. The expectations on this board are so irrational - simply not based on any factual merit. You know miracles do come true but only once every lifetime or so. I really thought SMU competed well yesterday

Agreed on the expectations. I don't think it would have been a miracle for us to win yesterday, though. All came down to Reggie Carrington's hold on Kolb's jersey in the end zone. Kolb's escaping that grasp was the fatal blow.

Good game, Houston.

Now let's beat Tulsa next week.

[jkflamebo]

After yesterdays game I couldn't disagree with you more. But after last night, woke up this morning after some sleep, I feel a little better and I could not agree with you more now mustangfan01. At this point, the only reason I have faith in this team is because we have a guy like Willis at qb. He was absolutely livid at the end of the game yesterday, he is indeed a competitor who wants to win and really knows how to. YES I actually thought we had a good chance of winning out and going to the conference championship but with the success we've had in the past 20 years, unrealistic. 5-5 is really not bad for this team, I honestly don't know what our chances are of beating Tulsa and Rice w/out Haywood, Bonds, Sanders...prolly not good at all since Rice is looking very scary as of late. But I've got two more years here at SMU and hopefully I'll see Willis do even better things for this program.

[Stallion]

If the game was over when Carrington missed the tackle in the endzone-what about the 76 yards anf 14 points they got AFTER that play. Pointing to one play and saying it cost us the game IS LOSER-I said LOSER talk. It most certainly DID NOT cost us the game. Good teams overcome adversity. Mediocre teams point to key plays and talk about woulda coulda or shoulda.

[LawSchoolPony]

I don't know Stallion, that play was pretty darn key - it would have given us a possible safety, and the ball back again, and I believe it was at a point when we were still up right? It definitely felt like the emotional high point of the game, after that play, I knew we had lost, even though we were technically "still in the game" at that point.

As for the emotional roller coaster - I had my blowout after the UNT game b/c it was just such an awful game, on both sides - UNT and SMU were both a disgrace to D-1 college football that night in Denton. Since then, I have just been sort of "pleasantly surprised" to win. Its been much more of an enjoyable season since. I don't think we've had a loss since UNT that was anywhere near as disgusting.

I hope we beat Tulsa and Rice - I figure going 1-1 might happen. I'm going to go and cheer, and let happen what happens. Its up to the team - if they want a bowl game, they know what they have to do, they better step up.

[Mexmustang]

It is fine to continue to be supportive of the players, but this season is just another in a long line of disasters. Rice turns it around in one year, we can't, given a twenty year head start!

[abezontar]

I don't know about anybody else, but what has me so down after this game is that looking at the number of key players we are losing to graduation I get worried that this is going to be our only chance for a while. Demyron, Willis and Company may be great but if there isn't anyone to step into the roles of Bonds, Haywood, Sturdivant, Chase, Rogers etc. are we going to be able to keep improving?

[ponyup10]

It is fine to continue to be supportive of the players, but this season is just another in a long line of disasters. Rice turns it around in one year, we can't, given a twenty year head start!

Rice has turned it around??? I'm sorry don't Rice and SMU have the same record? The season could end with Rice going 5-7 and SMU going 7-5 so don't get too far ahead of yourself

I don't know about anybody else, but what has me so down after this game is that looking at the number of key players we are losing to graduation I get worried that this is going to be our only chance for a while. Demyron, Willis and Company may be great but if there isn't anyone to step into the roles of Bonds, Haywood, Sturdivant, Chase, Rogers etc. are we going to be able to keep improving?

Bonds and Haywood—we saw it on Sat. Parham, Pryor and Denman all looked decent enough...and with practice and an offseason could really step up

Sturdivant—Bryce Hudman has looked pretty good in the time he's played (the 15 yard helmet-to-helmet penalty was pitiful)

Chase & Pellerin (who you forgot)—Sanders and Givens

Rogers—there are a lot of young really good players who havent seen game time because Rogers and Muse have dominated, but they are certainly there