For Your Viewing Enjoyment

[DiamondM]

www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com is a great college football site with a sense of humor (even if it is run by SEC fans, specifically Gators).

http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/?p=3417

[BUS]

Thanks, I sent that around to the guys I knew in 82.

Should have gone for it against Arkansas. IMO

[Stallion]

Bobby Collins made the right decision for a team that hadn't gone to the Cotton Bowl or had much success in 15 years. SMU got the ball back with sufficient time for a FG and several time outs-had plays called that could have won the ballgame. Remember the play where SMU had the flow to the left and got Dickerson out in the right flank on a pass play where Dickerson was open by 10 yards and only one Arkansas DB on the right side of the field to keep him from going at least 50 yards. A simply great call by SMU but the Arkansas DB made even a better play. Still had a shot with a long FG that wasn't kicked well. Bobby Collins made the right call under those circumstances-put your opponent deep in its territory and force them to make a mistake-if they don't-accept the SWC championship and go the Cotton Bowl.

[mrydel]

Bobby Collins made the right decision for a team that hadn't gone to the Cotton Bowl or had much success in 15 years. SMU got the ball back with sufficient time for a FG and several time outs-had plays called that could have won the ballgame. Remember the play where SMU had the flow to the left and got Dickerson out in the right flank on a pass play where Dickerson was open by 10 yards and only one Arkansas DB on the right side of the field to keep him from going at least 50 yards. A simply great call by SMU but the Arkansas DB made even a better play. Still had a shot with a long FG that wasn't kicked well. Bobby Collins made the right call under those circumstances-put your opponent deep in its territory and force them to make a mistake-if they don't go the Cotton Bowl.

There is no doubt about this. Had we gone for 2 and missed, we would have been lucky to get a minor bowl game with our lack of travel power. You had to lock up the Cotton Bowl and then try to score again. It was worked perfectly and the FG attempt of 53 yards was close but no cigar. If the touchdown had been scored on the last play of the game, it still would have been proper to kick the extra point. But I think many people forget how much time was left and that we had a reasonable chance to win it with the field goal.

And Arkansas, after we tied it had to try to score and could not just run out the clock. That allowed us to sit back and play pass defense which allowed us time for the final attempt.

[BUS]

As I peer back into the fog... I thought is was very late in the 4th quarter.

Risk Reward.

I am a gambler and may not a good one but how many shots do you have to wrap up a National Championship.

And then again, maybe we still end up #2 in some polls.

[mrydel]

As I peer back into the fog... I thought is was very late in the 4th quarter.

Risk Reward.

I am a gambler and may not a good one but how many shots do you have to wrap up a National Championship.

And then again, maybe we still end up #2 in some polls.

It was very late, but the risk/reward was why they could not go for two. The risk if not making it was too big. In today's world it would have been ok because number one we would have been in the BCS, and secondly we would have been assured of a good bowl placement. Even though our crowds were larger then we average now, they still did not warrant the close attention of the Bowl officials. We probably would have been in El Paso or Shreveport. We needed to lock up the Cotton Bowl first and then go for the win.

[Stallion]

Plus Arkansas had to win outright to go to the Cotton Bowl-pretty good chance they might gamble and turn the ball over deep in their territory. If I'm not mistaken I believe they almost did.

[mrydel]

Regardless, it was a great game to watch. They still moan about "the call" (Arkansas pass interference call that set up the last touchdown) here in Arkansas. If I recall, it was that call, along with some similar ones that brought about the "uncatchable" rule. I do not think that was in effect yet and it is possible that the pass could have been ruled uncatchable under todays rules.

[BUS]

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Did not this team have two complete O-lines. One that played the 1st and 3rd and another that played the 2nd and 4th.

I also think that the D-line had two playing sets.
Carter replaced by Ball ETC.

That is what I want to see again at SMU. Then we can maul some people.

[Caballo]

Collins made the correct call to kick the PAT. That forced Arkansas, who had to win, into throwing the ball since there was less than 2 minutes left in the game. We got the ball back with plenty of time to kick the FG, and should have but it was a terrible kick. If we had gone for the 2 and missed, the Pigs would have simply run out the clock. That would have resulted in us going to the Bluebonnet Bowl to play Florida. Which Arkansas beat on New Years Eve.

Now, in 1983 when we were playing Texas and he went for two late in the game, we should have also kicked the PAT to tie and played the same odds. But, we missed the two, finished the season 10-1, and then got to go play uninspired and hungover football in the Sun Bowl.

This all reminds me how insignificant we are in college football today. Which makes me want to go down the hall and toss my eggs in the toilet.

[RHS]

As I peer back into the fog... I thought is was very late in the 4th quarter.

Risk Reward.

I am a gambler and may not a good one but how many shots do you have to wrap up a National Championship.

And then again, maybe we still end up #2 in some polls.

Maybe you need to have your hind sight eyes rechecked.

I think the average person felt if SMU tied Ark and won the Cotton Bowl, they were the natural choice for a NC. 11-0-1 was still the best mark for the season. I don't think being leaped frog by an 11-1 independent PSU team with a light schedule ever crossed people's minds. It was the right call. It was the smart call. The media and coaches just blew the vote later because they liked Joe Pa.

I was actually at that SMU vs. Arkansas game at Texas Stadium. Arkansas had the Pony Express shut down. The play that turned it for SMU was a heads up play by a WR who saw he couldn't catch a deep pass but could force the DB to intefere him. Everyone in the stadium knew what happened but the refs had no choice but to provide the Stangs with the spot foul and first down. That opened up things just enough to get the TD a few plays later. It is the best play in college football that no one talks about.

[EastStang]

Unfortunately, the Joe Pa pity vote got us. We beat Pitt and Dan Marino in the Cotton Bowl and unfortunately PSU beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. I froze my hind off at the CB that day. (Rained, hailed, sleeted and snowed, literally).

[PonyKai]

But I'm sure you would go back and watch it in person again in a second.

[Stallion]

Brian Bosworth was so excited he committed to the Mustangs after the game.

[Sewanee Stang]

Didn't Penn State beat Hershell Walker and Georgia in the Sugar Bowl in 83? The Ponies had a tough but legitmate claim on the National Championship. Too bad we lost steam late that year. The 30-17 win over Texas that year was awesome.

This may seem like a pipe dream, but if SMU can ever get it together like the Boise State team of last year, it could go to the Sugar, Orange, or Cotton Bowl game (assumed inclusion in BCS). Now that would be something. A winning season would be a nice start. I'd be happy with a trip to the New Orleans bowl.