PonyFans.com

Wins-NT, Ark.St., UTEP, Tulane, Rice, UCF, Memphis
Losses-Tech, TCU, Sothern Miss, Tulsa, Houston

Bowl win before the Apocalypse

8-5

Hope: 9-5
Fear: 5-7

Good post, Knuckle Stang. I share your hope. I have similar fears; specifically:

...that NTSU doesn't know any better but to run their new offense and we can't stop it

...that TCU pounds out a running game against our weakness (defensive middle) and uses that to exploit us through the air

...that Memphis is vastly improved over a year ago

...that Tulsa does what Rice did to us last year

...that UCF returns to their two years ago form

...that Ark State prepares for the no-huddle and our guys have a tough time playing in someone's backyard in northeastern Arkansas

...that Bob Toledo has some athletes and does a job on us

..and that Tech and So. Miss do what we think they'll do

So my fear? 3-9.

I'm just basically afraid that we're not going to be able to stop. Anybody.

I think our wins will be close, for the most part...I'm afraid our losses may be by double digits...with that in mind, 3-9 could be a horrible reality.
But I choose to not go over to the dark side, for now.

Beating Tech/TCU would be a quantum leap for this program, and give some needed confidence for the Tulsa/Southern Miss/Houston games.

Our defensive issue last year was the passing game. We have experience and depth coming back in our secondary so hopefully we will be improved. The run may create issues but I think our inside defensive players will be as good as last year. Our offense should be improved as well. On top of that, we have kids that were close to a great season and should be hungry to win (a great comeback against Tulsa sure was sweetening to a players’ taste). Our special teams put up some impressive perfomances We get hot this season. This is our year to turn the corner.

Hope 12-0
Fear 9-3

Wow, is it already after 5 in Arkansas?

jtstang wrote:Wow, is it already after 5 in Arkansas?

At least you gave me the benefit of the doubt before you jumped to the Sunshiner conclusion.

Hey, I hope you are right, and I will be pleasantly surprised if you are. Now pass that bottle.

I truly hope for better, but I think I would be happy with 6-6.

This will be the best offense we have seen on the hilltop in quite some time, and it is a lot harder to find offensive playmakers than defensive ones.

But Rogers, Sturdivant, Carrington and Heywood made an awful lot of bug plays for us the last two years.

JasonB wrote:I truly hope for better, but I think I would be happy with 6-6.

This will be the best offense we have seen on the hilltop in quite some time, and it is a lot harder to find offensive playmakers than defensive ones.

But Rogers, Sturdivant, Carrington and Heywood made an awful lot of bug plays for us the last two years.

You would be happy with 6-6?! Do you aspire for mediocrity in your personal life too or just for SMU Athletics????

jtstang wrote:Now pass that bottle.

Actually it is a jug.

JasonB wrote:I truly hope for better, but I think I would be happy with 6-6.

This will be the best offense we have seen on the hilltop in quite some time, and it is a lot harder to find offensive playmakers than defensive ones.

But Rogers, Sturdivant, Carrington and Heywood made an awful lot of bug plays for us the last two years.

You'd be happy with 6-6? Way to reach for the stars there, JasonB. That's a step backwards from last year.

Progress is what SMU needs to show this year...all the way from the administration's support of athletics on down to the coaching level then to the team and then to the fan base including the student body, the 'loyal 1500' and the Metroplex community.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview07 ... id=2971673

ESPN.coms Todd McShay says we WIN THE WE$T!!!


But I say we go 6-6

Okay... I'll play.

So while I agree with/understand the 3-9 fear, I'm not going to go there. We have been so used to losing and getting our hopes crushed, that last year I felt sure that we would get to 7-5 and a bowl birth... but the years of losing translated to 6-6 not feeling that bad/progress. Okay, it felt crappy at the end of the Rice game, but in retrospect, and while we were winning those six games, it felt damn good. While the 1997 season felt like crushing disappointment at the end of the season... so close to turning things around, so close. This time, it just feels like we are becoming a better team. Remember to begin last year too, we had a lot of turnover on defense. With that in mind...

Regular season -

Hope 9-3
Fear 5-7

I'll be thrilled with 7-5, and that's what I am looking for... 7 wins if and when we get there it will be all I can hope for (even though I listed 9-3 as my "hope").

Bold Prediction 8-4


w/Post-Season

Hope 11-3
Fear... no post season

Again, 7 wins is all I want, and just to get to a bowl game... win or lose. But I have a feeling, if we get there, we will win.

Bowld Prediction 10-4


In my above scenario I have us losing to Southern Miss in the regular season (and then beating them in the championship game), as well as to to Tech and TCU, plus one more conference loss... in reality, I think we win one of the big three games (Tech, TCU, Southern Miss)... and my bet would be Tech, why? The big M-O, momentum ... from last season. And it's the only one at home.

If I were forced to be pinned down on an acrtual predictuion... I really like our chances this year, and I'd put money down on

8-5





I say the over under on the season is 7-6... I take the over.