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Granted, I didn't check NY Giants' stats, but according to the broadcast of the Cowboys game, their team stats looked a little like SMU on the offensive side of the ball. Defense gave up 35...10 pt difference instead of 14 pts, but result was same. Now I don't like giving up ridiculous passing yards to an opposing team either, but a win is a win.

As for Ark State, before we get completely tweaked about the team's/coach's shortcomings, lets take a look at the matchup. Clearly, they played up to Texas. But let's not kid each other, they are not Div I-AA 2x National Champions Appalachian State. They played up to Texas because they didn't have anything to lose. Texas didn't care...period. They tend to start slow as well, do they not? If I recall the last few years, if it hadn't been for Vince Young, Texas might never have completed an undefeated season for starting slow.

Does this SMU team have to take this Ark State game uber-seriously? I guess this question is as dumba$$ a question as could ever be asked, even rhetorically, given what we have seen from the last two games.

However, I think the these questions also have to be asked: is Ark State better than Tech? Are they better than UNT? Personally, I think the answer is "no, and maybe erring toward no", respectively.

If anybody (PPride, that's you, man) can show us an offensive and defensive matchup analysis, I'd like to see exactly what Ark State has before I start ripping SMU's chances this weekend. We've covered the intangibles ad nauseum.

SMU won. I personally don't care how ugly it got in doing so; it got my blood pumping. Boise State beat OU on gimmick plays; I betcha their fans would not have questioned the stats on that game. They won...period. And it was arguably the best game I have ever seen.

Arkansas St has proven its a competent Sun Belt team not to be taken lightly-except for the SMU game. I think I read they have won 8 out of their last 9 home games. Phil Bennett is 4-25 on the road. Looks to me like SMU will be extremely fortunate to get out of Jonestown with a win.

ASU QB Corey Leonard completed 22-of-36 passes for 259 yards and a pick for the Indians against the Horns in Austin. They have seen two game films of our defensive secondary. Air raid alarm!

Stallion wrote:Arkansas St has proven its a competent Sun Belt team not to be taken lightly-except for the SMU game. I think I read they have won 8 out of their last 9 home games. Phil Bennett is 4-25 on the road. Looks to me like SMU will be extremely fortunate to get out of Jonestown with a win.

aren't we fortunate for any win we get?

Stallion wrote:Arkansas St has proven its a competent Sun Belt team not to be taken lightly-except for the SMU game. I think I read they have won 8 out of their last 9 home games. Phil Bennett is 4-25 on the road. Looks to me like SMU will be extremely fortunate to get out of Jonestown with a win.

Reasonable call.
I still want to see matchups, though. We've won 7 of our last 9 at home as well. If someone could do a regression analysis on this football game, I doubt the correlation coefficient would suggest that homefield advantage is the difference maker in this game.

Two questions, for the field: how are their defensive backs? And how is their O-line?

Sam I Am wrote:ASU QB Corey Leonard completed 22-of-36 passes for 259 yards and a pick for the Indians against the Horns in Austin. They have seen two game films of our defensive secondary. Air raid alarm!

This scares me. Yes, this would be one of the matchups I'd be concerned about.

Sam...you in Jacksonville, eh? Marshall play you there this year?

I'm hoping the ASU QB is not the man the UNT's Meager was-- it takes alot of effort to throw for 600+ yards in a single game. Hell, Meager didn't have the same numbers last year in the entire 06 season.

Meager must have been working out this summer with Morestead.

The school that produced the passing McCown brothers will play at Marshall on Sept. 28. The Jville team is 0-2 and will not be a threat tot he Mavs this year.

Sam I Am wrote:ASU QB Corey Leonard completed 22-of-36 passes for 259 yards and a pick for the Indians against the Horns in Austin. They have seen two game films of our defensive secondary. Air raid alarm!

The same QB completed under 50% of his passes last year with a total of 1321 yrds, 8 touchdowns and 8 ints. Not saying that he hasn't improved but why is everyone ready to crown this kid.

Fact is that they have played one game and we have no clue if they are improved overall or if they had one good game.

As to how the finished up last year:
Ended 6-6
Beating UNT, Memphis, Louisiana-Monroe, FIU, Troy, Army
Losing: SMU, Okie State, Auburn, FAU, MTSU, Louisiana-Lafayette

OC Mustang wrote:

Stallion wrote:Two questions, for the field: how are their defensive backs? And how is their O-line?

We have 5 (5th year Seniors) DB's. Tyrell Johnson is high on the pro's watch list, and will be an early draft pick. We are loaded here.

Our O-line is young, but apparently did well in the only game we've played.

Fanof49ASU wrote:

OC Mustang wrote:

Stallion wrote:Two questions, for the field: how are their defensive backs? And how is their O-line?

We have 5 (5th year Seniors) DB's. Tyrell Johnson is high on the pro's watch list, and will be an early draft pick. We are loaded here.

Our O-line is young, but apparently did well in the only game we've played.

Is Tom Castilaw from Flower Mound in the rotation up there? He's a great kid.

Also a great story. He had to skip his sophomore and junior years because he had to work to help support his family. So he was a late find when he came back for his senior year.

SWC2010 wrote:I'm hoping the ASU QB is not the man the UNT's Meager was-- it takes alot of effort to throw for 600+ yards in a single game. Hell, Meager didn't have the same numbers last year in the entire 06 season.

Meager must have been working out this summer with Morestead.

Take Meager's four best single game efforts prior to Saturday and it doesn't add up to 601. I know because I looked it up.

OC Mustang wrote:Two questions, for the field: how are their defensive backs? And how is their O-line?

ASU's defensive backfield is expected have one or two drafted and everyone get at least a free agent look.

Offensive line? The first five are pretty good, depth is a HUGE issue. The coaches talk like they like the back-up talent but very inexperienced.

Most of the offense is sophmores. QB situation was messy last year with Leonard and Hewitt not breaking apart from each other to win and hold the starter's job until Leonard finally emerged late in the season as the clear-cut choice.

Stallion wrote:Arkansas St has proven its a competent Sun Belt team not to be taken lightly-except for the SMU game. I think I read they have won 8 out of their last 9 home games. Phil Bennett is 4-25 on the road. Looks to me like SMU will be extremely fortunate to get out of Jonestown with a win.

Anytime you win on the road in college athletics, it's a good, except when you come to Dallas to play us.

George S. Patton wrote:Is Tom Castilaw from Flower Mound in the rotation up there? He's a great kid.

I don't know. Sorry.