Bulletin Board Material

[DiamondM]

And so the Tech smack begins. I just hope (1) that their players are as cocky as their fans, (2) they aren't right, and (3) Mustang fans refrain from making any wild boasting predictions in response.

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[LA_Mustang]

WOW, those are some cocky fans! I don't think I would be that cocky even if we were playing NTSU. hehe.

[MrMustang1965]

I hope EVERYONE on this board reads what is being said and thought by the Raider fans. Sadly, there are some on this board who probably feel the same way they do...but NOT ME! I will refrain from posting ANYTHING on the Raider's fan board. Let 'em think what they want...'cause we're gonna surprise the hell outta them and WIN! GO MUSTANGS!

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"Winning ain't everything...but it's a lot more fun than the alternative!" S.M.U. SPIRIT: IT STARTS NOW!

[JasonB]

Almost as silly as thier predictions of a 52 - 0 win are the assertations that their defense is going to improve over last year. Every publication I have read indicates that their D is going downhill, even though their offense will stay pretty strong.

We might lose, but it won't be a shutout, and it is gonna be closer than people expect. Can our defense hold them up long enough for our offense to keep up with theirs? That is the big question.

Anyway, don't pay attention to what an online message board about Tech says. Those are obviously posted by Tech graduates located in Dallas, hundereds of miles away from the campus since the internet hasn't made its way out to Lubbock yet. They are too far away to have any clue of what is actually going on with their football program.

[Sam I Am]

Those Texas Ticks are full of fleas if they think the game will be rout. That's not what happened last year, and this year the teams are closer in abilities because our steps toward immprovement. Tech may win, but not by much.

[Roach]

I think Tech could well beat SMU. But I also think SMU could win. Here's why:

1. Keylon Kincade rushed 37 times for 160 yards and a touchdown. He's a year older and stronger, and Tech's defense has lost more (Flugence, Hunt, etc.) than it's gained.

2. Comet and Bartel give SMU much more of a passing threat. Whether they'll hook up for a bunch of touchdowns remains to be seen, and it's almost irrelevant. The fact is that because of Comet's past production and the scouting reports on Bartel (and what he showed last year, such as against LaTech), opponents will HAVE to respect the pass, until we prove we can't move the ball through the air. And rumor is Bartel has looked sensational in the first few practices. Either we take to the air a little more, or the defense backs up and Kincade has more running room.

3. Our offensive line will be better this year. As a group, the offensive line was the biggest surprise last year, at least to me. And to be as fair as possible, part of the reason the offensive line was so effective last year was because they stayed remarkably healthy, for a bunch of guys who basically get in a gang fight every Saturday. Since Tech is the first game of the season, you have to think the group will be healthy going into that game, at least. Good seniors in Sterling Harris and Steve Reindl, good guards in Townsend Hargis and Brad Keischnick. LT remains up for grabs, but the competition between Eric Neal and Chris Urbanus (that Urbanus-to-guard idea is over) should make both better.

4. B.J. Symons might well become a terrific quarterback at Tech. Based on the little I've seen, I think he will. However, whether he hits his top form in the first game might be a lot to ask. He's a very talented kid, and no matter how much practice and scrimmage time he has, he's had very little game experience. He's extremely athletic and very strong. But hopefully it will take him a couple of games before he and his receivers really hammer out their timing.

5. Think the SMU coaches won't be picking the brain of Tech-turned-SMU RB Foy Munlin?

6. Tech fans already are skeptical, saying Coach Leach might run out his contract and leave, or be shown the door. If Symons doesn't pick up perfectly for Saint Kliff, look for mutiny among the fans in Lubbock.

7. Season openers always have their moments: brutal heat, bad referee calls (it's their opener too, after all), a fumble here and there that might turn the tide, etc.

8. Don Ieremia-Stansbury will open a lot of eyes this year. In a hurry.


Lest ye Tech fans freak out, suggesting that I'm predicting an SMU win, I'm not. I'm merely listing reasons why the Ponies COULD win. If Tech plays well, we're admittedly in trouble. If Tech lays an egg on the scorching artificial turf at Jones Stadium in the opener, anything's possible. And to be boasting about a rout this early is sheer idiocy. So here's my prediction: a close game.

[Stallion]

I don't think the majority of predictions are that far off base at least with respect to Tech's scoring. The facts back them up-Tech has 9 offensive starters returning and look at what they put up against these top BCS schools last year-Mississippi 42, North Carolina St. 48, New Mexico 49, Texas A&M 48, Missouri 52, Baylor 62, Oklahoma St. 49, Texas 42, Clemson 55. SMU will have to play its best game of the season probably to hold these guys under 40 in Lubbock. Now I think the Tech defense can be scored upon but not sure we can keep up in an offensive shootout.

[Stallion]

BTW Tech averaged 49 points per game last year in Lubbock with its poorest offensive production being 42 points against Texas and Mississippi.