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Haven't seen this theory floating around, but it is one school of thought. I just hope there is a comparable "Bo Levi Mitchell starts slow" theory.

1999 record: 9-4
Week 1: Shelacked in home opener by USC (which was not the USC we know today)
Week 2: Beat IAA Eastern Illinois by 4.

2000 record: 3-9
Week 1: Lost operner to IAA Portland State
Lost first 4 games, before playing....SMU (of course).

2001 record: 9-3
Week 1: Beat IAA Montana 30-12
Week 2: Lost to Nevada on road 20-28
Week 3: Lost to Rice at Home 24-27

2002 record: 10-4
Weeek 1: Beat IAA Eatern Illinois 61-36
Week 2: Lost to BYU 32-35 (BYU was 5-7 that year)

2003 record: 9-5
Week 1: Beat IAA App. State 40-17
Week 2: Lost to USC on road 32-61 (this was 12-1 USC)
Week 3: Lost to UNLV on road 22-33 (UNLV was 6-6)

2004 record: 8-5
Week 1: Lost to Florida Atlantic at home 28-35 (Florida Atlantic's first year in IA)
Week 2: Lost to Rice at Rice 29-41

2005 record: 5-7
Week 1: Lost to USC at home 17-63
Week 2: Lost to Mich. State on road 14-42
Week 3: Beat Idaho 24-0

2006 record: 11-3
Week 1: Lost to Alabama 17-25
Week 2: Beat UNLV 42-13
Week 3: Lost to Boise State 34-41

2007 record:12-1 (Sugar Bowl)
Week 1: Beat IAA N. Colorado 63-6
Week 2: Beat La Tech 45-44

Dooby, I love it when we win so that Kathy goes to the bench for at least a week. You may be correct in that JJ's teams just need a little time to gel every year.

Good info.

bump. this deserved more airplay

I agree with this theory, 2-11 in his first 13 games at SMU with the only wins against d-2 teams is quite the slow start.

smarty pants

I'm sorry, you threw me a meatball.

Seriously, I hope the trend holds, but this is a tough game tomorrow and we are coming off a not-exactly-stellar start. Maybe even a "less that slow" start. But hey, we're 1-0, and it's been a long time since we could say that.

At first glance, I look at this and take a little comfort. But then I remember that SMU is a unique animal. Year after year after year we always come up with these little stats and facts to make us feel better, only to realize 3 games later that the season is over. SOmetimes I think SMU is snake bit, and I wonder if Jesus Christ, himself, could even turn this program around. Oh well, hope springs eternal and SMU is now 1-0. Hope is back...for now.

BRStang wrote:I wonder if Jesus Christ, himself, could even turn this program around. Oh well, hope springs eternal and SMU is now 1-0. Hope is back...for now.

He could but he took a better job working for his Dad.

mrydel wrote:

BRStang wrote:I wonder if Jesus Christ, himself, could even turn this program around. Oh well, hope springs eternal and SMU is now 1-0. Hope is back...for now.

He could but he took a better job working for his Dad.

There is nothing wrong with JDC - Joining Daddy's Company

ponyboy wrote:bump. this deserved more airplay

You can talk about JJ teams starting slow theory, the 'BLM sucks' theory or the 'Run & Shoot sucks' theory but what it comes down to is this: June inherited a horrible football team that has been mired in the depths of the wastelands for years. Nobody... sorry, Jesus doesn't coach football... nobody could turn this thing around in year two. It is going to take some time.

June Jones is an extremely good football coach and he's also a person of very high character. It will take some time but he will, eventually, get the kids in here that will get this thing turned around. One of the reasons I believe he chose to go w/BLM last year is that he expects this to take 3-4 years, and by that time BLM will be a Junior or Senior and he shouldn't have to worry about the QB position.

I understand the frustration that Mustang fans feel, but reading the posts here last week during the game was beyond absurd. It doesn't help a team like this when their own fans turn on them at the drop of a hat. I know you guys are tired of hearing 'Wait 'til next year' but take a look at this program. It will take a monumental effort and a decent amount of time to get this thing turned around.

With JJ in place it will happen, though probably not as quick as most of you expect. By the time his contract is up this team will be vastly improved and I expect he'll sign on for another five years or more. Just have some patience and try to support the team w/out ripping apart every miscue.

I actually agree with most of this-one of the reasons for the disappointment is the unrealistic expectations of many of SMU's own fans many who really did expect a miracle man and really did believe that Phil Bennett coaching mistakes were the reason the program fell apart. The program fell apart because Phil Bennett's recruiting fell apart. Improvement will come with better talent. Talent makes Coaches look better. Usually if you look behind the miracle turnarounds you'll see a program that had been upgrading talent in the years before the miracle but hadn't gotten over the top. See Mississippii and TCU which are 2 good examples.

i tend to agree more with the richalum point that SMU can't post another 1-11 season precisely because of what it will do to JJs honeymoon and recruiting. the more promising BCS level verbals that we have now will waiver come November if we have one win and an empty stadium. JJ needs 4 wins minimum (which still sucks by the way in CUSA even for SMU).