Sanders ask SMU fans to show up!

[ALEX LIFESON]

Get your tails to Ft Worth, and wear RED!!!!!!!!!!!

[ALEX LIFESON]

Sophomore quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell
tries to escape from the TCU defense in
last year's loss to the Horned Frogs at
Ford Stadium. STUART PALLEY/The Daily Campus

Mitchell looks to lead team over nationally-ranked TCU

Nicole Jacobsen
Editor-in-Chief, [email protected]

The last time the Mustangs defeated the TCU Horned Frogs was in 2005. Since then, SMU has yet to come close to a win, losing 21-7 in 2007 in Fort Worth and 48-7 in 2008 in Dallas.

"We just treat it like any other game," head coach June Jones said. "You can't make anything more out of it than there is. It's the best team we'll play all year for sure."

Now, four years later, head coach June Jones and his team is seeking revenge as they take on their first nationally ranked opponent of the season. Last year, SMU was crushed, 48-7 on their home turf by the Horned Frogs, but this year, many Mustangs feel they are more than ready to bring the Iron Skillet back to Dallas.

"We're hoping to be one of the surprise teams this year," sophomore quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell said about upsetting TCU. "Everyone is talking about Boise State, TCU and Houston, but we're thinking 'Why not us?' If we go out there and show we can play against TCU and Houston, it will show the kind of team we are."

Four years ago, SMU stampeded to a 21-10 victory in Ford Stadium. At the time, SMU was 0-1, having lost the season opener to Baylor. TCU, ranked No.22 team at the time and fresh off a victory over No.5 Oklahoma, suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of a cross-town rival, ending their hopes of going to the BCS.

The victory marked the Mustang's most important win since receiving the death penalty in 1989, according to smumustangs.com, as SMU had failed to defeat a ranked team since 1986. Since that win, the Mustangs have yet to win against a ranked opponent.

In Saturday's game, Mitchell and his Mustangs will be up against a larger and faster TCU defense. Still undefeated, the No.11 Horned Frogs have recorded 11 sacks and returned two interceptions. Meanwhile, SMU has turned the ball over 11 times, with Mitchell throwing eight interceptions, and the team losing three fumbles.

"They're defense is all about gang tackling, where everyone gets to the ball, so they are going to have 11 guys running to the ball on every single play," Mitchell said. "We're expecting a real dog fight."

On the other side of the ball, Mitchell will look to the talent of his top three receivers - senior Emmanuel Sanders, sophomore Terrance Wilkerson and junior Aldrick Robinson.

In his final year on the Hilltop, Sanders enters Amon G. Carter Stadium averaging 130.7 yards per game, with 11.2 yards averaged per carry. Wilkerson, leading the receivers with two touchdowns on the season, is joined by Robinson and sophomore Cole Beasley, giving the SMU passing game an average of 326.3 yards per game and 10.8 yards per reception.

To Sanders, who was a redshirt freshman the last time SMU defeated TCU, this game while being "just another football game" can't help but admit he feels this could be the biggest game of his career.

"I've just got to do me, do what I always do," Sanders said. "I just have to show up and perform."

For TCU, quarterback Andy Dalton will be looking to Bart Johnson and Jimmy Young. While the Horned Frogs' strength lies in running the ball, TCU's passing game has accounted for four touchdowns and a season average of 208.3 yards per game.

To contain the ground game, SMU will have to stop senior Joseph Turner. With four touchdowns on the season, Turner has racked up an average of 6.9 yards per carry and 73.3 yards per game. The Horned Frogs' rushing game has accounted for nine touchdowns.

In comparison, SMU running back Shawnbrey McNeal, a transfer student from Miami, has already established himself as a key aspect to the Mustangs' running game, totaling two touchdowns for an average of 102.7 yards per game.

Whether TCU and SMU decide to run or pass the ball, however, the final score will ultimately come down to who commits the fewest turnovers. While Mitchell struggled with turnovers last year, he assures fans he has what it takes to lead SMU to a 3-1 record.

"We can't turn the ball over," Jones said. "When you're playing good football teams and you make mistakes, they kind of magnify against good teams."

After suffering from a stomach ulcer in the team's loss to Washington State, Mitchell said he is back to feeling 100 percent.

"I'm feeling great and my strength is back up," Mitchell said. "We're now just going through practices and having fun."

Despite the game being played 42 miles away from SMU, the team will rely on fan support to help bring home a win. Kick off for the Battle of the Iron Skillet is schedule for 7 p.m."Having fans out there will help us a lot. Please, please come," Sanders said. "We're already hyped up, but when you come out of the tunnel and see all the SMU fans who have traveled to come see us play, that gives us eve more confidence going into the game and makes us want to perform better."

[RGV Pony]

but we're thinking 'Why not us?'
[/color]

BLM channeling his inner Phil Bennett.

Thank you Sanders for imploring the fans to head over. I almost wish he had said "please, please quit [deleted] about the damn horse and show up to the game"

[One Trick Pony]

It has become crystal clear to me that year two into my adoption of this great University their are only a handful willing to travel, donate, and even at the most basic form of support buy season tickets to Mustang football. (I guess 20 years of losing will do that)

Bottom line is some of you are just pathetic, whining, unhappy, unfaihfull and that’s a fact and too the rest of the diligent, I salute you!

It’s a shame that a player has to implore alum and students to drive 40 miles to an away game.

Listen to me I sound like the rest of the people on this board, [deleted] and complaining.

Just show up to the game and have some fun.

[StallionsModelT]

One Trick,

You hit the nail squarely on the head. There is a MASSIVE percentage of our fanbase that is utterly miserable and pathetic in their support of this team. Alot of that is Dallas in general, but yeah the losing has worn some people out (i.e. jtVaginaStang). Meanwhile some of us make travel plans to Washington State, Tulsa, Houston, etc. to root on our team. I will be there ready for a hell of a game out of our guys.

[One Trick Pony]

One Trick,

You hit the nail squarely on the head. There is a MASSIVE percentage of our fanbase that is utterly miserable and pathetic in their support of this team. Alot of that is Dallas in general, but yeah the losing has worn some people out (i.e. jtVaginaStang). Meanwhile some of us make travel plans to Washington State, Tulsa, Houston, etc. to root on our team. I will be there ready for a hell of a game out of our guys.

I’m just glad I get a chance to support this team and don’t get kicked out for not having a college education. See you Saturday! In Tulsa, Houston, and @ Ford.

[redpony]

You hit the nail squarely on the head. There is a MASSIVE percentage of our fanbase that is utterly miserable.

SMT- Although I totally agree with your sentiments some of the problems have been created by the university itself. i.e. - my former father-in-law (not an alum but a Dallas business person) used to buy 12-15 books of season tickets for his company (this was pre-DP) and had done so for 10+ years. One year they told him that he would not be able to get tickets inside of the 30 yd lines. You can imagine what his response was. He never supported another SMU event after that. I am sure this was not an isolated incident. IMHO SMU needs to reach out to the Dallas business community to earn their support- not insult them for doing so. I realize that happened a long time ago but my feeling is that the attitude hasn't changed much over the years.

GO PONIES!!!

[ponyscott]

Redpony I can assure you that this attitude is not the case anymore as we are reaching out to businesses to purchase tics and are negotiable on things such as this...bless your Dad for supporting the cause and hope you can talk him into the SMU cause again. It is a neat thing that Sanders asks us to come out as that means he is proud of their efforts and is going out there to show off as they mature into the winners we expect...I will be there and will bring others......Sanders will show us proud for years on Sundays to come.....

[ALEX LIFESON]

One Trick,

You hit the nail squarely on the head. There is a MASSIVE percentage of our fanbase that is utterly miserable and pathetic in their support of this team. Alot of that is Dallas in general, but yeah the losing has worn some people out (i.e. jtVaginaStang). Meanwhile some of us make travel plans to Washington State, Tulsa, Houston, etc. to root on our team. I will be there ready for a hell of a game out of our guys.

I’m just glad I get a chance to support this team and don’t get kicked out for not having a college education. See you Saturday! In Tulsa, Houston, and @ Ford.

One Trick, you are a football season ticket holder, bb season tickets, Mustang Club member, make road trips, and attend a bunch of other functions, you're a GREAT fan, and we need tons more like you! You are always welcome at the Special Delivery spot.

[BIGHORSE]

Emanuel, we will be there wearing red and being loud!!!

[One Trick Pony]

One Trick,

You hit the nail squarely on the head. There is a MASSIVE percentage of our fanbase that is utterly miserable and pathetic in their support of this team. Alot of that is Dallas in general, but yeah the losing has worn some people out (i.e. jtVaginaStang). Meanwhile some of us make travel plans to Washington State, Tulsa, Houston, etc. to root on our team. I will be there ready for a hell of a game out of our guys.

I’m just glad I get a chance to support this team and don’t get kicked out for not having a college education. See you Saturday! In Tulsa, Houston, and @ Ford.

One Trick, you are a football season ticket holder, bb season tickets, Mustang Club member, make road trips, and attend a bunch of other functions, you're a GREAT fan, and we need tons more like you! You are always welcome at the Special Delivery spot.

Do I have to ask first , or can i just stick my hand into the freezing cooler and pull up a frosty?