Back from Tulsa!

[ALEX LIFESON]

Just got home from Tulsa, what a long, but great day!!! We had a small, but spirited group of fans there today. This team is growing up before our eyes, they deserve more fan support in the stands!!!

[SMU 86]

They truly learned how to finish today.

[Glenn Sosbee]

It's coming. Something big is on the horizon and it's gonna be special.

[newshound]

This is the tip of the iceberg as to why June Jones is being paid handsomely. It has taken 19 games for the lights to come on, but it appears as though they have, as June said they would.

While we have been a tough out for Tulsa the last several years, today we kicked their door in -- with a true freshman quarterback and some real defense.

I don't know if you can really compare Padron's performance to Lance McIlhenny's 1980 "Pony Express" debut in Austin, but in this context, it's pretty close.

With Tulsa coming off draining games vs. Boise State and UTEP, this was the perfect storm. It probably helped to some degree that Tulsa could not prepare for one specific quarterback (now you know why coaches don't like to talk about injuries). And, even in preparing for Padron, they didn't have much usable game tape. As for the game, if not for a couple of early turnovers, it would not have been as close as it was. And, considering we were 17-point underdogs, a 14-point conference road win is even more impressive.

Now, it gets interesting. As I have thought all along, 6-6 is too low of a goal. Even though we could easily be 6-2, the two games we did blow were non-conference games. Now, at 3-1 in league play and three very, very winnable home games left and a tougher game at Marshall, you have to start thinking that we are contenders for the Western division title.

But, borrowing a page from every coach's "coachspeak" guide, you do have to take things one game at a time. The biggest difference between Phil Bennett's 6-6 team and this 4-4 team is that we are still rising. The 2005 team obviously was a peak in the program under Bennett.

Give credit to Jones and his staff for putting together a game plan that catered to Kyle Padron and don't write off BLM just yet. He's just one hit from being back in the lineup. One game at a time and BLM has to be ready to go, although it appears as though he has lost his job for now.

You have to be excited now, despite some earlier disappointments. As fans, we need to be realistic, but also keep the goals high. Yes, 6-6 and a bowl berth appear reachable, but how great would 7-5 or 8-4 be? Looking at the schedule, it's doable. But, it has to start by keeping the one game at a time mentality -- and that starts Saturday vs. 0-8 Rice.

Beat the Owls!

[westexSMU]

Beat the Hell out of Rice !

[Mustangsabu]

There is no question. We have to beat Rice. Beating them handsomely would be a plus.

[SMU21TCU10]

Beat the Hell out of Rice !

The phrase. "beat the hell outa" is already taken by the aggies! I know i live in college station and see BTHO stuff everywhere...

[Mestengo]

Just got home from Tulsa, what a long, but great day!!! We had a small, but spirited group of fans there today. This team is growing up before our eyes, they deserve more fan support in the stands!!!

If you thought it was a long day you should have been me.

[Statler]

I don't know if you can really compare Padron's performance to Lance McIlhenny's 1980 "Pony Express" debut in Austin, but in this context, it's pretty close. - Newshound

The group I was with was sayng the exact same thing.

The key to that game was our defense. The defense coordinator has worked magic considering JJ took the better athletes on defense and put then on offense.

[originaloverthehilltop1]

who are the better athletes on defense that june "took" and put on offense? i don't see that even one o starter was on defense at any time. those freshman linebacksers ARE the better athletes. and thompson was a te before become a de.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Just got home from Tulsa, what a long, but great day!!! We had a small, but spirited group of fans there today. This team is growing up before our eyes, they deserve more fan support in the stands!!!

If you thought it was a long day you should have been me.

Hey, you're just lucky I didn't charge you!

[Mestengo]

Hey, you're just lucky I didn't charge you! [/quote]


Man you're lucky I don't do it.

[CalallenStang]

Beat the Hell out of Rice !

The phrase. "beat the hell outa" is already taken by the aggies! I know i live in college station and see BTHO stuff everywhere...

Their phrase is "Beat the hell outta." Our phrase is "Beat the hell out OF."