Why I am optimistic about next season

[CalallenStang]

Look at the teams we are playing:

Texas Tech - new coaching change, all of the coaches on the offensive side of the ball are gone. They bring in Troy's OC to run a spread - he runs an offense that may be similar in formation to the Air Raid, but it is different in nearly every other aspect. The Tech players will still be struggling to grasp all of the differences. On defense, they will also have new schemes, and when the first offense that they will get to go up against is the Run and Shoot, you would have to think that there will be some confusion. We should be very competitive in this game.

TCU - They lose Jerry Hughes and a few other key defensive players. They return a good amount of their offensive talent back, but let's be honest, their offense isn't exactly out of the stratosphere in terms of skill level. Boise exposed issues with TCU's pass coverage and had Kellen Moore been on top of his game, the Fiesta Bowl would have been ugly.

Washington State - Does anyone not think we will win this game this year?

Navy - We played them competitively this year, showing just how far we have come. If the weather holds out in Annapolis, this should be a good game and a game that we have an excellent shot at winning.

East Carolina - two words: coaching change.

Houston - Holgerson moves to Oklahoma State, and there will be a new offensive coordinator at UH. Plus, Keenum's weaknesses were exposed against ECU and Air Force this year. We should be able to control their offense. On defense, Houston will also have a new coordinator, but that should be a chance for improvement for the Cougars.

Marshall - two words: coaching change. Doc Holliday will probably bring in a spread option offense, as well, and I'm not sure that Marshall has the personnel to operate it just yet.

UAB - What is UAB without Joe Webb? Not scary at all.

Tulane - As the Mustangs keep rising, the Green Wave continues to fall to new depths.

Rice - this game scares me, but I think we should be able to handle the Owls, even if they do have Sam McGuffie.

UTEP - The Miners are one of those teams that has the talent to do well every year, but the coaching just doesn't seem to be there (which is a shame, because I like Mike Price).

Tulsa - Chad Morris is making the jump from high school to college-level offensive coordinator. I think he's a great coach, but it's going to take him awhile to make the jump and feel comfortable. I think we take Tulsa easily.

[Water Pony]

So, as I count, you are saying 12-0? Nice improvment.

[SMU2007]

agree that we have a BETTER shot against tech with new coaching etc. but their players are still on another level than most of our players to this point. I think it would be very tough to beat them, but i am hopeful that we can put up a fight.

as far as tcu goes, it'll be nice that they're losing some players. we played them tough for the 1st half last year. another game that i'd like to see us put up a great fight.

the c-usa games, we have as good of a chance as anyone to compete week in and week out. gotta focus on trying to get to the c-usa championship game this year!

go ponies

[PonySnob]

9-3 regular season.............

[RGV Pony]

9-3 regular season.............

are you assuming an 0-2 start?

[Blvd_Stang]

I say we finish 7-5 and lose to Washington St.

Not what I want, but how I feel. I fear the team getting too cocky and not putting in the same work they put in last offseason.

I hope I am wrong.

(the deleted word is c-o-c-k-y...I find that funny)

[mathman]

I don't think JJ will let them get complacent. All about the new mentality he has tried to bring to the Hilltop.

[SMU2007]

they shouldn't get too complacent. yes we had a good season compared to what we've had in the last 20 years but still didn't play for conference championship, didn't break into rankings. we've got plenty to improve upon. hope JJ keeps em focused and sets the goal of winning c-usa this year

[Stallion]

I don't see SMU playing a competitive game in Lubbock. I see and I think the line will bear out that Texas Tech will be 20 point favorites in Lubbock where they are something like 34-5 including playing against Big 12 teams. TCU was 4th in Country in Offense last year and let's get this straight right now they will be a very much improved offense next year with the talent they have coming in-especially at RB. TCU actually was a young team last year and has most of their team returning including about 10 First or Second Team All-MWC returning starters-I think they should be a preseason Top 10. I think SMU starts 0-2 and I really doubt we are competitive in either game especially with McNeil gone. I'll leave the rest when we find out who actually will be eligible-but the start of next season will be rocky.

[Blvd_Stang]

I don't think JJ will let them get complacent. All about the new mentality he has tried to bring to the Hilltop.

I really hope you're right! Jeff Reinbold had a Facebook update that mentioned something along the lines that champions are made during the offseason.

I am really digging the positivity on this board compared to what used to be if you posted anything positive you were indoctrinated as a "sunshiner"...HOWEVER, I think everyone can agree it's not like we blew away all of our opponents this year, in fact all of the wins (except Tulsa and Nevada) came right down to the wire. I do think the culture of winning is being established, but there's a differnce between having one cinderalla season and carrying that over to constistantly being a dominant program. We're still a young team which means there are ups and downs. I totally believe in June, but even after his Hawaii program went 9-3 the first season they went 3-9 the next.

[PonyKai]

I say we finish 7-5 and lose to Washington St.

We will wipe the floor with Washington St. if they don't buy out of the Dallas game.

[Blvd_Stang]

I say we finish 7-5 and lose to Washington St.

We will wipe the floor with Washington St. if they don't buy out of the Dallas game.

That was quite the audacious claim I know. I just don't like how we match up against power running teams, especially one with Pac-10 recruits. We just don't have the size up front yet and it keeps our offense off of the field. I can easily be wrong with this one though.

[MidlandMustang]

As far as nonconference is concerned, this is how I see it.
We should be Wash. St.
Don't think we beat Tech but play them better at Lubbock than we have in past years.
Navy is always tough at home, but I do think we have a good chance at a win.
Don't think we beat TCU but play them fairly close.

I think another 1 -3 start is somewhat likely, however, there is a possiblilty of going 2 - 2 - the wins being Wash. St. and Navy. Hope I'm wrong and we pull out a stunner against Tech or TCU.

[ponyscott]

As far as nonconference is concerned, this is how I see it.
We should be Wash. St.
Don't think we beat Tech but play them better at Lubbock than we have in past years.
Navy is always tough at home, but I do think we have a good chance at a win.
Don't think we beat TCU but play them fairly close.

I think another 1 -3 start is somewhat likely, however, there is a possiblilty of going 2 - 2 - the wins being Wash. St. and Navy. Hope I'm wrong and we pull out a stunner against Tech or TCU.

Thats my prognosis as well. The schedule leans to a rocky start with Nationally ranked Texas Tech at their place to start off the season and with their size we will play them well in the first half but will wear down in the second and I just don't think we will be quite ready for them, especially without McNeil playing. We WILL play Nationally ranked rival TCU strong at our home (with no rain, please) and will have a good crowd and Ford will be rocking. I don't think we have an issue with WSU especially at home, we were so robbed last year and the refs don't dare pull that same stuff at Ford.
Navy will be the tough one to predict especially at their place, but again with no rain we play them tight and hopefully pull it out. Navy will be ranked in the National top 20 when we play them so it will be a big time win if we were to be so fortunate to knock them off in an away game with national exposure on the East coast.

[Mestengo]

I'm sad football is gone..