USA Today on Mustangs
Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 10:01 amHere is a recap on SMU from this week's USA Today in "Around the WAC":
SOUTHERN METHODIST
INSIDE SLANT
It's been a long year for the SMU Mustangs.
Make that a very long year.
The Mustangs, who had a bye this past week, will be bringing an 0-11 record into Saturday's annual Iron Skillet battle with TCU (10-1) at Gerald Ford Stadium. But one positive to come out of the campaign has been the improving play of true freshman quarterback Chris Phillips.
The product of Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas is already the team's second leading rusher after just four games and had his best game against Rice two weeks ago, when he completed 16 of 24 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
For a team that has been desperately seeking a quarterback since Phil Bennett took over as head coach two years ago, that's real encouraging.
"Chris is settling in," Bennett told the Dallas Morning News. "He's growing up in his ability, and it's really starting to show. He's doing less thinking and more reacting."
NOTES, QUOTES
GAME BALL GOES TO: RB Keylon Kincade — The senior is averaging 110 yards rushing per game and is among the national leaders with 298 carries. He has accepted an invitation to play in the Blue-Gray All-Star Classic on Dec. 25 in Troy, Ala.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Senior corner Jonas Rutledge has 17 passes defended, which ranks third in the WAC.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's so much more calm now. I wish they would let him throw some more. He's a quarterback, and they have to let him be a quarterback." — SMU senior wide receiver Chris Cunningham, on true freshman quarterback Chris Phillips.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
LOOKING GOOD: Forty-one of the players on SMU's roster are either freshmen or redshirt freshmen ... and that bodes well for the future.
STILL NEEDS SOME WORK: The Mustangs rank last nationally in scoring offense (11.0 ppg) and have managed just 173 first downs in 11 games.
INJURY IMPACT: No new injuries reported.
SOUTHERN METHODIST
INSIDE SLANT
It's been a long year for the SMU Mustangs.
Make that a very long year.
The Mustangs, who had a bye this past week, will be bringing an 0-11 record into Saturday's annual Iron Skillet battle with TCU (10-1) at Gerald Ford Stadium. But one positive to come out of the campaign has been the improving play of true freshman quarterback Chris Phillips.
The product of Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas is already the team's second leading rusher after just four games and had his best game against Rice two weeks ago, when he completed 16 of 24 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
For a team that has been desperately seeking a quarterback since Phil Bennett took over as head coach two years ago, that's real encouraging.
"Chris is settling in," Bennett told the Dallas Morning News. "He's growing up in his ability, and it's really starting to show. He's doing less thinking and more reacting."
NOTES, QUOTES
GAME BALL GOES TO: RB Keylon Kincade — The senior is averaging 110 yards rushing per game and is among the national leaders with 298 carries. He has accepted an invitation to play in the Blue-Gray All-Star Classic on Dec. 25 in Troy, Ala.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Senior corner Jonas Rutledge has 17 passes defended, which ranks third in the WAC.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's so much more calm now. I wish they would let him throw some more. He's a quarterback, and they have to let him be a quarterback." — SMU senior wide receiver Chris Cunningham, on true freshman quarterback Chris Phillips.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
LOOKING GOOD: Forty-one of the players on SMU's roster are either freshmen or redshirt freshmen ... and that bodes well for the future.
STILL NEEDS SOME WORK: The Mustangs rank last nationally in scoring offense (11.0 ppg) and have managed just 173 first downs in 11 games.
INJURY IMPACT: No new injuries reported.