Athlon Picks SMU To Win C-USA West; Names 9 Ponies All-C-USA

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Athlon Sports Picks SMU To Win C-USA West; Selects Nine To All-C-USA Teams
SMU Wide Receivers, Offensive Line And Defensive Line Units Also Deemed Best In C-USA

June 16, 2011

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (SMU) --- Athlon Sports preseason football magazine selected SMU to finish first in Conference USA's Western Division. The publication also named nine Mustangs to its preseason All-C-USA squads. In addition, the SMU wide receivers, offensive line and defensive line units were all deemed best in C-USA. The Mustangs enter 2011 on the heels of consecutive bowl berths and Conference USA Western Division Championships.

Athlon Sports named five Mustangs to the preseason All-CUSA first team, including running back Zach Line, offensive linemen Blake McJunkin and Kelvin Beachum, defensive lineman Taylor Thompson and linebacker Ja'Gared Davis. Wide receiver Cole Beasley, linebacker Taylor Reed, cornerback Richard Crawford and safety Chris Banjo were named to the second team.

June Jones and the Mustangs begin the season at Texas A&M on Sunday, Sept. 4, at 6:30 p.m. SMU then opens the home slate with a big C-USA Western Division match-up with UTEP on Sept. 10. The rest of the home games include Northwestern Stat on Sept. 17. On Oct. 15th, SMU hosts a rematch of the 2010 Conference USA Championship Game against UCF before a November slate that features three of four games at Ford Stadium; Tulane (Nov. 5), Navy (Nov. 12) and Rice (Nov. 26).

To purchase season tickets please call 214-768-4263 (SMU-GAME). Individual home game ticket sales will begin August 1.

[One Trick Pony]

I like positive.

[One Trick Pony]

X

[Corso]

Davis should be on everyone's first team, and I'd say Reed should, too ... but that's a hell of a write-up.

Go Ponies!

[giacfsp]

My first-team selections:
Kelvin Beachum, Josh LeRibeus, Zach Line, Taylor Thompson, Ja'Gared Davis, Chris Banjo

Second-teamers:
Taylor Reed, Marquis Frazier, Richard Crawford, Keenan Holman, Kyle Padron

I'd like to see Padron make the first team, but if Case Keenum is still standing at the end of the year, he'll get the nod. The big star with years of name recognition has a PR headstart.

[Rayburn]

I must get used to this.