Gosselin: Morris ready to emulate LB in reviving SMU

[LA_Mustang]

“@dallasnews: .@RickGosselinDMN: Chad Morris ready to emulate Larry Brown in reviving #SMU http://d-news.co/KUxty

[ojaipony]

Good stuff, thanks for posting.

Here's your "HCCM Era Year One" results (bookmark this and come back to it mid December and call me ojaidamus):

Baylor - L (another ugly loss in front of the only sold out game at Ford)
North Texas - W (close win, "did some good things but still a long way to go")
at TCU - L (ugly blow out, I hate TCU)
James Madison - W (closer than it should be win)
East Carolina - L (this one is going to be big as we will come in 2-2 and could be a pivotal game, but our OL will eventually let us down and we lose a hard fought game but showed "some progress")
at Houston - L (ugly loss and it sucks)
at USF - L (close hard fought game, lose it at the end)
Tulsa (Family Weekend) - W (Morris has the boys ready to play in front of family and against old school)
Temple - W (close win)
at Navy - L (triple option fools us again, close loss)
vs. Tulane - W (only blow out in year one and everyone starts talking about bowl game, excitement is building, maybe we turned a corner)
at Memphis - L (not all that close, season over, no bowl but progress made, next year is "the year")

5-7

[ghost]

Projection? How many projected TCU to be the 3rd ranked team in the country after going 4-8 the year before? Or Ohio State to be National Champions with their 3rd team QB. It is easy to get bogged down with past teams but next year is a different team with a new mindset led by young and energetic coaches with a passion for the game. Good things happen to those who are energetic and pay the dues required to be successful.

[ojaipony]

Projection? How many projected TCU to be the 3rd ranked team in the country after going 4-8 the year before? Or Ohio State to be National Champions with their 3rd team QB. It is easy to get bogged down with past teams but next year is a different team with a new mindset led by young and energetic coaches with a passion for the game. Good things happen to those who are energetic and pay the dues required to be successful.

Yes, this is my projection. And I hope it ends up not being as bad as that and we do have that "miracle year" (in fact, I think going from 1-11 last year to 5-7 this coming year - or even 6-6 and bowl, would actually be quite the miracle). But, I fear our OL deficiencies and lack of depth in certain areas like the defensive secondary and DL (and LB) - actually all of the defense, will keep us from getting over that .500 hump. I hope 2016 yields about 4 stud OLs and a couple of stud DLs, DBs, and LBs (and a stud RB).

[HarvCrimYaleBlue]

I am basing my “prediction” on fact as Doc and I just got back in the DeLorean a few minutes ago. Plus I took a look at the last round coaching change. Interesting is that Bennett finished the 2007 season 1-11. This could have been 7-6 or 6-6 as the team lost 6 games by 10pts or less (5 by 7pts or less). The new coach finished the 2008 season 1-11. This could have been 5-7 as the team lost 4 games by 7pts or less. Lastly, in 2009 the team finished the regular season 7-5. This could have easily been 10-2 as the team lost 3 games by 3pts or less.

What am I saying?!? The RnS is dead and the ‘fog of war’ is bogus. TEMPO is a bad mother…! Or maybe I am just a blind optimist and my 10-2 prediction will get me laughed off this board. So laugh away…


9/4 Baylor – L, almost a home crowd for the Bears and for obvious reasons we fall.

9/12 North Texas – W, last year’s embarrassing loss left a bad taste in the mouth of those who saw their coach give up on them in the 1st quarter.

9/19 at TCU – L, coach hypes rivalry game by showcasing the 2005 and 2011 wins, close loss that garners national attention questioning TCU as overrated and SMU as this year’s sleeper.

9/26 James Madison – W, not even close as we make a statement following the previous week’s loss.

10/3 East Carolina – W, coming in 2-2 we open up conference play fired up.

10/8 Houston – W, Morris is still stewing from Herman’s win of the Broyles Award (side note: Herman is struggling this year and Morris was pissed that he was not even a finalist for the Broyles) and proves why he was should have been voted the top OC the previous year.

10/24 at USF – W, first true road game and the team is looking to make a statement.

10/31 Tulsa – W, after a road win in FL the guys are excited to play at home in front of their family and friends.

11/6 Temple – W, team is clicking and firing on all cylinders late in the season.

11/14 at Navy – W, triple option proves to be a nuisance in the 1st half but with 2nd half adjustment we narrowly escape.

11/21 Tulane – W, last home game and the seniors step up in a big way.

11/28 at Memphis – W, no doubt the Tigers are legit but we are riding a five game win streak, take the game into overtime, pull the upset and grab the access bowl.

[LA_Mustang]

That's too optimistic for even the biggest sunshiner.

[PonyKai]

Never had good barometer on Bennett to June since he banished his best play-maker on either side of the ball and had zero intention of adjusting his schemes to fit current talent.

[SMU1523]

:lol:

That's too optimistic for even the biggest sunshiner.

He might as well have had us going undefeated. If we win 6 games, I will be ecstatic.

[Donnell88]

Never had good barometer on Bennett to June since he banished his best play-maker on either side of the ball and had zero intention of adjusting his schemes to fit current talent.

The offensive player is obviously qb Justin Willis. Who's the defensive player you are referring to?

[PonyKai]

I guess that wasn't worded very well. I meant to say that Willis was the number one play-maker on the team, period. In our last game of the year, we did manage to hold our opponent to under 30 points for the first time that year.

[footballdad]

4-8 with Temple loss as well.

HarvCrimYaleBlue.........
TCU's offense vs our secondary = 60+ points (for them)

50+% of next class should be dedicated to OL and secondary. Let's not get into the June mode of recruiting 5-6 receivers EVERY YEAR just because we can/they like the offense.

[Stallion]

Morris had to sign those WRs this year because the returning receivers on our roster don't fit our offense. We've offered by far more receivers than any other position next year too. He can't run his offense until he gets the right personnel

[SoCal_Pony]

“What we offer is hope,” Morris said. “We told these kids what you’ve done in the past doesn’t matter. You’ve got a fresh start. We’re going to breathe hope into you. As long as you’ve got hope, you’ve got something.”

Hope worked for Larry Brown three years ago. And it can work now for Morris. - Rick Gosselin

Hey Goose, HOPE's got NOTHING to do with it. Hard Work, YES. Hope, No.

and my way too early prediction:

Penciled in Losses - Baylor and TCU, our record 0-2

Penciled in Wins - None

Other Home games - NTSU, James Madison, ECU, Tulsa & Temple, our record 3-2

Other Away games - Coogs, USF, Navy, Tulane, Memphis, our record 1-4

W-L 4-8

Best Case Scenario, 6-6 and a trip to Fort Worth.
Worst Case Scenario, no such thing as long as CM is recruiting.

[footballdad]

Morris had to sign those WRs this year because the returning receivers on our roster don't fit our offense. We've offered by far more receivers than any other position next year too. He can't run his offense until he gets the right personnel

Absolutely, love ALL the WR's this year, Castille & the Thomas kid especially. Take another 3 or 4 next year plus a TE or 2. Just saying don't need 5-6/year into perpetuity. Really, really need some OL & DB's ASAP. Nothing Morris & staff don't already know of course, just hope they can land some of them.

Sutton, Castille & Thomas could lock up 3 of the WR spots for the next 3-4 years if all stay healthy. Great potential group with Proche & Honey thrown in.

[Rebel10]

Morris had to sign those WRs this year because the returning receivers on our roster don't fit our offense. We've offered by far more receivers than any other position next year too. He can't run his offense until he gets the right personnel

Absolutely, love ALL the WR's this year, Castille & the Thomas kid especially. Take another 3 or 4 next year plus a TE or 2. Just saying don't need 5-6/year into perpetuity. Really, really need some OL & DB's ASAP. Nothing Morris & staff don't already know of course, just hope they can land some of them.

Sutton, Castille & Thomas could lock up 3 of the WR spots for the next 3-4 years if all stay healthy. Great potential group with Proche & Honey thrown in.

How many scholarships do we have open this year? I think we can get some good OL and DB help along with DL, WR, and other positional help if we have at least 20 scholarships open.