Thoughts on the game

[JasonB]

- Great job by the coaches of motivating the kids and getting them ready to play after the tough game last week. That is really tough to do - hats off.
- Awesome job by the kids for recovering from a slow start. They could have gotten back on the bus after the poor first offensive series and the early TD. They fought hard. Great job!
- If SMU makes it to a bowl, they will really deserve it. If you add Cincy or UConn to the schedule instead of USF or Temple, a bowl is in the bag. Toughest schedule in the conference?
- McCarty, Borwn, and Seana make a huge difference for the inside running game. If any of them go out for Fister or Hyder, the performance changes drastically. Have to keep those three healthy against USF and Navy.
- This defense is at its best when it is aggressive. Sure, 8 was late on the pass to the outside and gave up a big play early. But he gambled and tried to make a play. Those gambles paid off later when we blitz off the corner and Horace guesses right for the walk-in pick 6. When we play aggressive, it pays off. When we play safe, we lose.
- Our winning strategy at this point is simple - we are good enough to force the other team into mistakes when we are aggressive, and good enough to take advantage of those mistakes to win. Against Houston it was the early turnovers. Tulane was the penalties in the first half. This game it was the turnovers.
- That is what makes these next two game so tough. Navy and USF don't make a ton of mistakes. We are going to have to play our best game of the season against one of those teams to make a bowl.
- Gary is playing better and better; one thing that has been a surprise this year is that our young LBs haven't really made an impact. I expected them to take over by this point, but Cox has really been the big surprise back there.
- Small balls are good.

[Donnell88]

Jason: Great stuff, as always. Thank you.

[Charleston Pony]

recruiting kids from winning programs really helps...these guys don't accept losing like too many of our guys did in the past. Every time they have been embarrassed they have responded, so hats off to them. As far as playing aggressively and forcing errors against USF and Navy, it will be interesting because USF might be the fastest team in the AAC and Navy the most disciplined. Coming off that performance against Memphis, I did not expect these guys to be able to win at ECU and I have no expectation of a 6th win but at this point nothing these guys might accomplish is going to shock me.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

- Great job by the coaches of motivating the kids and getting them ready to play after the tough game last week. That is really tough to do - hats off.

It is obvious all of the uniforms help a lot in this area. You could tell the kids were pumped because of the helmets and pants.

Great game today!

[Mustangs35SMU]

- Awesome job by the kids for recovering from a slow start. They could have gotten back on the bus after the poor first offensive series and the early TD. They fought hard. Great job!

This, this and this.

I thought for sure with how bad the first drive was offensively and how easy it was for ECU on that first drive, that the guys would crumble and pack it up like so many have in the past.

Awesome to see them put it past them and take control of the game.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Definitely. The team definitely was ready to go 1-0 this week. Credit to the coaches for making last week just a step back and not a setback.

Go Ponies!

[peruna81]

This team is an enigma...got the snot knocked out of them at the beginning of the game, and were flat. They kept working, and kept pushing, and the game (and turnovers) came to them. Thankfully, they got TDs instead of field goals, and stepped on the neck to FINISH the game.

The coaching staff did a good job keeping kids involved, and fresh. Someday, like in the early 80s, we will have that depth at the OL...until then, hold your breath, and enjoy the show.

[AusTxPony]

And we won the third quarter, was that the first time all year?

[Digetydog]

I have been critical of Jackson Mitchell, but he has a good game yesterday.