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In case you missed it, they posted the new 2010-2011 schedule. I have never even heard of half these schools. This is an utter disappointment, but I guess when you have two crap seasons in a row (with no tournament appearances, not even the conference tournament last year) ranked teams don't want to play you. So, IF we go 15-5 (and that's a big 'IF') don't be surprised if we don't get in the tournament because of strength of schedule.

I still love SMU soccer but this makes it a little harder.


2010-2011 SCHEDULE
Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result
08/21/10 vs. Houston Baptist # Westcott Field 7:00 p.m. CT
08/25/10 vs. Central Arkansas # Westcott Field 8:00 a.m. CT
09/01/10 vs. Missouri State Westcott Field 7:00 p.m. CT
SMU Invitational
09/04/10 vs. Lipscomb Westcott Field 7:30 p.m. CT
09/06/10 vs. Seattle University Westcott Field 2:30 p.m. CT
Tulsa Tournament
09/10/10 vs. SIUE Tulsa, Okla. 5:00 p.m. CT
09/12/10 vs. Western Illinois Tulsa, Okla. 12:00 p.m. CT
Bradley Tournament
09/17/10 vs. Creighton Peoria, Ill. 5:00 p.m. CT
09/19/10 at Bradley Peoria, Ill. 2:30 p.m. CT
UAB Tournament
09/24/10 at UAB * Birmingham, Ala. 7:30 p.m. CT
09/26/10 vs. Jacksonville Birmingham, Ala. 12:00 p.m. CT
10/02/10 at UCF * Orlando, Fla. 6:00 p.m. CT
10/06/10 vs. South Carolina * Westcott Field 7:00 p.m. CT
10/10/10 vs. Marshall * Westcott Field 7:00 p.m. CT
10/20/10 vs. Tulsa * Westcott Field 7:00 p.m. CT
10/23/10 at Memphis Memphis, Tenn. 7:00 p.m. CT
10/30/10 vs. Kentucky * Westcott Field 7:00 p.m. CT
11/05/10 at Florida International * Miami, Fla. 6:00 p.m. CT
Conference USA Tournament
11/12/10 Semifinals TBD TBA
11/14/10 Championship TBD TBA

Obviously SO is scheduling these 'lower tier' schools to help cover his butt for his poor coaching decisions. If TMC fails this year then a change MUST be made. Failure would be not getting to the top 16 of the NCAA tournament.

GO PONIES!!!

Only one (Tulsa) was ranked in the top 25 last year. Of course we must play them because it is an 'in conference' game. Suprised that SO didn't try to schedule some women's teams. I guess he feels that pathetic performance requires drastic 'low level' competition.

GO PONIES!!!

Looks like we are cutting back on travel expenses with no east or west coast games. The Bradley tournament will be tough. Our 5 at home non-conference games do nothing for strength of schedule and are risky because of the impact of a loss to any of these normally non-ranked teams. Of course, we play in the Tulsa tournament and Tulsa plays in ours, so maybe some conspiracy between our two teams although Seattle and the two Ill. teams could surprise.

Seattle has had a good program now and then, same goes for Creighton and Missouri State (formerly SW MO State). So, while its not a great schedule, its certainly not a putrid one. I agree that SOS could be our downfall if we don't win conference and get an autobid. Given that we lost to just about everyone in the conference last year, that's a monumental task right there. This is also a schedule which will make it difficult to advance even if we make the tourney due to low seeding. So, it handicaps us in a number of ways. I suspect that we will have a relatively young starting team (since returning lettermen did nothing last year to brag about), and the coach wants them to not be severely tested early on and lose confidence. I hope that is the case.

Thats really too bad. With all the history and momentum built up over the past 10+ years it shows how quickly a program can fall. Here's to a successful 2010-11 season, i wish them the best.

Wonder how Schellas Hyndman would react if he were presented with a schedule like that.