James Madison

[PonyPride]

This week's opponent:

• Is in the top 10 in both FCS polls
• Leads FCS in points, yards and first downs
• Has generated more than 600 yards in all three games

Yes, they have played Morehead State, Lehigh and Albany, but those numbers are impressive.

[blackoutpony]

I don't understand why you schedule a really really good FCS team and set yourself up for Montana State all over again.... Oh well. Pony the [deleted] up

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

SMU has never played a team from a school named after a U.S. President.

The Mustangs are undefeated (1-0) all-time against schools named after a Texas President (Sam Houston).

Go Ponies!

[SMU Football Blog]

We seem to have a bad habit of picking good FCS schools.

Aside from the 2013 Montana State game, they haven't been competitive. That game was during peak "June Jones Give Up" Mode.

Post-DP, we have lost to a non-IA/FBS opponent only once and that was 1990 at NTSU.

If we don't overlook them, we should win.

[alyssa]

I've been reading their board on csnbbs. It seems they think that SMU has a better roster of players not realizing that someone didn't recruit well for a few years.
I just read their injuries too.

[Rebel10]

Saw some video clips and other than a couple of players they do not have very much team speed. And the QB threw 5 interceptions last week. Former UNC Asst Coach Everett Withers is their coach.

[SMUPhil]

SMU has never played a team from a school named after a U.S. President.

The Mustangs are undefeated (1-0) all-time against schools named after a Texas President (Sam Houston).

Go Ponies!

We have played Washington University (St Louis), which was named after dear old George.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

SMU has never played a team from a school named after a U.S. President.

The Mustangs are undefeated (1-0) all-time against schools named after a Texas President (Sam Houston).

Go Ponies!

We have played Washington University (St Louis), which was named after dear old George.

Good catch.

In that case, we are undefeated against schools named after U.S. Presidents (4-0).

[mrydel]

We played like we were in a Bush league last year. Does that count?

[Rebel10]

I guess pp decided to post the stats instead of his "this game scares the heck out of me" quote. Lol.

[Rebel10]

I've been reading their board on csnbbs. It seems they think that SMU has a better roster of players not realizing that someone didn't recruit well for a few years.
I just read their injuries too.

Even June out recruited Montana State so we should be fine you would think.

[eastexSMU]

You have to admit, Coach Morris has done a good job making some of June's recruits into some pretty good football players so far. I am amazed how he & his staff has motivated these guys into a good football team.

[JasonB]

You have to admit, Coach Morris has done a good job making some of June's recruits into some pretty good football players so far. I am amazed how he & his staff has motivated these guys into a good football team.

*Not a June apologist, everyone knows he did an awful job last year and deserved to be let go.

The new staff has done a fantastic job. Looking back, you can see three factors in the decline:
1) Loss of assistant coaches who fired up the team in games and practice (McNight, JR, Klemm). The loss of those assistant coaches and budget to replace them was for the most part directly related to the ASU issue.
2) Change in the S&C program to Mel.
3) Graduation of certain seniors. June ran an NFL-style program, relying on senior leadership to drive the team in the offseason rather than coaching pressure. Totally backfired after J Davis, T Reed, and those guys graduated.

The recruiting always stayed the same - average players for our conference with a handful of good players sprinkled on top whether through transfers (McNeal, Gilbert), Bennett holdovers (Sanders, Beachum), or recruits (Banjo, Reed). As time went on, the number of above average players decreased through less transfers and no Bennett holdovers, but the abrupt decline was due to 1, 2, and 3 above.

What we are seeing now is CM's staff doing a wonderful job of fixing 1, 2, and 3, installing a modern system on offense and defense, and sprinkling above-average recruits on top of the foundation that was already there.

This contrasts to June's first season where, while he did make a mistake of not playing WIllis and being stubborn about scheme, he was trying to build a foundation. Although Bennett certainly had a sprinkling of above average players, his last 3 recruiting classes were rated way, way lower than any of Jones' classes by the recruiting services and the foundation wasn't there.

For some reason, posting the above for the past year has resulted in people labelling me as a "June Apologist", although I don't think any of the above is really trying to defend June.

[JoeKidd]

I don't understand why you schedule a really really good FCS team and set yourself up for Montana State all over again.... Oh well. Pony the [deleted] up

Haha, like it pony the eff up. Time to put on our big boy pants and go beat a good FCS team.

[ponyte]

SMU can't take this team for granted. WE have to play as hard and as well as against TCU. No turnovers, continue to press the opponents D and eliminate secondary coverage lapses.