New Orleans Bowl

[ponyte]

I'm at the NO Bowl luncheon. There are American Athletic Conference reps here. Don't know significance of their presences.

[ponyte]

Talk to them. They are the officials for tomorrow's game. Several had high praise for HCCM

[mrydel]

Tell them they are not calling enough pass interference against Sutton. And we do not hold.

[ponyte]

I have very close to several calls. The refs have come a good job. Pretty intent group and communicating the entire time.

[ponyte]

Some observations from up close.

Both ASU and LaTech played hard. Both had some very solid athletes. Tech was bigger and stronger and it showed in the second half.

There is no doubt in my mind, after witnessing practice last year and on the field for a few plays last year, we didn't have the same level of athletes overall as either Tech or ASU last year. No wonder Mason had such a hard time trying to turn things around.

The officiating was challenged last night cause both teams were decimated to making stupid and obvious penalties. I was shocked at the lack of discipline both teams exhibited last night.

I thought all in all the officiating was solid and professional. They did miss one facemask in the first half on the ASU sideline. I was right there and was stunned that neither the line judge or field judge saw it. Oh well.

WE have some work to do to up the overall level of athletes to be a competitive team. I don't expect SMU to at an elite level for a least 5 years. Maybe with some solid recruiting and luck we can advance to 6+ wins next year.