Notes / numbers: SMU beats Liberty, 29-14

by **PonyPride** » Sat Sep 17, 2016 11:20 pm

SMU Postgame Notes
September 17, 2016
SMU 29, Liberty 14
SMU (2-1), Liberty (1-2)
Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Dallas, Texas

NEXT GAME

TCU – Friday, September 23 – 7 p.m. – Gerald J. Ford Stadium
TV: ESPN/WatchESPN
Radio: KTCK 1310 AM “The Ticket” (TuneIn app)

TEAM NOTES

Captains: Chauncey Briggs (#71, OL), Deon Green (#98, DT), Jordan Wyatt (#15, DB), Darrion Millines (#29, S)

SMU is 2-1 for the first time since 2011.
- SMU has won 6 of its last 9 home openers
- First win in home opener since 2012 vs. SFA (52-0)

SMU had 4 interceptions (Rodney Clemons, Horace Richardson, Jordan Wyatt 2)
- The 4 interceptions are the most by SMU in a game since 6 vs. Houston in 2012
- The Mustangs have multiple interceptions in each game this season (3 at UNT, 2 at Baylor)
- SMU has 9 interceptions in the first three games (H. Richardson & Wyatt have 3 each) (team had 10 total in 2015)
- Has 5 different players with interceptions through the first three games
- Wyatt had a 34-yard INT return for a TD, first for SMU since Stephon Sanders vs. Connecticut in 2013

Braeden West was 24-220 rushing with 2 TDs
- 220 yards ranks 5th at SMU
- First 200-yard game at SMU since Zach Line was 30-202 w/ 1 TD vs. Marshall in 2010
- First game with 200-plus yards and multiple TDs since ShanDerrick Charles vs. UTEP had 27-212 w/ 4 TDs in 2001
- Scored on a 66-yard TD at 10:19 of the 3rd QTR. Longest run for SMU since Garrett Gilbert’s 74-yd TD run against Tulsa in 2012.

SMU had 495 yards of total offense, and now has 1,472 yards in the first three games (572 at North Texas, 405 at Baylor)
- Averaging 490.7 yards (was 382.8 in 2015)
- 286 rushing yards is a season high (had 272 at UNT)

Series record: SMU is 1-0 vs. Liberty (first meeting)

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Michael Badejo (#7, DE) – Had his first career sack

Evan Brown (#63, C) – Rimington Trophy Watch List - Has started all 25 games played as a Mustang

Xavier Castille (#2, WR) – Career-high 6 receptions for 49 yards

Rodney Clemons (#8, DB) - Had his first career interception; also had 5 tackles

RC Cox (#32, LB) - Had his first sack of the season, has 2 for his career

Ben Hicks (#8, QB) - Was 19-32-209 passing in first career win

Justin Lawler (#99, DE)
- Team-high 8 tackles with 1 sack, 1.5 TFLs and a QBH
- Had a blocked FG, 2nd of his career (first for SMU since Zach Wood vs. Tulane 11/21/15)

Zelt Minor (#92, DT) - Career-high 6 tackles (was 4) with 1.5 TFLs and a pass breakup

James Proche (#3, WR) – Shared team-high of 6 receptions, had 49 yards receiving

Horace Richardson (#9, DB)
- Had 1 interception, has 3 for the season and 7 for his career
- Also had 3 tackles, 1 TFL and a pass breakup

Courtland Sutton (#16, WR) – Biletnikoff Award Watch List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List
- Was 3-62 receiving
- Has 13-336 and 4 TDs in first 3 games (averaging 25.8 yards per catch)

Braeden West (#6, RB)
- Career-bests rushing of 24-220-2 TDs (also high of 9.2 yards per carry)
- 220 yards ranks 5th at SMU (West’s previous career high was 89 yards)
- First 200-yard game at SMU since Zach Line was 30-202 w/ 1 TD vs. Marshall in 2010
- First game with 200-plus yards and multiple TDs since ShanDerrick Charles vs. UTEP had 27-212 w/ 4 TDs in 2001
- Scored on a 66-yard TD at 10:19 of the 3rd QTR. Longest run for SMU since Garrett Gilbert’s 74-yd TD run against Tulsa in 2012.

Jordan Wyatt (#15, DB)
- Had 2 interceptions, has 3 for the season and 5 for his career
- Had his first career INT return for a TD (34 yards to seal the game at 0:18 4th QTR)
- Had 4 tackles and a pass breakup

by **mrydel** » Sun Sep 18, 2016 2:57 am

I believe we have thrown 5 interceptions in the end zone through 3 games. Has to be a record.

by **Stallion** » Sun Sep 18, 2016 3:03 am

Zelt Minor was pretty impressive-hopefully he continues to improve

by **mrydel** » Sun Sep 18, 2016 3:15 am

I think our defense is making strides this year as the offense did last year.

by **Puckhead48E** » Sun Sep 18, 2016 4:24 am

Has the sky fallen yet? Has xenu come to take us all?

No...OK then. Continuing to improve and hopefully stabilize with an offensive playbook that is more condusive to Hicks being comfortable.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

by **jimhagle** » Sun Sep 18, 2016 7:38 am

Stallion wrote:Zelt Minor was pretty impressive-hopefully he continues to improve

It is about time.

by **Charleston Pony** » Sun Sep 18, 2016 7:52 am

and when all is said and done, this team has already equaled it's win total from last year. I'm just looking for year over year improvement until Chad & Co have their own team on the field and they are all grown up. Hopefully by that time we are capable of upsetting a Baylor or TCU or Houston or whoever the top dog on our schedule might be

by **JasonB** » Sun Sep 18, 2016 10:57 am

Charleston Pony wrote:and when all is said and done, this team has already equaled it's win total from last year. I'm just looking for year over year improvement until Chad & Co have their own team on the field and they are all grown up. Hopefully by that time we are capable of upsetting a Baylor or TCU or Houston or whoever the top dog on our schedule might be

Next year we will be able to compete against every single team on the schedule and will blow bad teams out.

by **Rebel10** » Sun Sep 18, 2016 8:27 pm

Charleston Pony wrote:and when all is said and done, this team has already equaled it's win total from last year. I'm just looking for year over year improvement until Chad & Co have their own team on the field and they are all grown up. Hopefully by that time we are capable of upsetting a Baylor or TCU or Houston or whoever the top dog on our schedule might be

That is why he is playing a lot of freshmen and redshirt freshmen this year to get ready for next year. It's the USF model so to speak. I am not saying 10 wins or anything like that but it will be a good year if all players are healthy imo.

by **The PonyGrad** » Mon Sep 19, 2016 3:52 pm

Rebel10 wrote:
Charleston Pony wrote:and when all is said and done, this team has already equaled it's win total from last year. I'm just looking for year over year improvement until Chad & Co have their own team on the field and they are all grown up. Hopefully by that time we are capable of upsetting a Baylor or TCU or Houston or whoever the top dog on our schedule might be

That is why he is playing a lot of freshmen and redshirt freshmen this year to get ready for next year. It's the USF model so to speak. I am not saying 10 wins or anything like that but it will be a good year if all players are healthy imo.

Wait til next year. :shock:

Really, already?

by **ojaipony** » Mon Sep 19, 2016 4:14 pm

I thought we'd win 4 games this year before the year started (before we lost Matt Davis). As bad as Hicks is playing, our defense has picked up a little bit so I still wager we still win 4 (Tulane and somebody else, not sure who though as ECU/Temple/Tulsa are all away games).

Then, next year, I think we win 7-8.

Shocking, I know.

by **Digetydog** » Mon Sep 19, 2016 4:35 pm

The PonyGrad wrote:
Rebel10 wrote:
Charleston Pony wrote:and when all is said and done, this team has already equaled it's win total from last year. I'm just looking for year over year improvement until Chad & Co have their own team on the field and they are all grown up. Hopefully by that time we are capable of upsetting a Baylor or TCU or Houston or whoever the top dog on our schedule might be

That is why he is playing a lot of freshmen and redshirt freshmen this year to get ready for next year. It's the USF model so to speak. I am not saying 10 wins or anything like that but it will be a good year if all players are healthy imo.

Wait til next year.
Really, already?

Sometimes it is an excuse. Sometimes it means playing guys like Gary, Carmouche, Badejo, Onu. Sutton, Carlisle, and other young players even if they make mistakes and aren't quite physically ready.

by **JasonB** » Mon Sep 19, 2016 10:58 pm

Don't write this season off yet. If Hicks can stay healthy, he will improve as the season goes along. LBs will grow up the second half of the season, defense will get better as the season goes on.

I know we all complain about Hicks' accuracy, but the coaches swear that he is going to be really good. I kind of trust their evaluation at this point.

We have a rough stretch of games coming up, but we can really go on a run at the end of the year.

Next year, everything is set up for this to be a 10 win team. Depth across the board and significant improvement at QB, OL, and LB.

by **mavsrage311** » Tue Sep 20, 2016 7:49 am

Oh my JasonB, 10 wins!?

by **ponygrad90** » Tue Sep 20, 2016 8:02 am

If we want to go bowling this year, we have to steal a game somewhere along the way, i can see 5 wins on this schedule: Tulane, Tulsa and Navy are all penciled in as wins (thank you June)

Here is my reasoning, we crushed Tulane last year and should repeat. We should have won the Tulsa game too (so I'm counting it)

Navy has shown nothing this year except nail biters, we have to win home games that are a toss up

so we need one win from:

TCU, Temple (road), Houston *7, Memphis (ouch), East Carolina (away) and South Florida...

The way i look at it, to make a bowl this year we must beat TCU Friday...

Go get 'em