Week One lines: North Texas -1½ vs. SMU

[ojaipony]

yeah SMU only had a 30 point lead when the backups got in-barely sneaked by.

You do realize Courtland Sutton scored 4 TDs in the first 31 minutes of that game and accounted for 28 points in our 22 point win. He also scored 3 TDs in our 13 point win at UNT the previous year. One could say that he was the difference in both games.

The entire slate of returning WRs had 5 receptions in that game last year- led by 2 from Proche and 2 from Gailliard.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see Proche and Gailliard post 250 yards of offense and 4 TDs on UNT this year - but I am not counting on it.

Good points, and don't forget that Wyatt also scored 2 TDs.

I think we win, but in a different way. I think we run the ball more. More time of possession. Less big home run plays but a lot of just marching the ball down the field with them unable to stop us kind of plays. Also, if it was Sutton's coming out party, why not it be Bell's this year? I also have high hopes for Page. Some hope for Benson. Becker also has some upside. Bottom line is that we relied on Sutton and Quinn so much because there weren't as many other options. This year, there will be more options. Probably not 1 or 2 studs but the net net result might be similar. One or two guys may emerge but it's harder to defend when you're not sure who exactly is THE guy. What I'm hoping for anyway.

[Nacho]

exhibit a in why we should not play unt

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

good god Chad has left us in a HORRIBLE situation

[PonyTime]

good god Chad has left us in a HORRIBLE situation

There is a reason that Chad was desperate to get out before this season.

[footballdad]

good god Chad has left us in a HORRIBLE situation

There is a reason that Chad was desperate to get out before this season.

What you say? Chad, the great recruiter (according to 'an uncastrated adult male horse') should have left this roster loaded with talent, ready to contribute in big ways by now. All of June's terrible guys are gone now as well.

[Stallion]

Oh BOO HOO!

This is getting ridiculous. SMU was substantially better in almost every statistical category and that's even if you include the Bowl Game Morris didn't Coach which significantly affected our offensive statistics even more. We played in the AAC which led the Country in Total Offense and played 9 teams in the Top 50 in Total Offense which hurt our Defensive statistics-mainly pass defense. We actually finished ahead of 3 other AAC teams in Total defense. Some of you need to grow a set of balls

Offense 2014-2017

Wins: 1-7 (+6)
Losses: 11-6 (+5)
Total Offense: 268.8-478.5 (+209.7 per game)
Per Play: 4.1-6.4 (+2.3 per play)
Rushing: 100.2-184.4 (+84.2 per game)
Rush Average:3.3-4.9 (+1.6 per rush)
Passing:168.7-294.1 (+125.4 per game)
First Downs Avg: 14.7- 24.0 (+9.3 per game)

Defense:
Total Defense:499.4-478.5 (+20.9 yards per game)
Per Play: 6.6-6.6 (even)
Rush Defense: 235.8-207.7 (+28.1 yards per game)
Rush Average: 5.2-4.9 (+.3 per Rush)
Passing: 263.7-269.0 (-5.3 yards)
Average First Downs Surrendered 25.2-23.4 (+1.8 First Downs Per Game)

Bowls: 0-1 going from one of the worst teams in college Football history to competitive in the strongrest non-P5 conference. Only 1 SMU team has won more games than SMU did this year in the last 28 years and the 2017 AAC was the strongest conference we have played in in 21 years. Honestly I think there is more whining this year than coming off some of our worst seasons

SOURCE:
2014-https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-methodist/2014.html
2017-https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-methodist/2017.html

[Charleston Pony]

I really don't understand footballdad's hatred for Chad Morris. I will always believe he was a home run hire for SMU at the time, coming off that dumpster fire season and roster that Jones left us with. I was impressed with what he was able to accomplish but at the same time I think he bailed because he realized this could be a step back year that could impact his career trajectory. There is no question but that he upgraded our talent but I think he may have questioned whether he could recruit top 25 talent to SMU given the relative apathy for our football program. Don't know whether we could have beaten La Tech in the bowl game had nothing changed, but I do believe we would have been much more competitive. As Sonny has indicated, he has stepped into a much better situation than any of his post death penalty predecessors.

Bottom line is that this is a decent UNT team we will be facing on their home field and their program has also been on an upward trajectory. I'm not at all surprised to see them slightly favored and just hope the Sonny Dykes era can get off to a good start by winning that game, which I think is going to be crucial if this year's team is going to have any hopes of reaching a bowl game.

[JasonB]

This is quite simple. Either Morris hit on his recruits (Young WR, OL, Moore, maturing CB/S), in which case this should be a good team that can handle UNT, or he didn't, in which case we will struggle this season. If Dykes hit on his JUCO recruits (CB, LB, OL), it is enough to push us an even further step ahead, but not enough to cover if Morris missed on those positions.

As you can tell from my other posts, I'm placing my bets that Morris hit his targets, and that Dykes hit his as well from what I saw in Spring. In that case, we are going to have a top 4 QB, WR, and OL in conference to go along with at least an average WR corp. We will have a top 4 secondary (Wyatt with Juco/Sutton/Davis/KJ at corner and Onu with Clemons/McQueen at S. Onu and Wyatt are already recognized and the others will mature and be ready). And our LB corp, which was horrible the last 2 years, will be a top 4 group (Mitchell and Moore are already recognized, and we saw Denbow make plays all spring).

Boom or bust, as they say. I'll go with boom and UNT won't be a problem.

[ender3]

I was impressed with what he was able to accomplish but at the same time I think he bailed because he realized this could be a step back year that could impact his career trajectory.

He left for the freaking SEC West. Who else thinks he should have waited? What was he going to get? Alabama? Clemson? Notre Dame? Texas? No.

I'm not singling you out, CP. I see this a lot. "He left because he was concerned the team might take a step back."

He left for a better opportunity. The first SMU coach in decades to be able to do so. Good for him. I'm glad we have Sonny.

[BIGHORSE]

If we don't beat N.T.S.U we could start out 1 and 5.

[peruna81]

we will beat NTSU...

no tin foil hats...

no chicken little...

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

Who else thinks he should have waited? He left for a better opportunity. The first SMU coach in decades to be able to do so. Good for him. I'm glad we have Sonny.

who thinks he should have stayed?
certainly not me!.....yes yes yes "good for him"
i'm thrilled he's gone.
his 3 years of "great recruiting" has us an under-dog to CUSA North Texas State
you cant have it both ways....
"oh Chad was great"...."but we suck"....which is it?

[ponyboy]

If we don't beat N.T.S.U we could start out 1 and 5.

If we don't beat North Texas, we will start out 0-1

[footballdad]

Who else thinks he should have waited? He left for a better opportunity. The first SMU coach in decades to be able to do so. Good for him. I'm glad we have Sonny.

who thinks he should have stayed?
certainly not me!.....yes yes yes "good for him"
i'm thrilled he's gone.
his 3 years of "great recruiting" has us an under-dog to CUSA North Texas State
you cant have it both ways....
"oh Chad was great"...."but we suck"....which is it?

Careful......Charleston Pony might soon be accusing you of 'HATRED'!

Great point.........which is it? This year will answer a lot of those questions. A loss to UNT will tell the tale.

[BIGHORSE]

If we don't beat N.T.S.U we could start out 1 and 5.

If we don't beat North Texas, we will start out 0-1

Look at the games following the N.T.S. game, most are going to be very tough.