First Five Games

[McClown27]

Sat., Sep. 2 Texas Tech Lubbock, Texas 6:00 PM
Sat., Sep. 9 North Texas Denton, Texas 6:00 PM
Sat., Sep. 16 Sam Houston State Dallas, Texas 7:00 PM
Sat., Sep. 23 Arkansas State Dallas, Texas 7:00 PM
Sat., Sep. 30 Tulane New Orleans, La. 8:00 PM

Now that we have gone to the Bill Snyder schedule, we should get some early wins. I would certify the season as lost if we lose to either SHSU or Ark. St (no offense Mrydel). Realistically, we should be 4-1 or 3-2 going into the UTEP game in El Paso.

[me@smu]

What, no 5 win option?

[McClown27]

I'll add it for the big morning drinkers on the board.

Couldn't be done, sorry.

[mrydel]

I do not know where any offense would come in. I have long said we should be no worse than 3-1 in our first 4 games. If we accomplish that, Tulane should be a considered win also. Losing to SHST, Ark St, or NTSU, would be a step way backwards for this program. Thus, if we are 3-1 the loss had better be to TT. If by some miracle there was a win at Tech, then September should be 5-0. I think we have had 1 win in September in the past several years and that has put a downward spin on the remainder of the seasons. This is the year with the soft schedule to turn that around and achieve some forward momentum going into the conference schedule. If This year accomplishes what it is intended to accomplish, recruiting should again begin to rise and more difficult teams should be scheduled to build on the overall program.

[McClown27]

I do not know where any offense would come in.

I was joking about Arkansas St.

[mrydel]

I think Arkansas State will be a pleasant surprise in the amount of fans they bring. Arkansans like Dallas and it will be a good trip for them. They are also an up and coming program but should be well behind SMU in talent and experience. A loss here would be devastating.

[jtstang]

A loss here would be devastating.

Please don't say things like that. This team could lose to anybody (see Tulane last year, in an @ss-whipping by a team displaced and devastated by a hurricane).

[DallasDiehard]

Isn't that the same Arkansas State team that hung with Southern Miss in a bowl game? This is not a terrible team. I'm hoping for -- and expecting -- a win, but this is not a layup. They're very fast and athletic, from what I recall in that game.

[mrydel]

On paper from a talent and experience stand point this should be a cakewalk. Listen, I played this game for many years. I understand upsets, bad officiating, off games, etc. I am just saying that all things considered, we should not lose this game. Their best athlete (QB) is gone and their main talent will come from Arkansas. Trust me, they are the #2 team in Arkansas. Our slim pickings in Texas are of a better overall quality than their slim pickings in Arkansas.

I am not saying we can not lose the game. But let me assure you that a loss to Arkie State would be devastating to our program.

[McClown27]

I am not saying we can not lose the game. But let me assure you that a loss to Arkie State would be devastating to our program.

It would be a terrible omen if we lose that game. How is UNT supposed to be? We are all assuming a victory, but I haven't heard anything about them.

[mrydel]

Another major factor in the defeating of Arkansas State is that I have just heard the latest RUMOR that they are changing their name to the "Scarlets". Now if we can not beat the leading character from Gone With The Wind, we need to reevaluate everything. At least they could have gone more masculine and called themselves the Butlers.

[SMU Football Blog]

Sunbelt has a 15% winning percentage in nonconference games. Sunbelt's record against I-AA is under 50% over the last five years. Overall, I-AA teams lose to I-A teams 87% of the time.

If SMU were to lose one of those three games it would be a disaster, but SMU won't lose those games.

[mrydel]

I am not saying we can not lose the game. But let me assure you that a loss to Arkie State would be devastating to our program.

It would be a terrible omen if we lose that game. How is UNT supposed to be? We are all assuming a victory, but I haven't heard anything about them.

Arkansas State won the SunBelt Conference last year beating out UNT. That should let you know my opinion. I will not state it openly because Jtstang just got married and I am afraid if I call another potnetial loss as being devastating he might pull something and be put on the Unable to Perform list.

[Stallion]

SMU is going to face extremely hostile crowds at Denton and New Orleans(first home game since Katrina) not to mention Lubbock. Through the last 20 years we have rarely even competed well in New Orleans. They are much better than they showed last year as they proved to us. 2-3 is a very possible scenario for those that don't drink the Cool-Aid. Hopefully, we can pull out those games and go 4-1 but I'll say 3-2. But those thinking Denton and New Orleans will be a cakewalk are way off base. As for the Sub-Belt record against Division 1A most of those games were money games against the BCS-care to take a gander at SMU's record against BCS sc hools since the DP-not much better than the Sun Belt and that is reality. SMU is much closer to the Sun Belt than a BCS conference.

[The PonyGrad]

I say 4-1 but 3-2 would not surprise. We have a lot of question marks to fill in. Don't be surprised with some scary games.