Common Sense

[Corso]

We didn't just lose our QB, we also have a new batch of linebackers.

Not to mention three new starters in the secondary, which is scary when you consider that we're opening against the bombs-away Red Raiders.

[RGV Pony]

ECU or TULANE were not FREE wins by any measure last year. Yes, Tulane had their issues, but still had better recruits than we did for the past 4 years.

What about Baylor? FREE win? You admitted we didn't just "play well" against Baylor, but "should have beaten Baylor" last year. Is that a FREE win that we dropped?

I thought we were going to win that game right up until the end. Early in the third quarter, a guy behind me in my section said, "dude, Baylor SUCKS!"

Imagine my horror later on when SMU lost.

[McClown27]

Will 6-6 get us into a bowl with a win against a Div-1AA team? And what if we lose that bowl, BADLY, to go 6-7...

If we go to a bowl for the first time in 22 years, Coach Bennett's job is safe. He may be going somewhere else, but you have got to be kidding.

[jtstang]

Imagine my horror later on when SMU lost.

I don't have to imagine it, I was there. Thank goodness my "no expectations" philosophy was in place to prevent any disappointment as a result of the loss.

[GoRedGoBlue]

This is a team that was 'heralded' as the YOUNGEST in 2004, and still one of the youngest in 2005.

Forget the win over #11 TCU.

This team went 1-4 in the first 5 games.
This team went 4-2 in the final 6.

In their last 7 games
- they lost in OT (with bad fumble call - at Marshall)
- won in a miracle (at UAB),
- lost two in a row by a TD, (at Tulsa, ECU)
- won 3 in a row (UTEP, at HOU, RICE)

They went 4-2 against 4 bowl teams (2 wins and 2 losses) in their final 6.

They won 3 in a row to end the season against 2 bowl teams.

This team is now ONE YEAR OLDER and has depth.

Yes, we are tiny at LB. But most publications say we have a very good front 7 on D. Yes, we have a Rs-Fr QB - who is better, more talented than last years crop.

Why in the world shouldn't we expect improvement? Doesn't the above objectively suggest that this team has 'turned the corner'?

All I am saying is that 6-6 is not a realistic improvement at all.

There only one team on the schedule that we PROBABLY lose, unlike last year we had TWO (to which we beat one of them). And last year there were NO free wins, this year we have 4 FREE wins.

Ok, tell you what, I will change FREE to PROBABLE.

Last year we had "0" PROBABLY wins at all, this year we have "4" PROBABLE WINS.

if you cannot go better than 6-6 with 4 probable wins and with only 1 PROBABLE loss, then you haven't improved.

That's my point.

[FordtoTolbert]

...read Dave Campbells' over the last 2, 5, 10 years...the same things the coaches / fans / forecasters are saying this year have been said before...I, too, have adopted Jtstangs mind set, why get all fired up about W's & L's NOW!!!, let's see what they do with their first possesion v. Tech, and take it from there....they should rename this board.."The same 27 people talking about the same 7 things" board, or Department of Redundancy Department board. "Don't fumble the opening kick off, boys!!"" GO MUSTANGS......where's Red McClain when we need him.

[GoRedGoBlue]

ECU or TULANE were not FREE wins by any measure last year. Yes, Tulane had their issues, but still had better recruits than we did for the past 4 years.

What about Baylor? FREE win? You admitted we didn't just "play well" against Baylor, but "should have beaten Baylor" last year. Is that a FREE win that we dropped?

Saying we should have beaten Baylor after attending the game is not the same as suggesting that it was a FREE win before the season started.

Baylor was never a PROBABLE win. As it turned out, we should have won that game.

We should have won the Marshall game, but lost the UAB game (although, the caveat is that we were winning the UAB game all along).

Everyone look at the results last year:

http://smumustangs.cstv.com/sports/m-fo ... -2005.html

[GoRedGoBlue]

...read Dave Campbells' over the last 2, 5, 10 years...the same things the coaches / fans / forecasters are saying this year have been said before...I, too, have adopted Jtstangs mind set, why get all fired up about W's & L's NOW!!!, let's see what they do with their first possesion v. Tech, and take it from there....they should rename this board.."The same 27 people talking about the same 7 things" board, or Department of Redundancy Department board. "Don't fumble the opening kick off, boys!!"" GO MUSTANGS......where's Red McClain when we need him.

Most predicted SMU to win 2-3 games last year.

[GoRedGoBlue]

...read Dave Campbells' over the last 2, 5, 10 years...the same things the coaches / fans / forecasters are saying this year have been said before...I, too, have adopted Jtstangs mind set, why get all fired up about W's & L's NOW!!!, let's see what they do with their first possesion v. Tech, and take it from there....they should rename this board.."The same 27 people talking about the same 7 things" board, or Department of Redundancy Department board. "Don't fumble the opening kick off, boys!!"" GO MUSTANGS......where's Red McClain when we need him.

Most predicted SMU to win 2-3 games last year.

I apologize: college football news predicted SMU to win 1 game last year, against ECU.

2005 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 1-10
2005 Record: 5-6
Preview 2005 predicted wins

9/3 Baylor L 28-23
9/10 TCU W 21-10
9/17 at Texas A&M L 66-8
9/24 Tulane L 31-10
10/1 at Marshall L 16-13 OT
10/8 at UAB W 27-22
10/15 East Carolina L 24-17
10/22 at Tulsa L 20-13
11/5 Rice W 27-7
11/12 at Houston W 29-24
11/26 UTEP W 40-27

[GoRedGoBlue]

Imagine my horror later on when SMU lost.

I don't have to imagine it, I was there. Thank goodness my "no expectations" philosophy was in place to prevent any disappointment as a result of the loss.

Let me say one thing, I am not being a SUNSHINER about this.

I expect wins, I am not RAH-RAHing for wins, or PREDICT that we "WILL WIN" as I have done in the past.

I expect these to be wins, or else I expect there to be repercussions.

This team has showed so many signs over the past 4 years of being horribly coached that they are lucky to have won 5 last year (see Tulsa fiasco that almost lost us the game in 2004, see mismanagement of players).

However, having objectively looked at the results over the past 6 games vs. the first 5 of last year, and noting the youth of this team last year - there is no reason not to expect to win.

I expect it. I don't PROCAIM or PREDICT that we will win.

Perhaps that is where you think I am going with this, I am not.

Maybe your definition of 'expect' is different from mine.

Mine is not a prediction. And I won't be disappointed with 5-7 or 6-6.

But, I expect there to be a change it so.

[GoRedGoBlue]

Will 6-6 get us into a bowl with a win against a Div-1AA team? And what if we lose that bowl, BADLY, to go 6-7...

If we go to a bowl for the first time in 22 years, Coach Bennett's job is safe. He may be going somewhere else, but you have got to be kidding.

not at 6-7, I would expect a change if I were you

[McClown27]

not at 6-7, I would expect a change if I were you

I mean Orsini said he would like to begin to play in bowl games. If you think we have to be like TCU this year, you have never spoken to anyone associated with the athletic program in the Copeland or Orsini administration. They would be thrilled to go to one. It has been 22 years.

[GoRedGoBlue]

not at 6-7, I would expect a change if I were you

I mean Orsini said he would like to begin to play in bowl games. If you think we have to be like TCU this year, you have never spoken to anyone associated with the athletic program in the Copeland or Orsini administration. They would be thrilled to go to one. It has been 22 years.

I agree. but we realistically aren't going to a bowl game at 6-6.

We would be lucky to go at 7-5. IF we are 7-5, we are 4-4 in conference, right?

That's probably NOT one of the top5 CUSA teams (4-4).

At 6-6 (3-5 in conference, one win over 1aa) we aren't going to get a bid.

[McClown27]

With our fan base, I agree that 6-6 will not get us into a bowl. However, I disagree that record would get Bennett fired. I think we would have to go below 4 for there even to be a discussion.

[ponyplayer]

I have a headache....

How`s that headache coming along....................