My take on the game...Same ole, Same ole...

[Mexmustang]

Offense--BORING...Willis played with engough poise to try to open up the game in the second half. But, we didn't. Until we have an offense not only will we not win, but we will not put fans into the stands. We never got into any rythm, and we never had any crispness coming out of the huddle.

Defense--How does Tech's No. 9 get open repeately on the same inside crossing pattern--all night long? We seemed to rush only one of two people all night and our defensive backs and linebackers were repeately beaten. Tech looked like they were the Harlem Globetrotters passing the basketball between themselves at will. At times it didn't look like football, but a Bobby Knight passing practice.

Coaching--How many times do I have to remind them that coaching from the sidelines during the game is too late. It needs to occur during practice. I wish you people could have observed the difference between our coaches and Tech's, sometimes three at a time yelling instructions vs. a Tech staff that was confident and quiet even from the first snap, not just when they were three touchdowns ahead. I feel our kids were confused listening to too many coaches shouting at them. No question Willis' fumble occured during his session with sideline coaching!

I honestly didn't see any improvement from two years ago. Our running game was a joke, the play calling conservative and our defense was lost. Only our kicking game seeming to approach Div I. Our players were not as unsized as in past years, but they were still slower, confused and smaller than Tech's.

Same ole, Same ole.

[MrMustang1965]

Guess this means we won't see you in Denton, huh?

[Mustangs35SMU]

I see you're quite the sunshiner eh?

[smupony94]

TT was only the first game and even the eternal optimists didn't think we would win. At least cheer like hell against UNT and then make up your mind.

[smupony94]

Looking for the flying pigs as I agreed with 65 and MM35

[couch 'em]

What, you don't find run - run - pass - punt an exciting offense? It isn't like it was predictable or anything!

[smupony94]

Next week will be pass pass run punt for you

[RHS]

Offense--BORING...Willis played with engough poise to try to open up the game in the second half. But, we didn't. - I think you under estimate Tech and haven't watched Tech much. Trying to keep up with Tech is a classic mistake and that is why SMU lost 58-10 in 2003. The next week, Rocky Long kept running the ball, despite being way behind and ultimately kept the game reasonably close.

Defense--How does Tech's No. 9 get open repeately on the same inside crossing pattern--all night long? - Again, you give Tech no credit. That #9 was the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year last year and settling in as a second year starter. He was one of the best players in the Big 12 last year and will be even better this year. Texas was the only team to shut him down last year. If you judge your D solely on the way they defended Robert Johnson, you will never be happy. Plus, Tech's O has so much to account for, someone is always going to be open. If you shut down #9, then #8 would have burned you all night. Relax.

Coaching--I always like and respected Bennett, but I think you finally see what we see in Leach. Tech's recent success isn't all about the system. It is about the coaching. It is all about the way they run practice.

I honestly didn't see any improvement from two years ago. - I attended the last three Tech v. SMU games and I did see improvement for SMU. I think what you are missing is the improvement Tech made. It didn't look any different on the surface, but if you consider Tech is a vastly improved team from 2003, then you will see SMU is improved as well.

Our players were not as unsized as in past years, but they were still slower, confused and smaller than Tech's. - And that is the difference between the CUSA and the Big 12. Why does that surprise you? Would you be saying that if you lost to Texas or Oklahoma 35-3 on the road? Texas is still more talented than we are across the board and OU probably has more talent on D, but they don't on O.


The good news is SMU already played the toughest team on their schedule. SMU is going to face teams where you won't be saying "Our players were not as unsized as in past years, but they were still slower, confused and smaller than....." SMU should roll over in the next two games and could start conference play 3-1. I don't know much about Arkansas State other than they won their conference last year. This is a better SMU team and you will see that as the season goes on.

[McClown27]

Our players were not as unsized as in past years, but they were still slower, confused and smaller than Tech's. - And that is the difference between the CUSA and the Big 12. Why does that surprise you?

This weekend, I watched UAB and Memphis play with a Big 12 and SEC schools respectively. From the Mountain West, TCU beat Baylor. The difference in the quality of athletes is certainly part of the story, but offensive gameplan also must be considered.

[EastStang]

I noticed that Willis had less than 20 passes, Slater 3. That means we were running the ball a lot which means that Bennett's game plan was to run the ball and that's what was practiced all week. Tech shut it down pretty well because their defense is better than expected. Bennett had a red-shirt freshman QB starting an away game in front of a huge TT crowd. Willis had no interceptions, no sacks. That to me is a positive. But UNT has a decent offense which should also be hoping to run against our defense. It should be an interesting game this week.

[RHS]

Our players were not as unsized as in past years, but they were still slower, confused and smaller than Tech's. - And that is the difference between the CUSA and the Big 12. Why does that surprise you?

This weekend, I watched UAB and Memphis play with a Big 12 and SEC schools respectively. From the Mountain West, TCU beat Baylor. The difference in the quality of athletes is certainly part of the story, but offensive gameplan also must be considered.

TCU is one of the better non BCS teams who matched up with one of the poorer BCS teams in Baylor. TCU won the Mountain West, Baylor finished last in the Big 12 nine of the first 10 seasons and next to last in the tenth.

But I do agree with coaching and like I tried to tell you before the game, Leach is a good coach and he built a good staff.

[ponyboy]

I feel ok about this game, not good but ok. It's never fun to lose if you have any competitiveness in you at all, and I would have liked to have seen at least one touchdown. But no one in their right mind expected a W here.

I liked the conservative play calling on offense. Three interceptions in a bloody Tech rout would not have been good for Willis' confidence. Let's let him open up a bit next week up in Denton and see how he responds.

[Mexmustang]

Thanks for helping me put in perspective...but I was really disappointed. I was especially disappointed that we didn't take the risks and open it up in an attempt to win, only beat the point spread!

[PK]

I feel ok about this game, not good but ok. It's never fun to lose if you have any competitiveness in you at all, and I would have liked to have seen at least one touchdown. But no one in their right mind expected a W here.

Lady luck can be a fickle b!itch...we had a great opportunity for a touchdown when we drove down to the Tech 10 yard line only to have that fumble by Willis kill the drive. You are right, no one really anticipated a win for SMU, but a touchdown on that series of plays sure would have felt good. It seems to be our history to shoot ourselves in the foot at the most inappropriate moments.

[jtstang]

But no one in their right mind expected a W here.

Exactly. ponyboy has now seen the light and confirmed that I am in my right mind for having no expectations. I am therefore not disappointed by Saturday's loss, although I would have been pleasantly surprised with a win. Now if everybody will adopt mine and ponyboy's recommendation for the NTSU game and beyond, we can all be on the way to an enjoyable season, hopefully punctuated by a number of pleasant surprises.