The day after

[Big10Ponyfan]

I'm sure there are a lot of us feeling completely dumbfounded about what we watched in person Saturday night in Denton.

You cannot help but shake your head and say, "Now, why were we optimistic about this season.''

*When you don't emphasize the kicking game (punt blocked for TD, missed extra point, unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on huge a KOR and AGAIN, fielding a punt inside your own 10 -- I can't wait for Blake Warren to get out of here)...

*When you don't stop people on 3rd and 8, 3rd and 9, 3rd and 13 and 3rd and 9...

*When you throw wide receiver screens and your other WRs DON'T block to open up any holes....

*When your offensive coordinator believes that a vertical passing game is too much of a challenge...

*When your QB completes 15 of 19 tosses for ONLY 112 yards...

*When your heralded DL applies no pressure....

You get an absurd performance in what we got. THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE!!!

The lack of discipline. The lack of energy. The lack of holding any pride about who we are as a program is remarkable based on what we wanted to have happen this fall.

We complained about past September schedules so that we could get out faster, and we can't even take advantage of this.

I have been a PB backer for all five years including the 0-12 season, but I can't defend this anymore. This turns my stomach. I have no confidence in this staff doing the right thing in anything and using personnel properly.

There is no question there is better talent here. There is no question the best is not being brought out of it. There is no question a new change in leadership appears to be the only way to attempt to solve this.

Football is all about being organized. You see the consistently good programs win because everybody from the head coach to the ball boy knows their role and what they are suppose to do from the opening offseason workout to final tick that runs off the clock in the bowl game.

We have none of that here.

But I will be there next week against SHSU. Don't ask me why.

[covok48]

I'm not that old but I've witnessed (and played for) football "teams" and football "collection of players." What big10 said is absolutely correct. It's the difference between a mediocre team that goes 8-4 or 7-5 or 1-11 or 0-12 with the same players. I think blame rests on the coaches but most of it lies on the players. In football unless there's a large gap in talent, the team that wins is the one who wants it more. Our team showed up flat, played badly, were unprofessional, and had no sense of urgency that this game entailed. And that folks, cannot be coached.

[Ponymon]

I'm not that old but I've witnessed (and played for) football "teams" and football "collection of players." What big10 said is absolutely correct. It's the difference between a mediocre team that goes 8-4 or 7-5 or 1-11 or 0-12 with the same players. I think blame rests on the coaches but most of it lies on the players. In football unless there's a large gap in talent, the team that wins is the one who wants it more. Our team showed up flat, played badly, were unprofessional, and had no sense of urgency that this game entailed. And that folks, cannot be coached.

Well these are Phil's boys. Cavans and Rossly's have all graduated. He picked the players that he thought were winners so he is the one and ONLY one responsible for this current mess!

[Stallion]

here's we go again. "If we could only get a coach in here that could motivate the Boys..." Get this though your thick skull for the 20 th time. SMU has marginal Division 1A talent-far below average. Do we have better talent to beat NTSU on the road in one of their biggest games ever at Fouts Field. Probably but not by much. We suck and always have sucked because we get outrecruited by our competition in February for Freshman , in December for JUCOs, in late spring for late qualifiers and in August for the Division 1A Transfers. We have one offensive lineman that even got marginal legitimate Division 1A attention. We've "great athletes" all over the field that were simply leftovers trying to make good. We have had less success recruiting QBs than any school in Texas. We have ZERO proven deep threats at WR. We have some quality at blocking TE but who don't have the ability to get open downfield. We've got the most untalented group of LBs in Texas. This has been confirmed over and over year after year by anyone that knows the first thing about recruiting. Hell I think Sam Houston State has about as many players who received offers from BCS schools as SMU does-not including Baylor, Vandy or other bottom dwellers. And I'm serious. Get over this we are so talented [deleted].

[McAndless]

I'm hopeful anyone reading and posting has either played an organized team sport or found employment with a company that utilizes management.

Players/employees make the plays/produce. It is on them to be energized and motivated. This typically happens with ease when players/employees are within an organization conducive to succeeding, which should be under the direction of management/coaching that provides a workplace that draws the most from its talent and places them in a position to succeed.

When management/coaching fails to build a program around strengths, the players responsible for the success get confused and tend to second guess a fearless leader. If its painfully obvious for the fans, go sit in the locker room on Sunday afternoon and listen to a collective group of young men desperately wanting to win try to make sense of such a lack of guidance or plan best-suited for their strengths.

[Big10Ponyfan]

I am on board with some but not all of the aforementioned points.

First, we were more talented than UNT. Period. End of story. We played a passionateless game. And we lost because of it.

Second, hold off the critique on Justin Willis until he has played more than 8 quarters.

Third, it's hard to really know what we have TE because we never use them to do anything. To say they can't get open is a stretch. I don't think a pass has been thrown in their direction this year has it?

It's one thing to talk about BCS offers and how we are with marginal DI talent. I agree our talent is nothing special, BUT it is better than when Rossley and Cavan were here.

The plan can accentuate the talent. That isn't happening.

Every day and twice on Sunday, I'll take the less talented, more organized, more disciplined team over the talent shakers. Football is more than showing a hipper dipper and blazing down the sideline.

And that's why Air Force gave itself a chance to win at Tennessee yesterday. And if Tennessee was overlooking AF to Florida next week, that's their problem. Florida didn't have that problem with UCF.

On paper, Air Force had no business being in the game. They lost because their gamble for 2 didn't pay off. Baylor beat A&M a couple of years ago because their try for two worked.

Division I-AA New Hampshire won at Northwestern because they executed their plan.

Although very important, it's not always about talent. It's about how the coach can make chicken salad out of chicken soup. Our chicken is still sitting in the freezer collecting freezer burn.

And ultimately, the coach and the staff pay for it.

[overcusser]

First, we were more talented than UNT. Period. End of story.

Apparently NOT! What game were you watching?

Scoreboard buddy 24-6!!!!!!

[Mustangs35SMU]

First, we were more talented than UNT. Period. End of story.

Apparently NOT! What game were you watching?

Scoreboard buddy 24-6!!!!!!

So with that you're saying that Montana State is more talented than freakin Colorado?

Yea, sorry I don't believe that.

We have the talent to beat a team like North Texas..we just never use the talent we have.

[overcusser]

First, we were more talented than UNT. Period. End of story.

Apparently NOT! What game were you watching?

Scoreboard buddy 24-6!!!!!!

So with that you're saying that Montana State is more talented than freakin Colorado?

Yea, sorry I don't believe that.

We have the talent to beat a team like North Texas..we just never use the talent we have.

Your QB couldn't drop back without being pressured, so much for a more talented offensive line.

You don't have a DB that was fast enough to could cover Johnny Quinn. So much for more talent there.

Your LB's were unable to contain QB Woody Wilson when he decided to run.

Your players made significant errors and penalties at critical times.

Yeah I can see why you believe you have more talent, ....NOT!


Once again..SCOREBOARD 24-6.

Yeah.....I definately saw that SMU had

[The XtC]

[quote="Big10Ponyfan"]

Third, it's hard to really know what we have TE because we never use them to do anything. To say they can't get open is a stretch. I don't think a pass has been thrown in their direction this year has it?

.[/quote]

Ryan Kennedy had a 2 yard catch at Tech, and Vincent Chase had a 9 yard catch last night. Chris Phillips hasnt played a down yet, not even on special teams.

[PonyPride]

You don't have a DB that was fast enough to could cover Johnny Quinn. So much for more talent there.

Actually, we have several DBs with the speed to run with Quinn. However, one was playing WR last year and the other is a true freshman, and Quinn is an experienced WR who runs good routes. Speed was not the issue.

Your LB's were unable to contain QB Woody Wilson when he decided to run.

The blown assignment on the Wilson TD run was by a DL, not LB.

Your players made significant errors and penalties at critical times.

What do you call a taunting personal foul when the NT defense had stopped a third down?

Admittedly, we're all upset. But your assessment isn't exactly accurate.

[EastStang]

First, upsets happen because the players are not ready to play. Northwestern lost to New Hampshire because they took them lightly. Florida State escaped Troy State because they took them lightly. That's part coaching, part internal for players. We are more talented that we have been since the SWC broke up, but we still are not much better than many 1-AA programs (and in many ways less talented than some). We have handicapped ourselves in recruiting, and that shows on the field. Because of this our players cannot take any game for granted. Yes, they have the talent to beat teams of similar calibre and even maybe pull off an upset once and awhile. But the players have to show up ready to play. We were better than Tulane last year, but got slaughtered, Why? Why did we play better in games where we were the underdog last year, than in games where we were predicted to win? Are we too uptight, or are we too loose? Or is it a little of both. Either way, we played flat and got beat. Its just that simple.

[jtstang]

Anyone who truly thinks we are more talented than NTSU needs a refill on their reality prescription.

And anyone who has expectations that SMU will win a game, ANY game, needs to see their shrink. No expectations, no disappointments.

Here's the cure for what ails you: Go to the games, enjoy drinking cold ones and watching hot ones on the 'vard, cheer and hope the mustangs win, but don't expect them to. Better to be pleasantly surprised than bitterly disappointed.