Is beating tulsa/houston such an impossible task?

[New Braunfels Mustang]

Glad to read that someone realizes if Houston beat Tulsa and the Ponies win out, we win the west or al least have a great opportunity too unless UTEP wakes up and plays football. I also will be in the stands on Nov 11 with my bride where I have been for the most part for the last five years. Four hours to Ford Stadium from the hill country. I am enthused and optimistic. Homecoming attendance should top 20k easily. :D

[ponyup10]

If we can play like we did on tuesday and beat UAB 22-9, then when were are in strong form we can take down UH and Tulsa...it just depends on which team comes out...

neither game is a "lock" but neither is out of the question either. The Mustangs have shown to be a strong home team this year, who beat this teams on the road last year...it should be an exciting 3 weeks

[BrianTinBigD]

See this post:

http://www.ponyfans.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=21012

All we need is to have Houston win and then win our next 3 games. The chances of winding up in a 2 way tie with UTEP is slim at best. Tulsa would have to lose to either Rice or Tulane and Houston would have to lose to Memphis.

[OC Mustang]

We went 3-0 last November and beat Houston in the process -- down there. And they had Kolb playing QB and Vincent Marshall at WR.

Intangible Strengths:
Home Game (4 wins at home this season)
November Schedule (strongest part of the fall historically for SMU)
Away Game is against arguably average to below average CUSA opponent
10 days for team to heal

Tangible Strengths:
DL, QB, Punter

Intangible Weaknesses:
Have one single game away this year
Tulsa has mojo from winning and Top 25
Houston has bone to pick for last year's field goal

Tangible Weaknesses:
Secondary (is improved last game, but is still weakness)
Top RB out / not 100%
Top Punt Returner Out at worst to probable at best; not 100%

What's got to happen...
1. Coaches can't have mental lapses or disorganization
2. Blitz pckgs need to be perfectly coached (strategy) & executed (tactics)
3. LBs & Secondary got to get on their game; bend but not break.
4. O-Line has to step up and drive opposing DLs off the ball at least 1-2 times every 4 downs. We have to have 2nd and shorts or 3rd & shorts.
5. The offense has to get more comfortable running deep routes. Spread the field and back a LB out of the box.

[perunapower]

We went 3-0 last November and beat Houston in the process -- down there. And they had Kolb playing QB and Vincent Marshall at WR.

Intangible Strengths:
Home Game (4 wins at home this season)
November Schedule (strongest part of the fall historically for SMU)
Away Game is against arguably average to below average CUSA opponent
10 days for team to heal

Tangible Strengths:
DL, QB, Punter

Intangible Weaknesses:
Have one single game away this year
Tulsa has mojo from winning and Top 25
Houston has bone to pick for last year's field goal

Tangible Weaknesses:
Secondary (is improved last game, but is still weakness)
Top RB out / not 100%
Top Punt Returner Out at worst to probable at best; not 100%

What's got to happen...
1. Coaches can't have mental lapses or disorganization
2. Blitz pckgs need to be perfectly coached (strategy) & executed (tactics)
3. LBs & Secondary got to get on their game; bend but not break.
4. O-Line has to step up and drive opposing DLs off the ball at least 1-2 times every 4 downs. We have to have 2nd and shorts or 3rd & shorts.
5. The offense has to get more comfortable running deep routes. Spread the field and back a LB out of the box.

And ya know NOT fumbling the football which we did 3 times (4 if you count the fumble that was called an incomplete pass) and for the love of all things good NOT dropping the 3 of the 4 interceptions we could have had Tuesday. Imagine the ownage we would have been able to unleash if we had merely caught the balls we could have caught on defense.

Our defense did a good job of pressuring Williams and our secondary did a mediocre job defending the pass, but we can't fumble the ball like we have Teflon gloves and not catch the football when we have excellent chances at interceptions.

[ThadFilms]

I do not think it's an impossible task. But we cannot forget about at Rice. As we haven't beaten them at their home since BDP..... which, by the way, is how I am proposing to refer to SMU stats now that it's quite a long way back in a rear view mirror - BDP and ADP - Before and After the DP.


Here are my 2 (maybe more like 4-6) cents:

- The Ponies won there last three games last year.
- The Ponies have not lost at home since the middle of last season.
- The defense finally stepped up on Saturday, the fact that we did not give up a touch for the first time since '98 was huge.
- We beat Houston at Houston last year.
- We were a blown call or two away from escaping Tulsa with a W last year.
- We have pleanty of days to heal and prepare for the home stretch.


If Houston beats Tulsa then I'm pretty confident we can get it done at home over the next two weeks. Here's why - I think Houston is beatable by anyone in the West, even though they are one of the best teams in the West - I know that sounds slightly incongrous but it's how I feel. Seeing as we have them at home, I'm fairly confident in this one.

If Houston loses to Tulsa.... at this point I would be *very* concerned about that one. Basically it would state that, they are no doubt the best team in CUSA.

So, I never like rooting for Houston, but I hope they win.

And about Rice? Well the blind squirell's got to find the nut some time. I would say that they look good, blah, blah, blah, but I think we are better, blah, blah, blah.... because that's been the case for half the games (or more) that we haved played down their. Maybe they have some sort of voodoo curse protecting their stadium from us.

But I have to say, win the next to.... you've got a confident team rolling into H-Town with everything to play for.

[Peruna2001]

I think it is going to be a rough finish to the season. The team is going to have to play some of their best games to win even one or two of those games. I honestly think that if we play like we did against UAB and ECU, we probably won't win. While we might have played well in those games, it was not the best (too many fumbles, bad pass defense, etc.).

However, I think we have strong possibilities. Last year, we ended on a semi-tough schedule and beat a couple of teams that we shouldn't have. It definitely helps having the two toughest games at home on big gamedays (Homecoming and Senior Day). I also think that if we win one or both of the home games, the team will definitely want to finish out the season with a W at Rice (something that hasn't happened in a while).