New DMN blog entry

[perunapower]

http://colleges.beloblog.com/archives/2 ... a_day.html

Good stuff. Details on the back-up QB situation, expectations, Burns moving to the pressbox, Willis's recovery, and more.

[that's great raplh]

more please

[perunapower]

C-USA media day

I'm writing from the French Quarter and the gorgeous Royal Sonesta Hotel - which is about to kick me about because it's past checkout time.

I'll provide more details later, but wanted to give a brief rundown of this morning's Conference USA media blitz.

*SMU coach Phil Bennett and athletic director Steve Orsini both will say that this is the year the Ponies need to go to a bowl. Bennett feels like the program is a year off, and should have gone last year. Not exactly breaking news, I know, but significant because they're talking about it and laying out clear expectations. It really sets the table for the rest of the season and how it plays out.

*Justin Willis has been throwing every day and is completely healed from surgery this spring to his throwing hand. Emmanuel Sanders, his favorite target and buddy, said Willis is actually better than before he broke his hand.

*Offensive coordinator Rusty Burns is moving to the pressbox. Burns had preferred to be on the sidelines so he could communicate in person with his quarterbacks, but that's changing.

*Bennett visited Rutgers and Wake Forest this spring. He considers them great examples of programs that were close and then finally broke through. He likes how they have a select set of plays that they can execute very well.

*Zach Rhodes, whose shoulder is improving, and Logan Turner will compete for the backup QB position.

*The new marketing graphic is on the cover of SMU's media guide, which is white and plain, except for a red Pony and an upward pointing arrow (like one drawn on a chalkboard). Both Bennett and Orsini praised the new marketing campaign, which is set to launch soon and is believed to be SMU's first in several years.

*Got lots of other stuff from Houston's Anthony Alridge, Rice's Jarett Dillard and new Tulsa coach/Ex -Rice coach Todd Graham, but I'll have to share it at another time.

[smu diamond m]

Interesting about Burns moving. I thought I remembered Bennett saying he preferred Burns on the field, not Burns preferred to be on the field. Regardless, about time he moved up to the box.