Best SMU Football Memory?

[planoponyfan]

1. SMU 31 UCONN 30 - it was the best football game I've ever seen - period. The moment when Mike Romo hit the 4 yard touchdown pass to Michael Bowen to win the game is hard to describe. The stadium erupted in cheers I've never heard before or since. It was the best moment of SMU spirit I've ever been a part of. It was a soul clensing win. We were back. We didn't suck. We won. It didn't matter that it was over a I-AA schoo. We won. SMU was a winner. For all the jokes lobbed at me for being an SMU fan, for that one moment I could point to a scoreboard and say "we won." In many ways, it was the biggest win the program has had in the past 20 years. The win over TCU in 2005 was nice, but the UCONN win was a much more desperately needed win for the psyche of the school. How soon we forget: SMU finished that first season back from the death penalty 2-9. The Dallas Cowboys that same year went 1-15.

2. SMU 34 Texas Tech 27 - The 1982 season was memorable for many reasons. The last second play where Bobby Leach took a lateral on the kickoff and ran 80+ yards for the TD was probably the best highlight. It was a memory revisited when the Tennessee Titans pulled out the same play to beat the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs a few years ago. The thing is, that's a hard play to pull off and SMU did it when they absolutely had to that year. It's the only reason SMU finished #2 that year. I was 13 at the time and was listening to the game on the radio with my dad. We were both stunned that SMU was having such a hard time with Tech. We figured this was going to be the one blemish on SMU's record. I remember jumping up and down in our living room as we hear the announcer describe Leach getting the ball and taking off down the sideline with it. I waited up late to watch the news to see a replay of it. It was such a great memory from such a great season.

3. SMU 30 UT 17 - October 23, 1982 - Bobby Leach changes the fortunes of the game for SMU with a tipped ball catch for a 79 yard TD reception. The play is made famous by the legendary Keith Jackson on the national TV broadcast saying "it's a look what I found touchdown for S-M-U!"

4. SMU 31 Kansas 17 - September 2, 2000 - First game at Ford Stadium and the temperature was 109 at kickoff. My wife got me tickets as an early birthday present. The heat was unreal, but we survived. SMU put on a good show for the sell-out crowd as they scored on their first 4 possessions and took a 24-0 lead. Beating a big 12 team was a nice way to start.

[mrydel]

US whipper-snappers would appreciate hearing of Ponyte's heroics. It was just a little before my time (mid 80's)

If you ever have an oppotunity to view the 1980 UT/SMU game in Austin where #2 Texas hosted SMU being led by a freshman QB playing in his first game, watch. There were many significnt plays but the most prevalent was a precalled option pitch to Craig James from near midfield (I do not recall the distance) where James took the pitch and ran basically untouched to the end zone on a perfectly executed play. Our own Ponyte threw the clearing block for James on the play.

[ponyte]

Thanks for all the high praise for just one play's worth of effort.

If one gets the chance to watch the SMU-UT game of 1980, please pay attention to the offensive line (who by the way won the game ball for that game). They absolutely dominated the UT defensive interior (including an All American lineman). The defense was spectacular. UT was held without a touchdown at home for the first time in decades. A remarkable accomplishment that included a goal line stance. Also, no less than 7 interior defensive lineman played for SMU that day (this was in a 3 down lineman defensive scheme). Imagine that kind of depth today! There were also numerous linebackers that played as well. Depth was a key to a strong defense that score the last TD of the game in the 4th quarter (James Mobley intercepted a pass from Donnie Little and took it in for a TD).

The SMU-UT game is remarkable because SMU dominated on both sides of the ball for the entire game. It truly is a great team effort even though it has become defined by one play.

[peruna81]

Baylor at SMU 1966....watched a see-saw game with my dad, sitting down a row from a legion of Baylor fans, and one snot-nose Baylor kid about my age who was taunting me when Baylor went ahead in the final minutes. He was stunned by LeVias return, and in tears when Pardee kicked the game-winning field goal. SMU 24-22.

Walking out of the stadium I remember smelling cigar smoke, eating the victory popcorn, seeing grown men in fedoras ( the Tom Landry style of the day ), and sticking my tongue out at the now sobbing Baylor kid...I am now a pastor at a Baptist church, and I think he is one of my deacons...

[MrMustang1965]

Several...

1. SMU v Navy - Midshipmen are lead by future Heisman trophy winner and Dallas Cowboy great Roger Staubach...Mustangs defeat Navy, 32-28! I was there.

2. SMU v U.T. - Homecoming 1965...Mustangs win 31-14. I get my pf.com name. I was there.

3. SMU v OU - Bluebonnet Bowl 1968...Mustangs defeat nationally-ranked Sooners, 28-27! I was there.

4. SMU v Pitt - Cotton Bowl 1983...Mustangs win, 7-3 on a damn cold day in Dallas! (I was watching on TV in balmy Houston)

5. SMU v Kansas...opening day of Ford Stadium...Mustangs win, 31-17 on a damn hot day in Dallas! I ate at least 25 lemon freezes that day! I was there.

6. SMU v TCU - 2005...Final score, Mustangs 21 Horned Frogs 10...SMU hands TCU its only loss of the season one week after they defeated OU in Norman. I was there.

[Rayburn]

My dad was at the 1963 game as well (dropped me and my brother off at the grandparents). I believe that was a Friday night game during the state fair. Johnny Roderick and fights breaking out everywhere.

I have heard so much about that one, I'd LOVE to get a copy of it.

[overcusser]

Feb. 25th 1987!!!!!!!!

[spothhb]

Any pre-80 game in the Cotton Bowl. Especially if sitting behind the student section and band under the deck. Wow they were loud. Not sure I ever saw them win but it was fun anyway.