ten worst things to happen to SMU Football since DP

[Mustang1991]

Brian Piccolo was from SMU?

No, Wake Forest.

[BoazHoes]

Gotta be a Top 10: Losing to a previously-winless TCU team in the last game of the 1997 season. A win would have secured a bowl bid for us and likely have returned us to some level of prominence (and competitive recruiting). It was our first REAL shot at a bowl since the DP, and we blew it. Instead of rising from the ashes, with the loss we began to sink into the depths for another decade.

For sure a Top 10!

[BoazHoes]

Thought I'd see how my list compares to everyone else's. Not looking to get bashed, just opinions.

1. End of SWC- killed recruiting
2. Injury and retirement of Shanderick Charles - a star on the rise
3. the breakup of the WAC - loss of BYU ect, meant lower quality conference
4. Transfer of Chris Sanders- Dallas HS star could have led to more Dallas area recruits, instead set records in TN
5. The retirement of David Page- he left the stable was bear
6. Loss of Darrel Dickey as Offensive Coordinator- This guy has unt winning?
7. Rise of TCU - Recruiting
8. Scheduling of Oklahoma State (killing us on the field and recruiting in Dallas)
9. Ramone Flannigan hurting his finger his freshman year- never threw the deep ball the same after that
10. Ramone Flannigan getting knocked out vs Ark the first game of the year

Number 2 needs to be replaced with.... Hiring MIKE CAVEN! He set us back another 10 years. What a joke of a coach.

[Big Hoss]

Missing from your list: 2) blowing the Ole Miss game at the Cotton Bowl - I think 1998

That game was awful! We were up at half by like 20 points, and held the lead into the 4th quarter, if I remember correctly. They came back to tie it, and then won in OT. One of my first SMU games, and probably one of the worst I have ever been to until OSU threw for like 8 TDs on us back in 2003 (I think?).

So there's another one to add to the list - Rashawn Woods scoring the NCAA record of 7 receiving TDs in a game against us....AT HOME! That's the main reason why I hate Les Miles, for continuing to pass against us even very, VERY late in the 4th quarter. His excuse? "Their run defense was solid, so the only thing we could do was pass." What a tool!

[Mustang1991]

Missing from your list: 2) blowing the Ole Miss game at the Cotton Bowl - I think 1998

That game was awful! We were up at half by like 20 points, and held the lead into the 4th quarter, if I remember correctly. They came back to tie it, and then won in OT. One of my first SMU games, and probably one of the worst I have ever been to until OSU threw for like 8 TDs on us back in 2003 (I think?).

So there's another one to add to the list - Rashawn Woods scoring the NCAA record of 7 receiving TDs in a game against us....AT HOME! That's the main reason why I hate Les Miles, for continuing to pass against us even very, VERY late in the 4th quarter. His excuse? "Their run defense was solid, so the only thing we could do was pass." What a tool!

That was a killer too!

[SmooBoy]

95-21 has to be in there somewhere. I know it was our first year back, but it was literally a high school team playing a run and shoot college team with the Heisman winner and a pretty good backup QB.

[Frognosticator]

Gotta be a Top 10: Losing to a previously-winless TCU team in the last game of the 1997 season. A win would have secured a bowl bid for us and likely have returned us to some level of prominence (and competitive recruiting). It was our first REAL shot at a bowl since the DP, and we blew it. Instead of rising from the ashes, with the loss we began to sink into the depths for another decade.

I was at that game. You guys scored a late TD to pull within 3 but couldn't recover the onsides kick. We were sooooo glad to finally win one, especially against the ponies. Thank you Ft. Worth PD for spraying those out of control TCU students with tear gas.

In retrospect, that one game was the catalyst for 180 degree turns for both programs. TCU hired Fran and never looked back. SMU struggled with Cavan and then plummetted to new depths with Bennett. Just goes to show you how things can change dramatically.

I think SMU just made a great hire in Jones. I see you guys turning it around very quickly. Good luck next year!!

[SWC2010]

PB bloopers have to be on the list somewhere:

His recruiting classes
Sticking with with his OC after the 06 Rice game
His legendary 4th down decisions
Him as a Defensive genius while his D's wilt every 4Q last season.

Personally, his worse will always be the halftime 15 yd penalty v. UTEP this season, which opened the door for the 2nd half onside kick & the opening off the floodgates.

I will always believe that uncontrollable outburst on his part was a major factor in turning 2006 season south. We'll never know of course, but if he shuts up & walks off to the locker room, we might beat UTEP, muddle thru the Cusa & win enough to keep him around.

Hmmm... "After further review", I overturn my previous opinion.

[Stallion]

I'm still puzzled how can hiring the Coach with easily the best lifetime record and the best season record since the Death Penalty set the program back 10 years? That Don't make too much sense. How many years did 1-11 and 0-12 set the program back? How many years did did Tom Rossley 22 game losing streak to end SWC conference competition or 6 straight losses to Rice set the program back?

[Mexmustang]

I would add two: Hiring Copeland as athletic director and having us believe that we had actually turned the corner last year. Had alot of us unrealistically raise our expectations!

[Mustang1991]

Hiring Copeland as athletic director...

I think that fits better under the category "Worst 11 Years, 5 Months and 22 Days Since the Death Penalty" (12/9/94 - 12/31/06)

In connection with this suggested category, feel free to substitute "since the death penalty" with "in the university's history."

[PonyJones]

I'm still puzzled how can hiring the Coach with easily the best lifetime record and the best season record since the Death Penalty set the program back 10 years? That Don't make too much sense. How many years did 1-11 and 0-12 set the program back? How many years did did Tom Rossley 22 game losing streak to end SWC conference competition or 6 straight losses to Rice set the program back?

Is your referral about best lifetime record about PB?

I'm amazed that you would give Phil a walk because most of your diatribes relate to W/L as they relate to recruiting. His recruiting is largely reflective in last year's 1-11 season.

[Stallion]

Phil Bennett is not the greatest post DP Coach at this school.

[CalallenStang]

I'm still puzzled how can hiring the Coach with easily the best lifetime record and the best season record since the Death Penalty set the program back 10 years? That Don't make too much sense. How many years did 1-11 and 0-12 set the program back? How many years did did Tom Rossley 22 game losing streak to end SWC conference competition or 6 straight losses to Rice set the program back?

Is your referral about best lifetime record about PB?

I'm amazed that you would give Phil a walk because most of your diatribes relate to W/L as they relate to recruiting. His recruiting is largely reflective in last year's 1-11 season.

He is referring to Mike Cavan