ESPN Early Predictions: SMU To Win C-USA In 2008

[ALEX LIFESON]

If JJ gets 7 wins this year......he should get coach of the year.






Fear the mob boss!

[gostangs]

4-5 is the most anyone could expect in their wildest optimistic dreams. We will not turn this in one year my friends. Games are won with personnel on the field, and that is not going to be all that different next year.

[LA_Mustang]

4-5 is the most anyone could expect in their wildest optimistic dreams. We will not turn this in one year my friends. Games are won with personnel on the field, and that is not going to be all that different next year.

Mr. Glass Half Empty

[J.T.supporta]

kind getting the phil bennett vibe outta some of these predictions. june jones will get AT LEAST 7 wins this year, at least

wasnt that said about this past years team coming off that .500 season?

nothing worse than 5 wins and nothing better than 8, maybe 9 if the D can find a way to win a game this year

[gostangs]

4-5 wins is not half empty - it is a 500% increase in last yrs win total.

1 win would be half empty. Those of you that think this is immediate are just setting yourselves up for disappointment - and it is also not fair to this staff to have that expectation.

Our defense needs to be rebuilt - paricularly the d-line. That will take 2-3 yrs.

[J.T.supporta]

Those of you that think this is immediate are just setting yourselves up for disappointment.

thats been one of the ongoing themes of SMU Football for the past 2 decades...

setting ourselves up for disappointment

[Glenn Sosbee]

Uh OK. We're not winning C-USA this year guys. That defense of ours will again be one of the worst in the nation. I'm as stoked about JJ as anyone but be realistic. If we win 7 games I'll flip my lid let alone a conference title.

Actually, I look for our defense to be the most improved part of our team. Odiari, Dennis, Bailey and Banjo will be huge play-makers. Look for a much improved special teams unit as well.

[StallionsModelT]

They could be the most improved unit on the team and still be dreadful. We were useless on defense last year. Useless. This is a 6 win team if the ball bounces our way this year. 2009 is the year we make a move.

[couch 'em]

My expectations are as follows:

Beat Texas State. That's it.

1 win team + marginal talent upgrade at best + new coaching schemes = probably not that many wins.

I took the same stance on basketball this year. I was not proven wrong.

[smaniac38]

Uh OK. We're not winning C-USA this year guys. That defense of ours will again be one of the worst in the nation. I'm as stoked about JJ as anyone but be realistic. If we win 7 games I'll flip my lid let alone a conference title.

Actually, I look for our defense to be the most improved part of our team. Odiari, Dennis, Bailey and Banjo will be huge play-makers. Look for a much improved special teams unit as well.

People underestimate the value of special teams. If we improve as much on that side of the ball as predicted, we could have 1-2 more wins due to just special teams.

[EastStang]

Stallions Model T is light in the loafers, OH April fools. The only funny April Fools joke is to give someone a "While you were out " slip with the telephone number for the zoo and tell them to call Mr. Lyon. Never fails. That and the fake dog poop in someone's office, which works if someone in the office brings their dog into the office.

[ProudMama]

Uh OK. We're not winning C-USA this year guys. That defense of ours will again be one of the worst in the nation. I'm as stoked about JJ as anyone but be realistic. If we win 7 games I'll flip my lid let alone a conference title.

Coming from a league that is one of the toughest west of the rockies and a school that had, probably, the best defense in that league it makes me wonder how much of a challange this is going to be for my son. Probably a HUGE challange. At this level, with so much on the table, I think Evan is going to bring it like he has never brought it before. I do not want to appear as though I'm bragging about my child, and perhaps I am doing just that, but I am optimistic that with the guidance of the remarkable coaching staff and kids that KNOW that they can improve....well, the sky is the limit.

Here's a little something I found on our local message board that was written about Evan.....hope you will all see exactly the same thing when he is at SMU.

Cockroach12-04-2007, 10:34 AM

....which brings me to Evan Huahulu
Big number 79
The anchor in the middle
The strength and cog of the DL
Heart of a lion and an indominatable spirit
A smile and presence that fill a room
He had a very good year and got better every week
Great family
I can't wait to watch him wrestle
Look out heavyweights of OC, CIF and beyond
HOOOOOOOLAAAAAAAAAAHUUUUUUUUUUUUUU is in the house!

C

[EastStang]

We of course look forward to having Evan on the team. That said, like jt, I try to keep my expectations to a minimum. Last year, I let my guard down and predicted a 7 win bowl eligible season and we went 1-11. So this year, I'm not going to predict more than 2 wins. If we get 2 or more, I'll be excited. I hope for more, but I'm not expecting any more than 2 wins. Now that give June lots of wiggle room.