Excitement '68 offense!!!

[TheEmperor2001]

Hey guys, i was just reading SMU's 90 greatest moments in our football team's history, and i noticed a couple mentions of our 1968 offensive unit so....

would any of you history buffs happen to know what type of offense it was we ran? Was it split-back/pro-set, i-form, or what? Just curious...

thnks in advance for the responses...

[Stallion]

2 back offense with a TE and 2 wide I believe. QB Chuck Hixson probably threw the ball more than just about any team in the country with WR Jerry Levias (who led country in Receptions) and TE Ken Fleming making the most catches. I really think it was one of the first short passing game ball control offenses around-designed by Hayden Fry. SMU also had a 1,000 yard rusher in Mike Richardson. Two most memorable games were 29 point 4th Quarter comeback at Arkansas on National TV that fell just short 35-29 and a what about 29-27 victory over Oklahoma in the Bluebonnett Bowl. Excitement 68 was a media campaign which was plastered on signs all across the city. Little brother to the Mustang Mania campaign in the 70s.

[bubba pony]

always have this one ready in case '68 comes up. it was also the hippy, peace and love, woodstock days. hence the style of the artistry. it was groovy man.

[mrydel]

All the above is correct. Darrell Doggett was our fireplug fullback. Frankie Stringer may have been '68 also at WR. Hixson was straight drop back QB. Local sportswriter described him running as a "pregnant cow". Very exciting team that was led by the National passing champion.

[ontheedgeofmyseat]

Good stuff, Stallion..right on. Jerry Moore was on staff...Dave Smith was a staffer...beat Auburn that year..solid kicker in Lesser...kicked tcu's little backside...beat TT 39 - 18...ut smashed us 38 - 7 after we had won 3 in a row...beat the ags...exciting season, high scoring..finished 7-3, 5-2 in SWC..Levias was an All American ,Hixson got some honorable mentions as did Jim Livingston (DB) Jerry May and Mike Richardson...Hixson threw for over 3000 yds..Levias had 22 TD's...FUN year with a big BlueBonnet Bowl W over OU to top it off..

[rich59]

In 1968 Herb Zimmerman was the defensive coordinator. I just went to the Fiesta Bowl with Herb and his wife and we talked about the Astro Blue Bonnet Bowl. Rufus Cormier had a good game against OU and Darrell Dogget had been switched to defense after an injury early in the year against Ohio State and he was a kind of rover back and made a lot of tackles against OU's Heisman Trophy back whose name I can never remember. Mike Richardson was a wheel horse on that team along with, of course, Levias.

[ponyscott]

Just a quick personal thought but when I watched SMU beat Oklahoma in the BlueBonnet Bowl in 1968 it raised my awareness of the school SMU ( I never really knew what it was or where it was until that game as i wasn't from Texas) and was a catalyst for me coming to school here eventually. The Bowl games really bring a whole other factor in recruiting and awareness and i think that the Hawaii Bowl on th 24th being the only game on AND a cool win with the Hawaii beaches, SMU band, horses, pony, cool pony logo's on the helmets et al, really changes the perception and also raises awareness of SMU in places we will never know, notwithstanding recruiting for all sports.

[ontheedgeofmyseat]

OU back was Steve Owens, I think...

[Ponyx2]

In 1968 Herb Zimmerman was the defensive coordinator. I just went to the Fiesta Bowl with Herb and his wife and we talked about the Astro Blue Bonnet Bowl. Rufus Cormier had a good game against OU and Darrell Dogget had been switched to defense after an injury early in the year against Ohio State and he was a kind of rover back and made a lot of tackles against OU's Heisman Trophy back whose name I can never remember. Mike Richardson was a wheel horse on that team along with, of course, Levias.

Steve Owens

[panhandle_pony]

Yep, that was a great season. If memory serves me correctly, we also played Ohio State that year in Columbus. Great group of guys including Jim Johnson, Bill Jackson, Keith Couples, Stan Poulos and others.

[smusic 00]

My first football coach from YMCA days played on that team...Pinky Clements (RIP)

[panhandle_pony]

smusic 00: Pinky was the best. He was two years older than me, but was one of my fraternity mentors. After college we went to SMU games and also did a few real estate deals together. Pinky also played in the spring alum game at an age when most of us would have considered that suicide.

[mrydel]

My first football coach from YMCA days played on that team...Pinky Clements (RIP)

Pinky passed away? I did not know that. He was a fun guy.

[rich59]

One of the hardest licks I ever saw passed in football was when Pinky Clements hit Barney Harris on the sidelines returning a punt, I think, for Texas A&M in 1968. That was the game where Mike Richardson set a rushing record which still stands.

[smusic 00]

My first football coach from YMCA days played on that team...Pinky Clements (RIP)

Pinky passed away? I did not know that. He was a fun guy.

It's been a while. Heart attack in the early 90's.

We were the Blue Mustangs and he got stickers for our helmets. He taught us to hit hard and would reference his Mustang days frequently.

I remember he took us to the alum game at Ownby. If I ever run in to you guys on the blvd. I'd love to hear a story or two.