Hold Your "Horses"

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

Can I jump over to the "doom & gloom" side for just one post? (lol)

It's not really "doom and gloom" because I think we are still in the "baby steps"
phase and 5 or 6 wins this season will still be acceptable. Next year 2011
is when we should see great change.

I think some SMU fans due to last year's success are deluding themselves into
illusions of grandeur too quickly as far as expectations for the coming season.

Besides Shawnbrey McNeal, Emmanuel Sanders, and Chase Kennemer all being gone
I was thinking this morning just about our defensive backfield.

Last year's starting cornerbacks Bryan McCann & Derrius Bell BOTH GONE.
Last year's sometimes starting cornerback Sterling Moore has turf toe. (not good)
Last year's nickel back Bryce Hudman GONE!
Last Year's safety Rock Dennis GONE!

A DB that were supposed to step up this year JR McConico is GONE!.
Another DB supposed to step up this year Kevion Gamble is in Junior College so GONE!.

I am hopeful but think we need to be realistic about this year and realize it is another
"baby step" towards our goal.

[smupony94]

If you have no expectations then you are fine

[Mestengo]

5 or 6 wins would be failure

[cutter]

A DB that were supposed to step up this year JR McConico is GONE!.
Another DB supposed to step up this year Kevion Gamble is in Junior College so GONE!.

academic casualties?

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

academic casualties?

yes! but Kevion should be back in 2011and they are really high on the guy.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

If you have no expectations then you are fine

i have expectations of "baby steps"
last year was crazy
we won some games last year with very unusual special teams plays
hey i hope it continues..but i say the odds are it may not bounce the same way
i would be ok with 5-6 wins...knowing where we came and where we are headed
we lost a lot of important guys
we are still very young
2011 will be the year!
i pray we can go 6-6 this year

[The PonyGrad]

OK, but what does the two deep secondary look like?


I believe 6-6 is a bowl team so that is the minimum and given the schedule we should do that or better.

[Dooby]

We have the players to repeat last year's performance. Anything other than top 3 in C-USA West will be a disappointment.

[Bergermeister]

Can I jump over to the "doom & gloom" side for just one post? (lol)

It's not really "doom and gloom" because I think we are still in the "baby steps"
phase and 5 or 6 wins this season will still be acceptable. Next year 2011
is when we should see great change.

I think some SMU fans due to last year's success are deluding themselves into
illusions of grandeur too quickly as far as expectations for the coming season.

Besides Shawnbrey McNeal, Emmanuel Sanders, and Chase Kennemer all being gone
I was thinking this morning just about our defensive backfield.

Last year's starting cornerbacks Bryan McCann & Derrius Bell BOTH GONE.
Last year's sometimes starting cornerback Sterling Moore has turf toe. (not good)
Last year's nickel back Bryce Hudman GONE!
Last Year's safety Rock Dennis GONE!

A DB that were supposed to step up this year JR McConico is GONE!.
Another DB supposed to step up this year Kevion Gamble is in Junior College so GONE!.

I am hopeful but think we need to be realistic about this year and realize it is another
"baby step" towards our goal.

Don't tell us what we DON'T have - tell what we DO have...
We've got better better players. Yeah, we'll miss those guys BUT we're getting better talent - ain't nobody irrepaceable.

[ponyboy]

I don't know. I see Kate says we'll be 9-3 in Dave Campbell. But I'm not sure that I'm drinking that Kool Aid just yet. Shawnbrey's loss was big. Emmanuel's loss was big. I'm going with 7-5 or 6-6.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

Don't tell us what we DON'T have - tell what we DO have...
We've got better better players. Yeah, we'll miss those guys BUT we're getting better talent -
ain't nobody irrepaceable.

I agree, but I also will repeat: I am hopeful but think we need to be
realistic about this year and realize it is another "baby step" towards our goal.
How many wins are you predicting this year Bergermeister?

[jtstang]

Expectations are okay this year, but they need to be addressed on a game-by-game basis. Expect to be competitive every time out, you have the right to be disappointed and even mad if we get rolled over by anybody. But don't expect to win games that we should not, only the ones we should. That is all.

[SMUmustang02]

5 or 6 wins would be failure

6 wins and going back to the hawaii bowl and winning will NOT be a failure. The great thing about JJ is that as long as we win 6 we can know that we can go to the H bowl. This will be a building year guys, I know we BARELY lost some games last year but do not forget how many games we won because of HUGE plays by ES and Shawnbrey.

I think winning 6 should be possible. I am wanting more, but 6 and a bowl game and I will be VERY happy!

[The PonyGrad]

We should be set at safety. McKinnon is there along with several players with experience.

Also, there are 2 JC transfers: Crawford and Sorrel.
6 FR-HS DBs
A couple of redshirt freshmen DBs
Plus a number of lettermen

The cupboard is not bare, even though a lot of ints are gone.

Despite the ? at DT I like our front seven.

[The PonyGrad]

Just a reminder, Acker is a 3* DB and Parks is a high 2* (5.4) and Crawford is listed as a 3* JC.
FR-RS 3* Jay Scott is also back there.

So there are reinforcements.