DMN's Gerry Fraley's column following SMU v. Texas Tech

[cutter]

ahh.....memory lane. looks better in the rear-view mirror.


tuck away for future reference:
JJ has occasionally been accused of running up the score. but, it always seemed to me to be in cases of a calculated 'bigger picture' of, say national impression of the team's performance. I can recall one of the announcers at the Hawaii Bowl questioning why JJ was still throwing deep late in the 3rd/early 4th quarter when the outcome was a foregone conclusion. part of it is "it's what we do", and part is -- my speculation here -- the calculated bigger picture. without that score, all the press of the "greatest margin of victory this bowl season" would not have happened, and the lasting impression on all the potential recruits watching that game would have been lessened; not to mention getting into the psyche of future opponents, too.
anyway, I think, there will be a few games like that, where JJ might be questioned, but there shouldn't be any surprises.
besides, JJ has also had the team 'take a knee' inside the 5 more than a few times, as well.
i can't see leach ever doing that.


okay, sorry I'm rambling. y'all are heading to lubbock for the fun. I have to occupy myself somehow.

[PonyTime]

I think we could have knocked in more points at the Hawaii Bowl, but JJ took his foot off the gas. I think we have all seen SMU leads evaporate quickly and they do so even more quickly with a shaky defense and the run and shoot. I have no qualms with continuing to pass and trying to score in the second half of a game when you have a 2-3 TD lead.

However:
If JJ chose to start calling timeouts and thowing passes into the end zone with mere seconds remaining, and a 10 point lead, I would think he was a classless jerk too - unless, of course the opponent was Texas Tech (or perhaps Houston).

Go Ponies!