Around the Conference USA

[indianmustang]

SOUTHERN METHODIST

INSIDE SLANT
The start of the Conference USA season comes at an unforgiving time for SMU.

Coach June Jones would prefer to have a couple of more games under his belt before leaping into C-USA play. And his worries are magnified as the Mustangs have a short week of preparation for Saturday's conference opener against UAB — only six days after their season-ending 35-27 loss at Texas Tech.

"Having a conference game this early in the season is something you would probably not want to have," Jones said. "But I'm sure UAB is the same way. It's the schedule we have."

Jones and UAB coach Neil Callaway could probably exchange disappointing tales of woe about how the season started. SMU had a chance to post its first victory over a team from a BCS conference since 2000, but fell in the final minute at Lubbock.

As disappointed as Jones remains after that near miss, Callaway would trump him. The Blazers squandered a 16-point lead late in the third quarter, dropping a 32-31 home loss to Florida Atlantic when UAB's potential 28-yard game-winning field goal was blocked on the final play of the game.

"You never get over a loss until you play again, but you kind of have to get on with the next game," Jones said. "We'll try our best to get our guys caught up. We have to have a day off this week and it makes it harder. The short week is to our disadvantage, but we'll try to get on board as quickly as we can."

more
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/cusa/home.htm

[Dooby]

only six days after their season-ending 35-27 loss at Texas Tech.

Holy [deleted]! The season's over already?!?!?!

[mrydel]

Guess we wanted to have a chance to go undefeated.