Sporting News Preview

[PonySnob]

From the Sporting News College Football Magazine:

SMU:

Ranked 111 out of 117 (San Jose is ranked 112)
Strength of schedule projecting team record: 82 out of 117
Conference rank of WAC - #10 out of 11 - ahead of SunBelt
Coach on the hotseat: Phil Bennett "No, he hasn't had much to work with. But coming off of an 0-12 disaster, he had better find some victories - and fast."
Conference rank - 9 out of 10

OFFENSE: "Third-year SMU coach Phil Benentt is 3-21 because the team hasn't had a decent quarterback during his tenure. Problem solved with dual-threat sophomore Chris Phillips. Phillips completed 53.8 percent of his passes and rushed for 246 yards while starting five games as a true freshman. his supporting cast includes three returning starters on the line and three at the skill positions. Sophomore LT Darrin Johnson has NFL potential. The biggest question is at tailback, where two players - redshirt freshman Richuel Massey and Texas Tech transfer Foy Munlin - hope to replace 1,200 yard rusher Keylon Kinkaid."

DEFENSE: "The defense should get better this year with 12 players returning who started in 2003. Allan Adami is an undersized tackle who makes plays. The linebackers have improved enough that D.D. Lee, who shared the team lead in tackles last year, might not start. Safety Jamey Harper is a hard-hitting presence in the secondary."

SPECIAL TEAMS: "Both specialists return, but they face competition. Kicker Chris McMurtray was solid in limited work last season, and overworked punter Ryan Mentzel placed about 30 percent of his kicks inside the 20. The team must replace outstanding kikoff returner and improve coverage teams."

BOTTOM LINE: "SMU shouldn't go winless again. But the Mustangs play Texas Tech, TCU, Oklahoma State and Boise State in the first 5 weeks. Of those, only Texas Tech visits Dallas. The rest of the schedule features winnable games if Phillips produces and the defense can develop."

Strenght of Schedule:
Conference: 8
Nation: 104

[Stallion]

BTW with regard to our perpetual Kicking Game problems I found it interesting that SMU recently offered yet another Kicker who instead decided to commit to OSU.

[Otto]

Wasn't he a punter?

[PonyGirl]

It's also kind of hard to take seriously a magazine that can't bother to learn how to spell "Kincade." He was, after all, our only visible offensive weapon last year, at least until Phillips started getting settled into his role. All those rushing yards and records, a tryout with Giants - I know he wasn't on SportsCenter every week, but it's not like KK is a nobody who can be dismissed as an afterthought, either.