Also needed: a dose of maturity

[mrydel]

It was very disappointing to see JaGared Davis slam down his helmet and try to stomp off the field before the Alma Mater. I realize the intensity and the let down. I have played the game. But he put on a very embarrassing display in my opinion. I think he has the capacity to be a very great player for us but he needs to learn how to channel those emotions. A little less hot dogging after a tackle for a one yard loss and a little more control after a loss.

I never, repeat, never want a player to enjoy losing or not hurt when a loss occurs, but it was an ugly display. Someone (coach?) finally grabbed him and pulled him back towards the team where he stood, separate from the rest during the song. He should have been with his team. Fanatic displays can be saved for the locker room.

I look forward to his intensity next year and hope he will learn to channel it a little better.

[RGV Pony]

I've heard Mason on a few occasions essentially echo your sentiments on that emotion..both w/ JG and one other defensive standout. I'll bet he addressed it again yesterday...hopefully

[ponyte]

This whole year was about maturity. There were significant injuries during the year to overcome. There were ups and downs.The team seem to fold after the Navy game. Then rebounded in time to make a run at the conference championship and a bowl. Lots of adversity as we didn't get anywhere near the turnovers we got last year. So the O had to go long ways to score. And we had probably more 90+ year drives for scores this year than the previous decade. Including one long drive when we needed it yesterday!

We also had more kids playing this year. And that is because we started to add a little depth to the team. Those kids need to mature as well.

Yesterday's loss was a disappointment but also a huge lesson in maturity. And it might make the kids hungry to preform better. We had a disappointing bowl loss in 1980 and followed it with a conference championship.

This team never had a killer instinct. And just two years of winning isn't enough time to really develop that. We now have a sizable number of kids on the team that have won more than lost. We have a significant number of kids with significant playing time. We have a whole year to let the lessons of 2010 sink in.

I wish we had played better yesterday. We should not be losing to teams with significantly less talent on the field than us.

But I do believe next year, some missing components begin to appear (knowing how to win, killer instinct to put teams away, consistency through the year) and we own CUSA.

[ontheedgeofmyseat]

GREAT post, PonyTe...exactly!! We have a plan and it seems to me we are well ahead of our long term (5 year+) goal. Bowl games, conference title showdowns, elevated recruiting coupled with some "positive" press..future is bright. Go Ponies!!

[BUS]

Bottom line is we/the team/SMU did not play up to potential. This is lack of maturity.
We went as far as we could without focus. We are better than most teams we play if we play with focus and discpline.

The D gave up 9 points and the O was lost, or the O was too high, too low, off to the right or off to the left. O-line provides plenty of time. Line is blessing to find at running back.

WE ARE MUCH BETTER and next year we should be even better that now.
Save your money for next years bowl game.
Fight the good fight
"Mustang Militia"

[rlm1951]

Well said, ponyte. Next year will be an interesting one.

[Stallion]

Speaking of Jagared and maturity-Has his academic status been determined. Sounds like he could have been on academic probation last semester based on June Jones comments earlier in the year.

[RE Tycoon]

Speaking of Jagared and maturity-Has his academic status been determined. Sounds like he could have been on academic probation last semester based on June Jones comments earlier in the year.

The JJ quote was something to the effect that he needs to mature on the field and in the classroom.

[SMU21TCU10]

For those watching on tv . Did anyone else see Padron salute the SMU sideline after his 2nd td pass? Wasn't sure what he meant by that.

[mrydel]

For those watching on tv . Did anyone else see Padron salute the SMU sideline after his 2nd td pass? Wasn't sure what he meant by that.

Johnson did it after his catch also. That is just a thing to do. I believe it was started by the Denver Broncos in the Elway days.

[Longtime]

Just speculating here, but the lack of a killer instinct ponyte refers to, could that be a side effect of a head coach who shows no sense of urgency?

Not completely knocking June here, but the time wasted having Padron run to the sideline every play, the complete and utter clock mismanagement, other questionable game management decisions...players notice this stuff.

We saw with the Cowboys how playing without a sense of urgency can lead to disaster. Jason Garrett brings in a completely different tempo and suddenly the Cowboys win a few games.

Obviously June has a lot more on the ball than Wade Phillips, and I much prefer June's style to the hot-head coaches who burn themselves out. But it seems like this season, any sense of urgency or tempo was been dictated by the opponents.

[SMU89]

For those watching on tv . Did anyone else see Padron salute the SMU sideline after his 2nd td pass? Wasn't sure what he meant by that.

Johnson did it after his catch also. That is just a thing to do. I believe it was started by the Denver Broncos in the Elway days.

Terrell Davis, the Denver RB, started the salute - if I remember correctly.

[CA Mustang]

For those watching on tv . Did anyone else see Padron salute the SMU sideline after his 2nd td pass? Wasn't sure what he meant by that.

Johnson did it after his catch also. That is just a thing to do. I believe it was started by the Denver Broncos in the Elway days.

Terrell Davis, the Denver RB, started the salute - if I remember correctly.

Ask KSU if officials like that salute.

[Stallion]

Yep I was about to say KSU got an unsportmanlike conduct penalty last nite when they needed a 2 point conversion to win. ESPN has been highlighting the inconsistency in the call.

[gostangs]

Say what you will on Davis - but I think teams that have more of his type of player usually end up dominating and certainly at least are regular winners. UCF is a good example. We need more emotion on this team, especially if we are going to have a zen master devoid of all emotion on the sidelines.

On occasional flare up is warranted. I am surprised there wasn't more of it - after losing against an average at best team to spoil an otherwise nice season.

I agree too much gets you the old Miami teams where it became counter productive, but I think our team actually needs a little more swagger.

Fleps and Davis are my favorite players - and they always both play fired up.