FS SW: Can Jones find success?

by **The PonyGrad** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:56 am

SMU coach June Jones doesn't make a big deal out of spring football, but there are big things happening on the Hilltop this April.

There won't be a heavily-promoted Red-Blue scrimmage to finish off the spring, inspire the faithful and boost season ticket sales. Instead, there will just be a final practice April 30 that will be open to the public.

What the public sees that day may not resemble the team that takes the field in the fall. A number of headliners from 2010 are sitting out the spring with injuries, including RB Zach Line (back) and defensive ends Margus Hunt and Taylor Thompson (both coming off shoulder surgery).

That doesn't mean expectations have been lowered for 2011. SMU, after a 25-year bowl drought, is coming off back-to-back bowl appearances. After winning the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl in 2009, the Mustangs were co-champions of C-USA's Western Division and played in both the conference championship game and the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in 2010.

The season ended with a 16-14 loss to Army in the bowl game, saddling SMU with a 7-7 record.

In some ways that was a step back from 2009's breakout year, when SMU went 8-5, but overall the momentum of the program continued to build with the division title and repeat bowl appearance.

As the Mustangs begin their fourth season under Jones, the goal is obvious: Build on the success of the previous two seasons. The next logical step is to win a conference championship.

Despite suffering some key personnel losses, the Mustangs have the makings of another C-USA contender. Just four of the 22 starters last season were seniors.

Spring game or no spring game, the work SMU accomplishes this spring will go a long way toward taking that next step in the program's growth.

More at:
http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/04/22 ... eedID=3742

by **Water Pony** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:23 am

A 9-4 or 10-3 record with a CUSA Championship and bowl win should be the expectation.

by **westexSMU** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 12:10 pm

I'm not going to make a prediction, but if we can find a decent replacement for Sterling Moore at CB, we should have our best Defense in over 25 years. If Padron can find his WRs better this year, our Offense will improved this year also. If you are an SMU fan, this means there may be a real reason for excitement beyond the usual Sunshine this time of year and hopefully a 10 Win or more season is possible. An upset early would help a lot !

by **Junior** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 3:41 pm

8-4, upset at aTm.

by **HorseSense** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 3:51 pm

"Junior"]8-4, upset at aTm.

Like that prediction

by **Charleston Pony** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 4:15 pm

CoxMustangFan wrote:Wow, I love your optimism. I'm hoping for 7-5, with 6-6 more possible than I would like: A&M, TCU, Navy, Tulsa, So Miss, UCF, and Houston. To get to 7-5 we have to beat at least two of those and then win all of the remaining (which "upsets" happen).

With good health and more depth, I think we win at least 2-3 of those games. Sure can't afford to trip up anywhere else

by **GiddyUp** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 4:43 pm

by **SMU89** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 5:13 pm

by **ponyboy** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:38 pm

I think 7-5 will be my expectation. Look, it can easily sink to 5-7 or even 4-8 this year with the tough schedule. Next year's the year for something big to happen, though June has surprised me before.

by **SMU89** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:18 pm

CoxMustangFan wrote:
SMU89 wrote:12-0

Drinking a little early today??

I always feel we are a 12-0 team until our first loss.

by **One Trick Pony** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:41 pm

by **Vitale** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:57 pm

I think we'll have our best team since the 1980s, and I'm very optimistic about the upcoming season. But if we beat A&M, that will be a hell of an upset. Some are putting them in their preseason top 10.

by **Junior** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 3:32 pm

Still going with 8-4.

by **AusTxPony** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:34 pm

I predict we win all six home games and one away game (Memphis). That leaves five away games, can we win two of those? If Padron is on this year and we are relatively injury-free, we can. I'm thinking Houston and Southern Miss. A&M and TCU might be close, but no cigar. Tulsa is gonna be tough and the odds favor them since we have beaten them so often lately. 7-5 worst, 9-3 best.

by **RGV Pony** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:42 am

I agree with AusTxPony