Was Cavan's first year as good as its ever going to be?

[PonySnob]

Was that lone 6-5 season under Cavan - with a team made up primarily of Rossley's players, going to be the best product SMU is ever going to put out on the field? Since that one season, this program has continued in a downard spiral to the point that it has now lost the most consecutive games in school history - with the highest paid coach in school history! There was absolutely nothing at the TCU game that showed that this program is headed in the right direction - in fact, it looks like it might not have even hit the bottom yet.

[Higher Authority]

If you think that's the best we'll ever put out there, then go sit at home with pictures and news articles from that season. If you remember, a lot of PonyFans predicted lopsided losses in each of the first three games. But after we came close to upsetting Tech, suddenly the expectations changed. I didn't think we'd lose as bad as we did last night, but the fact remains that Tech, TCU and OSU have deeper, more talented rosters. They have bigger, faster players, and more of them. I'm not suggesting it was a bad thing that we battled TT the way we did, but sure changed the expectations. For the record, I don't expect we'll beat OSU. I hope it's not as bad as yesterday. In Cavan's first year, he had a team made up largely of juniors and seniors. All coaches talk about maturity -- physical and mental. When all these young guys are juniors and seniors, you'll see more fans and a bunch of fans who say they knew all along that those players were going to get a lot better.

[Nacho]

I couldn't believe that Phillips started the second half against TCU. Now he is going to start at OSU. Eckert is clearly the much superior passer. Phillips did have a very nice pass to Lowery that was dropped, probably the best pass I have seen him throw. We are going nowhere in a big, big hurry with Phillips' 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage tosses and his 3 yard runs. At least Eckert goes downfield. I don't understand but then again I'm not a coach who has lost 14 in a row. Ouch!

[PonySnob]

But after we came close to upsetting Tech, suddenly the expectations changed.

We did not come that close to upsetting Tech. We hung around, but for the most part, our offense was ever ineffecitve in that game since it could not put the ball into the endzone until the game was out of reach.

Clearly there is something wrong on the offensive side of the ball - our offense averaged 11 points per game last year and this year is not even averaging a TD per game. Out "swiss cheese" defense of the last two weeks is not going to allow us to be in many games until the offense can score some points.

[Stallion]

No--- I don't think I can be classified as a sunshining Cheerleader but the problem is that too many on this board don't really understand how football teams are built. You get your hopes up because we had one good recruiting classes and one average class among the Sophmores, Freshmen and Redshirt freshman. Wow! We're going to a Bowl Game! The foundation of a competitive football team is built 3-4-5 football seasons before it appears on the field. That's why I predicted doom and gloom 3-4-5 years ago because the cupboard was definitely getting bare. The exceptions-often referred to as "Coaching Miracles" are no exception. For example, Sullivan at TCU recruited classes at TCU that resulted in more NFL Draft picks than at any time in TCU history including Ladanian Tomlinson. Sullivan most definitely laid the foundation at TCU with an uptick in recruiting yet Sullivan was considered an idiot who ruined the program and gets none of the credit. Fran is annoited as the Miracle Man. Not such a GENIUS at A&M where the physical talent is quite clearly lower than at all other Big 12 South schools except Baylor . Nobody is going to win with the number of young players SMU has on the field-NOBODY- and it's not logical to pull your hair out when they make mistakes. I do think that we have more athletes on this team than we have in awhile-several are being redshirted. We will be more successful in coming years-we will be substantially more competitive next year. I don't see any reason we can't have winni9ng seasons in 2-3 years-heck we are playing in CUSA West with Rice, Tulsa, UTEP, Tulane and UH. Right now decisions on playing time need to be based on the long term benefit to the football team. The issue that I see is whether SMU has done everything in its power to allow SMU to EXCELL in having teams that win championships, get ranked and go to bowl games. I still have doubts about that but the jury is still out.

[mrydel]

Thank you Stallion for a voice of reason. Those of us that have been around long enough know that it takes time to build a program. It also takes the commonly referred to "level playing field". I am confident we are moving that direction on both counts. If you need a winner this year, find another team and quit complaining. If you really thought we were going to beat TCU get a grip on reality. Now, should we have done better? I wish so, but it did not happen. This offense requires a lot of timing, and that only comes with game speed situations. So far only 8 quarters have been played under these situations, and the QB time has been split during those 8 quarters. Be critical if you must but constructively and be realistic. And also, it is not a quick kick, it is a 4th down pooch kick that is effective by allowing no return and downing of the ball inside of the 20. It also sets up a fake in the future.

[Mustangs35SMU]

I couldn't believe that Phillips started the second half against TCU. Now he is going to start at OSU. Eckert is clearly the much superior passer.

Totally agree! Eckert needs to start...Atleast he is getting us to move down the field. He scored our only touchdown againist Tech..then on that drive where it was 3rd and 20 somethin he got us down the field before the worst timing fumble came.

[Charleston Pony]

unless/until we recruit a real stud at QB, Phillips still represents the immediate future for SMU football. Eckert and Romo should get some PT in these lopsided games, and there will be more of them (OSU, Boise & Fresno), but Phillips is an athlete who will eventually do good things at SMU. He's played what...all of about 7 games now? When you lose 14 games in a row, it's easy for a team to be fragile mentally. Just gotta hope these guys keep fighting and improving because the WAC season will eventually arrive and we should be much more competitive against Nevada, San Jose and UTEP. I'd like to think we can play with Rice, Tulsa and La Tech but those teams will be definitely be favored to beat us.

Gotta be realistic folks. Good things will happen before this season ends. Commitments from 3 big OLs is a start.

Stallion is right. Take a look at the guys who are on the field. Not too many upperclassment out there. My biggest diasappointment last night was when one of our few seniors fumbled to kill a potential scoring drive. You hate to see that from your experienced guys.

[The PonyGrad]

As much as I wanted to see Ekert in there earlier and more often it is clear that the QB is not making the difference. Without protection and other parts of the offense operating properly even a great QB is going to find a DL in his face or a receiver not getting where he should be or the running game being shut down. The whole thing has to work or nothing works.

To this fact Stallion is speaking. Look at the ages and experience of our offensive team and the time they have in this system.

We need to expect that it will take time to get better and perhaps that is only partially realized this season.

[Nacho]

Personally I like the We are young excuse. It has served us well since 1989. Keeps the pressure off the coaches and most importantly the admisistration. Forever Young.

[The PonyGrad]

Yes, Nacho, the cynacism is warranted but it is the fact, we are young. By some measures the youngest in the country. But that does not mean we are the least talented. So the excuse goes only so far. But, when some teams must sprinkle in some freshmen we are, especially offensively, underclassmen. It does make a difference.

[Diehard Pony]

unless/until we recruit a real stud at QB, Phillips still represents the immediate future for SMU football.

Charleston,

I haven't slammed my mental door on Phillips being the long term solution, but if you see Eckert throw the ball he is clearly the superior passer. His release is much quicker, he possess better arm strength, and is more accurate. When he enters the game you get the feeling that the team at least has a chance of moving the ball effectively.

I am in favor of continuing to start Phillips, but when he is ineffective as he was last night, Eckert should make an earlier entrance into the game in my opinion. Others that were seated near me last night also shared this view.

It will be interesting to see what Bennett / Burns does with this.

[Special_Delivery_Smu_Fans]

re: "Nobody is going to win with the number of young players SMU has on the field-NOBODY- and it's not logical to pull your hair out when they make mistakes....... we have more athletes on this team than we have in awhile-....... we will be substantially more competitive next year.....

Stallion you make some great points.

I just hope we can win a few games and have more close games because people lose their patience.

Two older guys.....seemed like the big donor types..... were sitting behind me last night and right before half time they lost their temper and one said "BY GOD I AM CALLING JIM COPELAND MONDAY MORNING.....SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE!"

I guess these guys in their 70's feel as though they have waited long enough, but I agree with you I think Bennett is slowly adding better quality players. It seems we have better closing speed and better speed over-all this year.

GO MUSTANGS!

[MrMustang1965]

Special Delivery: That may have been my father's ghost. I'm sure he's spinning right about now!

[RGV Pony]

Regarding the statements made by the 70-yr olds at the game: the very thought crossed my mind. That is, if my annual donations to the Mustang Club were thousands times greater than they are (and trust me, if they could be, they would be), I would have being saying, "THAT's what my money is paying for?"

By the way, I feel SMU athletics NEEDS that kind of input from boosters & alumni. I posted some time ago that often times one reads about how DeLoss Dodds will respond to boosters & alumni, as though the entire athletic department is beholden to them (in my opinion, it is).