The REAL way to look at this season is.....

[Stampede]

for those of you who can remember the Ron Meyer years, this is the equivalent of Harvey Armstrong's freshman year. We actually won four games that year....and recruited Eric Dickerson and Craig James later that winter.

The following year, we had a losing season, with James and Dickerson as freshman. The next year...Holiday Bowl.

Point is: It does take time (in Meyer's case...4 years) to build and get players. So get out to the next home game, support the team and know that SMU is great place to play football and get a quality education!!!

[PonySnob]

for those of you who can remember the Ron Meyer years, this is the equivalent of Harvey Armstrong's freshman year. We actually won four games that year....and recruited Eric Dickerson and Craig James later that winter.

The following year, we had a losing season, with James and Dickerson as freshman. The next year...Holiday Bowl.

Point is: It does take time (in Meyer's case...4 years) to build and get players. So get out to the next home game, support the team and know that SMU is great place to play football and get a quality education!!!

Was it during the Meyer era that SMU started fielding more of a "professional" team or was that after he left?

[MrMustang1965]

So...what you're saying is: in 2006 we'll go to the Ev1.net Houston Bowl?

[stang_fan]

I think he's talking about the Fort Worth Bowl (vs. TCU, can you imagine?)

[RGV Pony]

PonySnob: And when did the other Texas programs stop having "professional" teams?

[Mustangs35SMU]

PonySnob: And when did the other Texas programs stop having "professional" teams?

They stopped?

[jtstang]

PonySnob: And when did the other Texas programs stop having "professional" teams?

Uhh, when they had the Governor helping run the show...well I guess we're the only one who stupidly thumbed our nose at the NCAA for that to actually happen.

[Lotus]

So...what you're saying is: in 2006 we'll go to the Ev1.net Houston Bowl?

Are you saying you wouldn't accept such a bid?

[StangEsq]

who are the Dickerson and James of this class?

[MrMustang1965]

I think he's talking about the Fort Worth Bowl (vs. TCU, can you imagine?)

No. I'm talking about the Ev1.net Houston Bowl. The teams that played in its inaugural game in 2003 were Texas Tech and Navy. It was the scene of the infamous 'grenade stunt' in the end zone by the Red Raiders after one of their TDs. And to Lotus: I think SMU would be foolish NOT to accept such a bid if it were extended. No, it's not a BCS bowl but it's played in Reliant Stadium and I think you'd get lots of Dallas fans to travel there and there are already a LOT of SMU fans in the Houston area (alumni and parents of students).

[Stallion]

I agree to a point but c'mon that class was rated the No. 3 class in the nation and turned out to be the No. 1 class in the Nation. The present sophmores weren't in the Top 50 and the freshman class is in the 80's. We may be moving in the right direction but we still have a long way to go to build even a hope of a bowl in the next 4 years.

[The PonyGrad]

I do not believe the point was to compare the classes but rather that the talent we do have needs some time to be manifested.

An unspoken point is that we need some momentum this season to not create a hole in our recruiting or things move in the wrong direction.

[Stampede]

exactly PonyGrad!! It does take time and Coach Bennett and his staff have the recruiting prowess to make great strides for SMU football.

When the team shows their improvement on the feild in the coming weeks....more and more high school players will take notice and accept the offer of a full ride to SMU.

[WildHorse]

.... And to Lotus: I think SMU would be foolish NOT to accept such a bid if it were extended. No, it's not a BCS bowl but it's played in Reliant Stadium and I think you'd get lots of Dallas fans to travel there and there are already a LOT of SMU fans in the Houston area (alumni and parents of students).

I can't speak for Lotus, but I bet that was his point. As long as it's been since we played in a bowl game, I'd go watch SMU play in the Soup Bowl or the Salad Bowl. If they played in Hawaii, I'd put a dent in the credit card, but I'd be there. I'd even spend part of the winter in Boise if we scored a bid to the Blue Bowl, or whatever that thing is called. Let's start winning, then talk bowls.

[PonySnob]

.... And to Lotus: I think SMU would be foolish NOT to accept such a bid if it were extended. No, it's not a BCS bowl but it's played in Reliant Stadium and I think you'd get lots of Dallas fans to travel there and there are already a LOT of SMU fans in the Houston area (alumni and parents of students).

I can't speak for Lotus, but I bet that was his point. As long as it's been since we played in a bowl game, I'd go watch SMU play in the Soup Bowl or the Salad Bowl. If they played in Hawaii, I'd put a dent in the credit card, but I'd be there. I'd even spend part of the winter in Boise if we scored a bid to the Blue Bowl, or whatever that thing is called. Let's start winning, then talk bowls.

Let's worry about winning one game first! Since the DP, we have all gotten to see SMU play in the toilet bowl just about every year.