Tough NC games wins the argument for the moment.

[stang_fan]

The Spartans entered WAC play with a high from beating a I-AA opponent. The Mustangs came into it after 3 losses to great teams. (coming back from 30-5 against Kansas at Kansas is no easy task...Tech is good whether ESPN or anybody else likes it). Do we conclude that we were better prepared because of tougher opponents? Or are we just light years ahead of SJSU at recruiting? I think we have much more talent, but I do think for the moment the argument against playing a tough NC schedule is in jeopardy.

[Charleston Pony]

Actually, the tough non-conference schedule has taken it's toll injury wise. You have to give this team a lot of credit for not getting down after being whipped 3 weeks in a row to open the season. I think the coaching staff did a good job setting expectations for these guys. All you heard was that the San Jose game was the start of our "second season", aka the WAC season.

I still think it would have been nice to change the OSU game and to have played a I-AA opponent, just to have a chance for a win and to build the team's confidence. In future years, I'd like to see SMU playing Baylor and UNT more often. Those are local I-A opponents and I believe those games would be well attended. Ideally, I like a schedule that features TCU and either Baylor or UNT every year...one of those games at home and one on the road. The 3rd and in some years 4th non-conference games could be against BCS schools or against Navy or Army. We already have games scheduled against A$M, Wake and Northwestern and I'd like to see Ole Miss again or Miss St. or Vandy from the SEC, teams we can get home/home series with.

Regardless of the schedule, I expect this group to be very competitive in at least 6 games this year. Although I predicted no more than 2 wins going into the year, I wouldn't be shocked to see these guys win 4 of those games, since San Jose, La Tech, Tulsa and Nevada are all at Ford. The season just became a lot more fun.