How will this team respond to having a target on their back?

[NY Pony]

If this BE move happens, the next two games could get chippy and the fans will be furious. Plus both coaches will have tons of bulletin board material about how our program thinks it deserves to be considered better. How will JJ and this team react to being the bad guy, a conference power and the team everyone wants to beat?

[NY Pony]

Other than with typical JJ class...

[Stallion]

we'll wear Black of course

[ponyinNC]

This team mirrors the coach, and JJ never seems to get too high or too low, and he stays away from the conference talk. we will be fine.

[NY Pony]

we'll wear Black of course

please God, no...

I was at Yankee Stadium last year for the Pinstripe Bowl and the Armed Forces Bowl was on the jumbotron and 'cuse fans couldnt figure out a) which team Army was, and b) where SMU was. I was wearing all SMU gear and a few people who knew of us and were WATCHING the game asked when the SMU bowl game was.

[Nacho]

i have been for southern miss to go to the big east.
their location really hurts them. ole miss and miss st blackball them from sec.
poor tv market doesn't help. hopefully one day they will get in be when it expands to 14 or 16.

[Pony ^]

I think we thrive

[ponyinNC]

SMU>USM

[skyscraper]

This team mirrors the coach, and JJ never seems to get too high or too low, and he stays away from the conference talk. we will be fine.

This.

[ponyboy]

Bump.

[ponyte]

Very interesting question. There is one other, and probably a much larger mental issue question, how will this team handle being the conference front runner? The BSC stuff is long term. The conference front runner status is now.

Beating TCU opened a lot of folks eyes to this teams abilities. Not saying this is a top 10 or 15 team, but definitely one of the best in CUSA and can handle many a BSC team.

Midseason predictions are now putting SMU in the mix. Preseason we were predicted to be an outsider that needed help.

It has been over a generation since SMU players were the 'man' with a bulls eye on them for being the conference best. How they handle doormat to champion is a bigger issue for the next 6 games.

[whitwiki]

I think this team has some clear leaders, like Zach, who know how to handle business. I'm comfortable being targetted with consistent players like him.

[AusTxPony]

Luckily for us and the team, I would imagine JJ has had plenty of experience in handling teams with a "Bullseye", college and pro. Better execution, less emotion, is the answer. That will most likely be the mantra this week.

[RyanSMU98]

This week and this week only. Keep all players' eyes on USM. Everything else is crap at this point. We have coaches and players to help the younger guys block out all the noise around them. You can't control anything else but yourself, so don't sweat it. I'm sure JJ will have their heads on straight.