Biggest positive surprise/disappointment of season

[gostangs]

For the year -

on the positive side:

1. Emergence of clutch receiving is a very good sign
2. O Line looked pretty good most of the year - and they are the youngest of the young
3. We have a field goal kicker - finally!!!
4. Nobody broke any NCAA records on us for touchdown catches this year
5. Offense was much better in general - especially passing
6. Team could have given up after first few tough loses - and injuries - and did not.
7. Decent QB play - and they showed some maturity by not quiting during the season for obscure reasons or deciding to play intramural ball just for grins.
8. JUCO's were VERY important to our modest progress. Hear that Stallion?? When are you going to get on the bandwagon for the JUCO's??(sarcasm)


on the negaitve side:
1. Loses we had were not that surprising - but the blow out nature of most of them was disappointing.
2. Not enough pressure from def line and LB's - paritally an injury problem, partially a talent problem
3. Running game - hello -hello - anyone out there?
4. Best TE in the conference basically ignored most of the year -
5. Got better through the year, but there were some coaching brain cramps along the way....Nothing fatal going forward but worth watching


That said - I think we will surprise some folks early next year - we will get one of the TCU/Baylor games and be close on the other one - A&M will kill us - and then we can get to work.

GOSTANGS!!!

[OldPony]

While we won the number of games I thought we would this year, I thought it was a disappointing season. The speed i thought we had on defense was ineffectual. I realize we are young but the defense was manhandled. I hope these guys are tired of losing and realize they have to put on 20-30 lbs of muscle in the off season. Next season will be made in the wieght room this next 9 months.We need another good recruiting class to go with these guys and as Bus always says, Bring on the Big Guys.

[Charleston Pony]

bring on more big men...and closing speed on defense...and a running game...and improved QB play, etc, etc, etc... let's keep taking those baby steps. We just cannot afford to fall backwards again from here

[LA_Mustang]

Positives:
obviously, winning two of our last three
the emergence of Desmond Jones late in the season
the JUCO help
the experience our freshmen and sophomores got

Negatives:
losing Muse and Phillips early in the season....Jones late in the season
getting blown out by La Tech and Rice
the overall play of the defense
RB – hopefully Martin or Henderson will surprise

I'm very optimistic about next year. I believe .500 is within reach.

[SoCal_Pony]

Positives:
Foster and Chase
McMurtray
Absent LA Tech, our home-game performances

Negatives:
Injuries, particularly to Phillips and Muse
Munlin
Allowing TCU, OSU, Rice, Fresno St and UTEP to score 227 unanswered points against us.

[JasonB]

Positive: The passing game at the end of the year. Good improvement from QBs and WRs since the start of the year.

Disappointment: When we were so bad at LB for most of the season, Avery Cleveland and Zach Hall weren't able to break through and grab significant playing time and a starting position.

[SCAMP6381]

Guys at least we know one thing,we have something to build on, young team, good players out with injuries and certain ailments. 0&12 to 3&8. I say that's an improvement.Disappointed no, hope and optimism yes. I have great faith in these young men,yes I have kids on the team but, I also spent time with other players and I've learned not ONE of them likes to lose and that in itself is a positive. I see this bunch of young men making a lot of new PONYFANS in the near future. I see great advances for this team next spring.I will not start counting loses or wins before a game is played but if you know like I know these young men has GREAT PROMISE for SMU'S FOOTBALL PROGRAM. Naysayers, unbelievers,and doubters I pray and hope these young men bring you from the land of doubt and bring you to belief of what they will acheive in the near future at Southern Methodist University. PONYFANS hold your pony ears high and BELIEVE WE WILL WIN HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY

[BUS]

Negative: getting shut out by TCU - ouch
Not using our good T - end enough
Injuries

Positive: Winning two of last three
Finding a good T - end
O-line that has NO seniors
SCORING almost 40 points the last three games ( well two of them )
From what I hear.... Good Red shirt Freshman that can help next year.


What we need is some JUCO help this December. DT, LB, Receiver and two OL for depth. Maybe a others.

Go Coaches - RECRUIT

[Water Pony]

Thanks Scamp, I always enjoy your insight.

A long journey is getting shorter. Our thanks to your young men and their fellow teammates. They will earn greater success, WATCH THEM!!!!

[PonyFan]

Up:
- Coach Bennett standing up for his team after the first game, showing his guys that after they fight for three hours, he's right there with them
- Three more wins than last year, and FEWER THAN NEXT YEAR!
- Chris McMurtray
- Young OL that's just starting to get big enough and ugly enough to be pretty effective in years to come
- Bobby Chase and Ryan Kennedy
- 3 legitimate DI-A quarterbacks (none of them is great - yet - but there's talent there. More than in the past)
- Enough DBs that we can play a pretty stout nickel defense (see TT game)
- Addition of Rusty Burns and Ronnie Vinklarek
- Cory Muse, D.D. Lee, Reggie Carrington, Justin Rogers, Kendall Mouton coming back healthy

Down:
- Defensive speed (after injuries, to be fair)
- OL depth
- DL depth
- WR speed
- Car wreck that started Foy Munlin's season with a busted hand, and prevented him from the big year we all hoped for. Best of luck, Foy - thanks for working so hard with your new team
- Not enough victories for the outgoing senior class. (Then again, until we go undefeated for four straight years, I'll never admit that we have ENOUGH wins....)

[SWC2010]

UP:
HUGE UP... entire team hanging on to win OT v. Tulsa
Bennett's face-off against the "Atty-Coach" from TT
Con't improvement on the offensive side
emergence of B Chase & C Foster
Burns new offense & JC QB's
Bennett's holding back top-shelf RS Fr (who'll start next yr)
Lot's of recruits at games

DOWN:
suck crowds
blowouts against Rice & LaTech
E D 's comments
Injuries, especially to "D"
defensive letdowns & big plays against the "D"
did I mention suck crowds

[EastStang]

Ups
2 wins in last three games.
Some good halfs of football games (walk before you can run)
Bennett's "discussion" with Leach
TT hanging 70 on TCU.
Bennett despite some severe criticism sticking with the red-shirt program
Progress of some of our young players

Utah going to a BCS bowl and possibly Boise (come on Aggies). This would give our coaches the argument to potential recruits that they can come to SMU and really can play big time games on New Year's Day.


Downs
Losing 44-0 to the Frogs
Losing badly in some games
Play calling was still suspect at times

While I would love to see our T-end in more plays, the spread offense that Burns runs is more wide-out and downfield oriented thus making our tight end more or less another lineman.

[gostangs]

bump

[The PonyGrad]

Up

Improvements in offense in general

Down

Defense in general, hopefully largely aggrevated by injuries.

TURNOVERS - we are still the worst, oh, we are only tied for worst, in this category, but we did improve at the end.

Punt coverage - hopefully depth will help here.