For folks upset with the nonconference schedule...

[Dooby]

Take some time and do some research and find a program that went from the doghouse (is it safe to say SMU is in the doghouse?) to respectability, that didn't arrange its schedule this way. Bear in mind that this is one of the things that was suggested by several head coaches in a DMN article a year ago about fixing SMU football.

KSU, Kansas, UTEP and TCU used creampuff nonconference schedules as part of turning their programs around. Find us a team that didn't.

I guess another model would be the Marshall plan, which is to drop out of 1A for a period of time.

[Dutch]

I agree 100%. That's how spurrier did it at florida too. people quickly forget that they used to be terrible.

[OldPony]

2 of your examples also had top flight competition in conference. Makes a big difference.

[Dooby]

The first step is admitting we have a problem.

We are losing to bad teams in our conference. No matter what conference we are in, the "model" is the same, or at least we should consider it. Find and beat the teams we can beat. Give our kids and fans a taste of winning and see what happens.

I swear to you, we went 0-11 because our kids, not just because we were bad, but becayse our kids thought they were losers. We had our opportunities to win, but we screwed it up because that is what we were all expecting.

Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly expecting a different result. We've had the same result for 20 years. Why do you want to keep repeating the same mistakes?

[Dooby]

Advice from Bill Snyder (Kansas State coach) in the Nov. 13, 2003 DMN: Schedule soft. Build confidence as a result while new techniques are taught. Recruit junior college players who can make an immediate impact.

But, hey. What does he know?

[PlanoStang]

Bill Snyder would consider most of our WAC, and new CUSA schedule soft.

[Dooby]

Bill Snyder would consider most of our WAC, and new CUSA schedule soft.

Including us. For us to schedule soft, we need to schedule the Ark. States of the world.

[Dutch]

yeah, but when KSt was in a terrible rut, they would have considered our current schedule difficult, or at least not soft. remember they really sucked. When he says soft, he means playing on the lowest level allowable by NCAA.

[meangreen204]

Building confidence early on does wonders for a program and the athletes that participate in it. Starting the season off with 3 or 4 wins will really boost confidence in athletes that have endured beatings for the past few years and the fans who have watched it. It will be good for SMU to schedule some of the "cupcake teams" early on. That way, once SMU gets into conference play, the players will feel like winners and play as such with more motivation, and the fans will show up to support.

Look at the A&M basketball team. Last year they went 0-16 in Big12 play. This year they were competitive in every game, and are still on the bubble for a tourney bid. They did it by scheduling a weak non conference schedule that made players feel like winners.

In college football, where momentum is king, I think the aforementioned theory applies. Mental toughness is essential, especially when we are talking about 18-22 year olds.

Fans will follow Wins... they always do. Hell, i'd come see SMU play (even as a NT alumn) if it meant seeing some competitive old SWC matchups!

Anyways, just a couple thoughts from an area football fan!

[Frog2003]

Look at is this way...would you rather be 3-8 with a tough schedule, or 6-5 with a little bit easier one?

[meangreen204]

I would think being 6-5 and bowl eligible would take a team further than the thought, "well we had a tough schedule, and and few close ones, but our 2-3 wins were solid"

A tough schedule is only impressive if you win some of the games in it.

[RGV Pony]

1) Anyone know if we can pull up that 2003 article in its entirety?

2) What was N. Illinois's schedule like in the year(s) leading up to their opening week upset of Maryland in 2003?

[Metropolis777]

2) What was N. Illinois's schedule like in the year(s) leading up to their opening week upset of Maryland in 2003?

Northern Illinois

2000
6-5 (5-3)
OOC - L @ Northwestern, W vs. Illinois St., L @ Auburn

2001
6-5 (4-4)
OOC - W vs. USF, L @ Illinois (they were BCS caliber then), W vs. Sam Houston

2002
8-4 (7-1)
OOC - W vs. Wake, L @ USF, L @ Wisconsin, L vs. Western Illinois (ouch)

2003
10-2 (6-2)
OOC - W vs. Maryland, W vs. Tenn Tech, W @ Bama, W vs. Iowa St.

2004
9-3 (7-1)
OOC - L @ Maryland, W vs. S Illinois, L @ Iowa St.
Bowl Win over Troy

[ponyte]

This is the Frank Broyles model that has worked for generations at U of Ark. Ark has and continues to schedule soft. The non-conference schedule rarely includes the really good teams. That way, Broyles can count on 3 non-conference wins. In the old days of the SWC, he then could count on 4 wins on the conference weak sisters. Ark is then 7-4 year in and year out. They go to bowls and the fans love having a winning team. The tradeoff is Ark will never have enough quality wins to be ranked high enough for a National Championship. But the model has produced a winner year in and year out. And winning has created fans support, monies, national recognition and successful seasons. Ark plays teams like U of L Monroe, U of L Lafayette and other less distinguished programs. It doesn't seem to hurt the Razorbacks.

[Dooby]

1) Anyone know if we can pull up that 2003 article in its entirety?

Link is HERE.