Another Random Question

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

Ok, so here's another random question more related to SMU. I look at our non-conference schedule for 2013 and the A&M and TCU games look bad. . .really bad. What about Tech and Baylor? I don't follow either school enough to have a sense for what they're losing and what they're bringing back next year. Anyone have an idea? I'd love to think that we won't be 0-4 coming into conference play, but I fear we will be.

Now I know this is an opening for the haters to spew the same old stuff about how our recruiting stinks. Not interested in that. I get those arguments, they are well-worn. I'm interested in actual thoughts about what Baylor and/or Tech might look like.

[mr. pony]

Our recruiting stinks.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

touche

[giacfsp]

... Now I know this is an opening for the haters to spew the same old stuff ... Not interested in that.

You get what you ask for.

[redpony]

A lot will depend on how our team fills out and how effective the new players are. Baylor loses their QB and 9 other O players as well as 12 D players. TT loses their QB as well as 9 O players and 7 on the D.

I would expect us to be a little more competitive but we will still likely be 0-4 after those games. If our D can make stops and get TOs then we might win one of these games. Our O should be better but that will depend on GG and if he is connecting on his passes. JMHO.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

Wow, sounds like Baylor and Tech will both be replacing a lot. That gives me hope.

[Rayburn]

Wow, sounds like Baylor and Tech will both be replacing a lot. That gives me hope.

We'll have some new parts to work in as well (so long Margus and Zach), so don't get too confident.

[PoconoPony]

Much to the chagrin of everyone, we are not ready to compete with our non-conference teams. The problem is that we should have been more than ready with JJ having 5 years to put in his system and recruit. I love the schedule, but not with us in a position not to be competitive.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

"We'll have some new parts to work in as well (so long Margus and Zach), so don't get too confident."


Yeah, I know. In this case hope and confidence are two different things. I'm always hopeful for SMU. But I'm fully prepared for 0-4 coming out of non-conference.

[JasonB]

Next year, for the first few weeks, we are going to struggle against run-first teams. Our secondary will be our strengths defensively.

Because of that, I think we will struggle against A&M and TCU, but actually play decent against Baylor and Tech.

[Longtime]

If we are even competitive with any Big 12/SEC opponent, consider it an upset. We simply do not match up athletically with any Big 12 team, save for maybe a handful of players. It's even worse when you compare depth.

Baylor, Tech and TCU all went 4-5 in Big 12 games. Baylor won a 52-45 overtime shootout with Tech this year, and Tech won a 56-53 overtime shootout over TCU. And TCU whipped Baylor, which wiped the floor with us, 49-21. They are all about the same athletically and in talent.

We were competitive with TCU this season, but the conditions were a contributing factor. TCU was young this year and will be better next year, when the game is at their place.

Obviously you want to keep the TCU rivalry going. But the other games were scheduled with the idea that our program would be further along - and that Baylor would still be a Big 12 doormat. (When Baylor was bad and we were bad, we still couldn't hang with them).

The off-season priority for our AD is to get us out of at least one of those non-conference games. Unless it's his goal to run June Jones off, playing the current non-conference slate for 2013 is insanity.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

I think your absolutely right. But the problem is which game can we get out of? Presumably, we want to keep TCU since they're the closest thing we have to a natural rivalry. Baylor and Tech are both home games. From a dollars and cents perspective, its tough to punt one of those in favor of an opponent who won't draw flies. That leave A&M as the clear best choice. But we're perfect for them. Its a home game for the Aggies that they will completely dominate. So I don't really see where they are going to want to give that up unless we pay a very heavy price.

Totally agree that we need to try to modify the schedule, but for 2013 at least I'm wondering if that's a realistic option.

[Treadway21]

Sad that some of our fans and our coach want to get out of the games we played week in and week out in the SWC.

And I get it, but it is sad.

[sbsmith]

I think your absolutely right. But the problem is which game can we get out of? Presumably, we want to keep TCU since they're the closest thing we have to a natural rivalry. Baylor and Tech are both home games. From a dollars and cents perspective, its tough to punt one of those in favor of an opponent who won't draw flies. That leave A&M as the clear best choice. But we're perfect for them. Its a home game for the Aggies that they will completely dominate. So I don't really see where they are going to want to give that up unless we pay a very heavy price.

Totally agree that we need to try to modify the schedule, but for 2013 at least I'm wondering if that's a realistic option.

We can come to a mutual agreement to end the series with the Aggies, they give up the 2013 game in College Station and and we give up the 2014 return game at Ford (which they were probably going to buy out of anyway). Stick an FCS team in there and we go from 3-9 to 4-8.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

Interesting. I didn't realize we have two home games against A&M. I just figured it was the typical 2 for 1 deal that schools like A&M usually do. I'm all for getting out of that one if we can.