Fresno Bee: Fresno State, SMU defenses have familiar feel

[PonyPride]

Fresno State, SMU defenses have familiar feel
Bulldogs, Mustangs put 3-4 schemes on display.

By Bryant-Jon Anteola - The Fresno Bee
Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 | 12:16 AM

HONOLULU -- This is the risk that football coaches run when they share their expertise with each other: It could come back to haunt them.

Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter is about to find out if he will be burned by his own knowledge.

DeRuyter, after all, helped friend and Southern Methodist defensive coordinator Tom Mason learn the intricacies of a 3-4 base defense that led the Mustangs to install the three-down lineman/four-linebacker system in 2009.

And just as Fresno State has flourished in a scheme that helped it create 33 turnovers this season, so, too, has SMU -- which also has forced 33 turnovers to tie for third best in the nation.

Fresno State (9-3) and SMU (6-6) will face off Monday in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, a game that may be decided by which team forces more mistakes.

Fresno State, SMU defenses have familiar feel