Are the hardcore JJ supporters expecting to lose to Rutgers?

[ponyboy]

I don't have any quit in me as a fan and I fully expect SMU to come out and play smart, tough football. At the same time, I belive that Rutgers is going to bring it. SMU better be ready. Hioping for a good turnout as well by the fans and the team.

That's it. Exactly right.

[MV pony]

We will have less than 9,000 in the stands at the beginning of the game.

Less than 4,500 by the fourth quarter.

Thank goodness we increased stadium seating.

[PonyFan]

I don't have any quit in me as a fan and I fully expect SMU to come out and play smart, tough football. At the same time, I belive that Rutgers is going to bring it. SMU better be ready. Hioping for a good turnout as well by the fans and the team.

Good for you. Me too, and if that makes me a sunshiner or JJ supporter or whatever you want to call it, fine. I'm sorry, but I refuse to be ashamed for supporting my team through thick and thin.
As for this weekend, yes I expect us to win. If we beat Rutgers, I will expect us to beat Memphis. If we lose to Rutgers, I will expect us to beat Memphis. It's not always reasonable, I know (I did realize that beating A&M was a longshot), and it makes it hurt when we lose. But it also is part of being a fan, and part of why my entire week is made when we win. My loyalty to SMU is exceeded only by my loyalty to my family. And sometimes that's a close call.

[SMU 86]

We will have less than 9,000 in the stands at the beginning of the game.

Less than 4,500 by the fourth quarter.

Thank goodness we increased stadium seating.

It will be more than that because everyone wants to see the blue uniforms.

[East Coast Mustang]

They are going to kill us in a stadium that's 1/3 full (maybe)

[ponyboy]

You think so? All of the other bowls seasons have begun in exactly this same way. We look really bad OOO and then pretty decent in conference. We won every single one of our first conference games in the last four years and we have been very tough at home.

[Stallion]

I don't think they are going to kill us. I was exrtremely impressed with Rutgers running game against Fresno but their RB isn't playing. BTW I was extremely unimpressed with their secondary which Dereck Carr carved up like Thanksgiving turkey. It will be very telling if Gilbert doesn't have his best game of the year. Their secondary ain't the caliber of the Big 12 teams we've faced

[Rebel10]

Gilbert should toast the Rutgers secondary.

[mrydel]

And realize that Arkansas had its backup QB (3rd string in the spring before the 2nd team transferred) and he has no accuracy at all. They put 8 and 9 in the box to stop the run and were able to slow Arkansas down in the 4th quarter. They also returned a punt for a TD and one to the red zone. If you watched the Arkansas game against A&M and not the one against Rutgers you must realize these were 2 different Arkansas teams.

I am not sure what will happen but I think we match up ok against Rutgers and being at home I give us a chance to win. Big question make will be if we can put some pressure on their QB. He is a pretty good passer so we need a good rush. This is the type of game that we should be blitzing a lot because they will be a little down in their running game with the lead man out.

[JasonB]

I had this as a win before the season started.

At some point this season, we will stop making the mistakes that bad teams make and win some games.

Do we have the talent and ability to win this game? Yes.

Will we? I certainly wouldn't expect us to at this point until we stop making huge mistakes.

Rutgers beat Arkansas, who played better against A&M than we did. They also had a bye week to prep for this game (although they probably spent some amount of that time on Louisville).

I would love for this to be the turn around game, but I will believe it when I see it. Almost have to win this game to have a shot at a bowl, because upsetting UCF, Houston or Cincy is going to be tough.

[jpe747]

Every SMU game I go to, in any sport, I want SMU to win. Thus, I want JJ to win every game he coaches as a SMU HC. If that makes me a hardcore JJ supporter so be it. I love SMU. I played elsewhere - to far to travel every weekend. However, I also have a degree from SMU (as well as family ties). As a fan I saw Dickerson/James play, Michael Carter. I even got a Dandy Don Meredith autograph after practice at what is now FORD STADIUM. I believe we can and will win against Rutgers. As I wrote elsewhere, Im bringing a bunch of new people to the game. SO, SMU HAD BETTER WIN!!!

As for JJ, I think SMU should let him coach the remainder of the year. I would love to see him succeed. I admit, after the ASU thing and again after loosing to Tulane and to Rice I was ready for a change. Yet, after Tulsa game and the bowl game I felt somewhat better about the football program. We have a different system then any other school I know of in that we have a CofC making our big decisions. As for them, if they decide to get a new coach, I will support whoever they pick.

[Statler]

We will have less than 9,000 in the stands at the beginning of the game.

Less than 4,500 by the fourth quarter.

...and a letter in the Daily Campus from a walk-on complaining about attendance.

[sbsmith]

You think so? All of the other bowls seasons have begun in exactly this same way. We look really bad OOO and then pretty decent in conference. We won every single one of our first conference games in the last four years and we have been very tough at home.

Let's take a look at the teams we beat in those conference openers


2009- UAB (5-7)
2010- UAB (4-8)
2011- UTEP (5-7)
2012- UTEP (3-9)

[Rebel10]

Every SMU game I go to, in any sport, I want SMU to win. Thus, I want JJ to win every game he coaches as a SMU HC. If that makes me a hardcore JJ supporter so be it. I love SMU. I played elsewhere - to far to travel every weekend. However, I also have a degree from SMU (as well as family ties). As a fan I saw Dickerson/James play, Michael Carter. I even got a Dandy Don Meredith autograph after practice at what is now FORD STADIUM. I believe we can and will win against Rutgers. As I wrote elsewhere, Im bringing a bunch of new people to the game. SO, SMU HAD BETTER WIN!!!

As for JJ, I think SMU should let him coach the remainder of the year. I would love to see him succeed. I admit, after the ASU thing and again after loosing to Tulane and to Rice I was ready for a change. Yet, after Tulsa game and the bowl game I felt somewhat better about the football program. We have a different system then any other school I know of in that we have a CofC making our big decisions. As for them, if they decide to get a new coach, I will support whoever they pick.

JPE, you are bringing students AND teachers to the game. You are leading by example. As far as I am concerned you are just as valuable as any member of the COC.

[Rebel10]

I had this as a win before the season started.

At some point this season, we will stop making the mistakes that bad teams make and win some games.

Do we have the talent and ability to win this game? Yes.

Will we? I certainly wouldn't expect us to at this point until we stop making huge mistakes.

Rutgers beat Arkansas, who played better against A&M than we did. They also had a bye week to prep for this game (although they probably spent some amount of that time on Louisville).

I would love for this to be the turn around game, but I will believe it when I see it. Almost have to win this game to have a shot at a bowl, because upsetting UCF, Houston or Cincy is going to be tough.

I definitely agree that the coaching needs to be better. But when Arkansas played Rutgers they did not have their starting QB like they did when they played aTm. So your comparisons are flawed. Also, are you saying we are more talented than Rutgers?