SMU a 3 Point Underdog Against Memphis

[StallionsModelT]

The most important thing about this game:

One step closer to the end of the June Jones era. Regardless of the outcome that will be the positive.

[ponyfan777]

WoW we better beat this team bad Sat.

Go Ponies~

[mrydel]

First drive was great for the passing game. Later in the game was maybe the only time I recall derrick thompson actually catching a bomb after hed gotten open. Those were highlights

These and the introduction of Pope at linebacker where I can still hear the hit he put on the QB.

And Wimbley getting time at RB.

[PonyKai]

I remember that being a game where June knew we were going to win, yet we weren't executing staple passing plays in the Run N Shoot, so he would deliberately call the same play multiple times simply to drill it into the team to execute the darn play. That's how we scored our last TD; Jones called the same exact play twice in a row b/c the wide receiver dropped an easy catch on the play before. Line steamrolled that day as well.

[PonyKai]

Memphis is 11th in total defense and 27th in scoring defense and we haven't put up a decent offensive game on the road since we beat TCU in 2011.

We did beat Memphis at the Liberty Bowl 42-0 in 2011. Zach cleaned up; don't think the RnS was firing on most cylinders though.

We were 22 point favorites heading into that one.

I know. I went back and looked and saw we actually played TCU after we played Memphis. Figured (wrongly) that we would have played all four OOC games before drawing Memphis.

[tristatecoog]

After looking at the stats, I'll give the total defense nod to TX Tech but it's close.

http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/22/p1

Total D:
#11 Memphis -- 305 ypg
#21 TT -- 345 ypg

Scoring D:
#15 TT -- 17.3 ppg
#27 Memphis -- 20.2 ppg

3rd Down Conversion %
TT -- allows 28%
Mem -- allows 39% (#60)

Tackles for Loss:
#11 TT -- 8.0 per game
#22 Memphis -- 7.0 per game

TOP (Tech D works 4 min/gm more than Memphis)
#23 UM -- 32 mpg
#93 TT -- 28 mpg

[mr. pony]

I don't mean this as a slap at Memphis whatsoever, but if Memphis beats SMU then it's time for Coach Jones to step down (immediately). That means no bowl (though not officially) and the best thing for SMU would be to start building towards the future now (as opposed the end of the season).

It's been past time for some time.
Any self-respecting program would have fired him the next day after ASU sprouted.

[TidePony]

For those of you that have been around for decades, has SMU ever fired a coach mid season?

[PonyKai]

Uhh...Phil?

[mustang addict]

Yes, Hayden Fry got fired in the middle of my Freshman year ('72). He remained our coach for the rest of the season when we won the rest of our games (3 or 4 straight including Arkansas in Fayetteville). Then of course, he later wins I believe 2 National College Coach of the Year Awards at Iowa.

[Stallion]

Ah the Hayden Fry firing-SMU ended up 7-4 that year right. I distinctly remember the final game against TCU in Ft Worth. Instead of running on the field at start of game-SMU players walked hand-in-hand together 3-4 players wide until they reached the SMU bench. Great victory. Hayden got last laugh and we got Dave Smith

[AusTxPony]

Did I see the line move from +2 1/2 to +3 1/2. I would have thought like many that the money would be on us. Must be the JJ road record of losses.

[Junior]

wow, if we lose, we may not win another game this year. i just really don't see us losing, though. i mean, memphis is no tulane.

[sbsmith]

wow, if we lose, we may not win another game this year. i just really don't see us losing, though. i mean, memphis is no tulane.

If we lose I still think we beat UConn and Temple at home, both teams are pretty lousy especially at QB.

[PonySnob]

For those of you that have been around for decades, has SMU ever fired a coach mid season?

"Our AD has said he's had enough, we'll I've had enough!" said Mike Cavan when interviewed after loss to North Carolina as his last game as SMU head coach. I believe he was fired with 2 games left in the 2001 season.