New poll

The PonyGrad · Post by **The PonyGrad** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:35 pm

For those who say the past is the predictor of the future, there are differences this year.

Six home games.

Quality depth at many positions, most noteably QB.

Many returning starters.

For those who think we should hold our expectations until next year I ask how much better should we expect to be at what positions? The schedule is not likely to be more favorable.

The first two games will be very telling. Unless Baylor and TCU have improved from last season we should have a very good shot at either or both and they are home games!

Or chances to be improved over last season are many. Those who predict 2 or three wins are saying we are not likely to be better. It is not rational.

LonghornFan68 · Post by **LonghornFan68** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:42 pm

I chose 4-5 simply based on the competition. Here's my prediction for the season:

Baylor - Win (Please make this happen. I want Baylor out of the Big XII)
TCU - Close loss. Sorry.
aTm - Loss. However, I'd love nothing more than to see the Aggies simply embarrased here.
Tulane - Loss.
Marshall - Loss. Just too damn good. Marshall would give Texas a tough game.
UAB - Loss
E. Carolina - Win
Tulsa - Win
Rice - Win
Cougar High - Win. Please.
UTEP - Loss

So there you have it. I say 5-6. A couple of those games are a little too close to call. I'm leaving room in there for a flip-flop on one of those. So, it could be anwhere from 4-7 and 6-5.

jtstang · Post by **jtstang** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:44 pm

The PonyGrad wrote:For those who say the past is the predictor of the future, there are differences this year.

Six home games.

Quality depth at many positions, most noteably QB.

Many returning starters.

For those who think we should hold our expectations until next year I ask how much better should we expect to be at what positions? The schedule is not likely to be more favorable.

The first two games will be very telling. Unless Baylor and TCU have improved from last season we should have a very good shot at either or both and they are home games!

Or chances to be improved over last season are many. Those who predict 2 or three wins are saying we are not likely to be better. It is not rational.

Not rational? I don't think so. Your many points can be distilled down to two: more home games and more experienced players. The rational thinker realizes that these experienced players have been on the winning side of the scoreboard a grand total of three times in the last two seasons, including going winless AT HOME (and everywhere else) in 2003.

And I disagree with your conclusion in that we can still be better, i.e., more competitive, and not necessarily have it translate to more wins.

Dooby · Post by **Dooby** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:53 pm

The PonyGrad wrote:The first two games will be very telling. Unless Baylor and TCU have improved from last season we should have a very good shot at either or both and they are home games!

TCU beat us 44-0.

Stallion · Post by **Stallion** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:06 pm

damn beat me to it. SMU's program is still several rungs below TCU despite their poor season last year. Just look at their starting lineup on Offense-we are no where close with proven performers-not even close.

MrMustang1965 · Post by **MrMustang1965** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:13 pm

...on any given Saturday.

jtstang · Post by **jtstang** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:23 pm

MrMustang1965 wrote:...on any given Saturday.

Says the man who predicted eleven consecutive wins on this board last season. Love the optimism, but temper it with a little realism, will ya?

MrMustang1965 · Post by **MrMustang1965** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:29 pm

jtstang wrote:
MrMustang1965 wrote:...on any given Saturday.

Says the man who predicted eleven consecutive wins on this board last season. Love the optimism, but temper it with a little realism, will ya?

...and what was unrealistic about that statement?

jtstang · Post by **jtstang** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 4:36 pm

MrMustang1965 wrote:...and what was unrealistic about that statement?

The eleven predicted wins in a row last season?? Let me count the ways...

MrMustang1965 · Post by **MrMustang1965** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 5:02 pm

No, no, no, jt. What was unrealistic about the statement "...on any given Saturday"?

jtstang · Post by **jtstang** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 5:34 pm

MrMustang1965 wrote:No, no, no, jt. What was unrealistic about the statement "...on any given Saturday"?

Okay, I'll try. The full statement goes something like this:

"On any given Saturday, any team can beat any other team...."

Looking back at any given Saturday over the past three years, including last year when you predicted eleven consecutive W's, makes clear that if the first given team is the Mustangs, the rest of the statement has no basis in reality. Sorry for the confusion.

MrMustang1965 · Post by **MrMustang1965** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 5:45 pm

well...you have your view, I have mine. I still believe (and always will) that 'on any given Saturday, any team can beat another team' including the Mustangs over whomever is their opponent.

And...can you find the post where I predicted 11 wins last season? I can't.

gostangs · Post by **gostangs** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 9:19 am

Look - I have never been a relentless sunshiner - but TCU is not anywhere close to a given loss.

We are home this year - meaningful if we have anywhere near a decent matchup (as opposed to say......OSU)

They got worse as the year went on it seemed to me.

We are due some luck vs them (turnovers) going way back to the "bowl " season which they killed for us in Ft Worth.

In my view the only game we should just relax and enjoy the beating will be A&M - not winnable in college station - in fact we should play our third string to avoid injuries.

We wil lose more then A&M of course, but we should be able to hold our own with the others.

The PonyGrad · Post by **The PonyGrad** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:34 am

gostangs wrote:Look - I have never been a relentless sunshiner - but TCU is not anywhere close to a given loss.

We are home this year - meaningful if we have anywhere near a decent matchup (as opposed to say......OSU)

They got worse as the year went on it seemed to me.

We are due some luck vs them (turnovers) going way back to the "bowl " season which they killed for us in Ft Worth.

In my view the only game we should just relax and enjoy the beating will be A&M - not winnable in college station - in fact we should play our third string to avoid injuries.

We wil lose more then A&M of course, but we should be able to hold our own with the others.

My thoughts exactly. TCU had a losing record last season. They declined as the season went along while SMU developed. Chris Phillip went out in the TCU game and how many LBs did we have by the end of that game? It was a disaster on both sides of the ball. That game was in no way indicative of the relative ability of the two teams.

Stallion · Post by **Stallion** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:45 am

I believe getting beat like a red-headed step child is indicative of a lot more than you're willing to admit. Oh the joys of August. SMU "develops" every damn year after September-as soon as we get to the Botton 10 portion of our schedule.