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I sure hope you are right and since you are closer you may very well be. The point about turnovers is though that the more often an offense turns over the ball, the more likely the defense is going to collapse. Just like a golfer who has to rely on his putting to bale him out will sooner or later start making bogeys.

RednBlue11 wrote:

Blvd.Fan wrote:This season will be HUGE...

I've hearing rumors that this fella will be on the sideline...

Gotta love Bob

that old picture has come back to haunt me.

i love this time of year. i'm excited. we have no losses and everyting is looking up.

thinking abut going to hawaii for the bowl.

Nacho wrote:that old picture has come back to haunt me.

i love this time of year. i'm excited. we have no losses and everyting is looking up.

thinking abut going to hawaii for the bowl.

If we go to hawaii I'll be sure to have Mr H's family set up a big luau to celebrate our W....GO MUSTANGS!!!!!!!!!!!

2009 will be a 3-4 win season. SFA and two or three CUSA wins.

Earliest I think the Pones can get to a bowl realistically is 2011.

even I'd be careful about that prediction in CUSA West. A team can schedule a Division 1-AA school and a couple of more patsies like NTSU and Arkansas St. then finish 3-5 in a weak conference and can bowling at 6-6. I'm talking about having a good football team that deserves a good bowl and can compete against strong bowl caliber programs and even beat 2-3 bowl teams. There have been several examples in CUSA of teams going 6-6 beating teams with combined winning percentages of about 35-40%. Phil Bennett got within a yard of getting there with a "lay-up schedule". With 7 bowl opportunities and probably 6 bowl slots a lot of mediocre teams have shots at bowls in CUSA. I could see that scenario playing out in 2010.

Stallion wrote:even I'd be careful about that prediction in CUSA West. A team can schedule a Division 1-AA school and a couple of more patsies like NTSU and Arkansas St. then finish 3-5 in a weak conference and can bowling at 6-6. I'm talking about having a good football team that deserves a good bowl and can compete against strong bowl caliber programs and even beat 2-3 bowl teams. There have been several examples in CUSA of teams going 6-6 beating teams with combined winning percentages of about 35-40%. Phil Bennett got within a yard of getting there with a "lay-up schedule". With 7 bowl opportunities and probably 6 bowl slots a lot of mediocre teams have shots at bowls in CUSA. I could see that scenario playing out in 2010.

Sure Stallion, but perception is reality in the minds of recruits. Straggling to a 6-6 record and a trip to Hawaii in December would be much more important in the long run than the fact that we beat SFA, UAB, UTEP, Tulane, Marshall, and Navy to get there. I mean, you know that, so I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here. Though, you're right about 2010. Right now, our Even year in conference schedule is better for breaking even because we get Tulsa and Houston at home, so we can hope to split the series, then steal a road win (as in Rice 2006 sigh). That wouldn't make SMU a great program, but it is a big step along the way. Or at least a step that we haven't managed in 20 years.

-CoS

JJ won't turn this thing until year 4...1-11 3-9 5-7 7-5 7-5 JJ leaves, names his replacment, rides off into the sunset with SMU smiling after 2 straight bowl seasons and a young stud as the next JJ...

I think this is a big season. But I'm not worried.

I'm not disagreeing with you Cadillac-it would be great for the program-I'm just responding to the prior post. but in reality if the schedule remains as it is SMU won't be playing a "layup schedule" in 2009 and especially in 2010 which is quite challenging with Tech, TCU, Navy and Washington St. I think the 2009 schedule is a fair, balanced schedule but 2010 is going to be tougher. 2011 is probaly even worse with A&M, Baylor, TCU and Navy

Caveat: are these schedules on Ponyfans still accurate? I thought Texas A&M had opted out of the Dallas game and maybe others.