Fraley-SMU needs a win Saturday

mustangbill67 · Post by **mustangbill67** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 9:10 am

He speaks the truth.

SMU needs a win Saturday

08:03 PM CDT on Friday, September 15, 2006

SMU plays its most important football game Saturday since 1997.

In that season finale, SMU threw away a potential bowl trip with a loss to a bad TCU team. There is more at stake today, when the Mustangs face Sam Houston State at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

Lose this one, and the program retreats so far back into the dark ages, it might never re-emerge.

SMU needs 'A' game against I-AA foe

Lose this one, and SMU is a crushed 0-3 team. Lose this one, and real-estate agents will start calling coach Phil Bennett.

SMU should handle Sam Houston because a Division I-A team must beat a Division I-AA team that went 3-7 last season. There are no givens for the Mustangs, though. They should have won against North Texas last weekend on the basis of better talent but were outplayed in a 24-6 loss.

This is a test for Bennett. His challenge is twofold: get the players out of the UNT-induced funk and motivate the staff to fix the offense. The season can be saved.

Here's a tip: Make the offense simpler for redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Willis and tell him to have fun. The bet is Willis will produce more than the nine points SMU has scored in two games.

E-mail [email protected]

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 774be.html

kats89 · Post by **kats89** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 9:16 am

It's funny all they mention is the I-AA team that was 3-7 last year with a NEW head coach. How about mentioning the 11-3 semi-final team in 2004 as well. There are still about 70% of those players still on the team. The team was not as bad as the record indicates from 2005. BEWARE!!

ALEX LIFESON · Post by **ALEX LIFESON** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 9:20 am

Oh, you don't have to warn those of us that have seen the first two SMU games. What's the link to your fansite? Good luck, and welcome to the Hilltop! Be sure and walk the full length of the Boulevard.

mr. pony · Post by **mr. pony** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 12:21 pm

Hope I'm wrong, but I got a sick feeling about this one ...

MrMustang1965 · Post by **MrMustang1965** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 12:34 pm

The headline for Fraley's column ("SMU Needs a Win Saturday") has to be the most elementary one I have EVER seen in the DMN!

The phrase "No sh*t!" comes to mind after reading it.

But, what do you expect when the paper is being run by a bunch of U.T. J-school grads? The Bevo Corp. strikes again!

davidsmu94 · Post by **davidsmu94** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 2:34 pm

MrMustang1965 wrote:The headline for Fraley's column ("SMU Needs a Win Saturday") has to be the most elementary one I have EVER seen in the DMN!

The phrase "No sh*t!" comes to mind after reading it.

But, what do you expect when the paper is being run by a bunch of U.T. J-school grads? The Bevo Corp. strikes again!

Agreed... duh

kats89 · Post by **kats89** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 4:02 pm

ALEX LIFESON wrote:Oh, you don't have to warn those of us that have seen the first two SMU games. What's the link to your fansite? Good luck, and welcome to the Hilltop! Be sure and walk the full length of the Boulevard.

www.katfans.com

Come on over. Last minute job related issue kept me from making the trip today, but will be listening online.

Post by **PonyPride** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 2:04 am

kats89 wrote:It's funny all they mention is the I-AA team that was 3-7 last year with a NEW head coach. How about mentioning the 11-3 semi-final team in 2004 as well. There are still about 70% of those players still on the team....

That makes the win feel even better!

mr. pony wrote:Hope I'm wrong, but I got a sick feeling about this one ...

For shame, mr. pony, for shame! :wink:

Idle thought: just how bad is Arkansas-Monticello?

mr. pony · Post by **mr. pony** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:47 am

I feel better now.