Some "what if" thoughts

[SMU2007]

The AAC is an incredibly weak conference, without a doubt, but our two conference losses against Rutgers and Cincy were very close games that we definitely could/should have pulled out. In that case, we are sitting at a 7-3 record with a 6-0 conference record.

I still don't think this team is very good, and I still don't think that we would have been able to run the table with UH and UCF games coming up (both likely losses), but it would be interesting to see how differently people would have felt about this team/JJ in that scenario.

In my mind, getting throttled by TCU/A&M/(somewhat) Tech, and the failure to really dominate some terrible USF, Memphis, Temple and Uconn teams (with a combined 7 wins), would say a lot more about the state of this team than the record.

Thoughts? Would people be satisfied with JJ and staff in year 6 had we pulled out those two very winnable games?

[couch 'em]

No, we still have no momentum with recruiting and don't appear to be improving. That is the complaint, not necessarily the record. Our trajectory is not up even with two more wins.

[GiddyUp]

We should be dominating in this crappy conference. Very lucky we didn't have to play UL. Special teams play most of the 1st half was atrocious and to let that slide is unbelievable. Completely laughed off the field by 3 decent teams we should compete against. Team was not prepared at all for the 1st part of the season as usual. Why it takes almost a whole season to look ok is mind boggling.

Penalties (as showed by USF) can lose a lot of ballgames. We were sloppy most of the year and that is not getting your guys prepared. 7-3 would be great and almost ---but could and should doesn't get you anywhere. We also could and should have lost to Montana State.

Of course people would be pretty happy right now sitting at 7-3. The casual fan (and I have run into a lot) have no clue at all and look at the big picture so they would be thrilled. As Couch 'Em is saying, our cubbard is almost bare and I don't see any upward momentum. Our recruiting class so far stinks.

[SMUer]

5-5 with no defense, no punter, no head coach, no run game, without solid back-ups or a special teams unit, a kicker that shows up from time-to-time...is quite an accomplishment methinks.

[SMU2007]

I completely agree with both of you guys. I said after the first few games of the season that I had seen enough and that I didn't care how we fared in AAC play because we were sufficiently disappointing against the teams who mattered.

Everyone knows how our recruiting has been. No need to revisit that.

I think the bottom line is what you mentioned GiddyUp. The casual fan looks at the record and says "hey! we can still make a bcs game!!" The big picture is we are in trouble in my opinion.

[SMUer]

A lot of people on PonyFans.com look at the record and say "hey! we can still make a bcs game!!" The big picture is we are in trouble in my opinion.

FIFY....the casual fan last thought about SMU when they saw "June Jones hired by SMU" scroll across ESPN. Naturally he/she assumes we are much better now.

[Grant Carter]

I completely agree with both of you guys. I said after the first few games of the season that I had seen enough and that I didn't care how we fared in AAC play because we were sufficiently disappointing against the teams who mattered.

Everyone knows how our recruiting has been. No need to revisit that.

I think the bottom line is what you mentioned GiddyUp. The casual fan looks at the record and says "hey! we can still make a bcs game!!" The big picture is we are in trouble in my opinion.

Not accurate that we can still make a bcs bowl. Either Louisville or cincy will finish with just one conference loss.

[SMUer]

Two weeks ago we were still in the hunt and discussing the possibility...

[Grant Carter]

Two weeks ago we were still in the hunt and discussing the possibility...

Right, because it was a mathematical possibility before last week.

[mrydel]

And most was done in a sarcastic manner that is always difficult to pick up without a sarcastic font available.

[PerunaPunch]

Your comments about the "general fan" are right on. I actually laughed out loud at some of the (mis)statements from the announcers last night. I thought about some of my friends and wondered how many beer cans were thrown at TVs last night when the announcers commented on how well coached we were and how the one announcer went on and on about June, Mouse Davis and how innovative June is/was.

I do continue to disagree with the "cupboard is bare" statement. What we're living through right now is the result of the natural ebb and flow of graduation. Time and again, you see great teams graduate and programs return to mediocrity. Our issue is that in an ideal world, consistently good teams offset that "natural" ebb and flow of graduation by STRATEGIC recruiting and recruiting classes that are solid top to bottom. We always seem to be a year or two behind (e.g. good DL, but young or poor DBs, so the net result is mediocre). A few years ago we had an all-Sr OL that had been playing together for 4 years, but a void behind them and only a couple of above average kids at skill position. We rarely seem solid and always have to reshuffle the deck to fill deficiencies. We've been bailed out a few times by adding key transfers or JUCOs, but not this year (other than GG of course).

All that being said, when you look at the sidelines today, there's more talent and potential than we've had since '86. Of course we're not in the SWC anymore, but this is the first time in forever that we generally look big and athletic compared to our competition.

[sbsmith]

I do continue to disagree with the "cupboard is bare" statement.

Why, what exactly is in the cupboard?

[SMUer]

Cups?

[SMU2007]

And most was done in a sarcastic manner that is always difficult to pick up without a sarcastic font available.

With all due respect mrydel, I disagree.

[mrydel]

There were two different threads. One was early after Louisville lost and had we won out we would have been BCS bound. There was another that was started by Nacho, later in the season after we had lost 2 conference games I believe, that in my honest opinion having seen Nacho post for several years, was done in sarcastic mode but taken seriously by some. Only Nacho could say whether my thought is correct or not but I am pretty certain that Nacho is not a space alien but rather more of a tongue in cheek poster.