Opponent Preview: SMU

This was supposed to be the (first in a long time) year the Ponies could sit back and relax during the off-season: the depthchart was filled with underclassmen who managed 8 wins in 2009, and there was little reason to expect they couldn't do at least 7 in 2010. Kyle Padron was back, with a good bevy of receivers. Knowing June Jones's offense like they now do, and with a slowly improving defense, hadn't the Mustangs finally found the golden road to repeating bowl eligibility?

And then came the sucker punch.

SMU wraps up, winning.

Take a good look at it: to the right is a shot of SMU players triumphantly hoisting a bowl trophy. Players from the Hilltop haven't had a chance to do such a thing since they were state employees, paid from the governor's office, with generous contributions from the school's boosters. Craig James remains the most famous of that infamous lot, still taking potshots at TCU from his plush digs at ESPN.

But the kids you see at right are not anybody's employees; they're June Jones's latest devotees, and they put a stunning exclamation mark on the '09 season in the Hawaii Bowl. Sure Nevada had nearly the worst pass defense in the nation, but unlike other porous defenses on SMU's schedule (UAB, Tulane, Washington State, Rice, UTEP all ranked in the bottom 20), Nevada had a decent offense that was favored to keep SMU's aerial circus off the field, even without 2/3 of its 1,000-yards-each trio. But Jones and his freshman phenom Kyle Padron put the bowl practices-- a luxury not afforded the Ponies in a generation-- to good use. "I think I've grown a lot in these last few weeks," Padron said. "Any time you can get extra practice in with the coaches we have, it's going to help in the long run."

And in the short run, Mr. Padron.

SMU's true freshman gunslinger (pictured) racked up stats remeniscent of Colt Brennan, in Brennan's Hawaii stomping grounds: 460 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions. The Ponies' defense turned in its best performance of the year, holding Nevada to 10 points, 177 yards in the air and 137 on the ground. The 35 point margin of victory was the Mustangs' first comfortable win of the year-- of the last few years-- and nearly equalled the sum of the margins of victory in SMU's seven other wins this year. Add it all up, and everything about the game points to better things ahead in Dallas. Only graduating center Mitch Enright is older than a sophomore on SMU's 09 o-line two-deep; likewise only one d-linemen on the two-deep is older than a sophomore as well, junior nose-tackle Chris Parham. Senior WR Emmanuel Sanders graduates, and junior RB Shawnbrey McNeal has left early for the NFL, but the rest of the offense is scheduled for 2010. LB Chase Kennemer and two DBs graduate as well.

With McNeal (pictured) gone pro, SMU will be auditioning for a go-to runningback. McNeal handled 63% of the team's carries in '09, for over 83% of the team's ground yards. True freshmen Darryl Fields and Kevin Pope join a sparse backfield this summer.

In short, the crew that improved the school's rushing attack from 119th to 100th, scoring offense from 93rd to 55th, rush defense from 116th to 88th, pass defense from 119th to 46th, and scoring defense from 115th to 90th, returns in 2010. Likely SMU won't be threatening TCU's stranglehold on the Iron Skillet in 2010, but expect another round of improvement across the board-- and perhaps a different take on that Skillet in 2011.

Here're KDFW33's three-part look at SMU's '09 season.

25 years ago...

... SMU and TCU both went to bowl games in the same season: TCU to the Independence Bowl, and SMU to the Aloha Bowl. Prior to '84, both teams bowled in the same season just twice. In 1948, both teams played January first bowls: TCU in the first Delta Bowl and SMU in the Cotton. The first time TCU and SMU bowled in the same year was after the famous 1935 Game of the Century, when SMU beat Sam Baugh and TCU, winning a bid to the Rose Bowl, and TCU settled for a Sugar Bowl berth.

When'll be the fourth time these stars align? 2009 (including early 2010, if the Frogs win out). SMU joined TCU in bowl eligibility with its come from behind win over UTEP Saturday.

TCU 39, SMU 14

Despite two turnovers, and playing over ten minutes on defense in the first frame, and only a five-point lead at halftime, TCU slowly roused itself and dominated SMU in the very rainy second half, scoring twice in third and fourth quarters each.

Jeremy Kerley was unstoppable, tacking up 175 return yards, including the Frogs' first punt-return for a touchdown in six years. He also caught four passes for 48 yards.

Ibiloye, Hughes, Washington, and Daniels had banner nights on D. The safety tallied eight solo tackles; the seniors combined for 13 tackles (four for losses), an interception, and 3.5 sacks; Daniels had two PBUs (the official stats miss one).

Even with a so-so (for him) night, Dalton still leads the conference, rated over 160. TCU tops the MWC in points-per-game (34.8).

Ryan Christian and Tanner Brock knocked themselves out, Christian's hit coming accidentally, and Brock's coming off a block with his (bare!) head during Kerley's 71-yard touchdown punt return, earning him ESPN lauds. Both left the field on their own legs.

Here're the highlights.

SMU - post spring

The Ponies are into their second year, and into their third million dollars, of The Revival-- or at least they hope so. To that end, it looks like the offense is functioning better than it was a year ago; (all the stories are in this link except those linked to below). The outlook for their awful defense isn't so rosy: the Mustangs are trying on an Estonian world-champ discus thrower at DE for size, and may move their best wide-out (Emmanual Sanders) to cornerback. Justin Willis, now a WR, broke an ankle and will be out at least until fall. Bo Levi Mitchell says his head isn't swimming with trying to learn the plays, like it was last year. The defense, especially the secondary, looks better some of the time, and worse others.

In the spring game, the defense looked much sharper than it has in years, especially in the secondary. June Jones was most pleased with the number of interceptions thrown-- zero-- and says if his QBs throw few interceptions, they'll win a lot of games. Bradley Haynes may be BLM's go-to receiver in '10.

TCU 48, SMU 7

The Frogs opened a can on the Mustangs, claiming the iron skillet for the second time in as many years, and turning in the most dominating performance for the fryer since TCU's 44-0 beat down against SMU in 2004.

It could have been even worse: several Horned Frog receivers dropped would be touchdown passes at or near the goal line. SMU's only long play was a 46-yard pass that got passed Nick Sanders, setting up the Mustang's only score.

The Frogs now prepare to face #2 Oklahoma in Norman next week.

DMN's lead; Aaron Brown returns; SMU's QB stinks against TCU; Startle-gram's lead; highlight on Jerry Hughes; Aaron Brown.
Pre-game press: June Jones will learn to respect TCU football; FWST; FWST. Spit Blood.

TCU 21, SMU 7

TCU prevailed Saturday against SMU in a contest that was unlike the Frogs' loss to Air Force last week except for one critical area: turnovers. TCU twice fumbled away the ball within a few yards of a score. In every other way, the game was as opposite its predecessor as possible: Andy Dalton struggled; the defense played progressively better throughout the game; Marcus Jackson shone in the game's longest drive; Aaron Brown played, and except for a fumble at the Mustangs' 3 yard line, played brilliantly; the Frogs didn't give up big plays-- but lost yards consistently in 5s and 10s.

But they won, and have the Iron Skillet back in their pantry.

Colorado State comes to Fort Worth, hoping to reverse a 10-game losing streak. The Rams have never beaten Gary Patterson's Frogs.

Analyzing the '07 schedule, predicting the outcomes.

9/1 BAYLOR- the Bears will bring a hungry, but sadly under-talented, under-experienced team to Fort Worth for the season opener. Coach Patterson's game-plan will feature running, short passes, and more running, as he breaks Marcus Jackson into the starting role under center, and Andy Dalton takes his first college snaps; Coach P won't want to give anything away for Texas's scout team, either- not that anyone is sure TCU's new QBs could handle difficult plays, anyway. TCU's marquee defense will stifle Baylor; Frogs win with a low score.
9/8 at Texas- Not since Texas Tech came to town early last year has an opponent fired the competitive juices in Fort Worth like the Longhorns. TCU will turn in a tremendous defensive performance, and might pull off an upset. A Frog win would be just that, however: an upset. More likely, Colt McCoy will find just enough room to lead a balanced attack, and will win a close game. Horns win with a close, and probably low, score.
9/13 at Air Force- On four days' rest, the Frogs begin conference play at Colorado Springs, facing their second veteran quarterback of the season, Shawn Carney. Air Force's rebuilt offense won't find any traction against the Frogs' defense, however, which will have Carney on his back time and time again. Either Jackson will cement his starting role with a solid performance, or lose it to Dalton, who will have pressured Jackson in every game so far. In the first case, Frogs will easily. In the second case, Frogs win in another low scoring tilt.
9/22 SMU- As Tech learned last year, nothing motivates TCU like revenge, and the Frogs' kitchen has embarassingly been short one iron skillet for two years too many. SMU will bring a good crowd, but they'll have nothing to cheer about. TCU blasts SMU relentlessly.
9/29 COLORADO STATE- If winning generates momentum, TCU will have plenty of it by now. Sonny Lubick's Rams will come to Amon Carter Stadium for their second time, and their second slaughter in Cowtown. TCU wins in style.
10/6 at Wyoming- TCU will fly to Laramie ranked again, and Wyoming either will be ranked also, or flirting with the polls, having upset Boise State a few weeks earlier. The Frogs win this one, but barely. Jeff Ballard's toughest game as a new starter came in Wyoming; Jackson or Dalton's toughest as a newbie under center will be there, too.
10/13 at Stanford- The bottom-feeder of the PAC 10 will consider breaking its contract for a second game with TCU before this one's over; TCU will decimate the Cardinals.
10/18 UTAH- On a short week, Utah and TCU will square off in a battle to each others' strengths: the Utes will bring a national top-five offense to Fort Worth, facing the Frogs' national top-five defense. If Utah has won two or three of its non-conference games, this will be a clash of titans. The Frogs are likely to win in a close, hard-fought game.
11/3 NEW MEXICO- Like Wyoming, New Mexico may surprise in the Mountain West this year, especially after their re-tooled offense and offensive line gels. They won't be able to surprise the Horned Frogs, however, who will be well rested, and will turn in their first complete game against the a bowl team, winning by a large margin.
11/8 at Brigham Young- The Cougars are in a similar position as TCU and Utah: if they can win most of their non-conference matches, they'll garner a great deal of media attention. If BYU and TCU bring significant winning streaks to this game, the match-up may be the most anticipated game in MWC history. If the game features two unbeaten teams, then a BCS berth, and unbelieving discussion about a national title will echo from the Wasatch Front. Both teams will boast first-season, but very experienced quarterbacks, strong lines, and budding stars. Expect an emotional triumph, but don't expect a score prediction from me this far out from the contest.
11/17 UNLV- TCU wins this one easily, and Mike Sanford's seat begins to get warmer than its Las Vegas surroundings...
11/24 at San Diego State- TCU finishes the regular season with another win, although it may be more difficult to come by than last season's record-setting demolition of the Aztecs.
BOWL- TCU, if 10-2, will tie for first place in the conference, and likely play in the Armed Forced Bowl against Arizona, UCLA, or Oregon. The Frogs will win, and finish the season ranked between 14 and 21.