Football returns to the Hilltop on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. when SMU takes on Texas A&M; University in the 2014 home opener at Ford Stadium. The game will be the first for SMU since the resignation of then head coach June Jones on September 8. Defensive coordinator Tom Mason was named interim head coach, and he leads the Mustangs into the showdown against the sixth-ranked Aggies, who beat Rice 38-10 last week to improve to 3-0 on the season.
SMU’s 0-2 start gave fans fatalistic thoughts about this season, but Mason is optimistic that the team can gel and succeed. One of the adjustments he has made since taking over was instituting full-contact practices, saying, “This isn’t flag football.”
“I told [the team] we have to continue to grow,” Mason said. “It’s not going to be one of those quick fixes. It’s going to take some time. But I told them we have a lot left to play for. We’ve got a conference championship left to play for, we’ve got a bowl game still out there, and this team’s capable of doing that if we can get together.”
During the North Texas game on September 6, SMU quarterback Neal Burcham was lost for the season with an elbow injury. Redshirt freshman Kolney Cassel will make his first career start in his place. Cassel appeared in each of SMU’s first two games, throwing for 154 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions.
Sophomore quarterback Kenny Hill powers A&M;’s high-scoring offense. This season, the Aggies had to replace 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and 2014 first-round NFL draft pick Johnny Manziel, but Hill’s electric play has made Johnny Football seem like a distant memory.
Hill, a Southlake, Texas native, was named the starter late in training camp. His first career start came on the road at South Carolina on August 28. He led A&M; to a 52-28 rout, throwing for 511 yards and completing 44 passes. Both figures are school single-game records. Hill’s early success is impressive, but SMU defenders are not fazed by it.
“You’ve got to respect your opponent, but at the same time, they’re not invincible,” SMU linebacker Stephon Sanders said. “They’re not unbeatable, so I just want us to go out and play hard and play our game and we’ll see how it turns out.”
Through three games, the Aggies rank fourth in the nation with 54.3 points per game. Hill has a trio of excellent receivers at his disposal: senior Malcome Kennedy, redshirt freshman Ricky Seals-Jones and true freshman Speedy Noil (who will not play due to injury). A&M; also has one of college football’s best blind side protectors in senior left tackle Cedric Ogbuehi.
On offense, the Mustangs must sustain drives and control the clock to keep the defense fresh. Turnovers were a problem in the first two games, and SMU can ill-afford to give Hill and his crew a short field.
Special teams play has also hurt the Mustangs. Mason said he wants to see smart decisions on special teams and wants the returners to “play percentages.”
Saturday’s game will be the 82nd meeting between the Mustangs and Aggies, who are former Southwest Conference rivals. A&M; leads the all-time series 44-29-7. The teams faced off in each of the last three seasons, with A&M; winning all three contests.
Saturday could be the last time they meet for the foreseeable future, because no more games are scheduled in the series.
