Bobby Chase has helped lead the Mustangs in their improvement over the past three seasons. (Christina Parrish)

Four games into the 2006 SMU Mustang’s football season, Bobby Chase is trying to continue his past success and lead his team to a bowl game.

As the Mustang’s offensive MVP both of the last two years, the senior wide receiver is set to have another solid year on the playing field. Last year he had a team high 39 catches for 625 yards. He became the 19th player in SMU history to break the career 1,000-yard receiving mark and was named to the 3rd team All-Conference USA.

Chase also gained national recognition for his play by making ESPN’s Sport Center’s Top Ten plays of the Week twice. The first time was for his game winning catch against UAB as time expired and the other for his circus catch for a score against UTEP.

Chase attributes all the success to God.

“God gives us gifts and so I give him all the glory,” Chase said. “He gave me something I passionately love in football and I play every game for him.”

Chase, now a senior, started playing football 14 years ago in Irving. His uncle and father introduced him to the game and continually helped him and his little brother Vincent to practice and improve. Eventually Bobby went to Blinn College in south Texas to play football.

While he was there, his brother Vincent began receiving opportunities to play football from schools all over the country. The two brothers wanted to play together, so Vincent accepted an offer from SMU and Bobby transferred here.

Chase said that SMU was the only Division I school that would accept both of the brothers.

“It’s worked out for the best,” Chase said.

In the two years the Chase brothers have been at SMU, the team has continued to get better. Two years ago the team’s record was 3-8 and last year the team improved to 5-6. Increasing wins each season gives fans and critics all over the area reason to believe that this year could be a turning point for the program.

Quarterback Justin Willis is confident about his team’s chance this season. He believes that this team is more athletic than it has ever been.

“There is a sense that everyone wants to win no matter how tough the road is,” Willis said.

Willis also realizes that without Bobby Chase, the road to a bowl game could be much harder. Willis said Chase is very important to the team’s success.

“Bobby is a special player that can make great plays when given the opportunity,” he said.

Randy Galloway, Fort Worth Star Telegram writer and host of ESPN Radio’s Galloway and Company, believes that this year can be a breakthrough for the program as long as the quarterback play is good and top-drawer weapons like Chase remain productive.

“I refuse to lose faith in Phil Bennett getting the job done . . . he will, he will, he will,” Galloway said.

Chase also brings spectators to the stadium. A football team thrives on energy from its fans. The more there are at the game, the better, according to most SMU students.

Junior Ben Willoughby has been a fan of the mustangs since coming to SMU and now he is a member of the Helmet Crew. He helps inflate the giant mustang’s helmet that the team runs under to start each home game. He is also a big fan of Chase’s.

“Last year, my buddies and I drove to Texas A&M to watch SMU play the Aggies. We got blown out, but Bobby Chase had that long touchdown catch that made the entire trip worth it.”