On a window in the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports hangs a black poster with bold white type. It reads: “The more points you score, the greater your chances of losing the game.” The Mustangs can be credited with one thing during the university’s Homecoming Weekend: the fall of a sports truism.
SMU will host WAC opponent Louisiana Tech (2-4, 1-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The Mustangs will celebrate Homecoming Weekend, and the game will headline a weeklong list of events.
SMU’s 0-7 season is the worst start in school history, and the overall offense is one of the nation’s least productive. Defense generally wins games, but SMU’s offense has failed to keep its defense off the field for significant periods of time.
The Mustang players and staff are a group of competitors desperately searching for answers. After another disheartening loss to Fresno State last weekend, the Ponies return to Dallas with more question marks than they had when they left.
Among the questions is one issue that continues to resurface as the season progresses. With redshirt freshman quarterback Tate Wallis struggling to produce a victory, is a quarterback change in order for the Mustangs? SMU’s 80.4 quarterback rating is last in the nation.
Fellow redshirt freshman Richard Bartel saw his first extensive action against Fresno State. Bartel went 8-13 for 118 yards and an interception thrown in the game’s waning moments. He replaced Wallis early in the game for two series, both of which went three-and-out. In the second half, however, Bartel led SMU to its only touchdown of the game.
A solid performance from Bartel on any other night would have cleared up any controversy heading into this weekend’s match up with Louisiana Tech. But Wallis was efficient, as well, connecting on 13 of his 21 attempts for 95 yards and an interception.
Head Coach Phil Bennett has not seen enough from either quarterback to consider the position filled.
“We’re contending with the question of who’s going to be our quarterback. We’re still trying to find one,” Bennett said. “It’s been very frustrating. We’ve had very low production from that position this season.”
Despite the lack of statistical production, Bennett is pleased with the amount of effort and competitiveness that each player has displayed.
“I know Tate and Richard are giving it everything they’ve got,” Bennett said. “We’ve just got to keep working to get better at that area.”
Bennett is preparing his team to play with another question mark looming over its head. Senior cornerback Kevin Garrett suffered a knee injury early in last week’s game. Garrett, SMU’s strongest piece of its secondary, underwent an MRI Monday. Results were not available at press time. Early indications suggested it might be a torn ACL.
Louisiana Tech comes into Ford Stadium having had last weekend off. Despite a losing record, they are a team that is capable of playing very well. Their offense has produced a substantial amount of points in prior seasons but has lacked consistency lately.
“They’re a good team,” Bennett said. “You don’t look at their record; you look at who they’ve played. They’re a team that is capable of beating a lot of people.”
Two of Louisiana Tech’s losses have come against Clemson and Penn State, two very competitive football teams. Bennett played Louisiana Tech several times prior to coming to SMU.
“I’m pretty familiar with them,” Bennett said, “I’ve played them the last couple of years [when I was] with Kansas State.”
As Kansas State’s defensive coordinator, Bennett helped coach the Wildcats to two big victories against the Bulldogs.
Despite the Mustangs’ dismal record, Louisiana Tech Head Coach Jack Bicknell respects the way they have played under Bennett.
“I would hope that our team understands that SMU is a good football team. If you look at the tape they are a good team,” Bicknell said. “I feel like SMU is an excellent football team and plays people tough.”
The Mustangs hope that they will find positive answers to all of the problems they have encountered this season from both opponents and themselves. Junior tailback Keylon Kincade and the SMU running game continue to be one of the few bright spots in a dark season. He ranks second in the conference in rushing, and his 107 yards per game ranks him 23rd nationally.
SMU has won its last three homecoming games and five of its last six. As the Mustangs prepare for yet another opportunity for their first win, Louisiana Tech seeks to spoil the campus celebration and avoid being the first to fall to the Mustangs.
“[SMU] is a good team,” Bicknell said. “I can’t tell you why they are 0-7.”
