onference championship appearance and the first bowl bid for SMU since 1984. The Mustangs fell short on both counts.
The 6-6 record is the best since 1997, and earned the Mustangs’ first bowl eligibility since the same year. The similarities continued when SMU missed out on a bowl bid, just as they did in 1997.
But with a career 17-41 record at SMU, head coach Phil Bennett, among much question, will keep his job at SMU.
The season was not a success and here is why.
Texas Tech
The Mustangs came into the game with the hype of a season to remember. SMU got on the board with a 14 play 69-yard drive that ended with a 38-yard field goal by Thomas Morstead, Those would be the only three points the Mustangs would score that game. The Mustangs fell 35-3 to the Red Raiders.
It was a rough start to the season for Justin Willis, who would put the game behind him.
North Texas
The game slated to be the first in a long line of wins for the Mustangs was everything but. SMU came out flat and on just their first possession of the game after going three and out, the Morstead punt attempt was blocked and recovered for a Mean Green touchdown.
The first half ended with a 7-0 UNT lead.
In the Mustangs’ first possession of the second half they drove the ball 63 yards and Willis threw his first touchdown pass of the season, and the extra point was missed, the only one all season by Morstead and the Mustangs still trailed 7-6.
SMU lost the game 14-6, but also lost star running back DeMyron Martin to a foot injury in the first half that would put him out for the next three games.
Sam Houston State
After a depressing 0-2 start, the Mustangs returned home to face a 1-AA Sam Houston. SMU was able to put their early season troubles behind them. Justin Willis showed why he was the starting quarterback, launching five touchdowns and running for one.
The Mustangs easily disposed of the Bearkats 45-14.
Arkansas State
The Mustangs continued their winning ways against their second Sun Belt Conference opponent of the season. After underachieving against North Texas, the Mustangs took out their frustration on ASU.
Once again, Willis had an impressive performance throwing for four touchdowns. But the play of the game was a 75-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Zack Sledge to Bobby Chase on the first and only trick play the Mustangs would succeed on all season.
SMU took care of the Indians 55-9.
Tulane
The Mustangs once again hit the road in their Conference USA opener. It was the second game to be played in the newly reopened Superdome, and it was the first played by the Green Wave.
The Mustangs had control of the game taking a 17-0 lead into halftime. But Tulane was able to fight back and took a 21-20 lead with just under eight minutes left in the game.
The crowd was in the game and momentum was in Tulane’s favor. But that was quickly changed on the ensuing kickoff.
Jessie Henderson returned the kick 100 yards to give the Mustangs the lead back. It was Henderson’s second kick return for a touchdown in his career.
SMU went on to hold onto the lead and win 33-28.
UTEP
The game was thrown into controversy before it even started. Quarterback Justin Willis was suspended the Friday before the game due to a violation of team rules.
Backup Corey Slater was thrown into the driver’s seat of the Mustangs’ offense. Slater played well, but couldn’t get anything going in the first half. The Mustangs couldn’t score any points and trailed 17-0 at halftime.
The Mustangs scored 14 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to three. A pair of touchdown passes from Slater put the Mustangs in a strong position.
Their position got even stronger when Jonathan Lindley returned a fumble 80 yards to give the Mustangs the lead.
But with eight and a half minutes left SMU allowed a seven play 87-yard drive that gave the Miners a 24-21 victory.
Marshall
The Mustangs returned home with a 1-1 conference record and their starting quarterback back in the line-up. After a scoreless first quarter, 24 points were scored in the second.
The Mustangs got the scoring started on a seven-yard pass from Willis to Zack Sledge. Marshall countered with a pair of touchdown runs by Ahmad Bradshaw. SMU ended the half with a 34-yard field goal by Thomas Morstead and trailed 14-10.
In the second half Willis went to work throwing three touchdown passes to ensure a 31-21 win for SMU.
East Carolina
The ups-and-downs continued for the Mustangs. Unable to put together consecutive conference wins, the Mustangs would fall short on the road again.
The three touchdown passes by Justin Willis weren’t enough for the Mustangs as the Pirates ran up a season high 38 points on the Mustangs defense.
SMU was unable to come back from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit, as the Mustangs fell to 4-4 on the season and 2-2 in the conference.
UAB
Halloween night in Dallas, the Mustangs’ one and only nationally televised game of the season was a bit of a scare for SMU.
The Mustangs could only manage a 7-6 halftime lead after missed opportunities.
After a scoreless third quarter UAB started the second half scoring with a 40-yard field goal to give the Blazers a 9-7 lead.
That lead was quickly erased by a 30-yard run by James Mapps to give the Mustangs a 15-9 lead.
SMU sealed the deal with a 11-yard interception returned for a touchdown by linebacker Tony Hawkins.
The Mustangs won 22-9.
Houston
With a chance to win out and win the West Division of C-USA, the Mustangs came out strong.
Matching the Cougar’s 14 points in the first quarter, the Mustangs scored 10 unanswered points in the second quarter, for a 10 point lead at the break.
But a 10 point letdown in the third quarter tied the game up. And the Mustangs let down even more in the fourth.
Three big plays, two 77-yard runs and a 61-yard run, giving Houston the 37-27 win, set the Mustangs back and ended their hopes of playing for the conference championship.
Tulsa
The Mustangs came out flat against the Golden Hurricane. Giving up 21-second quarter points gave Tulsa a 24-7 lead at halftime.
But after some locker room inspiration the Mustangs came out strong in the second half. Shutting down the Golden Hurricane offense and piling up 27 second-half points to surprise Tulsa 34-24. The win gave the Mustangs bowl eligibility for the first time since 1997.
Rice
Both teams came in with a 6-5 record, bowl eligibility, and a chance to end bowl droughts.
For the second week in a row the Mustangs came out flat. An ominous start saw Brian McCann fumble the opening kickoff. The SMU defense allowed the Owls to score 17 first quarter points.
But the Mustangs turned it around and shut out the Rice offense and piled up 24 points to take a 24-17 lead into halftime.
But Rice came out strong in the second half and drove 83 yards to tie the football game. On the Mustangs’ next possession, SMU had the ball first-and-goal at the one-yard line. The Mustangs were unable to get the ball into the end zone and had to settle for a field goal. This was the second time this occurred in the game.
With four minutes left the Owls regained the lead on a 25-yard touchdown pass. The Mustangs lost 31-27.
