Many Mustang fans are thinking it, and Ed Board will go ahead and say it — Saturday’s win over the University of Texas at El Paso was the turning point for SMU’s football program.
It’s a shame that hardly any students were there to see it, because anyone who witnessed the game walked away knowing that this is a team that is ready to compete and win in Conference USA.
Ed Board waited until the end of the season to comment on the state of SMU football, and it’s a good thing we did. If we had written in October after the crushing losses to Tulane, Marshall and East Carolina, we would be looking pretty foolish by now.
It’s evident that Coach Phil Bennett and his coaches deserve to stay and keep moving this team in the right direction.
The team’s 5-6 record is the best since 1997 and gives Bennett a recruiting tool he hasn’t had until now — the fact that this team is on the verge of bowl eligibility and ready to create a media frenzy.
Let’s face it – the story of SMU potentially having a winning season and being bowl bound is one that the media will not stop talking about.
We’re confident that it can happen next year.
But it’s a shame that this year has to end right now. Ed Board is convinced the Mustangs could go back and beat every conference mate they lost to this season.
The defense finished the year hitting on all cylinders. The entire unit performed well all season and it’s almost unfair to pick stand-outs. But Adrian Haywood – named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week – led with two forced fumbles and an interception. Cory Muse also had one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
The Mustangs have also found two reliable players in DeMyron Martin and Bobby Chase. For the second time this year, Chase made a highlight reel catch while Martin has proved that he should be the workhorse of the running backs.
Ed Board was glad to see quarterback Jerad Romo settle in as the year went on and we wish him the best in his future endeavors. However, the quarterback situation is the biggest question going into next season. Will Chris Phillips emerge from Bennett’s doghouse or will redshirt standout Justin Willis from Denton Ryan lead the charge?
Next season can’t come soon enough . . .
