When the clock hits zero in the fourth quarter at Gerald J. Ford Stadium this afternoon, the nightmare that has been the 2014 season will be one step closer to ending for the SMU Mustangs.
It would be great if the Mustangs can muster up a win on Senior Day and end the season on a high note; but as this season has shown, it is highly unlikely that the 0-10 Ponies will steal a win from the 6-4 Houston Cougars.
This team is a far cry from the teams who only a few years ago, which appeared in four consecutive bowl games (3-1 record during that time). If you were to look in an encyclopedia of college football, beside the word “rebuilding” a picture of Dallas Hall on the Southern Methodist campus would appear next to it.
With a historic tradition that dates back to the days of Doak Walker, what will it take for SMU to reach the levels of its former Southwest Conference brethren and out of the cellar of college football period? Here is what is crucial for SMU to get the Pony Express to ride again.
Get Over the Death Penalty
When interviewed on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas back in September, SMU legend and NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson stated (in reference to the infamous Death Penalty levied against the SMU football program after numerous NCAA violations in 1987), “It’s like we’re just sitting there talking about the death penalty that happened 30 years ago. It’s time to get over that.” The death penalty ruined the once storied program, and has been blamed for its struggles to field a viable team year in and year out since the program was reinstated for the 1989 season.
In this same time frame, we have seen several programs reach elite national status. Boise State (which began Division 1-A play in 1996) has accumulated a bowl record of 9-5 including two BCS bowl wins. Likewise, former SWC rival TCU has won or shared seven conference championships, accumulated nine top-25 finishes, a 3-2 BCS Bowl Game record, and is currently ranked No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Blaming the actions of boosters and SMU administration from 30 years ago for the programs struggles today needs to stop as we’ve seen countless programs return to a winning tradition after years of restrictions and sanctions imposed by the NCAA (for example, Alabama’s success after coming off probation before the arrival of Nick Saban).
Find the Right Coach
After his success at Hawaii, June Jones accepted the head coaching job at SMU in 2009 and brought the Mustangs back to respectability for the first time in 25 years. After stepping down earlier this season, the search has been on for a replacement while defensive coordinator Tom Mason takes over in the interim.
SMU is the epitome of a rebuilding project. A young coach looking to make a name for himself is the ideal candidate for the now vacant position. Fellow AACfootballfever.com contributor Zach Rastall posted earlier this week that current Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris would be the best fit for the Mustangs’ next head coach. And according to DallasNews.com, SMU plans to hire the highest paid coordinator in college football and will introduce him as head coach next week.
Morris’ play-calling fits with the pass-happy, spread offense currently used by the Mustangs. Morris spent 16 years coaching high school football in Texas and in 2012, he was interviewed for the then vacant Texas A&M head coaching position. June Jones was able to come in and turn the programs fortunes around in four years, proving that the right coach is key to the Mustangs revival.
It takes more than the points outlined to build a truly successful program. Recruits and current players, along with school administration have to be dedicated to turning the program around, while also having the perseverance to deal with the growing pains that will come with building from the ground up. If SMU can implement these ideas, the Mustangs can rise from the ashes and establish itself as a viable team in the AAC and college football as a whole.
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