December 12, 2017

By Dylan Edwards, SMUMustangs.com

In 1982 for his 13th birthday, Sonny Dykes wanted one thing in particular. His favorite football team was playing two hours away at Texas Tech, and he wanted to go watch them play. It's the same school where he now serves as the head coach. 

"My dad asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I wanted to go to an SMU football game," Dykes said. "Texas Tech kicked a field goal late to tie the score. Bobby Leach goes 91 yards on the last play of the game. There's a picture somewhere of the pile of SMU players in the end zone celebrating. I can promise you, there's a 13-year-old kid in the background celebrating too."

Sonny Dykes didn't become a Mustang when he was named as the next SMU football head coach on Tuesday. He's been a Mustang since he was young. 

"Growing up as a kid, I was an SMU fan," Dykes said. "My dad was a college football coach and a high school football coach, and we moved around a lot. When you do that, you have to develop an affinity for a university. SMU became my program. The Pony Express with Lance McIlhenny, Craig James and Eric Dickerson. This was my team growing up."

Things have a way of going full circle. Now, just over 35 years removed from that birthday wish, he'll be on the sideline at the DXL Frisco Bowl wearing the SMU logo proudly while coaching what is now officially his program. 

"To me, this is coming home," Dykes said. "I have an opportunity to come back to Texas where I grew up. I lived in Dallas. I used to drive by SMU all the time and see the University changing. I watched Gerald Ford Stadium get built. I saw the level of commitment and excellence that takes place at the university. It made me want to be a part of it."

Dykes will be hitting the ground running as the head coach of the Mustangs. On top of getting the team ready for a bowl-game showdown with his former school Louisiana Tech, the Texas native is assembling a staff as well as recruiting future student-athletes. 

"It's going to be a crazy few days," Dykes said. "We're going to hire a staff in the next couple days and hit the round recruiting in the next couple minutes while also trying to win a bowl game. This is a reward for the seniors and this football team. This team deserves the very best experience we can give them."

Given that there's not enough time for Dykes to implement his system of high-flying offense, the Mustangs will use the same terminology from the season. In order to get himself up to speed, Dykes is meeting with starting quarterback Ben Hicks to learn the system. 

"I'm going to sit down with Ben (Hicks) today, and he's going to teach me the offense," Dykes said. "He may be the only player-coach in college football right now. We're going to learn and keep the terminology the same to put our players in the best position they can be in to be successful."

After the bowl game, Dykes will have more time to put his stamp on the football team. His offense will be similar to what Mustang fans are accustomed to this season: an explosive, high-flying unit that rolls up points. Dykes has a track record of impressive offenses, and that's expected to continue at SMU. His main focus though, will be establishing an elite-caliber unit on the other side of the ball. 

"For us to win a conference championship, and that's our intent, we have to become a great defensive football team," Dykes said. "Our emphasis will be on going out and hiring the best defensive coordinator. For us to get to where we want to go as a football program, we can't just be great on one side of the ball. We need to be great on both sides."

The Sonny Dykes era begins officially in the DXL Frisco Bowl on December 20. Based on his introduction, Dykes definitely appears ready to get off to a fast start. 

"I'm so appreciative of this opportunity and excited to get started," Dykes said. "It's been a long road to get here. I've learned from many different places, and I think it prepares me to be incredibly successful here."