The SMU Mustangs (2-5, 2-2 WAC) will face Cal State Northridge (5-4, 4-3 Big Sky), a Division I-AA opponent, in their final home game of the 1999 season. In addition to playing its last home game of the year, SMU will be competing in its final regular season game in the Cotton Bowl before returning to campus to a brand-new, on-campus facility, Gerald J. Ford Stadium, in 2000.
SMU played its home games at the Cotton Bowl from 1948-78 and returned to "The House That Doak Built" in 1995. SMU played the first game in the Cotton Bowl in 1930, and defeated Indiana 27-0. SMU has also had recent success in the Cotton Bowl, posting an 11-4 record in WAC games at home. Since the Cotton Bowl was built for $328,000 in 1930, seating capacity has expanded from 45,507 to 68,252 for football. The Cotton Bowl underwent a multi-million dollar renovation for the 1994 World Cup and is also currently home to the Dallas Burn.
"Without being disrespectful to the tradition that SMU football has at 'The House that Doak Built,'" said SMU head coach Mike Cavan, "I will be excited to leave the Cotton Bowl Saturday, knowing that our next home football game will be on campus in our new stadium."
The SMU-Cal State Northridge game will also mark the final home appearances for 13 seniors (three other seniors are injured and will not play). One of those seniors, safety Raymon Brown, attended SMU's weekly media luncheon with Cavan on Wednesday.
SMU Head Coach Mike Cavan
"Since our win over Rice, we've stressed continuing to improve as a football team."
"These past two games (wins over Fresno State and Rice) have probably been the best football we've played since I've been here."
"We have to continue to improve each game to accomplish what we want and to finish the season as strong as we want."
"This team learned something about itself in El Paso. The learned that they could win and not beat themselves. We became a better football team that night and have had more fun since then. We need to continue that but still improve. Hopefully we have a lot of improvement left."
"We can be a really good team at the end of the season with a really average record."
"I think the time off has once again made the guys hungry to play football regardless of the opponent."
"We better get ready to play Saturday because they (Northridge) do the things on offense that have hurt us - they go no huddle, spread the field and are a big number offense."
"We have not done well against Northridge's style of offense and we are concerned that we will be able to play better against them. Our defense is going to have be ready to play again."
"We've had two days on the field this week without anyone in a yellow shirt (designates injured players) and everyone is healthy for the first time this season."
ABOUT GIVING UP FEWER SACKS
"Our offensive line has gotten better in its protection, Josh (McCown) is reading defenses better and the backs are doing a better job of picking up the blitz. Together, all of those things have reduced the number of sacks that we've allowed."
"Josh is playing better because of his continued experience an is about where he should be at this point in his career."
MEMORIES OF COTTON BOWL
"My fondest memory is of the 1984 Cotton Bowl game when we (Georgia) beat Texas 10-9 while I was the running backs coach. It was a win that probably cost Texas a chance for a national title."
#4 Raymon Brown - Senior Safety
"They (Northridge) put up a lot of numbers but not a lot of points. We are at the point where we cannot look past anyone even though we have beaten the WAC's top two teams."
"They throw a lot of short passes which has helped them put up their offensive numbers. We'll just have to tackle better against them and not give up the big play. We did not do a good job of that against Tulane which runs a similar offense."
ABOUT LAST GAME IN COTTON BOWL
"I haven't been an emotional guy because I don't think I play very will with an emotional build up. If I was going to be playing in the new stadium next year there might be more meaning to this game for me, but it's just like any other home game for me."
ABOUT HAVING TO POSSIBLY PLAY SAN JOSE STATE GAME DEC. 4
"We try not to think about it because we know we have to win the rest of our games in order to make that possibility a reality. But if it means the chance to play in a bowl game, then I'm all for playing one more."
