SMU (4-6, 3-3 WAC) ended its 1999 football season with a 21-0 loss at TCU (7-4, 5-2) Friday afternoon. The Mustangs' four-game winning streak was snapped and possession of the Iron Skillet, the travelling trophy given annually to the SMU-TCU winner, returned to Fort Worth with the Horned Frogs' victory.

"I'm not pleased with a 4-6 record or the way we executed this afternoon," said SMU coach Mike Cavan. "However, I am pleased that this team didn't give up when it was 0-5. We won four of our last five games and have something to build upon heading into 2000."

The Mustangs, who turned the ball over four times, could not muster enough offense to mount any serious scoring threats Friday. SMU was held to a season-low 81 total yards on 51 plays. TCU also struggled offensively, gaining a season-low 265 yards vs. an aggressive SMU defense.

Individually, senior linebacker Jason Simonton had 14 tackles, 11 of which were solos. On offense, senior RB Rodnick Phillips netted 71 yards on 13 carries and also led the Ponies with 23 receiving yards on four catches.

With the loss, SMU's 1999 season is finished. The game against San Jose State, which was postponed on October 23 because an electical transformer exploded, was officially cancelled after the SMU-TCU contest. So, SMU ends its 1999 season with a 4-6 overall record. It is the first time since finishing 3-7-0 in 1969 that SMU has not played at least 11 games in a season.

The Mustangs will open the 2000 season on September 2 vs. Kansas in the first game to be played in Gerald J. Ford Stadium, SMU's brand-new, on-campus football facility.

SMU vs. TCU - Box Score

  Score by Quarters     1  2  3  4   Score
  -----------------    -- -- -- --   -----
  SMU.................  0  0  0  0  -  0       Record: (4-6,3-3)
  TCU.................  0  6 15  0  - 21       Record: (7-4,5-2)

                                      SMU      TCU
  FIRST DOWNS...................        7       15
  RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............    25-31   53-166
  PASSING YDS (NET).............       50       99
  Passes Att-Comp-Int...........  26-12-1   15-9-0
  TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS.....    51-81   68-265
  Fumble Returns-Yards..........      0-0      0-0
  Punt Returns-Yards............     4-27     1-16
  Kickoff Returns-Yards.........     5-61      0-0
  Interception Returns-Yards....      0-0      1-0
  Punts (Number-Avg)............   7-35.0   7-41.4
  Fumbles-Lost..................      5-3      0-0
  Penalties-Yards...............     3-26     5-65
  Possession Time...............    24:33    35:27
  Sacks By: Number-Yards........     3-25     4-31

  RUSHING: SMU-Phillips, R. 13-71; Freeman, J. 2-1; Briggs, K. 1-minus
  1; Vadheim, C. 1-minus 12; McCown, J. 8-minus 28. TCU-Tomlinson, L. 32-125;
  Batteaux, Pat. 12-24; Purcell, Chad 2-12; Hayes-Stoker, A 3-6; Dunbar, L.
  1-4; Layne, George 1-3; Printers, Casey 2-minus 8. 

  PASSING: SMU-McCown, J. 12-26-1-50. TCU-Printers, Casey 9-14-0-99;
  Batteaux, Pat. 0-1-0-0. 

  RECEIVING: SMU-Phillips, R. 4-23; Freeman, J. 4-5; Cardwell, C. 2-10;
  Cunningham, C. 1-9; McDearman, B. 1-3. TCU-Scarborough, M. 4-30; Dunbar, L.
  2-30; Tomlinson, L. 2-28; Roberts, B.J. 1-11. 

  INTERCEPTIONS: SMU-None. TCU-Owens, Charlie 1-0. 

  Stadium: Amon J. Carter Stad.  Attendance: 25725
  Kickoff time: 2 pm      End of Game: 4:50 pm   Total elapsed time: 2:50    
  Officials: Referee: Bill Athan; Umpire: Mike Rhoades; Linesman: George Gusman; 
  Line judge: John Hussey; Back judge: Greg Meyer; Field judge: Jack HIll; 
  Side judge: Dan Romeo;
  Temperature: 65 deg.   Wind: S 10      Weather: Humidity 25% & Clear
  
  SACKS (UA-A): SMU-Pratt, M. 2-0; Johnson, L. 1-0. TCU-Schobel, Aaron
  2-0; Gary, Russell 1-0. 

  TACKLES (UA-A): SMU-Simonton, J. 3-11; Orr, J. 7-3; Johnson, L. 5-3;
  Garrett, K. 6-1; Hart, T. 3-4; Schavrda, C. 5-1; Brown, R. 3-1; Pratt, M.
  2-2; Patman, J. 1-3; Williams, J. 2-1; Johnson, D. 1-2; Dorsey, T. 2-0;
  Croy, L. 1-1; Blueitt, D. 1-0; Post, C. 0-1; Williams, B. 0-1; O'Shea, A.
  0-1; Ford, B. 0-1; Coats, R. 0-1. TCU-Fuller, Curtis 7-5; Gary, Russell 1-5;
  Bayer, Chad 0-4; Goss, Jason 2-1; Williams, Kyle 2-1; Worthen, Shawn 1-2;
  Veale, LaVar 1-2; Shanks, Doug 0-3; Slinkard, Cody 1-1; Maiden, Ter. 1-1;
  Schobel, Aaron 0-2; Scarborough, M. 0-2; Edmondson, Br. 0-2; Brazzell, Shn.
  0-2; Turntine, Chad 1-0; Patterson, K. 1-0; McCarty, Chad 0-1; Roberts, B.J.
  0-1; Wilson, J.W. 0-1; Dunlap, London 0-1; Walls, Greg 0-1; Hunt, Reggie
  0-1; Hill, Joe 0-1.