SMU will never forget its first quarter in Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Junior quarterback Josh McCown led the Mustangs to three touchdowns and a field goal on their first four possessions in their new $56.8 million home, paving the way to a 31-17 victory over Kansas on Saturday in the season-opener for both teams.
The Jayhawks were gracious guests, botching three straight punt attempts that SMU turned into a 24-0 lead. It was the most points the Mustangs have scored in any quarter since the football program was reinstated in 1989.
SMU enjoyed many memorable firsts in its first on-campus game in six years: first home sellout since Nov. 3, 1990; first-season opening win since 1996, the first under coach Mike Cavan; and first victory over a Big 12 team since 1986, ending an 0-30-2 skid.
"I'm not calling this the greatest win here, but probably the most important win - maybe ever," Cavan said. "We got lucky there at the first, but we took advantage of it and made things happen."
A sellout crowd of 32,267 braved 107 degree hear at kickoff to witness the Mustangs' win.
"When you go 0-4 and 0-5 to start the year, being 1-0 is the biggest difference in the world," said McCown, who was 14-of-25 for 164 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score. "With the new stadium and the things going on, we needed to get the season started off right."
"We didn't want to depend on the crowd to win ball games, but it was definitely a difference," linebacker Vic Viloria said.
KU fell to 1-14 away from under under fourth-year head coach Terry Allen.
After pre-game festivities that included fireworks and a parachutist bringing in the game ball, the SMU defense stuffed Kansas' opening drive. McCown then led the offense 72 yards in nine plays for the first score: a 17-yard pass to tight end Billy Ford, who made the switch to offense from linebacker two days into preseason practice.
After Ford's scored, the Mustangs took advantage of superior play on special teams to blow the game open.
KU punter Joey Pelfanio dropped a snap, tried running and was tackled at the 18. Three plays later, McCown threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to John Hampton.
Pelfanio's next punt was partially blocked by Kevin Aldridge and squibbed 7 yards to the 42. The Mustangs settled for a 22-yard field goal by Jacob Crowley.
Facing fourth-and-1 in their own end, the Jayhawks let Pelfanio try again. The snap went over his head and he kicked it out of the end zone to avoid the Mustangs from getting it - not realizing it was a penalty that resulted in SMU taking over at the one. Sophomore tailback Kris Briggs ran it in with 22 seconds left in the quarter.
"Our demise was the mistakes we made on our punt team, but that was a result of us not moving the ball," Allen said. "We can't punt the ball four times in the first quarter and win ball games."
Kansas scored on a 23-yard field goal by Joe Garcia, a 1-yard touchdown by Moran Norris with three seconds left in the first half and a 32-yard touchdown from Smith to Termaine Fulton in the fourth quarter.
