Oct. 21, 2015
 | SETTING THE SCENE |
The Mustangs head to the Sunshine State to take on American Conference foe USF. SMU enters the game after an off week.
SMU has scored 185 points through six games, outpacing last year's 133-point season total.
SMU has scored on its first possession in four of six games (Baylor, TCU, East Carolina & Houston).
SMU went 4-of-4 on red zone trips at UH and has now scored on its last 20 red-zone trips.
The Mustangs saw a number of career-highs in their last game against in-state foe Houston. Junior Matt Davis set a career high with three TD passes, freshman Courtland Sutton hauled in a career-high six receptions, sophomore Justin Lawler registered career highs in TFLs (2) and sacks (2) and freshman Kyran Mitchell posted a career-high nine tackles.
Senior Darius Joseph's two-reception performance versus the Cougars puts him one catch shy of tying Emanuel Tolbert for eighth place (171 receptions) on the SMU career reception list.
| THE SERIES (Series tied 1-1) |
The Mustangs and Bulls will meet for the third time. The two squads split the first two match-ups, with each winning at the other's home field.
| THE COACHES |
Chad Morris is in his first season at the SMU helm. Prior to arriving on the Hilltop, Morris spent five seasons as a collegiate offensive coordinator (Tulsa (2010); Clemson (2011-14)). Prior to his stint in the college ranks, Morris was a high school coach for 16 seasons, posting a 169-38 record. In his final prep stop, Morris led Lake Travis High School to back-to-back 16-0, state-championship seasons in 2008 and 2009.
Willie Taggart is in his third season with the Bulls, after a stint at Western Kentucky where he held the same position. During his time with USF, Taggart has recorded a 9-21 mark.
| ABOUT THE BULLS |
USF stands at 3-3 overall, with an 1-1 record in the American. The Bulls are on a two-game win streak, posting wins over Syracuse, 45-24, and UConn, 28-20.
| LAST TIME VS. USF |
Mike White threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes, the second with :04 left in the game, to lift South Florida to a 14-13 win over SMU on Nov. 15, 2014.
The Mustangs took the lead in the second quarter. Matt Davis tossed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Justin Lawler with :26 left in the first half and SMU leading 3-0. USF fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Cody Rademacher booted a 49-yard field goal as time expired to make it 13-0.
White got the Bulls on the board with a 12-yard strike to D'Ernest Johnson with just under eight minutes left in the game, capping a five-play, 48-yard drive.
After holding the Mustangs to a three-and-out, South Florida took over at its own 25 with 6:02 remaining. White directed a 21-play drive, finding Andre Davis for a 4-yard strike with :04 left.
| PONY UP TEMPO |
Head Coach Chad Morris integrated a #PonyUPTempo mindset into the SMU program. The new motto was apparent in the Mustangs' first game, as SMU scored a touchdown on the first play of scrimmage.
SMU has scored a touchdown on over 40 percent of its drives in under two minutes, including eight of the last 13 TD drives.
TD Drives of Two Minutes or Less
1. Troy 9 of 13 (69.2)
2. North Carolina 20 of 30 (66.7)
3. Baylor 34 of 52 (65.4)
4. Tulsa 15 of 23 (65.2)
5. UMass 11 of 17 (64.7)
6. Ole Miss 21 of 34 (61.7)
7. South Carolina 8 of 13 (61.5)
8. TCU 27 of 44 (61.4)
9. Miami 9 of 15 (60.0)
10. Mississippi State 16 of 27 (59.3)
11. Arizona 20 of 37 (54.1)
T12. Old Dominion 8 of 15 (53.3)
T12. Southern Miss 16 of 30 (53.3)
14. Arkansas State 10 of 19 (52.6)
15. Texas State 11 of 21 (52.3)
16. Eastern Michigan 13 of 25 (52.0)
17. USC 16 of 31 (51.6)
T8. Colorado 13 of 26 (50.0)
T18. Syracuse 9 of 18 (50.0)
20. Bowling Green 20 of 41 (48.8)
21. Western Kentucky 18 of 39 (46.1)
22. West Virginia 10 of 22 (45.5)
23. Memphis 15 of 34 (45.4)
24. Oregon 12 of 28 (42.8)
25. SMU 10 of 24 (41.6)
SMU scored 133 points all of last season, and has already superseded that mark with 185 through just six games under Morris.
SMU has also scored on its first possession in four of six games (Baylor, TCU, East Carolina & Houston).
| SEEING RED (ZONE) |
SMU posted a perfect percentage inside the opponent's red zone again vs. UH. Having gone 4-4 at Houston (4 TDs), 2-2 versus ECU (TD, FG), 4-4 against James Madison (4 TDs) and 7-7 at TCU (4 TDs, 3 FGs), the Mustangs have scored on 20 straight red zone trips, and on 88.0% of trips in 2015.
| MAN ON THE RUN |
Twice this season SMU junior quarterback Matt Davis has earned American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll recognition - once after registering a career-high 334 yards passing and 62 yards on the ground versus No. 3 TCU and again after guiding the Mustangs to a 31-13 win over North Texas.
Davis has led his team in rushing in four of five games this season, and has been the leading rusher for SMU in 11 of the last 12 games, dating back to last season.
In 2014, the Houston native led SMU with 1,468 yards of total offense. His 855 passing yards tied for best on the team and he led the squad with 613 rushing yards. In the last five games of 2014 (all starts), he had 1,270 total yards (735 passing & 535 rushing).
In his first career start at Tulsa (Nov. 8), he had 212 yards passing and 181 yards rushing while totaling three TDs (1 pass, 2 rush). The 181 rushing yards were the most by a QB in SMU history, beating the previous mark set by Ramon Flanigan in 1993 by 33 yards (148 versus Navy). He broke that mark with 191 yards (+145 passing) in the 27-20 win at Connecticut on Dec. 6.
| TEXAS TALENT |
Since arriving on the Hilltop, Chad Morris has made it a point to recruit Texas and to add student-athletes from the Lone Star State.
"You can recruit all the kids you want with 10 dollars in a tank of gas," Morris has repeatedly said.
When he arrived on campus, SMU had just 68 Texans on its roster, the fewest of any FBS school in the state, and had more out-of-state players (31) than DFW Metroplex natives.
SMU's entire 2015 signing class hailed from Texas, and SMU started the season with 77 Texans on the roster.
| STRUTTIN' WITH SUTTON |
Redshirt freshman Courtland Sutton has 27 receptions for 498 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
The Brenham, Texas, native has already placed himself in an elite group of former Mustang wide-outs, after recording a touchdown reception in four straight games this season, (Sept. 4 vs. Baylor-Sept. 26 vs. James Madison).
He was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List on Sept. 29, which is presented to the nation's top wide receiver.
CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A REC. TD
1. 8 by Aldrick Robinson, 2010
2. 6 by Emmanuel Sanders, 2006
3. 5 by Aldrick Robinson, 2008
T4. 4 by Emanuel Tolbert, 1977
T4. 4 by Jerry Levias, 1966
T4. 4 by Courtland Sutton, 2015
| HONORARY CAPTAINS |
Head Coach Chad Morris has brought several new traditions to the SMU football program. One of them involves naming an Honorary Captain at each home game.
In the first four home games, Harvey Armstrong (9/4), Reggie Dupard (9/12), Chuck Hixson (9/26) and Ramon Flanigan. (10/3) were honored.
Armstrong (1978-81) earned All-America honors (1981) and was co-captain of the 1981 National Championship squad. He played eight years in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts.
Dupard (1982-85) was selected All-America (1985) and a first-round draft choice of the New England Patriots in 1986.
Hixson threw for 7,179 yards and 40 touchdowns from 1968-70. He led the nation in passing as a sophomore, earning the Sammy Baugh Trophy, and guided the Mustangs to the 1968 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl. He left the Hilltop as the Mustangs' career leader in passing yards and completions.
Flanigan is SMU's all-time total offense leader with 7,437 yards. He ranks among the school's career leaders in TD passes (30) and rushing yards (1,797). At the time of his graduation, he had accounted for more touchdowns (57) than any other SMU player, running for 27 and throwing for 30.
| TIME IS ON OUR SIDE |
In addition to having PonyUpTempo as the team's motto, the Mustangs are controlling the ball as well, ranking 15th in the FBS in time of possession.
| NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK |
In their season opener, the Mustangs were led in receiving by four freshmen - true freshmen Xavier Jones, Braeden West, and Xavier Castille and redshirt freshman Courtland Sutton. So far this season, the freshmen have accounted for 60 of the 110 receptions and 785 of the 1470 receiving yards.
With 17 true and redshirt freshmen played in week one, SMU ranked ninth among all teams in freshmen played.
FRESHMEN PLAYED IN SEASON OPENER
1. Clemson 27
T2. Florida St. 23
T2. N.C. St. 23
4. Syracuse 21
T5. Wake Forest 20
T5. Texas 20
7. Rice 19
8. USC 18
T9. SMU 17
Most Total Freshmen Played In 2015
T1. TCU 29 (14 True, 15 RS)
T1. Rice 29 (10 True, 19 RS)
3. Clemson 28 (14 True, 14 RS)
T4. N.C. St. 26 (16 True, 10 RS)
T4. USC 26 (15 True, 11 RS)
T4. Wyoming 26 (16 True, 10 RS)
7. Boston College 25 (15 True, 10 RS)
T8. Georgia 24 (22 True, 2 RS)
T8. Texas 24 (17 True, 7 RS)
T10. Florida St. 23 (10 True, 13 RS)
T10. Mississippi St. 23 (4 True, 19 RS)
T10. Wake Forest 23 (9 True, 14 RS)
T13. Penn St. 22 (5 True, 17 RS)
T13. Tennessee 22 (17 True, 5 RS)
T13. UCF 22
T16. Army 21 (21 True)
T16. SMU 21 (10 True, 11 RS)
T16. Syracuse 21
T16. Temple 21
| TACKLIN' THE TOP 25 |
Two of SMU's first three opponents were ranked in the top 5 - No. 4 Baylor & No. 3 TCU. This marks the first time SMU played two top-five opponents in the same year since 1974, when the Mustangs played at No. 1 Ohio State and hosted No. 5 Texas A&M.
| TRIBUTE 23 |
Prior to the 2009 season, SMU announced that a deserving student-athlete would be chosen by the coaching staff to wear the number 23 to honor Jerry LeVias.
LeVias was the first African-American to receive an athletic scholarship in the Southwest Conference. While at SMU, LeVias made athletic and academic All-America teams and, in 1966, contributed to the Mustangs' first SWC title in 18 years. He was an All-American in 1968 and was chosen All-SWC in 1966, 1967 and 1968.
Junior tight end Jeremiah Gaines was awarded the number for 2015. Gaines played in nine games, starting three, in 2014, totaling four catches for 97 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown reception against Houston.
| WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES |
SMU has improved offensively by leaps and bounds in 2015. Below are just a few categories of note.
Category 2015 (Rank) 2014 (Rank)
Total Offense 423.8 (53rd) 269.0 (124th)
Scoring Offense 30.8 (61st) 11.1 (125th)
Passing Offense 245.0 (52nd) 168.7 (112th)
Rushing Offense 178.8 (55th) 100.3 (118th)
TOP 32:50 (15th) 28:50 (90th)
3rd Down % 41.1 (53rd) 32.6 (115th)
TO Margin 0.33 (46th) -1.17 (120th)
| NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOSEPH |
Senior wide receiver Darius Joseph has already left his mark in the SMU record book, ranking in the top 10 in career receptions, season receptions and games with at least 10 catches.
Joseph's single catch against Baylor in the season opener was all he needed to pass Korey Beard for sole possesion of the ninth spot on SMU's career receptions list. His career high is 13 receptions (100 yards & 2 TDs) at East Carolina on Oct. 4, 2014. That led to his first AAC Weekly Honor Roll recognition. The 13 receptions were a career-high for Joseph and tied for the most-ever by an SMU junior, with Joseph joining Emanuel Tolbert, who caught 13 passes as a junior at Baylor in 1978.
| SIGNAL CALLERS GET THE CALL |
When the St. Louis Rams selected SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft (214th overall), Gilbert became the eighth quarterback drafted into the NFL in program history and the first since 1981.
| WATCH (LIST) OUT! |
Senior center Taylor Lasecki is on the Watch Lists for both the Rimington Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award. This is the third straight year he has has been on the Rimington watch list. The Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, either on offense or defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage.
Senior defensive lineman Cameron Smith is among the 80 players on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service." He has also been nominated for the the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which recognizes college football players from across the country who exemplify a superior commitment to community service and volunteerism.
Courtland Sutton was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List on Sept. 29. Named after he award is given annually to the nation's top receiver.
| CALLS FROM THE HALLS |
SMU boasts nine members of the College Football Hall of Fame and five that are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With five Pro Football Hall of Famers, SMU ranks 11th among all schools.
| ALL ABOARD THE PONY EXPRESS |
SMU alum, 1982 All-American and NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson is the recipient of the 2015 Walter Camp Alumni Award.
The Walter Camp Alumni of the Year award is bestowed on a worthy individual who has distinguished himself in the pursuit of excellence as an athlete, in his personal career and in doing good works for others.
Raised in Sealy, Texas, Dickerson attended SMU and rushed for Southwest Conference-record 4,450 yards and 48 touchdowns in three seasons for the Mustangs' offensive unit, which was nicknamed the "Pony Express." In 1982,
Dickerson totaled an impressive 1,617 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 7.0 yards a carry, on his way to Walter Camp All-America honors.
Dickerson was the first NFL player to gain more than 1,000 yards in seven consecutive seasons, and became the fastest to total 10,000 yards (in just 91 games).
He was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team. In 1999, Dickerson was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He currently resides in Arizona.
| ANOTHER HONOR FOR DOAK |
The Football Writers Association of America announced its 75th Anniversary All-America Team earlier this fall, and former SMU running back Doak Walker was chosen for one of two starting running backs slots on the third team, sharing the backfield with Bo Jackson. During his tenure with the Mustangs, Walker was a three-time All-American (1947-49), a Maxwell Award recipient (1947), a Heisman Trophy winner (1948) and an integral part of two Southwest Conference Championship teams.
| SMU HITS $1B CAMPAIGN GOAL |
SMU Unbridled: The Second Century Campaign has reached its $1 billion goal ahead of schedule, raising unprecedented funding for scholarships, academic positions, programs, facilities and other enhancements to campus life. The campaign's official completion date is Dec. 31, 2015.
The Second Century Campaign was publicly launched in 2008 with a goal of $750 million. Rapid progress toward that goal and opportunities for further advancements led SMU leaders in 2013 to increase the goal to $1 billion and extend its timeline to 2015.
Ending in 2002, SMU's previous major gifts campaign, "A Time to Lead: The Campaign for SMU", raised $542 million.
Combining both campaigns, in the last two decades SMU has raised a total of $1.5 billion for 753 new scholarships, 111 new academic positions, 146 academic programs and 32 capital projects.
SMU joins 35 private universities nationwide that have raised $1 billion or more through major gifts campaigns. The institutions range from Columbia and Notre Dame to Emory and Vanderbilt.
| PONY UP-GRADES! |
SMU has made almost $10 million in Ford Stadium improvements since 2011, including upgrades to the locker room and team meeting rooms, a new playing surface, lighting system, suites and club seating.
Renovations included a new team meeting room with stadium-style seating and renovated positional meeting rooms. Changes to the locker room included the creation of a new team lounge, as well as new lockers, updated graphics and audio/visual equipment. SMU also installed a state-of-the-art Mondoturf 3NX artificial turf system. Musco Sports Lighting's new system has reduced energy consumption 50% and has saved more than 293 metric tons of CO2 from entering the environment.
In 2013, SMU added a new 233-seat Hall of Champions Club and seven new suites to the northwest corner of the stadium.
In 2014, SMU made significant upgrades to the Stadium Club. The improvements to the nearly 900-seat area included new stadium seats and bar stools. The enhancements also include new carpet and granite countertops.
In 2015, SMU updated its football offices and team areas, installing new graphics and displays.
| FAST LAYNE |
Paul Layne holds an unrivaled Mustang record. He has attended every SMU football game for the last 40 years, even going to Tokyo. He had to pull a "fast one" more than once to keep his streak alive.
Layne's unyielding commitment to SMU football has even posed some challenges for family and friends – like the time his ex-wife remarried. He persuaded her to schedule her wedding on a Friday night, within driving distance of SMU's game at Nevada the following day. So the night before the Mustangs tangled with the Wolf Pack in Reno, Layne attended the wedding in California's Sonoma Valley, then drove 200 miles to catch the opening kickoff.
Layne even attended a game dressed in a Halloween costume to disguise his case of adult-onset chicken pox. Starting when Layne attended SMU and was a team cheerleader, he's attended 462 straight games.
| MUSTANG CLUB SETS RECORD |
Donors to SMU Athletics once again set a new record for generosity in FY15, contributing more than $13.3 million, a 24% increase, in support of Athletic Department operations and SMU's 424 student-athletes during the last fiscal year. Included in that total are nearly $5.3 million in Mustang Club gifts, which provides critical unrestricted support. That total represents an increase of 60% over the previous year's record $3.3 million result. Total donors also increased 32% from 2,997 to 3,956.
Since Rick Hart's arrival on the Hilltop in 2012, Mustang Club annual giving has more than doubled, from $2.6 million to $5.3 million, and donor support of operations has jumped from $8.4 million to more than $13 million.
In addition to these gifts, significant investments from donors have been made in SMU Athletics' facilities, including Moody Coliseum, the Miller Event Center and the new SMU Tennis Complex. Fundraising continues for these facilities, in addition to the planned SMU Aquatics Center on East Campus and Trinity Forest Golf Club.
| SANDERS SETTING RECORDS |
Junior receiver/kick returner Deion Sanders, Jr., was a second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection as a kick returner in 2014. His 759 KOR yards last season rank seventh all-time at SMU. He also set the SMU single-game record with 203 KOR yards at UCF in 2014. At UCF, Sanders' day was highlighted by a 64-yard return that led to a Matt Davis rushing touchdown.
| DON'T ATTACK SHAK |
Shakiel Randolph began his senior campaign in a new spot. The former defensive back moved from defensive back to the STAR linebacker position as part of first-year Defensive Coordinator Van Malone's scheme. Last season, Randolph tied for fifth for passes defended per game (1.0) in The American.
