Nov. 24, 2015
 | SETTING THE SCENE |
The Mustangs will close out the season at Memphis on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on ESPNews.
SMU enters the game at 2-9, but the record can be deceiving, as SMU's losses have come to teams who entered this week with a combined 72-25 mark, seven of whom are ranked in the top 25 or have received votes this season.
SMU registered season-highs in rushing yards (323) and rushing TDs (6) in its win over Tulane, and three of the Mustangs' scoring drives were over 90 yards - 91, 95 and 99.
Xavier Jones' three-TD rushing touchdown performance vs. Tulane last week helped Jones set an SMU freshman record with 10 TDs on the ground this season and also earned him inclusion on the weekly American Conference Honor Roll.
| THE SERIES (MEMPHIS LEADS 4-3) |
The Mustangs and Tigers will meet for the eighth time, with Memphis holding a slight 4-3 edge overall. SMU has won three of the four previous meetings, averaging 40 points per game in those wins.
| 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.
Justin Fuente is in his fifth season at the Memphis helm. Fuente has posted a 25-23 record in his time as head coach and led the Tigers to the 2014 AAC Championship.
| ABOUT THE TIGERS |
Memphis currently stands at 8-3 and is coming off a 31-12 loss at Temple last week. All three losses have come against conference foes that were ranked or receiving votes.
| LAST TIME VS. MEMPHIS |
Paxton Lynch threw for 307 yards and a touchdown as Memphis beat SMU, 48-10, on Oct. 25, 2014. Memphis scored 41 of the game's first 48 points, including 21 straight to open the game followed by a 20-0 stretch after Prescott Line put SMU on the scoreboard with a 1-yard TD run.
The Mustangs were limited to just 251 yards of total offense. Matt Davis finished with 46 yards rushing and Line added 38. Garrett Krstich had 59 yards passing with two interceptions.
| #PONYUPTEMPO |
Head Coach Chad Morris integrated a #PonyUPTempo mindset into the SMU program. SMU scored 133 points all of last season, but had 134 in just four games in 2015. On the year, the Mustangs have now tallied 333 through 11 games
SMU has also scored on its first possession in five of 11 games (Baylor, TCU, ECU, UH & Tulsa).
| SEEING RED (ZONE) |
SMU has made good use of its redzone appearances this year, having posted a perfect redzone performance in six of its 11 games. The Mustangs went 5-5 against Tulane, 4-4 at Houston, 2-2 vs. ECU, 4-4 against James Madison and 7-7 at TCU. SMU has scored on 37 of its last 43 redzone trips, and on 86% of trips overall 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 six of 11 games this season, and has been the leading rusher for SMU in 13 of the last 18 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.
SMU Career Rushing Yards By QB
1. Ricky Wesson, 1973-76 1,994
2. Ramon Flanigan, 1992-97 1,797
3. Matt Davis, 2014- 1,351
4. Mac White, 1963-66 1,281
5. Justin Willis, 2006-08 1,063
SMU Top QB Rushing Totals
1. Matt Davis, at UConn, 2014 191
2. Matt Davis, at Tulsa, 2014 181
3. Matt Davis, vs. Tulane, 2015 156
4. Ramon Flanigan, at Navy, 1993 148
5. Matt Davis, vs. North Texas, 2015 125
6. Matt Davis, vs. Baylor, 2015 115
Career 100-Yard Rushing Games By QB
1. Matt Davis, 2014- 6
2. Ramon Flanigan, 1993-97 4
3. Mac White, 1963-66 2
SMU Season TD's Responsible For (Pass/Run)
1. Kyle Padron, 2010 (31/4) 35
2. Justin Willis, 2006 (26/3) 29
3. Justin Willis, 2007 (25/3) 28
T4. Chuck Hixson, 1968 (21/6) 27
T4. Garrett Gilbert 2013 (21/6) 27
6. Matt Davis, 2015 (16/10) 26
7. Bo Levi Mitchell, 2008 (24/1) 25
8. Garrett Gilbert 2012 (15/8) 23
9. Mike Ford, 1978 (17/4) 21
T10. Erick Dickerson, 1981 (0/19) 19
T10. Mike Romo, 1990 (19/0) 19
T10. Ricky Wesson, 1974 (9/10) 19
| STRUTTIN' WITH SUTTON |
Redshirt freshman Courtland Sutton 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).
Sutton was named to the AAC Honor Roll after notching eight catches for 165 yards and two TDs against Tulsa.
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
SMU Season Receiving Touchdowns
1. Aldrick Robinson, 2010 14
T2. Emmanuel Tolbert, 1978 11
T2. Aldrick Robinson, 2008 11
4. Zack Sledge, 2007 10
T5. Emmanuel Sanders, 2006 9
T5. Emmanuel Sanders, 2007 9
T5. Emmanuel Sanders, 2008 9
T5. Keenan Holman, 2013 9
T5. Courtland Sutton, 2015 9
T9. Jerry Levias, 1968 8
T9. Darius Johnson 8
| TAKE ONE… ACTION! |
The Chad Morris era began with a bang, as SMU scored a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage in the season opener when Matt Davis hit Courtland Sutton for a 46-yard TD.
Below is the list of teams who have scored a touchdown on their first offensive play of a game this season.
He was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List on Sept. 29, which is presented to the nation's top wide receiver.
TD SCORED ON FIRST OFFENSIVE PLAY OF A GAME
Sept. 4 – SMU vs. Baylor
Sept. 5 - Kentucky vs. UL Lafayette
Oct. 10 – TCU at Kansas State
Oct. 16 – Houston vs. Tulane
Nov. 7 – North Carolina vs. Duke
Nov. 7 – Texas vs. Kansas
Nov. 14 – Purdue at Northwestern
| TACKLIN' THE TOP 25 |
The Mustangs played four top 25 opponents this season, with two ranked in the top 5 at game time - No. 4 Baylor & No. 3 TCU. Houston was receiving votes when the Mustangs tackled the Cougars, and SMU later faced back-to-back ranked opponents in No. 23 Temple and No. 22 Navy. Memphis was also ranked in 2015, so, in all, SMU will have played six opponents who were ranked this season - a full 50% of the season's slate.
| 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 408.8 (61st) 269.0 (124th)
Scoring Offense 30.3 (58th) 11.1 (125th)
Passing Offense 232.4 (56th) 168.7 (112th)
Rushing Offense 176.5 (60th) 100.3 (118th)
Time of Possession 31:21 (36th) 28:50 (90th)
3rd Down % 42.1 (45th) 32.6 (115th)
| 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.
| 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 holds the eighth spot on SMU's career receptions list after a two reception performance against Temple last week. 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.
SMU Career Receptions
1. Emmanuel Sanders, 2006-09 285
2. Cole Beasley, 2008-11 255
3. Jason Wolf, 1989-92 235
4. Darius Johnson, 2009-12 232
5. Jeremy Johnson, 2010-13 196
6. Mick Rossley, 1991-94 186
7. Aldrick Robinson, 2007-10 181
8. Darius Joseph, 2012- 174
9. Emanuel Tolbert, 1976-79 171
| 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 seven home games Harvey Armstrong (9/4), Reggie Dupard (9/12), Chuck Hixson (9/26), Ramon Flanigan (10/3), Gary Hammond (10/31), Lance McIlhenny (11/6) and Louie Kelcher.
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.
Hammond played receiver, running back and quarterback over three successive seasons on the Hilltop (1969-71). Hammond was an All-SWC choice all three years and the SWC Offensive Player of the Year in `71. Hammond led SMU in a different a statistical category each year: receiving in ‘69 (722 yards), rushing in ‘70 (891 yards) and passing in ‘71 (787 yards).
He was selected by the New York Jets during the 1972 NFL draft and was elected to the SMU Hall of Fame in 1982.
Quarterback for the Pony Express, McIlhenny was a three-time All-Southwest Conference selection from 1981-83 and led SMU to back-to-back national championships in 1981 & 1982, going 34-5-1 as a starter.
Kelcher earned All-America honors and was named the SWC Defensive Player of the Year in 1974. The two -time All-SWC performer, he played 10 years in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers.
| 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 110 of the 198 receptions and 1,427 of the 2,556 receiving yards.
After a career-best three-rushing-TD performance against Tulane, Jones now holds the mark for most rushing touchdowns by a Mustang freshman, bettering SMU legends Eric Dickerson and Reggie Dupard among others.
Most Rushing Touchdowns By An SMU Freshman
1. Xavier Jones, 2015 10
T2. Jeff Atkins, 1983 7
T2. ShanDerrick Charles, 2001 7
T2. DeMyron Martin, 2005 7
T2. Zach Line, 2009 7
With 17 true and redshirt freshmen played in week one, SMU ranked ninth among all teams in freshmen played in the season opener.
Overall, SMU is tied for 16th in freshmen played among FBS schools.
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
1. Rice 31 (10 True, 21 Redshirts)
2. TCU 30 (15 True, 15 Redshirts)
T3. BYU 28 (16 True, 12 Redshirts)
T3. Clemson 28 (14 True, 14 Redshirts)
T3. Florida Atlantic 28 (16 True, 12 Redshirts)
T3. Florida State 28 (14 True, 14 Redshirts)
T7. Boston College 26 (16 True, 10 Redshirts)
T7. N.C. State 26 (16 True, 10 Redshirts)
T7. USC 26 (15 True, 11 Redshirts)
T7. Wyoming 26 (16 True, 10 Redshirts)
T7. Texas 26 (17 True, 9 Redshirts)
12. Georgia 24 (22 True, 2 Redshirts)
T13. Mississippi State 23 (4 True, 19 Redshirts)
T13. UCF 23 (13 True, 10 Redshirts)
T13. Wake Forest 23 (9 True, 14 Redshirts)
T16. SMU 22 (11 True, 11 Redshirts)
| 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.
| 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.
| 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.
| 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. The award is given annually to the nation's top receiver.
| THE RED CARPET |
SMU may need to install a red carpet in the Mustang locker room as SMU has become "the place to be" in Dallas. Among the celebrities, legends, current and former pros that have attended practice or stopped by the stadium in recent years are: Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Terrell Owens, Tim Brown, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders, as well as former SMU standouts Reggie Dupard, Eric Dickerson, Craig James, Jerry Ball, Russell Carter and Don Meredith.
Former President George W. Bush even visits SMU football practice. Bush has also performed the ceremonial coin toss at five SMU home games in the last five seasons - Navy (2011), Memphis (2012), Texas Tech (2013), Cincinnati (2014) and North Texas (2015).
| 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.
