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Weekly Press Conference
Head Coach Chad Morris
Offensive Coordinator Joe Craddock
Defensive Coordinator Van Malone
Junior Jordan Wyatt
Senior Evan Brown



SETTING THE SCENE
•    SMU hosts North Texas Saturday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. CT in Ford Stadium. SMU and UNT are two of only four teams from the state of Texas to win in week one.
•    SMU is coming off a 58-14 win over Stephen F. Austin in the season opener, and was one of only 10 FBS teams to play a clean game offensively, committing zero turnovers and allowing zero sacks in week one.
•    Junior Jordan Wyatt was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week and Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week after posting an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown and recovered a fumble for a touchdown in the end zone, making him just the sixth player in FBS history to record both in the same game.
•    Preseason Heisman Trophy candidate and Biletnikoff Preseason Watch List member Courtland Sutton returns to the Hilltop for his junior season. The All-AAC selection had a record setting season in 2016 setting a sophomore record with 1,246 receiving yards and an SMU single-game record with 252 receiving yards against USF. Sutton led the team in receptions (76), receiving touchdowns (10) and receiving yards, and was ranked in the top 20 nationally in receiving yards per game (103.8-12th), receiving yards (1,246-19th) and receptions per game (6.3-20th). Sutton opened 2017 on the receiving end of the Mustangs' first touchdown.
•    Evan Brown (Rimington, Outland), Justin Lawler (Bednarik, Nagurski, Wuerffel, Hendricks), Braeden West (Doak Walker, Paul Hornung) and Jordan Wyatt (Nagurski) have also been named to multiple watch lists.

THE SERIES
•    SMU and North Texas meet for the 37th time with the Mustangs holding a 30-5-1 series advantage. The teams last met in 2016, with SMU winning 34-21 in Denton. The Mustangs are 29-2-1 against the Mean Green on the Hilltop. Chad Morris is 2-0 against UNT.     

ABOUT THE MEAN GREEN
•     North Texas opened the 2017 season with a 59-14 win over Lamar last Saturday. The Mean Green are coming off a 5-8 season that saw them place fourth in C-USA's west division with a 3-5 conference mark.

THE COACHES
•     Chad Morris is in his third season at the SMU helm. In his first season on the Hilltop, Morris engineered an offensive turnaround, as the Mustangs increased their scoring output by 16.7 points per game – the second-largest increase in the nation in 2015. Year two saw even more improvement, as SMU won five games and came within one win of bowl eligibility. SMU produced a 1,000-yard rusher (Braeden West 1,036) and 1,000-yard receiver (Courtland Sutton 1,246) for the first time since 2011 and had three players with at least 1,000 all-purpose yards for the first time since 2011 (Sutton, West, James Proche). Following the campaign, Justin Lawler, Darrion Millines, Horace Richardson and Sutton were named first-team All-AAC, the most Mustangs to be named first-team All-Conference since 2011. His career record stands at 8-17.
•     Seth Littrell is in his second season as UNT's head coach. He led the Mean Green to the second-best turnaround in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2016. North Texas improved its win total by four games and made an appearance in the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl.

LAST TIME VS. NORTH TEXAS
DENTON, Texas (AP) -- Courtland Sutton only made four catches but three went for touchdowns in SMU's 34-21 victory over North Texas in a season opener Sept. 3, 2016.
Sutton finished with 162 yards receiving, including an 88-yarder from Ben Hicks for the fifth-longest touchdown pass in Mustangs history. Sutton's other two TD receptions were thrown by Matt Davis. Xavier Jones added 115 yards and a score on 11 carries as the Mustangs rolled up 572 yards offense.
SMU jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter on Jones' 49-yard run, a 29-yard field goal by Josh Williams, and the 88-yard pass play. A 46-yard Davis pass to Sutton with two minutes left in the half put the Mustangs ahead 24-7, which came following Horace Richardson's second interception of the game.
The Mean Green's Alec Morris threw two touchdown passes, one each to Thaddeous Thompson and Kelvin Smith, but he also tossed three first-half interceptions.

LAYIN' DOWN THE LAW
Senior defensive end Justin Lawler starts 2017 with an impressive list of preseason honors, including spots on the Chuck Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski and Wuerffel Trophy Preseason Watch Lists. He's also a nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team and was honored as a first-team All-AAC selection by Athlon Sports and College Football News.
Lawler earned first-team All-AAC honors in 2016, making him the first Mustang defensive lineman to do so since Margus Hunt in 2012. He started all 12 games at defensive end, finishing second on the team with 65 tackles, while adding seven quarterback hurries, two blocked field goals and a fumble recovery.
The senior was just one of 34 players in the FBS with 2 or more blocked kicks in 2016, giving him more blocked kicks that 54 FBS teams.
Lawler started 2017 with four tackles (3 solo, 1 asst)  and a quarterback hurry against Stephen F. Austin.

BACK AT IT
Jordan Wyatt is the lone returning member of SMU's backfield that finished 2016 as the only team in the country with three players registering four interceptions. Wyatt, Horace Richardson and Darrion Millines were also three of only 68 players in the country with four or more INTs.
Wyatt wasted no time getting started in 2017 as he earned AAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 4. 
Wyatt posted an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown and recovered a fumble for a touchdown in the end zone, making him just the sixth player in FBS history to record both in the same game. The interception return is the seventh longest in SMU history, and the longest since 1984.
He now has four defensive touchdowns for his career (3 INT, 1 fumble), and is one of only four FBS players, including Mustang alum Horace Richardson, who have two defensive touchdowns in a game in the last two seasons. 
Wyatt's four defensive touchdowns tie him for the active career lead in FBS, and put him tied atop SMU's list with Mustangs David Hill and Ja'Gared Davis. His 208 career interception returns yards are the fifth most all-time at SMU.

FBS Active Defensive Return TDs

T1.	Jordan Wyatt, SMU    4
	Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama    4
	Darius Phillips, Western Michigan    4
	Andrew Motuapuaka, Virginia Tech    4

SMU Career INT Return TDs    

	TDs	INT
1.      David Hill, 1975-78	4	13
T2.   John Simmons, 1977-80         Horace Richardson, 2012-16         Jordan Wyatt	3 3 3	17 10 7

SMU Career Defensive Return TDs

T1.   David Hill, 1975-78 (4 INT)	4
Ja'Gared Davis, 2009-1012 (3 FR, INT)	4
Jordan Wyatt, 2015- (3 INT, FR)	4

SMU Longest Interception Returns

T1.   Reggie Phillips at Louisville, 1984	100t
Putt Choate vs. Tulane, 1997	100t
Charles Jackson vs. Rice, 1957	100t
T4.   Tirey Wilemon vs. Navy, 1959	95t
Hubert Walling vs. Okla. A&M, 1922	95t
6.     Allen Rowson vs. LSU, 1922	90t
7.     Jordan Wyatt vs. SFA, 2017	85t

SMU Career Interception Yards

1.    Horace Richardson, 2012-16	234
2.    Wes Hopkins, 1979-82	231
3.    John Simmons, 1977-80	221
4.    Robert Popelka, 1970-72	218
5.    Jordan Wyatt, 2015-	208
6.    Jonas Rutledge, 2000-03	207

EVEN EVAN
For the second straight season, Evan Brown was named to the Rimington Trophy Preseason Watch List. The award is given annually to the top center in FBS college football.
Brown was the seventh-highest-graded center in all of college football in 2016 and allowed only two sacks, one hit and six quarterback hurries in 2016.    
Brown has started 36 games played at SMU and adds on a spot on the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List to his resume in 2017. 

ALL OF A SUTTON
Preseason Heisman Trophy candidate and All-America selection Courtland Sutton returns for his junior season on the Hilltop. Sutton was named to the Biletnikoff and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Preseason Watch Lists, and was a first-team All-AAC selection by multiple outlets.
Sutton caught a pair of passes for 22 yards and a touchdown in the week one win over SFA.
Sutton earned first-team All-AAC honors in 2016 after a standout season that included setting SMU's single-game record for receiving yards (252), as well as the sophomore record for receiving yards in a season (1,246). In 12 games, the wide receiver led the team in receptions (76), receiving yards (1,246) and receiving touchdowns (10). Sutton finished among the nation's top-20 in receiving yards per game, receiving yards and receptions per game. He became just the ninth Mustang to register 1,000 yards in a season, placing himself third on SMU's all-time list, and ranks ninth in school history with 2,135 receiving yards and sixth with 19 receiving touchdowns. 
The Brenham, Texas, native has collected a long list of preseason awards including All-America recognition from the Associated Press (2nd Team), USA Today (2nd Team), College Football News (1st Team), CBS Sports (1st Team) and Sports Illustrated (2nd Team). 
He was selected No. 18 on SI College Football's Freaks List and No. 28 on its Top 100 Players of 2017 preseason list, and is the No. 11 player on Dave Campbell's Texas Football 50 Most Import College Football Players in Texas preseason list. College Football 24/7 lists him No. 1 on their Top Wide Receivers to Watch in 2017 list. 
He leads AAC returning receivers and ranks in the top 20 nationally in career receiving yards (2,135), yards per catch (16.8) and career touchdowns (19).

SMU Career Receiving Toucdowns

1.    Emmanuel Sanders, 2006-09	34
2.    Aldrick Robinson, 2007-10	30
3.    Emanuel Tolbert, 1976-79	25
4.    Jerry Le'Vias, 1966-68	22
T5.  Darius Johnson, 2009-12	20
Courtland Sutton, 2014-	20

SMU Season Receiving Touchdowns

1.    Aldrick Robinson, 2010 (Sr.)	14
2.    Emmanuel Tolbert, 1978 (Jr.)         Aldrick Robinson, 2008 (So.)	11 11
4.    Courtland Sutton, 2016 (So.)        Zack Sledge, 2007 (Sr.)	10 10
T6.  Courtland Sutton, 2015 (Fr.)         Emmanuel Sanders, 2006 (Fr.)          Emmanuel Sanders, 2007 (So.)          Emmanuel Sanders, 2008 (Jr.)         Keenan Holman, 2013 (Sr.)	9 9 9 9 9

SMU Single-Game Receiving Touchdowns

1.     Emmanuel Tolbert, at Baylor, 1978	4
T2.     Courtland Sutton, at North Texas, 2016	3

SMU Career Receiving Yards

1.    Emmanuel Sanders, 2006-09	3,791
2.    Aldrick Robinson, 2007-10	3,314
3.    Cole Beasley, 2008-11	2,959
4.    Darius Johnson, 2009-12	2,854
5.    Emmanuel Tolbert, 1976-79	2,784
6.    Ron Morris, 1983-86	2,410
7.    Jerry Le'Vias, 1966-68	2,275
8.    Jason Wolf, 1989-92	2,232
9.    Courtland Sutton, 2014	2,157

FBS Consecutive Games with a Reception

1.    Cam Serigne, Wake Forest         Christian Kirk, Texas A&M	37 37
3.    Allen Lazard, Iowa State	36
4.    James Washington, Oklahoma State	33
5.    Calvin Ridley, Alabama	31
6.    Ryan Yurachek, Marshall	30
7.    Jaylen Samuels, N.C. State	29
Phil Mayhue, Memphis	29
9.    Richie James, Middle Tennessee	27
Jonathan Duhart, Old Dominion	27
11.   Anthony Miller, Memphis	26
Cody Thompson, Toledo	26
13.   Courtland Sutton, SMU	25
Jamire Jordan, Fresno State	25

FBS Active Career Reception TDs

1.    James Washington , Oklahoma St.	28
2.    Richie James , Middle Tenn.	21
3.    Courtland Sutton, 2014-	20
4.    Anthony Miller , Memphis	19
T5.  Devonte Boyd , UNLV	16
Allen Lazard , Iowa St.	16
Cody Thompson , Toledo	16

FBS Active Career Reception Yards

1.    Richie James , Middle Tenn.	3083
2.    James Washington , Oklahoma St.	3063
3.    Devonte Boyd , UNLV	2735
4.    Allen Lazard , Iowa St.	2527
5.    Cody Thompson , Toledo	2240
6.    Cam Phillips , Virginia Tech	2201
7.    Courtland Sutton, 2014-	2157
8.    Anthony Miller , Memphis	2151

Pro Football Focus Highest-graded WRs Returning in 2017

1.    Richie James, MTSU	86.5
2.    Michael Gallup, CSU	85.0
3.    Courtland Sutton, SMU	84.3

BIG BEN
Ben Hicks opened the 2017 season 9-of-19 passing for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns. He now ranks 16th on SMU's all time career passing yards list with 3,042.
Hicks' is coming off a successful 2016 season which saw him convert his first career completion into an 88-yard TD pass to Courtland Sutton. It was the fifth-longest pass play in SMU history, and longest for SMU since 2009.
In game six against Tulsa, Hicks set then-career-highs with 29 completions and two passing TDs.
Against [11/11] Houston, Hicks completed 16 of 31 passes for 228 yards and a career-high three TDs while rushing for another score in the win. For his play, he was named CBS Sports' Freshman of the Week and to the AAC and Tyler Rose Award Weekly Honor Roll and Davey O'Brien "Great 8" Quarterback list.
At Tulane, Hicks led the Mustangs from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 35-31 against the Green Wave. The Waco, Texas, native completed 16 of 31 passes for 302 yards with two TDs.
At East Carolina, Hicks was 18-30 passing for 235 yards with a career-high tying three TDs with no turnovers. 
Against USF, Hicks finished 25-41 passing for a career-high 380 yards with two TDs. He now has 17 passing TDs this season, which is tied for eighth in program history. 
Hicks finished the season third among freshman in passing yards per game.

2016 FBS Freshman Passing Yards Per Game

1.    Deondre Francois, FSU	257.7
2.    Shane Buechele, Texas	246.5
3.    Ben Hicks, SMU	244.2
4.    Sam Darnold, USC	237.4

SMU Season Passing Yards

1.    Kyle Padron, 2010	3828
2.    Garrett Gilbert, 2013	3528
3.    J.J. McDermott, 2011	3421
4.    Chuck Hixson, 1968	3103
5.    Mike Ford, 1978	3007
6.    Justin Willis, 2007	2944
7.    Garrett Gilbert, 2012	2932
8.    Ben Hicks, 2016	2930

SMU Season Completions

1.    Garrett Gilbert, 2013	335
2.    Kyle Padron, 2010	302
3.    Mike Romo, 1989	282
4.    J.J. McDermott, 2011	272
5.    Garrett Gilbert, 2012	268
6.    Chuck Hixon, 1968	265
7.    Mike Romo, 1990	250
8.    Justin Willis, 2007	242
9.    Bo Levi Mitchell, 2008	236
10.   Ben Hicks, 2016	234

SMU Season Touchdowns Passes

1.    Kyle Padron, 2010	31
2.    Justin Willis, 2006	26
3.    Justin Willis, 2007	25
4.    Bo Levi Mitchell, 2008	24
5.    Chuck Hixon, 1968	21
Garrett Gilbert, 2013	21
7.    Mike Romo, 1990	19
Ben Hicks, 2016	19

FORGOT ABOUT TREY
It seems in focusing on All-American Courtland Sutton, opposing defenses forgot about Parade All-American Trey Quinn. In his first game on the Hilltop, the junior transfer led the Mustangs with four catches for 53 yards, and one of SMU's three receiving touchdowns.
Quinn spent two seasons at LSU where he played 25 games with nine starts registering 22 catches for 276 yards. 

BIG GAME JAMES
Freshman All-America Honorable Mention selection James Proche is back for a sophomore season after finishing second on the team in receptions (571) and third in all-purpose yards (1,044). Proche was second on the team in receiving yards (709) and touchdowns (6).
Proche was named to the AAC Honor Roll and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Honorable Mention list after posting six catches for career-highs in both yards (164) and touchdowns (2) in the Mustangs' 35-31 victory at Tulane.

GO WEST, YOUNG MAN
Running back Braeden West opens 2017 on the Doak Walker and Paul Hornung Award Watch Lists. In 12 games last season, West finished with 202 carries and six rushing touchdowns as the Mustangs' primary ball carrier, and was one of three Mustangs (James Proche and Courtland Sutton) with at least 1,000 all-purpose yards after finishing with 1,128 total yards (1,036 rushing and 92 receiving)
West had 15 receptions and registered six games with 100+ all-purpose yards, brings his season total to 1,036 rushing, 14th at SMU in a single-season.

SMU Single-Game Rushing Yards

1.    Mike Richardson, 11/9/1968 vs. Texas A&M	39-244-3
2.    ShanDerrick Charles, 10/13/2001 at San Jose St.	27-243-1
3.    Eric Dickerson, 10/16/1982 vs. Houston	27-241-1
4.    Craig James, 12/19/1980 vs. BYU	23-225-2
5.    Braeden West, 9/17/2016 vs. Liberty	24-220-2

SMU Single-Game KO Return Yards

1.    Deion Sanders, Jr. at UCF, 2014	203
2.    Jonas Rutledge vs. UTEP, 2003	190
3.    Rodnick Phillips at Wyoming, 1996	186
4.    Jessie Henderson vs. Houston, 2008	181
5.    Braeden West, Temple 11/6/2015	180

X GON' GIVE IT TO YA
After missing most of the 2016 season due to injury, Xavier Jones returns in 2017. Jones was named a preseason candidate for the 2016 Doak Walker Award.
The Spring, Texas, native had a standout first season on the Hilltop, setting an SMU freshman record for rushing touchdowns (10), surpassing SMU greats Eric Dickerson and Zach Line, and finishing as the Mustangs' second-leading rusher with 634 yards.
In the 2016 season opener at UNT, Jones ran for over 100 yards for the second time in his last three games (dating back to 2015), and his 10.5 YPC was the seventh-best mark of any FBS ball carrier. He also scored SMU's first TD of the season on a 49-yard run.
Jones missed three straight games (Baylor, Liberty, TCU) with a hamstring injury, but returned against Temple to record 25 yards on four carries, but left the game with a shoulder injury and missed the remainder of the season.

Most Rushing TDs By An SMU Freshman

1.    Xavier Jones, 2015	10
2.    Jeff Atkins, 1983	7
ShanDerrick Charles, 2001	7
DeMyron Martin, 2005	7
Zach Line, 2009	7

TRIBUTE 23
Since 2009, the SMU coaching staff has chosen a deserving student-athlete 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.
Senior defensive end Nick Horton was awarded the number again in 2017.

Players To Wear #23 In Honor of Jerry LeVias
Nick Horton, DE    2016-17
Jeremiah Gaines, TE    2015
Stephon Sanders, LB    2012-14
Chris Banjo, DB    2009

WE'RE BACK!
The Mustangs rank fourth nationally in yards returning with 94.8%

1.    Troy    98.7%
2.    Florida Atlantic    96.2%
3.    Wake Forest    95.9%
4.    SMU    94.8%

FAST LAYNE
Paul Layne holds an unrivaled Mustang record, having attended every SMU game for the last 40-plus years, even going to Tokyo.
He had to pull a "fast one" more than once to keep his streak alive – like the time his ex-wife remarried. He persuaded her to schedule her wedding on a Friday 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 483 straight games.

NATIONAL NEWCOMERS
SMU was the only team in the country with a passer, rusher and receiver ranked among the top 10 for freshmen in yards per game.

Ben Hicks, QB    244.2 (3rd)
Ke'Mon Freeman, RB    54.2 (10th)
James Proche, WR    59.1 (7th)

CON-GRAD-ULATIONS
The 2017 SMU roster features nine student-athletes who have already earned a degree, giving them one of the highest totals in the country. Evan Brown, Raymond Epps, Mason Gentry, Will Hopkins, Nick Horton, Cedric Lancaster, Justin Lawler, Dimarya Mixon and Anthony Rhone have all earned their degrees.
 

1.       Northwestern	18
2.       Coastal Carolina	17
3.       ECU, Cincinnati	14
5.       Toledo	13
6.       TCU, Alabama, Oregon	12
9.       Kansas State, Maryland, USF, Georgia State, UCF, Virginia	11
15.      Kent State, Nevada, New Mexico,  South Alabama, Texas Tech, West Virginia	10
21.      SMU, Houston, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rutgers, Temple	9

      
SMU IN THE CLASSROOM
Head Coach Chad Morris believes that there is a direct correlation between improvement in the classroom and on the field. If so, then the Mustangs should see an increase in wins this season due to the improved grade-point average of the team.
The SMU football team has set multiple term and cumulative GPA records since Morris' arrival on the Hilltop in 2014.

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 games against Navy (2011), Memphis (2012), Texas Tech (2013), Cincinnati (2014) and North Texas (2015).

IMPROVED DEFENSE
The Mustangs continue to improve on defense each season under defensive coordinator Van Malone. 
SMU had 18 interceptions total last season, which tied for 9th in the FBS, and finished tied for 18th in the country in takeaways with 26 (eight fumble recoveries).
Last year, SMU yielded 36.2 points per game, and 453.0 total yards (242.5 passing, 210.5 rushing).

 2016 Totals
453.0 yards/game Total Defense
210.5 yards/game Rushing Defense
242.5 yards/game Passing Defense

2015 Totals
502.2 yards/game Total Defense
261.2 yards/game Rushing Defense
241.0 yards/game Passing Defense

SMU IN THE AP
SMU is one of only 44 schools that have ever been ranked No. 1 by the Associated Press. The first AP poll was in 1936. The Mustangs have been ranked No. 1 twice in program history.
This fall, the AP ranked SMU No. 55 in its all-time Top 100 college football programs.
After the win over then No. 11 Houston, SMU also received a vote in the AP Poll in 2016.

CALLS FORM 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.

College Football Hall of Fame
Name    Year Inducted
Ray Morrison, Coach (1915-16, 1922-34)    1954
Matty Bell, Coach (1935-41, 1945-49)    1955
Doak Walker, RB (1945, 1947-49)    1959
Kyle Rote, RB (1948-50)    1964
Gerald Mann, QB (1926-27)    1969
Bobby Wilson, RB (1933-35)    1973
Don Meredith, QB (1957-59)    1982
Jerry LeVias, WR (1966-68)    2003
Hayden Fry, Coach (1962-72)    2003

Pro Football Hall of Fame
Name    Year Inducted
Lamar Hunt    1972
Raymond Berry    1973
Forrest Gregg    1977
Doak Walker    1986
Eric Dickerson    1993

HONORARY CAPTAINS
Head Coach Chad Morris has brought several new traditions to SMU's football program, including naming an Honorary Captain at each home game. Morris has bestowed the honor to Craig Swann for week 2. 
Swann earned All-Southwest Conference honors as a junior in 1995 and All Western Athletic Conference recognition in 1996. He ended his career with 326 total tackles and 27 stops behind the line of scrimmage. His 167 tackles in 1995 led the SWC and ranks third among SMU's single-season leaders. His 102 solo tackles in 1996 set a single-season school record.

Tentative Schedule (subject to change)
Sept. 2    Jerry Ball
Sept. 9    Craig Swann
Sept. 23    Clark Hunt
Sept. 30    Chris Bordano
Oct. 27    Donald Mitchell
Nov. 4    Eric Dickerson
Nov. 25    Terrence Mann

THREE-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPS
SMU is one of just 26 schools that boasts both a Heisman Trophy winner and multiple National Championships.
Doak Walker won the Heisman following a dominant 1948 season in which he rushed for 542 yards and eight touchdowns, caught 15 passes for 278 yards and two scores, and threw for 304 yards and five TDs. He also returned 10 punts for 169 yards and a touchdown, totaled 161 yards on five kickoff returns, intercepted three passes for 75 yards, averaged 42.1 yards on 35 punts and kicked 22 PATs.
The NCAA recognizes three SMU teams as National Champions: 1935 (Dickinson & Houlgate), 1981 (National Championship Foundation) & 1982 (Helms Athletic Foundation).

PREP PREPAREDNESS
SMU Head Coach Chad Morris is one of 18 FBS head coaches who previously served as high school head coaches. 
Morris' 16 seasons as a prep head coach ranks No. 1 among the group, and only Tony Jinks (Bowling Green) and Tony Sanchez (UNLV) were prep coaches more recently than Morris. 

A complete alphabetical list follows:

Name (College)	Last HS
Tom Allen (Indiana)	2004-06 Ben Davis (Ind.)
Steve Addazio (Boston College)	1988-94 Cheshire (Conn.)
Gary Anderson (Oregon State)	1994 Park City (Utah)
David Beaty (Kansas)	2001-05 Irving McArthur (Texas)
Chris Creigthton (EMU)	1997-2000 Ottawa (Kan.)
David Cutcliffe (Duke)	1980-81 Banks (Ala.)
Butch Davis (FIU)	1978 Will Rogers (Okla.)
Todd Graham (Arizona State)	1994-00 Allen (Texas)
Mike Jinks (Bowling Green)	2005-12 Steele (Texas)
Joey Jones (South Alabama)	1991-2005 Mountain Brook (Ala.)
Guz Malzahn (Auburn)	1992-2005 Springdale (Ark.)
Jeff Monken (Army)	1995 Morton (Ill.)
Chad Morris (SMU)	1994-2009 Lake Travis (Texas)
Barry Odom (Missouri)	2001-02 Rock Bridge (Mo.)
Tony Sanchez (UNLV)	2004-14 Bishop Gorman (Nev.)
Frank Solich (Ohio)	1966-78 Lincoln Southeast (Neb.)
Matt Viator (UL Monroe)	1989-99 Sulphur (La.)
Frank Wilson (UTSA)	2000-03 O.P. Walker (La.)

   
PONY UP-GRADES!
SMU has made significant investments in Ford Stadium improvements since 2011, including upgrades to the locker room, a new team meeting room with stadium-style seating and renovated positional meeting rooms, a new playing surface, lighting system, A/V system, new suites and club seating.
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 counter tops.
In 2015, SMU updated its football offices and team areas, installing new graphics and displays.
Last, SMU replaced the synthetic turf playing field at Ford Stadium.

WE DON'T TAILGATE, WE BOULEVARD.
The editors at Southern Living posted a roster of the top 20 Southern schools with the greatest pregame celebrations, and SMU's Boulevard made the list.
From the food and drink to the style and traditions, nobody does tailgating quite like the Mustangs. SMU's beautiful Bishop Boulevard is tailgate central for fun and entertainment.
Along The Boulevard, fans can mingle with family and friends and bring a picnic, fire up a grill or visit Mustang Alley vendors.
The Boulevard is so famous that the guys from Dude Perfect picked SMU to shoot their tailgate game trickshot video. See it here - https://goo.gl/uYCuWj.

TEMPO TALK
Chad Morris joins Mustang fans for Tempo Talk on Mondays at Ozona, located at 4615 Greenville Ave. 
Rich Phillips, the voice of the Mustangs, will host the event live from 7-8 PM on KAAM 770 AM radio every Monday night starting Aug. 28th. There will be food and drinks specials, trivia and prizes on site each week.
Shows will air on the following dates:
Monday, September 4
Monday, September 11
Monday, September 18
Monday, September 25
Monday, October 2
Monday, October 16
Monday, October 23
Monday, October 30
Monday, November 6
Monday, November 13
Monday, November 20

    Please note that there is no show on Monday, October 10th, as it is SMU's off week.

FORD FILLED
SMU has sold out Ford Stadium ten times since it opened on Sept. 2, 2000. Seven of those sellouts have come since 2009, including the 2015 season opener vs. Baylor.

Ford Stadium Sellouts
Game    Total Attendance
1.    vs. Army, 12-30-2010     36,742
2.    vs. TCU, 9-24-2010     35,481
3.    vs. Texas A&M, 9-20-2014    34,820
4.    vs. Texas Tech, 8-30-2013     34,790
5.    vs. Stephen F. Austin, 9-5-2009    34,749
6.    vs. Texas Tech, 9-4-2004     34,689
7.    vs. Kansas, 9-2-2000     32,267
8.    vs. Baylor, 9-4-2015     32,047
9.    vs. Texas A&M, 9-15-2012     32,016
10.  vs. Texas Tech, 9-7-2002     32,000

SIGNAL CALLERS GET THE CALL
When the St. Louis Rams selected SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, he became the eighth quarterback drafted into the NFL in program history.

SMU Quarterbacks Drafted Into The NFL
Player    Team (Round Selected)    Year
Garrett Gilbert    St. Louis Rams (6th)    2014
Mike Ford    Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9th)    1981
Keith Bobo    Dallas Cowboys (12th)    1974
Chuck Hixson    Kansas City Chiefs (13th)    1971
Mike Livingston    Kansas City Chiefs (2nd)    1968
Don Meredith    Chicago Bears (3rd)    1960
John Roach    Chicago Cardinals (3rd)    1956
Gil Johnson    Philadelphia Eagles (11th)    1948