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Coach Dykes: American Athletic Conference Weekly Media Availability
Sept. 24, 2018: It's Always Sonny On The Hilltop

SETTING THE SCENE
•     The Mustangs host HBU on Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN3. Saturday also serves as Family Weekend, First Responders Appreciation and Band Day on the Hilltop. 

•     SMU is coming off a 31-30 overtime win against American Athletic Conference west division foe Navy. Braeden West posted 145 rushing yards on 26 attempts and had a team-high 185 all-purpose yards. Reggie Roberson, Jr., and James Proche each posted a receiving TD for SMU, while William Brown went 21-29 with 150 yards and two TDs and Ben Hicks connected on the game-winning TD in overtime. Rodney Clemons and Jordon Williams (0.5 sacks 1.5 TFLs, 1 FR) both had a career-high 15 tackles, and Richard Moore had a pair of sacks on the day. 

•     Reggie Roberson, Jr. was named the American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week following his two-touchdown performance against Navy. Linebacker Jordon Williams was named to the Weekly Honor Roll after posting a career-high 15 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and his first career forced fumble.

•     SMU is one of four FBS teams to have three 1,000+-yard career rushers (Braeden West (2,204), Xavier Jones (1,924) and Ke'Mon Freeman (1,219)). The Mustangs join Ball State, Georgia Tech and Syracuse on the list.

•     Mustangs Xavier Jones (Maxwell, Doak Walker, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose), Jordan Wyatt (Wuerffel, AFCA Good Works), James Proche (Biletnikoff), Braeden West (Paul Hornung) and Jamie Sackville (Ray Guy) also highlight preseason watch lists. 

THE SERIES
SMU and HBU will meet for the first time on Saturday.

ABOUT THE HUSKIES
HBU enters Saturday's non-conference match-up 1-2 with its only win of the season coming in week one against Southwest Baptist. HBU is a member of the Southland Conference.

THE COACHES
•    Sonny Dykes is in his first season on the Hilltop after serving head coaching stints at Cal (2013-16) and Louisiana Tech (2010-12). Dykes spent 2017 at TCU as an offensive analyst. In his eighth season as a head coach, Dykes holds a career record of 42-49. 

•    Vic Shealy is 10-37 at HBU and 37-51-1 as a head coach. He arrived at HBU in 2012, with his first season of record coming in 2014. Shealy arrived at HBU after a stint as defensive coordinator at Kansas in 2012 and served as a head coach at Azusa Pacific from 1995-98.

LAST TIME VS. HBU
This is the first meeting between SMU and HBU.

QUICK HITS
• Paul Hornung Award Watch List member Braeden West posted his seventh career 100-yard rushing game with 145 yards on 26 carries vs. Navy. It was also his 19th career game with 100+ all-purpose yards (185).

• William Brown was 21-29 passing for 150 yards and two touchdowns against Navy in his first career start. 

• Reggie Roberson, Jr. returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and caught a 20-yard pass for a TD from William Brown against Navy. He also registered four catches for 38 yards and two kick returns for 124 yards on Saturday. His 167 all-purpose yards were a career high. He was named the AAC Special Teams Player of the Week.

• Jordon Williams had a game-high 15 tackles, while adding 1.5 tackles for loss, a half sack and a forced fumble. His tackle total was a career high, and the forced fumble was the first of his career. He was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll.

• Thirty-two student-athletes have played their first game in a Mustang uniform this season. 

POW6RFUL MINDS
The Mustangs will wear green ribbon helmet stickers on Saturday, while the staff will sport green ribbon pins to support the American Athletic Conference's Pow6rful Minds initiative. 

In fall 2017, with the help of each institutional Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), The American SAAC began the #POW6RFULMINDS campaign to improve awareness of issues and resources available to student-athletes. To be strong in body, one must be strong in mind.  Our student-athletes have a powerful voice, and they are working diligently to eliminate barriers to seeking help. To that end, the American Athletic Conference is dedicated to ending the stigma related to seeking help for mental health issues and to promoting success through a healthy powerful mind.     

GO WEST, YOUNG MAN
Paul Hornung Watch List member Braeden West showed his versatility in week one versus North Texas with a rushing and receiving touchdown. His 71-yard TD catch is the longest by an SMU running back since a 57-yard reception by Derron Brown in 2003. He finished the outing with 112 all-purpose yards.

Against No. 16 TCU, West had a 51-yard touchdown run, giving him his second 50+ yard touchdown of the season. He went on to post 185 all-purpose yards and 145 rushing yards off 26 carries in the win over Navy in week four.    

West has seven 100+ yards rushing games in his career and sits 11th on SMU's all-time list at 2,204 yards. He has 3,898 career all-purpose yards, ninth at SMU, including 1,097 kick return yards (7th at SMU). 

He is one of only four FBS players to post both a 50+ yard rushing and receiving TD this season, and sits fourth in the FBS in career receiving yards per game (64.9), while leading the AAC.
    
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR SMU?
Freshman quarterback William Brown got his first collegiate start in the 31-30 overtime win against Navy on Saturday. Brown went 21-of-29 passing with 150 yards and 2 TDs.

He is 32-of-46 passing on the season with 4 TDs and 232 total yards. 

BIG GAME JAMES
With the departure of All-Americans and 2018 NFL Draft picks Courtland Sutton and Trey Quinn, James Proche is the Mustangs leading returning receiver in 2018.

Proche had a massive day against No. 19/22 Michigan in Ann Arbor, posting a career-high 11 receptions for 166 yards and two TDs. He also added 23 KOR yards and 16 PR yards for 214 all-purpose yards. It was his eighth career game with 100+ all-purpose yards, and fifth with 100+ yards receiving.  

He opened 2018 with a pair of catches for 77 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown at UNT, and led  Mustang receivers with six catches for 50 yards against No. 16 TCU. In the win over Navy, Proche posted 64 yards and a TD off nine receptions.

In 13 games last season, Proche caught 40 passes for 816 yards (11th AAC) and six touchdowns (12th AAC) and earned a spot on the preseason Biletnikoff Award Watch List. He also ranked second in The American and 12th nationally at 20.40 yards per reception. Proche also spent time on special teams for the Mustangs and finished with 872 all-purpose yards.

BIG BEN
Ben Hicks opened 2018 with a pair of touchdowns at North Texas, bringing his career touchdowns responsible for total to 57, tied for the most all-time at SMU (Flanigan 1992-97 & Willis 2006-08). He went on to surpass that total and set the SMU record with a 50-yard TD pass to James Proche at No. 19/22 Michigan in week three.

Hicks went 3-for-3 for 16 yards and threw the game-winning touchdown in overtime against Navy in week four.

His 56 passing TDs are the most for a Mustang and his career passing yards are second (6,991). Hicks is third in total offense at 6,918 yards.

He sits eighth among FBS active leaders in career passing TDs (56) and 11th for career passing yards. He leads active AAC quarterbacks in completions (550) and is tied for the conference lead in TDs (56).

Hicks is one of 30 candidates on the Manning Award Watch List, and is also a member of the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List and was named a Player to Watch by the Touchdown Club of Columbus. He was also selected as the No. 11 player to watch on the College Football News Preseason All-American Athletic Conference list and is an All-AAC preseason selection by Athlon Sports.

stay active
    Graduate transfer CJ Sanders joined the Mustangs after three seasons at Notre Dame and leads active FBS players in kickoff return yards (2,140) and is second in combined kick return yards (2,447). He is the only active player in the country with three kick return TDs and a punt return TD and his three kickoff return TDs are tied for the third most among active players nationally.

BACK AT IT
Jordan Wyatt ranks atop SMU's all-time lists with five defensive return touchdowns and four career interception return touchdowns. He finished 2017 with 288 career interception return yards, also the most for a Mustang, and became just the sixth player in FBS history to record an interception return and fumble recovery for touchdowns in the same game week one against Stephen F. Austin.

Among national active leaders, Wyatt tops the list for both career interception return TDs (4) and career defensive return TDs (5), and is second for active career fumbles forced (8). 

Wyatt is a member of the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, as well as a nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team. He has also picked up preseason accolades from College Football News, Athlon Sports and Dave Campbell's Texas Football.    

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 Jordan Wyatt has been awarded the number for 2018.

Players To Wear #23 In Honor of Jerry LeVias
Jordan Wyatt, CB, 2018
Nick Horton, DE, 2016-17
Jeremiah Gaines, TE, 2015
Stephon Sanders, LB, 2012-14
Chris Banjo, DB, 2009-11
    
X GON' GIVE IT TO YA
Preseason Maxwell and Doak Walker Award candidate Xavier Jones is back for his junior season after a successful 2017 campaign. Jones led the team with 1,075 yards on 182 carries, including a career-high 175 yards at Memphis on Nov. 18, and posted nine rushing touchdowns (10th AAC). He also added 14 receptions for 84 yards.

Jones has five career games of 100+ yards rushing, including games of 175, 146 and 106 in 2017, and 20 career rushing TDs.

In addition to the Maxwell and Doak Walker Watch List selections, Jones is a member of the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List and earned preseason accolades from Dave Campbell's Texas Football and Athlon Sports.

C'MON  KE'MON
Ke'Mon Freeman led the Mustangs with 11 rushing touchdowns (4th AAC) in 2017, including multiple TDs in three games (at TCU, Arkansas State, Tulane). Starting with the TCU game on Sept. 16, 2017, Freeman posted a stretch of six straight games with a rushing TD, the longest for a Mustang since Reggie Dupard's streak of 13 straight (last 6 1984, first 7 1985).

Freeman has 1,219 career yards on 295 carries and 15 rushing TDs.   

GETTING DEFENSIVE
Junior defensive back Rodney Clemons leads the Mustangs after four games with 38 tackles (29 solo), while linebacker Richard Moore has 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. Jordon Williams posted a career-high 15 tackles en route to AAC Weekly Honor Roll accolades in the win over Navy and is second on the team with 26 total. Through four games, the Mustangs have 33 TFLs for 80 yards, three forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
SMU welcomed eight graduate transfers, three FBS transfers and six junior college transfers who are eligible for the 2018 season. The grad transfer total is among the highest in the nation. Thirty-two student-athletes have played their first game in a Mustang uniform this season.  

HONORARY CAPTAINS
Head Coach Sonny Dykes has named former Mustang linebacker Randy Allen as the honorary captain for Saturday's game.

Allen lettered for the Mustangs in 1971 and is currently in his 20th season as the head coach at Highland Park High School. Heading into the 2018 season, Allen registered 226 wins with the Scots and has won three UIL state titles. 

Tentative Schedule (subject to change)
Sept. 7 Paul Loyd
Sept. 22 Putt Choate
Sept. 29 Randy Allen
Oct. 27 Kris Briggs, David Richards
Nov. 3 Bobby Leach, Jim Johnston
Nov. 16 Freeman Johns

SMU IN THE CLASSROOM
The 2018 SMU roster features 14 student-athletes who have already earned a degree, giving them the fourth highest total in the country. Andrew Adams, Jourdan Blake, Paka Davis, Jake Hall, Ben Hicks, Larry Hughes, William Jeanlys, Nick Natour, Patrick Nelson, Chad Pursley, CJ Sanders, Cole Sterns, Noah Westerfield and Jordan Wyatt have all earned undergraduate degrees. Of those 14, SMU has eight graduate transfers. Twenty-three Mustangs also earned All-AAC academic honors.

SMU IN THE AP
SMU is one of only 44 schools that have ever been ranked No. 1 by the Associated Press since 1936. The Mustangs have been ranked No. 1 twice. SMU was No. 55 on the AP's Top 100 Programs list released in 2017 and No. 51 on the College Football News Greatest Teams of All Time list in 2018. 

PONY UP-GRADES!
SMU has made significant investments in Ford Stadium improvements since 2011, including an upgraded locker room finished in August 2018, 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.

SMU recently broke ground on a 67,000-square-foot Indoor Performance Center, which will include a 4,000-square-foot multi-use Boulevard Club, a 2,000-square-foot recruiting lounge and access to a 1,500-square-foot outdoor patio, and a turf field with access to a training room and fitness/rehab area.

Prior to the 2016 season, Paragon Sports Constructors installed a new synthetic turf playing field at Ford Stadium. The new synthetic turf field is PowerBlade Bolt as manufactured by Shaw Sports Turf. The design for the new field remained the same, featuring the Mustang logo at mid-field with 'SMU' and 'Mustangs' in opposing end zones.

In the summer of 2013, SMU added a new 233-seat Hall of Champions Club and seven new suites in time for SMU's move to the American Athletic Conference. Among the great features of the new Club and suites is their indoor/outdoor design which allows fans to enjoy the comfort of indoor amenities as well as the excitement of sitting out in the bowl and hearing the roar of the crowd and the hard-hitting action on the field.

IT'S ALWAYS SONNY
It's Always Sonny on the Hilltop with Head Coach Sonny Dykes airs Mondays at Ozona Grill and Bar, and runs throughout the 2018 campaign. The show is live on KAAM 770 AM from 7-8 p.m. There are food and drink specials, trivia and prizes on site each week.

Fans can also tweet their questions for Coach Dykes using the hashtag #AlwaysSonny, or by clicking the "Ask The Coach" button on SMUMustangs.com. The show will also be available on the TuneIn App by searching "SMU" and on Facebook Live (Facebook.com/SMUMustangs).

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 499 straight games.

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), UNT (2015), Memphis (2016) and Navy (2018).

ANNUAL GIVING HITS RECORD HIGH
Donors to SMU Athletics have once again set a new mark for generosity, contributing a record $24.3M to support SMU Athletics and its 424 student-athletes during the last fiscal year. The $24.3M represents a 31% increase in total athletics giving year-over-year and marks the biggest fundraising year for athletics in the history of the university.         

Included in that total are nearly $6.1 million in Mustang Athletic Fund gifts, which provide critical unrestricted support. That total represents an increase of 20% year-over-year and a jump of over 300% during the past decade. These donations provide the foundation for annual support for each of the 17 sports at SMU.

In addition to these gifts, significant investments from donors have been made in SMU Athletics facilities, including new indoor performance center.

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.