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Coach Dykes Weekly Media Availability
Sept. 30, 2019: It's Always Sonny On The Hilltop
Coach Dykes: American Athletic Conference Weekly Teleconference
Gary Media Availability 

SETTING THE SCENE
•    The No. 24 Mustangs take a 5-0 record into Saturday's match-up with Tulsa at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU. 

•     SMU defeated USF, 48-21, on Saturday to move to 5-0 for the first time since 1983. A win would give the Mustangs their second bowl appearance in three seasons, and their first under Head Coach Sonny Dykes.

•     The Mustangs are ranked No. 24 in the AP Poll, their first ranking since October 1986, and are receiving votes in the Coaches Poll. 

•     Shane Buechele was named the American Athlete Conference Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 226 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 27 yards and a score on Saturday. Rodney Clemons was named to the Weekly Honor Roll with a pair of interceptions.

•     SMU currently leads the nation in sacks (5.00) and is top 10 in first down offense (8th, 124), scoring offense (9th, 44.4) and sacks allowed (9th, 0.80). Xavier Jones is tied atop the FBS for total TDs (11), rushing TDs (10) and total points scored (66), while Rodney Clemons is tied for the national lead for interceptions (3). 

•     Six Mustangs have been named to Watch Lists to open the 2019 season, including James Proche, who earned a spot on the Maxwell, Biletnikoff, Paul Hornung and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Lists. Reggie Roberson, Jr. (Biletnikoff, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose) joins him on a pair, while Xavier Jones (Doak Walker), Tyler Page (Wuerffel), Demerick Gary (AFCA Good Works) and Shane Buechele (Earl Campbell Tyler Rose) also earned mentions.

THE SERIES
Saturday's meeting is the 26th between SMU and Tulsa, with the Mustangs holding the 14-11 all-time advantage. Tulsa won the most recent match-up, but SMU has the most recent win in Dallas, 38-34, in 2017.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN HURRICANE
Tulsa enters Saturday's game 2-2 and is coming off a week five bye. Both losses this season have come to teams ranked or receiving votes, and this weekend's match-up will be the third with a team that is receiving at least votes in the polls.    

THE COACHES
•    Sonny Dykes is in his second season as head coach of the Mustangs and has a 10-8 record on the Hilltop. In his first season, SMU boasted one of the most explosive offenses in school history and a vastly-improved defense. The season included his first win as SMU head coach, a 31-30 overtime victory over Navy at home, and a 45-31 win over then-No. 17 Houston at Ford Stadium. Dykes' career record stands at 51-53.

•    Philip Montgomery is in his fifth season as the head coach of Tulsa. He has a 23-31 record with the Golden Hurricane, and led Tulsa to back-to-back bowl games in 2015 and 2016. Prior to his time at Tulsa, he served as the offensive coordinator at Baylor.

LAST TIME VS. TULSA
TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Seth Boomer threw for 251 yards and a touchdown and Tulsa thwarted SMU's bowl hopes with a 27-24 win on Nov. 24, 2018.

The Mustangs were looking for their sixth win for the second consecutive week to become bowl eligible for the second straight year. Memphis beat SMU 28-18 last week.

Ben Hicks completed an 11-yard scoring pass to James Proche with 91 seconds left and SMU was within 27-24. The ensuing onside kick went out of bounds and Tulsa (3-9, 2-6 American Athletic Conference) ran out the clock.

Tulsa led from the start building a 21-0 lead. Shamari Brooks scored on a 15-yard run, Boomer threw a 2-yard TD to Keenen Johnson and Corey Taylor II plunged in from 1 yard out. SMU (5-7, 4-4) responded with a nine-play, 68-yard drive that ended when Ke'Mon Freeman scored from 2 yards out.

In the third quarter, Rodney Clemons blocked a 42-yard field goal attempt by John Parker Romo and scooped the ball and raced 45 yards to the endzone to make it 21-14.

Romo made field goals of 34 yards in the third quarter and 22 yards with 3:28 to play.

QUICK HITS
•    James Proche, Shane Buechele, Richard Moore and Rodney Clemons were voted captains for the 2019 season.
•    SMU is one of five teams with a 5-0 record with every win over an FBS team (Alabama, Clemson, Auburn, Ohio State).
•    The Mustangs had two takeaways (2 INTs) in Saturday's win, giving them a takeaway in 16 straight games (32 total) with multiple takeaways in 10 of those games. The streak is tied for the third-longest active in the FBS.
•    Shane Buechele was named the AAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, while Rodney Clemons was named to the Weekly Honor Roll.
•    Shane Buechele opened Saturday's game with 13 straight completions, tied for second on SMU's consecutive completions list.
•    The Mustangs rank 13th in the FBS in total offense (510.6).
•    SMU is 5-0 for the first time since 1983, and the 3-0 road record this season is the most consecutive road wins since a streak of four in 1984-85. The Mustangs have won five of its last six on the road, the best since a 5-1 road-stretch in 1984-85. Last time SMU started better than 5-0 was in 1982 (10-0 start in 11-0-1 season).
•    The Mustangs had 497 yards of total offense in the win over USF. SMU has had 497+ in four games this season and six of the past nine overall.
•    SMU did not allow a sack for the second time this season in the win at USF, and have only allowed four in 2019.

HOT START
Not only is SMU 5-0 to start the season for the first time since 1983, but the Mustangs have outscored opponents 63-17 and outgained them 758-264 (151.6-52.8) in the first quarter this season. At the half, SMU has outscored opponents 122-43 and outgained them 1,404-624 (280.8-124.8). 
 
WHAT A RUSH
The Mustangs have registered 19 rushing touchdowns in 2019 after just 17 during the 2018 season. In the win over USF, Xavier Jones (2), Shane Buechele and Tyler Lavine posted rushing TDs for SMU. The Mustangs had 252 rushing yards in the game, giving them their third 300-yard game this season.

SMU registered 56 carries for 390 yards (14th most in a game for SMU) and five rushing TDs in the win over Texas State, giving the Mustangs the most rushing yards since the 467 total against TCU on Sept. 28, 1985. It was also the most rushing TDs since the five at Connecticut in 2018.

TJ McDaniel posted 159 yards off eight carries and three TDs to become the first Mustang with 150+ yards and 3 TDs in his SMU debut. He was the third freshman in school history to accomplish the feat, and ninth player (10th time) overall to post the numbers.

In addition to McDaniel, Xavier Jones also had 108 yards in the game, giving SMU two 100-yard rushers for the first time since the game at UConn in 2018.

STREAKING
With the win over No. 25 TCU, SMU had its first five-game, non-conference winning streak since 1984-85. The 1984 season was also the last time SMU went perfect in regular season, non-conference action and 1950 was the last time the Mustangs went 4-0 or better in regular season, non-conference action. 
    
CLUB TAKEAWAY
The Mustang defense has 10 takeaways this season, giving them at least one takeaway in 16 straight games (32 total). In 10 of those games, SMU has had multiple takeaways. The 16 straight games is currently tied for the third longest streak in the nation. 

Rodney Clemons had a pair of interceptions at USF, making him the first Mustang to post two in a game since Horace Richardson at ECU in 2016.

The three fumble recoveries in the win over No. 25 TCU were the most since SMU had three against Navy on Sept. 22, 2018.

Overall, the Mustangs are +2 in turnover margin this season, only having lost the turnover battle in the game against Texas State. 

DYNAMIC DUO
The receiving duo of James Proche and Reggie Roberson, Jr. has a combined 16 100-yard receiving games in its career, the most of any duo on a team in The American. In 2019, the pair has already posted three 100-yard games (Proche vs. UNT; Roberson Jr. at Arkansas State, at TCU).

Roberson Jr. currently leads the AAC in receiving yards (510), while Proche is first in receptions per game (6.8).

GETTING DEFENSIVE
• SMU had a program-record 10 sacks (was 8) by 10 different Mustangs and a season-high 13 TFLs (was 7) by 13 different Mustangs in Saturday's win.

• The Mustangs have 25 sacks this season, matching their 2018 total. SMU leads the nation in sacks (5.00).

• AAC Weekly Honor Roll member Rodney Clemons had a career-high two interceptions (3 in 2019, 6 career) Saturday.

• Richard McBryde led the Mustangs in tackles for the second consecutive week after taking over the starting linebacker position.

PONYUP, ARLINGTON
Shane Buechele set the record for most passing yards by a Mustang in his first start with 360 in the season-opening win at Arkansas State on Aug. 31. The junior went 30-for-49 with 360 yards. The totals were his second-highest in career attempts and yardage, and third-highest for completions.

In week two, Buechele went 21-31 with 292 passing yards and 3 TD (3rd career 3+ TD game), while adding 24 yards on the ground. The 316 yards of total offense gave him his first consecutive games of 300+ yards.

Buechele was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll after the win over No. 25 TCU. The junior completed 23 passes for 288 yards and two TDs, while rushing for 30 yards and his fifth-career rushing TD. His 318 yards of total offense gave him his third game this season with 300+.

Buechele was named Co-Offensive Player of the Week and a Manning Award Star of the Week following the win over USF. The junior threw for 226 yards and three TDs off a season-high completion percentage of 84.0. He was also five for 27 rushing with his second rushing TD of the season. Buechele has multiple TD passes in four straight games.

Among career active FBS leaders, Buechele is ninth in completion percentage (.636), 14th in passing yards per game (215.0) and 19th in passing yards (6,021).

In three seasons at Texas, Buechele threw for 4,636 yards and 30 touchdowns. He set the UT freshman record with 2,958 yards and had the second most TDs as a freshman (21). He was also the first Texas quarterback since 2009 to have at least 2,500 passing yards and 20 touchdowns in a season.

TEXAS TIES
Shane Buechele isn't the only Texas transfer who has found success with the Mustangs. In two seasons on the Hilltop, quarterback Garrett Gilbert ranked second all-time at SMU in 300-yard passing games (9), third in career yardage (6,460) and completions (603) and tied for fifth in touchdown passes (36).

CHANNEL 3
James Proche continues to climb the SMU record books with 34 receptions for 376 yards and five TDs in 2019. The senior is in the top five all-time at SMU for career receiving yards (3,100), receptions (224) and receiving TDs (29). 

In the win over USF he had 125 all-purpose yards (96 receiving, 29 punt returns) and is now 10th all-time at SMU with 4,020 for his career. It was his 17th career game with 100+ all-purpose yards. His two TDs also gave him his sixth-career multi-TD game and fourth straight game with a TD reception (tied for 6th longest streak at SMU).

Proche is also the FBS career active leader in receiving yards and is tied in receiving TDs.

2019 Watch Lists
Maxwell Award - College Player of the Year
Biletnikoff Award - Outstanding FBS receiver
Paul Hornung - Demonstrates an extreme, high-level of versatility
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose - Nation's top offensive player with a Texas tie

James Proche led SMU with 93 receptions for 1,199 yards and 12 touchdowns en route to All-American Athletic Conference honors in 2018, and returned in 2019 as the NCAA's FBS active career leader in receiving yards. He led the conference and was in the top 12 nationally in receptions per game, receiving TDs, receiving yards per game and receiving yards.

THE KING REGGIE
Reggie Roberson, Jr. opened the 2019 season with a career-high 180 yards off 11 receptions to lead the Mustangs over Arkansas State. It was the fifth 100-yard game of his career. In week two, Roberson Jr. tied his career high with a pair of touchdown receptions against North Texas. In week three, he led the Mustangs with four catches for 68 yards.

In week four, Roberson Jr. posted his sixth-career 100-yard receiving game, leading the Mustangs with 122 yards off four catches in the win at TCU. He added 46 yards and a TD in the win over USF.

Roberson, Jr. was second on the team with 52 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns in only 10 games last season. At the conference level, Roberson Jr. ranked fourth in receptions per game (5.2) and receiving yards per game (80.2).

He is a member of both the Biletnikoff and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch Lists.

X GON' GIVE IT TO YA
Running back Xavier Jones had a career-high tying three rushing touchdowns to open the season against Arkansas State and matched that total in week two against North Texas. His back-to-back performance made him the first Mustang to have 3+ TDs in consecutive games since Zach Line in 2011 (5 vs Northwestern St. 9/17, 3 at Memphis 9/24) and earned him a spot on the Doak Walker Award Watch List and AAC Player of the Week honors.

Jones posted his 10th career game with multiple TDs in the win at USF, and ninth career 100-yard rushing game (155 yards).

His 32 career rushing TDs are tied for sixth among FBS career active leaders, his 34 TDs overall are eighth and his 2,685 yards are 12th.

In 2015, Jones set the freshman record for rushing TDs with 10, and was a member of the Doak Walker Watch List in 2016 and 2018 and the Maxwell Award Watch List in 2018.

STAY ACTIVE
CJ Sanders joined the Mustangs after three seasons at Notre Dame and is the FBS active leader in combined kick return touchdowns (5) and combined kick return yards (2,860). He ranks second in kickoff returns (105), kickoff return yards (2,531) and kickoff return touchdowns (4).

The redshirt senior wasted no time getting started in 2019, returning his fourth-career kickoff return for a touchdown en route to AAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The 98-yard return ties him for the eighth longest at SMU. Overall, Sanders finished with three returns for 133 yards against Arkansas State. In week three, Sanders registered 63 yards off three kick returns, and in week four he added 45 yards off a pair of returns.

Sanders played only four games in 2018 due to an injury and was named a Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award Nominee. Ten times during the 2019 college football season, three inspiring student-athletes from all levels of college football, who have overcome injury, illness or other challenges, will be recognized as nominees by a panel of writers, editors and sports information directors from CoSIDA, AP and Touchdown Illustrated.

GRIDIRON GRADS
The 2019 SMU roster opened the season with 21 student-athletes who have already earned a degree, tying for the highest total in the country. Zach Abercrumbia, Chris Biggurs, Shane Buechele, Rodney Clemons, Pono Davis, Charlie Flores, Luke Hogan, Kevin Johnson, Xavier Jones, Richard McBryde, Tommy McIntyre, Richard Moore, Tyeson Neals, Patrick Nelson, Merek Pierce, James Proche, Kevin Robledo, CJ Sanders, Delontae Scott and Brandon Stephens. Of the 20 remaining, SMU has nine graduate transfers. 

WELCOME TO THE HILLTOP
Ra'Shaad Samples joined the Mustang coaching staff in July after serving as an assistant wide receivers coach at Texas. Prior to his stint at Texas, Samples spent two years as an offensive assistant at Houston in 2016 and 2017 working with the running backs and receivers (2016) under Darrell Wyatt and working with the quarterbacks (2017) under Brian Johnson. He played a role in the mentorship of Kyle Allen, D'Eriq King and Marquez Stevenson. 

Samples played in six games at Oklahoma State in 2014 as a redshirt freshman, registering three catches for 11 yards. In 2015, he transferred to Houston, and sat out the 2015 season due to transfer obligations and the 2016 season due to injury.

A.J. Ricker joined the Mustang staff in January and serves as the offensive line coach. Ricker came to the Hilltop after serving in the same capacity at Kansas in 2018.

Ricker served in an offensive analyst capacity at Oklahoma State in 2017 and Houston in 2016. While at OSU, the Cowboys posted the nation's top passing offense with 389.2 yards per game, and ranked second nationally in total offense (568.9). In 2016, Houston ranked 17th in passing offense (296.3) and 26th in scoring offense (35.6).

In addition to Samples and Ricker joining staff, Randall Joyner took over defensive line duties, while Josh Martin now adds special teams coordinator to his duties.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
SMU welcomes 14 transfers, including seven graduate transfers, and five junior college transfers for the 2019 season. In total, the Mustangs have 60 new names on the roster this season.

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 Rodney Clemons has been awarded the number for 2019.
    
Players To Wear #23 In Honor of Jerry LeVias
Rodney Clemons, S, 2019
Jordan Wyatt, CB, 2018
Nick Horton, DE, 2016-17
Jeremiah Gaines, TE, 2015
Stephon Sanders, LB, 2012-14
Chris Banjo, DB, 2009-11

ON THE FIELD, IN THE CLASSROOM, IN THE COMMUNITY    
Junior Tyler Page is one of 93 student-athletes from college football's Football Bowl Subdivision named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. The Wuerffel Trophy, known as "College Football's Premier Award for Community Service," is awarded to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.        

Page is a Finance major in the Cox School of Business from Friendswood, Texas, and currently boasts a 4.0 grade-point-average in his major. He was named to SMU's Honor Roll with High Distinction in the fall of 2018 and the Honor Roll with Distinction on three other occasions. Page is also a three-time All-American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team honoree.

One of SMU's most faithful participants in community service activities, Page has regularly taken part in Children's Hospital visits, elementary school service events, The Big Event, SMU youth football clinics and various other activities.

Senior Demerick Gary was announced as a nominee for the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The award is given annually to college football players for the impact they make off the field.

Gary is a leader in community service initiatives for the Mustangs, taking part in a variety of events. Activities include visits to the Children's Hospital, working with Feed My Starving Children, elementary school pep rallies and SMU football youth clinics. On the field, Gary played in 11 games for the Mustangs in 2018, making seven starts. The Dallas native registered 23 tackles, including three for loss. He also added a fumble recovery, one break-up and a quarterback hurry.

Coming into 2019, Gary has played in 36 games, recorded 59 tackles, 16 TFLs and 4.5 sacks. Gary is majoring in journalism.
    
COLLEGE FOOTBALL 150TH ANNIVERSARY
The 2019 football season marks college football's 150th anniversary. The Mustangs will wear the CFB150 uniform patch to commemorate the season.

As part of the national celebration of the 150th season of college football in 2019, the American Athletic Conference will showcase some of the great moments and key individuals from its member schools who have added to the rich tradition of the sport and its contribution to American society and culture.

IT'S ALWAYS SONNY ON THE HILLTOP    
The second season of It's Always Sonny on the Hilltop with Head Coach Sonny Dykes begins Monday, Aug. 26 at Ozona Grill and Bar, and runs throughout the 2019 campaign. The show will stream live each Monday from 7-8 p.m. 

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", on Facebook live at Facebook.com/SMUMustangs and on Twitter (@SMUMustangs) and Instagram (@SMU.Mustangs).

There will be no show Oct. 7 & Nov. 11 due to SMU's off weeks.

#PONYUPDALLAS
The Mustangs wore Dallas-themed uniforms to symbolize the relationship between SMU and the city of Dallas in wins over North Texas on Sept. 7 and No. 25 TCU on Sept. 21.

• The helmet decal featured the famous Triple D interlocked with the timeless SMU Pony, symbolizing the unity between the city of Dallas and SMU.

• The stripe on the helmet and jersey sleeves pay homage to the Dallas Cowboys.

• The number and pant stripe pay tribute to the 1966 Dallas Cowboys, led by quarterback and SMU alum Don Meredith.

• The script 'Dallas' featured on the chest pays homage to SMU alum and AFL founder Lamar Hunt and the Dallas Texans.

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 512 straight games. His 500th was SMU's 63-27 victory over HBU on Sept. 29, 2018.

PONY UP-GRADES!
Across all funds, donors gave more than $18.7 million to support Athletics in fiscal year 2019, a total that includes $9.6 million in capital gifts.    

Specific to Ford Stadium, SMU has made significant investments 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.

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.

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), Navy (2018) and Texas State (2019).