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It's Always Sonny On The Hilltop (Audio)

SETTING THE SCENE
•      SMU and Texas State square off at 3:30 p.m. CT Saturday on ESPN.

•     The Mustangs are receiving votes in both the AP and coaches poll to open the season.

•     SMU has won three of its last four season openers, including two on the road (2019 at Arkansas State, 2016 at North Texas).

•     Mustang student-athletes have been named to various national Watch Lists to start the 2020 season including the Maxwell Award (Shane Buechele, Reggie Roberson, Jr.), Wuerffel Trophy (Buechele), Outland Trophy (Jaylon Thomas), Biletnikoff Award (Kylen Granson, Roberson, Jr.), Davey O'Brien (Buechele) Manning Award (Buechele) and CFPA (Buechele). Buechele, Roberson, Jr., and Granson are all members of the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List.     

•     Reggie Roberson, Jr., headlined a group of 10 Mustangs honored by Phil Steele's Magazine, earning a spot on the 2020 Preseason All-America Third Team.

•     The Mustangs had an historic season in 2019, going 10-3 and winning the most games since 1984. It was the sixth 10-win season in program history. SMU finished 6-2 in American Athletic Conference play, the most conference wins in a season since 2010. The program also earned its highest national ranking since 1985, 15/14 during week 10. 

THE SERIES
This is the third meeting between SMU and Texas State, and the first in San Marcos. The Mustangs won the 2019 meeting, 47-17, and defeated the Bobcats, 47-36, in 2008.

ABOUT THE BOBCATS
Texas State is coming off a 3-9 campaign with a 2-6 conference mark. The Bobcats posted wins over Georgia State, Nicholls and South Alabama a season ago. The team returns all-conference honorable mention selections Caeveon Patton, Khambrail Winters and Jarron Morris.

THE COACHES
•    Sonny Dykes is in his third year on the Hilltop and is 15-11 as head coach of the Mustangs. In 2019, Dykes led SMU to an historic season that saw the Mustangs go 10-3, winning the most games since 1984 and earning their highest national ranking (15/14) since 1985. He was named one of nine finalists for the 2019 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award by the FWAA and one of 10 finalists for the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award. He was also a semifinalist for the George Munger Coach of the Year Award and was on the watch list for the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year Award. Prior to his time at SMU, Dykes spent four seasons at Cal (2013-16) and three seasons at Louisiana Tech (2010-12). Dykes' career record stands at 56-56.

•    Jake Spavital is in his second season as the head coach at Texas State after serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at West Virginia for one season. Spavital spent time as the interim head coach at California in 2017 after serving as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach under Sonny Dykes.

LAST TIME VS. TEXAS STATE
DALLAS (AP) -- Shane Buechele threw for two touchdowns and TJ McDaniel rushed for 159 yards and three scores as SMU sprinted to a 47-17 victory over Texas State on Sept. 14, 2019.

The Mustangs started the season 3-0 for the first time since 1984. The Ponies opened this year with wins over Arkansas State, 37-30, and North Texas, 49-27. 

Buechele was 14-of-18 passing for 219 yards, but also had two interceptions. McDaniel had just eight carries with his longest being 48 yards. Xavier Jones added 108 yards and one score on 20 carries.

The Mustangs took the opening kickoff and drove 74 yards for the score when Buechele hit James Proche from the 4. They added a field goal and another touchdown to go up 13-0 at the half. Jones and McDaniel had a TD apiece in the third to go ahead 27-3 before the Bobcats would cross the goal line.

SMU amassed 639 yards while limiting the Bobcats to 241 total yards. Gresch Jensen threw for 285 yards and one score for Texas State (0-3).

HOT START
Not only did SMU open the 2019 season 8-0 for the first time since 1982, but the Mustangs outscored opponents 86-20 and outgained them 1,165-462 (145.66-57.75) in the first quarter in 2019. At the half, SMU was outscoring opponents 176-86 and outgained them 2,155-1,253 (269.38-156.63).

WATCH US
Four Mustangs open the 2020 season on national Watch Lists led by quarterback Shane Buechele, who is listed on the Maxwell, Wuerffel, Davey O'Brien, Manning Award and CFPA Lists. Reggie Roberson, Jr., joins Buechele on the Maxwell list, while also making the Biletnikoff Award list with tight end Kylen Granson. Jaylon Thomas has been recognized by the Outland Trophy Award. Buechele, Roberson, Jr., and Granson are all members of the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List.  

ALL-CONFERENCE RETURNERS
Three All-AAC selections return for the Mustangs in 2020, led by first-team selection Shane Buechele. Kylen Granson and Jaylon Thomas were also named to the league's second team.

HOME SWEET HOME
The Mustangs finished the 2019 season 6-0 at home in 2019, posting a perfect record at home for the first time since going 4-0 in 1968 when games were played at the Cotton Bowl. The Mustangs last went perfect on campus in 1939 when they were 5-0. SMU last won six games at home in 2017, finishing 6-1 overall.

FOR THE RECORD
The Mustangs set season records in scoring (544), scoring average (41.8), total yards (6,368), total yards per game (489.8), total plays (1,037), rushing TDS (35), total first downs (322) and total TDs (73), while tying the passing TDs record (35). On defense they set records for sacks (51) and TFLs (105).

STREAKING
With the win over No. 25 TCU in 2019, 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. The Mustangs' eight game win streak to start the season is also the longest since SMU won 10 straight in 1982.

CLUB TAKEAWAY
Starting with SMU's game versus TCU in 2018, the Mustangs posted a 19-game takeaway streak that ended at Memphis in 2019. The streak was the second longest active streak in the nation at the time. 

Overall, the defense forced 21 takeaways in 2019 (9 INTs, 12 FRs), ranking them fourth in the American Athletic Conference and 34th nationally.

GETTING DEFENSIVE
SMU registered a program-record 51 sacks and 105 tackles-for-loss in 2019. The 3.92 sacks ranked first in the nation, while the 8.5 TFLs were third. The Mustangs return their leading tackler from 2019 in Richard McBryde, who was approved for a sixth year of eligibility. McBryde had 98 tackles, including 9.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks.

@BGSHANEBUECHELE
Shane Buechele threw for 3,929 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2019, both SMU records. His passing TD total, passing yards per game (302.2) and points responsible for (222) all led the American Athletic Conference. Buechele posted three games of 400+ yards and registered 4,034 yards of total offense, which ranks second in a season for a Mustang.

Heading into the 2020 season, Buechele ranks in the top 10 on active career FBS lists for completions (2nd, 710), passing yards (2nd, 8,565), total offense (2nd, 8,928), TD passes (3rd, 64), passing yards per game (5th, 237.9), total TDs responsible for (5th, 70) and completions per game (6th, 19.72).

Buechele has been named to the Maxwell, Manning, Davey O'Brien, CFPA Award and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch Lists, as well as the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. He was also selected as CBS Sports' No. 1 player in the conference heading into the 2020 season, and the top quarterback in the state of Texas by Dave Campbell's Texas Football.

Athlon Sports, Dave Campbell's, College Football News and Phil Steele's Magazine have named him a preseason first-team all-conference selection.

BUECHELE RAISES $50,000 FOR CITY OF DALLAS COVID-19 ASSISTANCE FUND
Shane Buechele and his girlfriend, Paige Vasquez, raised $50,000 for the Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund for COVID-19. Back in April the couple decided to start a GoFundMe account so that they could give back to the place they call home. 

"I was impressed with Shane Buechele's performance on the field last season for SMU, but I am far more impressed with his commitment to his community here in the city of Dallas," said Mayor Eric Johnson. "Dallas is a resilient city. We will recover from COVID-19, and the funds raised by Shane and Paige will help us get there."
 
Their GoFundMe account was created to help the city during this time of uncertainty. The pair felt that they could team up and use their voices to rally support and give back to their community.
 
"Dallas is home. I grew up here," Buechele said. "It's been amazing to see how many people have sent in donations. Everyone wants to help and give back in some way and I'm glad they're able to do that through the donation page Paige and I started."

@THEKINGREGGIE
After missing the final five games of the 2019 season, Reggie Roberson, Jr., returns as the Mustangs' leading wide receiver for the 2020 season. 

Roberson, Jr., finished second on the team with 43 receptions for 803 yards and added six touchdowns in 2019. The senior enters the season currently ranked seventh among FBS active career leaders in yards per catch at 16.2. 

The Biletnikoff Watch List honoree was also named a 2020 preseason third-team All-America selection by Phil Steele's Magazine, as well as a first-team All-AAC honoree. He's also been honored as the best wide receiver in Texas by Dave Campbell's Texas Football, a member of the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Watch List honoree and a preseason all-conference selection by Dave Campbell and Athlon Sports.  

BACK FOR MOORE
Linebacker Richard Moore was approved for a sixth year of eligibility after suffering a season-ending injury before game four of the 2019 season. Moore started all 12 games in 2018 and was named an American Athletic Conference honorable mention selection after leading the Mustangs with 92 tackles and 5.0 sacks for 28 yards. He added 13.5 TFLs for 44 yards and five QB hurries.

CONSISTENCY IS KEY
The Mustangs return four offensive linemen who started at least 12 games in 2019 in Jaylon Thomas, Hayden Howerton, Alan Ali and Beau Morris. Senior Cobe Bryant also started six games for the Mustangs a season ago. The line helped the SMU offensive to national rankings of seventh in scoring offense (41.8), ninth in total offense (489.8) and 13th in passing offense (309.0).

SMU JOINS THE PLAYERS COALITION 
The Mustangs announced they would be joining the Players Coalition in June.

The Players Coalition exists to end social injustices and racial inequality so future generations have the opportunity to thrive without barriers. The mission "is to achieve social and racial equality using Players Coalition influence and support to impact systemic social and civic change in the areas of Police & Community Relations, Criminal Justice Reform and Education & Economic Advancement in low-income communities."

Former Mustang and current Arizona Cardinal Kelvin Beachum serves on the organization's task force.

GREAT FAMILY
The Mustangs will wear jersey patches for the 2020 season with the motto: GREAT FAMILY. The patch represents the following: 
A great family treats one another with respect. 
A great family is relentless in its advocacy for one another. 
A great family holds its members accountable to a high standard and unites together to achieve its goals and meet its expectations. 
A great family communicates their differences. 
A great family allows no excuse for apathy, racism, hatred, discrimination and injustice. 
A great family loves no matter the circumstances.

MUSTANGS PARTNER WITH JEREMY DARLOW
The SMU football program has announced a partnership with brand marketing consultant and best-selling author Jeremy Darlow.
 
The partnership, which gives Mustang football players access to Darlow's online course, The Darlow Rules, helps collegiate student-athletes develop and grow their personal brands.
 
A former marketing director for adidas with 15-plus years of brand marketing experience, Darlow now owns and operates a consultancy focused on helping athletes, coaches and teams build their brands. Over the course of his career, he has worked with some of the most heralded athletes, celebrities and NCAA programs in and around sports, including Aaron Rodgers, Von Miller, Adrian Peterson, Dak Prescott, Kris Bryant, Carlos Correa, Lionel Messi, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Notre Dame, Michigan, UCLA, Miami, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
 
SMU is the first school in Texas and the first program in the American Athletic Conference accepted into the program.
 
The partnership also includes access to conversations with Darlow to help further develop the brand marketing plan.

TEAM LEADERS
Shane Buechele, Reggie Roberson, Jr., Hayden Howerton, Delano Robinson, and Brandon Stephens have been selected by their teammates as captains for the 2020 season.

IT'S ALWAYS SONNY ON THE HILLTOP
The third season of It's Always Sonny on the Hilltop with Head Coach Sonny Dykes runs throughout the 2020 campaign. The show takes place Mondays from 7-8 p.m.
 
The 2020 show will have a slightly different look than previous years. The voice of SMU Football, Rich Phillips, will be on-site for the show, while Dykes will join via video.
 
This season's show will be available on the TuneIn App, by searching "SMU", with live audio only, and on the SMU Mustangs Mobile App. Video will be available the following day on SMUMustangs.com and on SMU's social media channels.
 
SMU Athletics invites fans to watch on-site with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis as Ozona is currently operating with limited capacity.

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 Brandon Stephens has been awarded the number for 2020.

Players To Wear #23 In Honor of Jerry LeVias
Brandon Stephens, DB, 2020
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

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

#PONYUPDALLAS
In 2019, 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, No. 25 TCU on Sept. 21 and Houston on Oct. 24.

• 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.

WELCOME TO THE HILLTOP
Garrett Riley joined the Mustang football staff as Offensive Coordinator and quarterbacks coach in January of 2020.
 
Riley arrived on the Hilltop after spending the 2019 season as running backs coach at Appalachian State, and was set to be promoted to Offensive Coordinator. The Mountaineers went 13-1 last season, including a Sun Belt Championship and a win in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl over UAB. 
 
Prior to his time at Appalachian State, Riley spent three seasons at Kansas (2016-18) in various capacities. From 2013-15, Riley worked with the offense at ECU, spending the 2015 season as the outside receivers coach and 2013 and 2014 as an offensive assistant.
 
Riley got his start in the collegiate ranks in 2012 as running backs coach at Augustana College (Ill.), and prior to that was a quarterbacks and passing game assistant at Roosevelt High School in Lubbock, Texas, in 2011.

SAME NAMES, NEW LOOK
Nine of the ten assistant coaches on the Mustang coaching staff return for the 2020 season, but three with new roles this year. A.J. Ricker has added the Co-Offensive Coordinator title to his offensive line duties, Chris Brasfield has been named assistant head coach and special teams coordinator and Ra'Shaad Samples is now in charge of running backs.

MUSTANGS IN THE CLASSROOM
SMU had 56 student-athletes named to the AAC All-Academic team following the 2019-20 season. To be eligible for the honor, a nominee must have competed in an AAC-sponsored sport, attained a minimum grade-point average of 3.00 for the preceding academic year, and completed a minimum of two consecutive semesters or three consecutive quarters of academic work, with a total of 18 semester or 27 quarter credits, not including remedial courses.

ON THE FIELD, IN THE CLASSROOM, IN THE COMMUNITY
Tyler Page is representing SMU as the 2020 nominee for the William V. Campbell Trophy. Page has a 3.9 grade-point-average in finance and has been named to the SMU Honor Roll with High Distinction, Distinction and the Honor Roll.

Page played in all 13 games in 2019 and registered 13 catches for 198 yards. He added five kickoff returns for 127 yards and a punt return for six yards. 

In the community, Page participates in SMU's visits to the Children's Hospital, youth football camps, The Big Event and elementary school service events and visits. 

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.

SMU also opened the Indoor Performance Center prior to the 2019 season. For information, see page 8.

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).