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AUDIO: It's Always Sonny on the Hilltop

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SETTING THE SCENE
•    SMU hosts [25/24] Memphis Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

•     The Mustangs are receiving votes in both the AP and coaches poll for the fourth straight week.

•     The Mustangs are coming off a 50-7 win over SFA in its home opener. Ulysses Bentley IV rushed for a pair of TDs while Shane Buechele threw a pair to lead the SMU offense. Defensively, Delano Robinson led the Mustangs for the second straight game in tackles, while five different players registered sacks. Brandon Crossley posted his first career interception, and Keke Burns added a blocked punt for a safety.

•     Ulysses Bentley IV has posted consecutive 100-yard games and was named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll in back-to-back weeks following his 104-yard, 2-TD performance against SFA.

•     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 13th meeting between SMU and Memphis, with Memphis holding the 9-3 all-time advantage. The Tigers have won the last six match-ups in the series dating back to 2014. The Mustangs' last victory came on the road in 2013, a 34-29 win.

ABOUT THE TIGERS
Memphis is 1-0 in 2020 after having three games canceled or postponed leading up to Saturday's match-up. The Tigers defeated Arkansas State, 37-24, at home to open the season.

THE COACHES
•    Sonny Dykes is in his third year on the Hilltop and is 18-11 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 59-56.

•    Ryan Silverfield is in his first full season at the head of the Memphis football program. Silverfileld led the Tigers to a win at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in 2019. He has served in various coaching roles at Memphis since 2016, most recently as Deputy Head Coach, run game coordinator and offensive line coach in 2019. Silverfield came to Memphis after serving as an assistant offensive line coach with the Detroit Lions in 2015.

QUICK HITS
•     The Mustang offense currently ranks third in the FBS in first down offense (83), fifth in scoring offense (48.7) seventh in rushing offense (267.7) and ninth in total offense (562.0). 

•     Ulysses Bentley IV leads the country with 7 rushing TDs.

•     Danny Gray had a rushing and receiving TD against SFA, the first Mustang to do so since Xavier Jones at TCU on Sept. 21, 2019.

•     Keke Burns registered his first career blocked punt versus SFA that resulted in a safety.

•     SMU had 50 points in the win over SFA and has 146 through the first three games. The total is the second-highest in program history (148 in 2017). 

•     The Mustangs close scheduled 2020 non-conference games 3-0 giving them eight straight regular-season, non-conference wins (13-3 in the last 16,18-7 in the last 25).

•     The Mustangs opened the season 3-0 for the first time in consecutive seasons since 1983-84.

•     Brandon Stephens was selected to wear the number 23 for the 2020 season in honor of Jerry LeVias. LeVias was the first African-American to receive an athletic scholarship in the Southwest Conference.

LAST TIME VS. MEMPHIS
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Brady White threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns, Antonio Gibson

had a school-record 386 all-purpose yards with three scores and No. 24 Memphis held off No. 15 SMU 54-48 on Nov. 2.

The teams combined for 1,067 yards total offense, and SMU had its chance after scoring three TDs in the fourth quarter. Shane Buechele threw a 2-yard TD pass to James Proche with 2:06 left and went for 2 after each, converting all three.

But Preston Brady recovered SMU's onside kick, and Memphis ran out the clock for the victory.

Gibson caught six passes for 130 yards and a TD, and he also returned a kickoff 97 yards to open the third. The senior wide receiver padded Memphis' lead, taking a handoff 78 yards for a TD with 9:31 left to give him 386 all-purpose yards for a Memphis record. Damonte Coxie caught seven passes for 143 yards and two TDs.

Buechele finished with 456 yards passing and three TDs, and Ke'mon Freeman ran for two TDs.

HOME SWEET HOME
The Mustangs finished the 2019 season 6-0 at home, 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.

SMU opened 1-0 in 2020 and announced a sellout attendance of 7,898 in last Saturday's game against SFA.

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).

The Mustangs have been tied or leading after the first quarter in 14 of the past 15 games and tied or leading at halftime in 12 of the past 15.

WATCH US
Four Mustangs opened 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. 

500 CLUB
SMU had 544 total yards (367 passing, 177 rushing) in its season-opening win over Texas State. It was the second straight season opener with 500+ yards. The Mustangs followed that up with a 710-yard performance at North Texas, the second most in a game at SMU. The Mustangs have posted at least 500 yards in eight of the last 16 games.

SEEING RED
SMU was a perfect 8-8 (6 TDs, 2 FGs) in the red zone at North Texas. The Mustangs were perfect in the red zone three times in 2019 (at USF, 5-5; at Memphis, 5-5; ECU 4-4). The 8-8 were the most since going 7-7 at UConn in 2018. 

The Mustangs followed the perfect performance up going 6-6 against SFA and are now 18-19 on the season (15 TDs, 3 FGs).

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.

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 (111).

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.

SMU's win over SFA brought the regular-season, non-conference win streak to eight straight, the most since a streak of 17 from 1979-85.

WHAT A RUSH
SMU set the single-season rushing touchdown record in 2019 with 35 and have 12 to open the 2020 season. Ulysses Bentley IV leads the way with seven after a two-TD, 104-yard outing against SFA last week. His TD total and 380 total rushing yards top the FBS, while his 10.56 yards per carry are second and 126.7 yards per game are fourth.

Against UNT, Bentley IV posted the fourth-best, single-game rushing yardage performance in SMU history with 227 yards off 19 carries with three touchdowns.

The Mustangs had a pair of 100-yard rushers against SFA as TJ McDaniel joined Bentley IV with 104 yards. SMU also had five total rushing TDs with Danny Gray, Terrance Gipson and TaMerik Williams all posting their first career rushing TDs.

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.

The Mustangs continue the party in 2020 with five takeaways after three games, for one in 25 of the past 27 games. Brandon Crossley got the interception for SMU against SFA, the first of his career.

GETTING DEFENSIVE
SMU registered a program-record 51 sacks and 111 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.

The Mustangs have 8 sacks and 25 TFLs in 2020. Delano Robinson leads the defense with 20 tackles. Elijah Chatman has a team-leading 4.0 TFLs for 21 yards, after having just 3.5 in 2019. Brandon Stephens, who led the team with 12 pass breakups in 2019, has four in 2020.

CONSISTENCY IS KEY
The Mustangs returned 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 offense to national rankings of seventh in scoring offense (41.8), ninth in total offense (489.8) and 13th in passing offense (309.0).

This season, the Mustangs currently rank third in first down offense (83), fifth in scoring offense (48.7) seventh in rushing offense (267.7) and ninth in total offense (562.0).

Thomas, Howerton, Ali and Morris have started both games this season. Together, the group has a combined 97 starts for the Mustangs.

@BGSHANEBUECHELE
Shane Buechele threw a pair of TD passes against SFA and now has multiple passing touchdowns in 13 of the past 15 games. His career TD total now stands at 71, with 41 at SMU.

Buechele threw for 367 yards and one TD in the season opener against Texas State, and went on to earn National Performer of the Week honors from the CFPA for his week two performance. He threw for 344 yards and four TDs and also added 29 yards on the ground and a rushing TD. The 300-yard game was Buechele's seventh at SMU and ninth overall.

Among quarterbacks currently active, Buechele's career marks are second in the FBS for completions (774), passing yards (9,417), total offense (9,801) and touchdown passes (71) and fourth for total TDs responsible for (78).

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 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.

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."

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 (2012-13) 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).

Also joining the Mustangs this year is former Longhorn Chris Naggar. The grad transfer saw action in one season at Texas, but is immediately making an impact on the Hilltop. He opened the season with back-to-back AAC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades and is 18-for-19 on PATs and 4-for-4 on FGs to open 2020, adding 23 kickoffs for 1,461 yards with 16 touchbacks.

@BENTLEYDOO
Ulysses Bentley IV leads the Mustangs with 380 rushing yards and seven touchdowns through the first three games of 2020. The seven TDs in a three-game span tied for sixth at SMU.

Bentley IV went 6-104 yards against SFA for his second straight game with 100+ yards.

@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 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. 

Roberson Jr. opened 2020 with 99 yards and a 51-yard TD reception at Texas State for his fourth TD of 50+ yards and ninth career game of 99+ yards. At UNT, he registered nine catches for 103 yards and two TDs for his third multi-TD and eighth 100-yard game. He also finished with 128 all-purpose yards (25 KOR) for his 10th career game of 100+ all-purpose yards.

DYNAMIC DUO
Shane Buechele and Reggie Roberson, Jr., combine for the third most career yards of any QB/WR duo in the FBS at 6,617, and also rank third with 1,146 yards between the pair at SMU.

THOMAS NAMED TO OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST
Jaylon Thomas was named to the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy. The junior has started 22 straight games for the Mustangs.

An All-American Athletic Conference Second-Team selection in 2019, Thomas started all 13 games for the Mustangs, blocking for an offense that ranked seventh nationally in scoring offense (41.8), ninth in total offense (489.8) and 13th in passing offense (309.0). Thomas also rushed for a two-point conversion at Memphis.

The Mustang offense set program records for scoring average (41.8), scoring (544), total offense (6,368), yards per game (489.8), plays (1,037), touchdowns (73), rushing TDs (35) and first downs (322).

IN THE GRAN SCHEME OF THINGS
A member of the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, Kylen Granson registered 43 receptions for 721 yards in 2019 and tied SMU's record for receiving touchdowns by a tight end with nine. He earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors.

Granson has already collected an extensive list of preseason accolades for 2020, including Dave Campbell's Texas football All-Texas Team honors, as well as All-AAC honors from Phil Steel's Magazine, College Football News and Athlon Sports.

Granson has posted a TD reception in two straight games.

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. He has not seen action in 2020. 

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.

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.

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.

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
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

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.

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.

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.

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. 

#PONYUPDALLAS
In 2019, The Mustangs debuted 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. SMU opened the 2020 season against Texas State in the Dallas jerseys.

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

GRIDIRON GRADS
The 2020 opened with 10 student-athletes who have already earned an undergraduate degree -- Shane Buechele, Kevin Johnson, Richard McBryde, Richard Moore, Tommy McIntyre, Chris Naggar, Jacob Pugh, Kadarius Smith, Brandon Stephens and Mike Williams.

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 9.

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).