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SETTING THE SCENE
•    SMU travels to Fort Worth to take on TCU in the 100th edition of the Battle for the Iron Skillet Saturday at 11 a.m. on FS1.
•     The Mustangs are coming off a 39-37 win over Louisiana Tech on the road. Tanner Mordecai threw for 395 yards and five TDs, while Rashee Rice had a pair of TDs and Reggie Roberson, Jr., caught the game-winning TD pass on the final play. Delano Robinson had a team-high eight tackles, Isaac Slade-Matautia had a pick for 35 yards and Nelson Paul added a sack, forced fumble and three QB hurries.
•     Tanner Mordecai was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week. Additionally, he was named a CFPA Honorable Mention National Performer of the Week, a Davey O'Brien Great 8 selection and a Manning Award Star of the Week.
•     SMU is looking to open the season with five straight wins in three consecutive seasons for the first time since 1981-83. The 3-0 start is the first time in three consecutive seasons since 1982-84.
•     The Mustangs are receiving votes in the week four USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. Dating back to week four of the 2019 season, the Mustangs have been ranked or receiving votes every week in at least one poll. 
•     SMU reached No. 16 in both the AP and Coaches Polls during the 2020 season.
•     SMU is coming off a seven-win season in 2020 (7-3) and has won seven games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2011-12 seasons (10-3 in 2019).
•     The Mustangs returned 2020 Freshman All-American and AAC Rookie of the Year Ulysses Bentley IV, along with all-conference selections Hayden Howerton and Jaylon Thomas.
•     Sonny Dykes led SMU to 17 wins in the past two seasons, making him the winningest FBS coach in Texas in that span. 

THE SERIES
This is the 100th meeting of the Battle for the Iron Skillet. TCU leads the all-time series 51-41-7. The last meeting took place in 2019 on the road for the Mustangs, as the 2020 meeting was cancelled. SMU came away with the 41-38 victory over the No. 25 Horned Frogs. The Mustangs are looking for back-to-back wins in the series for the first time since 1992-93.

ABOUT THE HORNED FROGS
TCU is 2-0 to open the season and is coming off an open date after wins over Duquense and California. The Horned Frogs are averaging 39.5 points per game and 468.0 yards of total offense.

THE COACHES
•    Sonny Dykes is in his fourth season and is 25-14 as head coach of the Mustangs. He became just the fourth Mustang head coach to win 20 games in his first three seasons. Dykes has been a finalist for Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year and the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards. The seven wins in 2020 were the first in back-to-back seasons since the 2011-12 seasons, and the bowl bid was the second in three seasons under Dykes. 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.

•    Gary Patterson is in his 21st season as head coach of the Horned Frogs. Patterson has a 180-74 mark at the helm, making him the all-time winningest coach in TCU history. He has led the team to 17 bowl games.

LAST TIME VS. TCU
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Shane Buechele threw for 288 yards with two touchdowns and ran for another score as SMU held on to beat No. 25 TCU 41-38 on Sept. 21, 2019, ending a seven-game losing streak in the rivalry and improve to 4-0 for the first time since 1984.

Xavier Jones ran for 79 yards with a touchdown, and caught a 3-yard TD early in the fourth quarter for a 38-24 lead. That ended an 84-yard drive that started when TCU running back Sewo Olonilua lined up in wildcat formation on fourth-and-1 and was sacked for a 6-yard loss when he looked to pass.

Olonilua fumbled at TCU's 4 in the first quarter, giving SMU the ball back right after Buechele was stuffed for no gain on fourth-and-goal from the 1. That set up a 1-yard TD run by Jones.

Buechele, the former Texas quarterback who is one of seven graduate transfers for SMU, was 22-of-34 passing. He had gone 0-2 against TCU while with the Longhorns.

Buechele has two big receivers in James Proche (10 catches, 66 yards, one touchdown) and Reggie Roberson Jr. (four catches, 122 yards), a former transfer from West Virginia.

QUICK HITS
•     SMU is 20-6 since the start of 2019 and 11-1 at home in that span.
•     Tanner Mordecai broke the SMU single-game TD pass record with seven against ACU in week one, he added four in week two for the most passing TDs in a two-game stretch in program history. He leads the nation in passing TDs (16) and points responsible for (96), while his 194.4 passer rating is third. 
•     SMU leads the conference in passing offense (341.3).
•     The Mustangs are tied for the national lead with zero sacks allowed.
•     Isaiah Nwokobia registered his second INT of the season against UNT, adding seven tackles (1 sack). The season total ranks him fourth nationally.
•     Shaine Hailey was selected to wear the No. 23 jersey in honor of Jerry LeVias in 2021.
•     Delano Robinson, Shaine Hailey, Reggie Roberson, Jr., Hayden Howerton, Trevor Denbow, Tanner Mordecai, Grant Calcaterra were selected as 2021 captains.

HOT START
SMU led or was tied after the first quarter in 19 of the past 25 games, and were also leading or tied at halftime in 19 of the past 25. The Mustangs opened the 2019 season 8-0 for the first time since 1982 and opened 2020 5-0, giving them consecutive 5-0 starts for the first time since the 1982-1983 seasons. The 3-0 start this season gives the Mustangs three consecutive seasons of 3-0 starts for the first time since 1982-84.

MAKING OUR POINT
SMU scored 50+ points three times in 2020 (65 at UNT, 50 vs. SFA, 51 vs. Navy) and opened the season with 56 against ACU. The only other time SMU had three games of 50+ in a season was 1928. The Mustangs had 31 points in the second quarter against Navy, the most for SMU in a quarter since scoring 31 points in the third quarter of a 72-42 home win against Houston on Oct. 18, 2012.

The Mustangs allowed only 21 points over the first two games of 2021, the fewest to open the season since 1996 and the fewest in consecutive games since 2011. They currently rank second in the The American with 130 and have allowed the second least at 58. 

1996 
8/31 Tulsa W 17-10
9/7 at Arkansas W 23-10

2011 
9/17 Northwestern State W 40-7
9/24 at Memphis W 42-0

HOME SWEET HOME
SMU is 11-1 at home since the start of the 2019 season.

SMU was 3-1 at home in 2020 and announced sellouts of 7,898 in all four games. The loss to No. 9/10 Cincinnati snapped a streak of eight consecutive home wins at Ford Stadium (4th longest streak home winning streak in program history - 18, 1925-28; 17, 1934-36; 10, 1946-48; 8, 2019-20).

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.

WATCH US
The 10 Mustangs on 14 National Awards Watch Lists give the program five straight seasons where SMU is represented on 10+ lists.
Ulysses Bentley IV | Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award, CFPA, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
Grant Calcaterra | Mackey Award, Reese's Senior Bowl
Danny Gray | Paul Hornung Award, Reese's Senior Bowl
Shaine Hailey | AFCA Good Works Team, Wuerffel Trophy
Hayden Howerton | William V. Campbell Trophy
Blake Mazza | Lou Groza Award
Tanner Mordecai | Davey O'Brien Award
Rashee Rice | Biletnikoff Award
Reggie Roberson, Jr. | Maxwell Award, Biletnikoff Award, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, Reese's Senior Bowl
Jaylon Thomas | Outland Trophy, Reese's Senior Bowl

500 CLUB
SMU registered 500 yards of total offense in six of 10 games in 2020 and 14 of the past 26. The Mustangs registered 578 in week three against Louisiana Tech.

2021
La Tech - 578 yards (395 passing, 183 rushing)
UNT - 536 yards (311 passing, 225 rushing)

2020
Temple - 549 yards (355 passing, 194 rushing)
Navy - 555 yards (300 passing, 255 rushing)
Tulane - 581 yards (439 passing, 142 rushing)
No. 25/24 Memphis - 549 yards (474 passing, 75 rushing)
North Texas - 710 yards (344 passing, 366 rushing) Second most in a game at SMU
Texas State - 544 yards (367 passing, 177 rushing)

LET'S GET EXPLOSIVE
How SMU ranks among the nation in explosive plays:

Yards	No. of Plays	Yards	No. of Plays
20+	20 (T16)	60+	2 (T17)
30+	9 (T22)	70+	1 (T12)
40+	5 (T19)	80+	1 (T1)
50+	3 (T17)

STREAKING
The Mustangs' win over Louisiana Tech brought the regular-season, non-conference win streak to 11 straight, the most since a streak of 17 from 1979-85. SMU has also won five straight regular-season, non-conference road games. The Mustangs' eight-game win streak to start the 2019 season was the longest since SMU won 10 straight in 1982. 

WHAT A RUSH
SMU set the single-season rushing touchdown record in 2019 with 35 and finished with 24 (10 games) in 2020. 

After a Freshman All-America season, Ulysses Bentley IV again leads the Mustangs in rushing in 2021. Against UNT, Bentley IV posted the seventh longest run in program history with an 85-yard TD. It was the longest for a Mustangs since a 96-yard TD run by Kris Briggs vs. Tulsa in 2002. He currently has eight carries for 250 yards and a touchdown.

THE BOYS ARE BACK
The Mustangs returned all five offensive linemen who started at least nine games each in 2020. Jaylon Thomas, Hayden Howerton, Alan Ali, Justin Osborne and Beau Morris currently have a combined 147 career starts  Howerton alone has 44 starts, the most for an active Mustang. Nine Mustang offensive linemen have started at least one FBS game.

The offensive line tops the FBS allowing zero sacks through two games.

SMU finished the 2020 season ranked ninth in red zone offense (.920), 12th in total offense (494.5) 13th in passing offense (318.0) and 15th in scoring offense (38.6). They were also in the top 15 in three of the four categories in 2019, after not cracking the top 25 on any of the lists in 2018.

ON THE RECEIVING END
The Mustangs opened 2021 with 12 receivers catching a pass against ACU, the first time with 10+ receivers since the 2020 meeting with UNT, and four different players CAUGHT TD passes. Against Louisiana Tech, SMU had 11, the second game with 10+ on the season.

SMU is the only school in The American to have had five players with 100-yard receiving performances in 2020, including three current Mustangs. 

Rashee Rice
139 at Tulane (Oct 16, 2020)
102 at North Texas (Sept. 19, 2020)
101 at Texas State (Sept. 05, 2020)

Reggie Roberson, Jr.
243 vs Memphis (Oct. 03, 2020)
103 at North Texas (Sept. 19, 2020)

Danny Gray
133 at Tulane (Oct. 16, 2020)

Kylen Granson
149 at Temple (Nov 07, 2020).

Tyler Page
131 at Temple (Nov. 07, 2020)
101 at Tulane (Oct. 16, 2020)

SMU had multiple 100-yard receivers three times in 2020.
at Temple (Tyler Page, Kylen Granson)
at North Texas (Rashee Rice, Reggie Roberson, Jr.)
at Tulane (Rashee Rice, Tyler Page, Danny Gray)

CLUB TAKEAWAY
The Mustangs had four (3 INT, 1 FR) takeaways in the season-opening win over ACU, and went on to post a pair against UNT (2 INT). With one more against La Tech, SMU has at least one in five straight games, 14 of the past 15 and 34 of the past 37.

The four total against ACU were the most since Oct. 2, 2020 against Memphis and the three INTs were the most since Oct. 5, 2019 against Tulsa. SMU had six games in 2020 with multiple takeaways.

GETTING DEFENSIVE
•     Nelson Paul was named to the PFF College Team of the Week after the La. Tech game. Paul registered a sack, forced fumble and three QB hurries.

•     Isaac Slade-Matautia had his first career INT at La. Tech. The 35-yard return gives the Mustangs two of 35+ this season (Massey 48 yds vs. ACU).

•     Isaiah Nwokobia registered his second INT of the season against UNT. He currently ranks ninth nationally.

•     Delano Robinson had a team-high eight tackles against La. Tech, he has led the team in tackles 10 of the last 12 games.

@T_MORDECAI
For the second time this season, Tanner Mordecai was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week. In the 39-37 win over Louisiana Tech, Mordecai went 36-for-48 passing for 395 yards and five touchdowns, including a TD pass to Reggie Roberson, Jr., on the final play to secure the victory. The five TDs tied for fourth in a game for a Mustang, his 446 yards of total offense were seventh and the 395 passing yards were 17th.

Mordecai has thrown at least four TD passes in each game this season (7 vs. ACU, 4 vs. UNT). The seven against ACU to open the season set the SMU single-game record. Mordecai is also the first Mustang since Garrett Gilbert in 2013 to throw for 300 yards in the opening three games of the season.

He currently leads the nation with 16 TD passes, ranks third in passing efficiency (194.3), sixth in passing yards (1,022) and total offense (368.7) and eighth in completion percentage (.730).

@BENTLEYDOO
Ulysses Bentley IV was named an FWAA Freshman All-American, Co-Rookie of the Year in The American and to the conference first team in 2020. He opens 2021 on the Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award, CFPA Award and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch Lists.

Bentley IV went 10-141 rushing against UNT, posting the seventh longest run play in program history with an 85-yard TD. His 14.1 yards per carry ranked third overall at SMU (minimum 10), and gave him two of the top-10 performances in program history. The 100+ yards marked his fifth-career 100-yard game.

He registered 100+ all-purpose yards against La. Tech with 153 (61 rushing, 11 receiving, 81 KO returns) for the second straight game (6th career). The return yardage featured a career-long 72-yard return.

In 10 games last season, Bentley IV led The American with 913 rushing yards (18th NCAA) and 11 rushing touchdowns (17th NCAA). The 11 TDs set the SMU freshman single-season record, and his 12 total TDs made him one of only two freshmen in the country with 10+ TDs. He native also led the Mustangs with 1,087 all-purpose yards (4th AAC), which included 174 receiving yards.

@THEKINGREGGIE
Reggie Roberson, Jr., returned for the 2021 season after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the Oct. 3, 2020 game against Memphis. He opened 2021 on Watch Lists for the Maxwell Award, Biletnikoff Award, Reese's Senior Bowl and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. He was also ranked No. 79 on ESPN's list of top 100 players heading into 2021.

Roberson, Jr., caught the game-winning TD, his first of the season, at La. Tech. 

He is 14-171 with one TD to open the season and has a reception in 25 consecutive games. Roberson, Jr., also has nine career 100+ yard games, which leads The American.

Roberson, Jr., started all four games he played in last season before suffering a season-ending injury. He registered 22 catches for 474 yards and team-leading five receiving touchdowns. In the game against No. 25 Memphis, he had a season-high 243 receiving yards off five receptions with two TDs.

@RICERASHEE11
Rashee Rice tipped the ball to Reggie Roberson, Jr., for a TD on the final play in the win over Louisiana Tech. He also caught four passes for 73 yards with a pair of TDs, giving him one in each game in 2021 (4 total). The two receiving TDs were a career high and gave him his second career multi-TD game. For his efforts, he was named an Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Honorable Mention selection.

He is second on the team with 207 receiving yards off 10 catches.

@GCALCATERRA
Grant Calcaterra has three TDs off 12 receptions to open the 2021 season. In the week three win over La. Tech, Calcaterra had a career-high seven receptions for 103 yards.

In his return to football after a previous retirement, Calcaterra started the year on the Mackey Award, Reese's Senior Bowl and College Gridiron Showcase Watch Lists, and was mentioned on the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Big Board. 

@DGRAY_5
Danny Gray posted a pair of multi-TD games (rush, reception) in 2020 and had a receiving touchdown in four straight games from UNT (9/19) - Tulane (10/16). He added 43 yards off kick returns for 208 all-purpose yards. He opened the season on Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List.

Gray had a career-high seven receptions for 69 yards with a receiving TD against La. Tech and now has a TD in each game this season. He registered a career-high two TDs off 4-72 receiving against ACU, and added 5-87 against UNT.

@JAYLONTHOMAS10
For the second consecutive season, Jaylon Thomas is listed on the Outland Trophy Watch List, honoring the nation's top interior lineman. He started all nine games played at left tackle in 2020. Following the season, he was selected to the American Athletic Conference second team. He is the first Mustang to make two appearances on the Outland Trophy Watch List and is also on the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List.

@XRICHMANEX BACK FOR MOORE
Linebacker Richard Moore opened his seventh year of eligibility with five tackles, including two for loss and a sack against ACU. He currently has nine tackles, including two for loss and a sack.

After starting his career at Texas A&M (2015-16), Moore served a year in residence on the Hilltop in 2017. He earned AAC honorable mention accolades in 2018 after starting all 12 games and leading the team with 92 tackles (56 solo).

In 2019, Moore started SMU's first three games before a season ending injury. He registered 15 tackles (8 solo), including a half sack. Moore saw action in the game at ECU in 2020.

He is one of 21 student-athletes who have been on an FBS roster for seven seasons.

TRIBUTE 23
Since 2009, the SMU coaching staff has chosen a deserving student-athlete to wear the number 23 to honor Jerry LeVias. Shaine Hailey has been awarded the honor for the 2021 season.

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.

Players To Wear #23
Shaine Hailey, LB, 2021
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

@SHAINE_HAILEY
Shaine Hailey is the Mustangs' nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team and is on the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List for 2021. 

Hailey is second on the team with 19 tackles, including two TFLs. He also leads the team with a pair of forced fumbles.

Hailey serves as the Chair of Community Outreach and Donor Relations for The Detente Collective, an organization that seeks to foster the intellectual, educational, and personal growth of students through community outreach focusing on education, homelessness, domestic violence victim support and women's issues. He is also the co-leader of the Feeding Homeless Initiative for the organization.

Hailey graduated from SMU with a degree in economics with financial applications and is working toward his masters in management.

@BLAKEMAZZA
Blake Mazza is on the Lou Groza Watch List to open the 2021 season and is 15-16 on PATs and 2-3 on field goals.

One of 20 previous semifinalists for the award on the 2021 list, Mazza was a finalist in 2019 and was on the list in 2020. He was also an All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection and a Second-Team All-Pac-12 honoree by the Associated Press in 2020 and a conference first-team selection in 2019.

ON THE FIELD, IN THE CLASSROOM, IN THE COMMUNITY
Hayden Howerton was selected as the Mustangs' nominee for the William V. Campbell Trophy. The award recognizes candidates who must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

Howerton started all 10 games at left guard in 2020 and helped the Mustangs to national rankings of ninth (1st AAC) in red zone offense (.920), 13th in passing offense (318.0) and 15th in scoring offense (38.6). The Mustang is the active leader for career games played on the Hilltop with 47, making 41 starts over four seasons, and was a second-team all-AAC selection in 2020.

Howerton has an undergraduate degree from SMU in Applied Physiology and Sport Management with a Concentration in Sport Performance Leadership. He is working on his Masters in Management. 

#PONYUPDALLAS
SMU has added blue Dallas-themed jerseys to its rotation in 2021, which highlight some of the same features as the white jerseys, which debuted in 2019.

The Mustangs defeated UNT, 35-12, in the Sept. 11 debut and will wear them this week.

• The helmet decal features 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.

COACH TO CURE MD WEEK
This week the SMU coaching staff will be wearing special arm patches in honor of the AFCA's Coach to Cure MD program, sponsored by Werner Ladder. The goal of CTCMD is to raise awareness and funding for Duchenne muscular dystrophy while demonstrating coaches' commitment to the betterment of young men and the core academic research missions of their universities. Help our coach tackle Duchenne by texting CURE to 501501. Help us #TackleDuchenne! Follow @CoachToCureMD to join our team! 

WITH A PURPOSE
Four Mustangs, including three back for 2021, registered 200 all-purpose yards in a game in 2020 - Tyler Page (Temple, 207), Danny Gray (Tulane, 208), Reggie Roberson, Jr. (Memphis, 243) & Ulysses Bentley IV (UNT, 248 & Navy, 217).

SEEING RED
The Mustangs finished the 2020 season 46-50 (92%; 32 TDs, 14 FGs) in the red zone. SMU was perfect seven times (8-8 at UNT, 6-6 vs. SFA, 5-5 at Tulane, 6-6 vs. Navy, 3-3 at Temple, 3-3 at Tulsa, 5-5 at ECU) after going perfect three times in 2019 (at USF, 5-5; at Memphis, 5-5; ECU 4-4). The 8-8 at North Texas was the most since going 7-7 at UConn in 2018. 

FOR THE RECORD
In 2019, SMU broke program records for scoring average (41.8), scoring (544), rushing TDs (35), total offense (489.8), yards (6,368), first downs (322), kick return average (26.2 and sacks (51.0). The Mustangs went on to top the total offense record (494.5) in 2020, and also set marks for completion percentage (65.4) and yards per play (6.57).

MUSTANGS IN THE CLASSROOM
SMU had 47 student-athletes named to the AAC All-Academic team following the 2020-21 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.

A team captain and part of the leadership council, Howerton has volunteered with youth clinics, taken part in local hospital visits, participated in an initiative to help feed the homeless, elementary school reading programs, served as a homeless shelter volunteer, assisted in turning over cots and passing out blankets during winter months and served as an elementary school reading tutor.

GRIDIRON GRADS
2021 opened with 25 student-athletes on the roster who have already earned an undergraduate degree - Alan Ali, Cobe Bryant, Grant Calcaterra, Turner Coxe, Trevor Denbow, Shaine Hailey, Charles Headen III, Hayden Howerton, Ar'mani Johnson, Will Jones, Harrison Loveless, Spencer Luce, Blake Mazza, Tommy McIntyre, Richard Moore, Beau Morris, Toby Ndukwe, Jacob Oehrlein, Ben Redding, Christopher Reese, Delano Robinson, Tre Siggers, Isaac Slade-Matautia, Kadarius Smith and Mike Williams.


WELCOME TO THE HILLTOP
The Mustangs welcomed a pair of coaches to the staff in 2021, including defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt and defensive line coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe.

With over 40 years of coaching experience at the NCAA and professional levels, Leavitt joins the Mustangs from FAU, where he most recently served in the same position since December 2019. He also had stops at Florida State, Oregon and Colorado, where he was named a finalist for the Broyles Award, honoring the nation's top assistant coach, and was the FootballScoop Defensive Coordinator of the Year. He was hired as USF's first head coach in 1996. He spent 2011-14 in the NFL as linebackers coach with the San Francisco 49ers.

Uzo-Diribe comes to the Hilltop after two seasons at Kansas, and previously spent three seasons at Colorado, including 2016 with Leavitt. He earned a spot on 247Sports' most recent 30-Under-30 list.

SAME NAMES, NEW LOOK
Three of the Mustangs' 10 assistant coaches have been elevated from their previous positions. Ra'Shaad Samples now serves as assistant head coach and running backs coach, while Stefan McClure was elevated to cornerbacks coach and Kenny Perry serves as Special Teams Coordinator. McClure was previously a defensive graduate assistant and Perry was a special teams quality control analyst.

@RASHAADSAMPLES
Assistant head coach and running backs coach Ra'Shaad Samples was named to Dave Campbell's 40 Under 40 from the state of Texas and the 247Sports 30Under30.

Samples helped Ulysses Bentley IV to FWAA Freshman All-America honors (the first Mustang in history) and AAC Rookie of the Year honors in 2020. The redshirt freshman was also a member of the Doak Walker and CFPA Award Watch Lists. Samples also developed Burlsworth Trophy nominee Tyler Lavine, a walk-on who had a career season as a redshirt-sophomore in 2020.

The Mustangs' 2021 recruiting class is the highest-ranked in program history and features the highest signee for SMU. It also boasts the highest average recruiting rating in the American Athletic Conference and is better than 16 Power 5 programs.

Samples finished as the No. 1 recruiter in the conference (247sports), after the December Signing Day period, landing him as a top-30 recruiter in the country among the Power 5 and Group of 5. Among Group of 5 schools, Samples was the nation's top recruiter.

@STEFANMCCLURE21
McClure was one of two SMU coaches named to the 247Sports 30Under30 list. In 2020, McClure helped mentor Brandon Crossley to a national ranking of eighth in interceptions with four, including one for a touchdown at Tulsa, one in overtime against Tulane and one in the end zone against Memphis. Brandon Stephens registered a team-high 11 passes defended, which led the American Athletic Conference. He went on to earn an invite to the 2021 NFL Combine and NFLPA Bowl and was selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.

BOLD  - BIG OPPORTUNITIES LIVE IN DALLAS
As part of its goal of Shaping Champions and preparing students for life, SMU Athletics proudly announced the addition of its BOLD (Big Opportunities Live in Dallas) Program to its suite of student-athlete development tools, with the goal of helping student-athletes navigate and capitalize on new Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) legislation.

BOLD will, among other things, provide SMU student-athletes with the means to navigate the evolving NIL landscape. The BOLD program incorporates INFLCR, a comprehensive NIL education and compliance solution, and campus resources from the Cox School of Business, the Dedman School of Law, and the Meadows School of the Arts.

While the acronym BOLD emphasizes SMU's ties to the City of Dallas, the word is also important in its ties to SMU and the University's Brand Promise, which states, "For the bold, curious, and creative, SMU is the comprehensive research university whose enterprising spirit in a vibrant community empowers leaders to tackle grand challenges."

SMU IN TIMES SQUARE
The week of Aug. 9, the Mustangs made their presence known in Times Square with a series of billboards featuring SMU's Born & Raised campaign, the BOLD Program and 2021 Watch List selections. 


FAST LAYNE    
Paul Layne holds an unrivaled Mustang record, having attended every SMU game for the last 45-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. In 2020, Layne received a special invitation from Tulane to attend SMU's 37-34 overtime win, since Yulman Stadium was closed to spectators. 

Starting when Layne attended SMU and was a team cheerleader, he's attended 533 straight games. His 500th was SMU's 63-27 victory over HBU on Sept. 29, 2018. 

IT'S ALWAYS SONNY ON THE HILLTOP    
The fourth season of It's Always Sonny on the Hilltop with Head Coach Sonny Dykes begins Monday, Aug. 30 at Ozona Grill and Bar, and will run throughout the 2021 campaign.
 
There will be food and drink specials, trivia and prizes on site each week. Ozona Grill and Bar is located at 4615 Greenville Ave., just a short distance from the SMU campus.

Fans can also catch LIVE video on the SMU Mustangs Facebook page, or listen on SMUMustangs.com and on TuneIn.

Tweet your questions for Coach Dykes using the hashtag #AlwaysSonny, or by clicking the "Ask The Coach" button on SMUMustangs.com.

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). Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson performed the coin toss in SMU's 2021 season opener against ACU.