Three weeks ago, SMU’s 5-1 start was summoning up memories of years gone by when the feared ‘Pony Express’ ran roughshod over foes.But back-to-back shocking defeats have dropped SMU to 5-3 for the season and seriously impaired its chances of returning to the CUSA championship game in December.
The Ponies were outgained by 313 yards in that pair of setbacks (outscored 65-10 by Tulsa and Southern Miss) and have now lost the stat battle in their last three sports news contests.
Hence, where June Jones and company were winning the stats by an average of 192 YPG in their first four games of season, they’re now losing the stats by 81 YPG over the last four contests.
Yikes! The problem lies at the quarterback position where J.J.
McDermott has stepped in for the injured Kyle Padrone. McDermott’s initial success – he enjoyed strong outings in wins over TCU and UCF -– has disintegrated into back-to-back nightmares where he went a combined 33-for-69 with no touchdowns and six interceptions.
Fortunately for Jones, a possible cure has arrived in the form of the porous Tulane defense… though not enough to spark our interest.
Normally, we’d wave ‘goodbye’ to a Green Wave team playing its 10th straight game without rest behind an interim coach, but with the Mustangs a Homecoming favorite – and having tossed a shoe in each of their last two races – we’ll be content to observe from the grandstand.
Another team to avoid until they get back on a winning track…
