Keeping the Faith

SMU’s Emmanuel Sanders Still Upbeat After 31-17 Loss @ UCF

DALLAS – Monday morning was gray and rainy on the SMU campus and, at 1-5, the Mustangs’ season had taken on a dreary feel as well. After a fourth straight loss, the possibility of consecutive one-win seasons for the third time since 1989 hung uninvited in the cool, damp air.

If Emmanuel Sanders was feeling any of that, he didn’t show it.

Emmanuel Sanders (17) isn't ready to give up. "Nothing has changed," he said. "I still believe we can win."

Sanders, with six catches for 51 yards on Saturday, now has 612 receiving yards on the year, making him the first receiver in SMU history with three 600-plus-yard seasons.

“Week by week, I’m just looking forward to the next game and continuing to get better,” he said. “One of these games, it’s just gonna stick and we’re gonna go on a roll.”

The Mustangs certainly looked ready to roll at UCF, as quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell led SMU on an early 77-yard drive capped by Andrew McKinney’s one-yard touchdown for a 7-3 lead.

“That was a big step for us,” Sanders said. “That was the first time we drove it like that. We’re taking steps right now to become that great offense that we are going to be one day.”

And even after falling behind, 24-10, Mitchell’s 94-yard scoring bomb to Aldrick Robinson early in the fourth quarter - the second-longest pass in SMU history – seemed to say turnaround game.

But after an unsuccessful on-side kick and two final possessions that netted 31 yards, hope faded. UCF scored with 1:34 to play for the final margin. Turnovers - three picks, one fumble – and mistakes were again too much to overcome.

The defense, though, again showed flashes. There was pressure on the quarterback, especially from defensive end Youri Yenga, and the Mustangs tallied several three-and-outs.

Sanders said the offense is coming together. “With the Run and Shoot everyone has to be on the same page. And when that happens, we’re gonna take off. Who knows when that time may come?”

Said Sanders, “When I saw Aldrick catch that [94-yard touchdown] ball I said, ‘See ya.’ No one’s going to ever catch Aldrick.”

“I’ve told him just be patient and let the game come to you. I think he’s starting to figure it out too. … He’s going to be really good one day.”

“It’s scary for the [opposing] defense because, before [Robinson] came, I was getting double coverage,” Sanders said. “Now, guys try to double-cover me and he’s wide open down the field. UCF, they did it a little bit and you see what happened. I don’t think I’m going to see any more double coverage.”

Sanders is now the only receiver in SMU history with 600-plus receiving yards in three seasons.

This will indeed be a tough week for SMU to turn it around. The undefeated Tulsa Golden Hurricane blows in Saturday, 5-0 for the first time since 1945, and, as the saying goes, hell’s coming with it.

(Note: The following are not typos.) Tulsa leads the league in scoring - 56.4 points per game - and total offense - 596 yards per game.

Tulsa’s 245 rushing yards per game also leads C-USA. Senior quarterback David Johnson is the league’s No. 2 passer, averaging 336 yards per game. His favorite target, Marion Brennan, averages just under 100 yards per game.

In last week’s 63-28 blistering of Rice, Tulsa had three rushers over 80 yards: senior Tarrion Adams (112), Charles Opeseyitan (94) and AJ Whitmore (83.)

Defensive end Un’Tavious Scott is this week’s C-USA Defensive Player of the Week.

Tulsa head coach Todd Graham’s overall collegiate record is 22-10, including a 15-4 mark in his second year at Tulsa. He coached one year at Rice (2006).

SMU Football Notes:

• Robinson’s 210 receiving yards at UCF were the second-most in SMU history. Jerry LeVias owns the record with 213 yards vs. North Carolina State in 1968.

• SMU out-gained UCF, 376 yards to 280, owned time of possession, 32:43 to 27:17 and ran 65 plays to UCF’s 55. Mitchell passed for 351 yards, completing 29 of 45.

• Quarterback Braden Smith’s redshirt is safe for now. He didn’t play at UCF and Logan Turner is back from suspension.

On Deck: SMU (1-5, 0-3) vs. Tulsa (5-0, 2-0), Saturday, October 11, 2008, 7 p.m. CT, Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000), Dallas, Tex.; no TV; Radio: KTCK-1310 AM.

Prediction: The Golden Hurricane is a raging CAT 5 right now. Look for Tulsa in the Top 25 next week: Tulsa 55 SMU 21

Did You Know? The longest pass play in SMU history is 96 yards - Jeff Courtwright to Craig James vs. North Texas in 1982.

Article by Rick Atkinson -
CUSA Fans SMU Correspondent