SMU Mustangs vs. Tulane Green Wave Football Preview

Mustangs look to knock off Green Wave

Date: Saturday, October 20, 2007, 7 pm Central

Wideout Emmanuel Sanders says the losing streak has been tough. "Man, it hurts," he said. "I'm not even gonna lie."

Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, (32,000); Dallas.

Television: FoxSports Net Southwest

Season Records: SMU 1-5, 0-2 C-USA / Tulane 1-5, 0-2 C-USA

The Series: Tulane leads, 10-5. Last year SMU won, 33-28, in New Orleans. The Mustangs’ last Dallas win came in 1982, 51-7.

Injuries/personnel report

SMU:

- wideout Devin Lowery (back) – questionable

Tulane:

- fullback Jeremy McKinney (back) – doubtful

- offensive tackle Scott Holt (knee) - out

- offensive tackle Troy Kropog (unknown) – questionable

SMU vs. Tulane Overview

One of the toughest things to do is hang on when everything around you is going all to hell. SMU players and coaches face that challenge this week after another loss, this time at Southern Miss, 28-7.

Though not mathematically out of a bowl or a title - even with another loss - everyone knows SMU must beat 1-5 Tulane to hold this thing together.

“I’m not gonna say it’s a ‘make-or-break,’ but we need this win,” said SMU wideout Emmanuel Sanders on Tuesday.

“It’s crazy, because I’ve never been on a team that’s been 1-5,” Sanders said. “Man, it hurts. I’m not even gonna lie.”

Sanders said there’s been no arguing or fighting among players. “If anything, it’s been more pain and tears,” he said.

The Mustangs’ four-game losing streak is causing understandable frustration as this highly-anticipated season teeters near the abyss.

Last week it was missed assignments, penalties and turnovers - “things that I just can’t believe are happening,” Sanders said. “Every game, something happens. And I can’t figure it out.”

Calls for Bennett’s firing are tough to ignore too, Sanders said. “Everyone’s hearing it.”

Sanders said the team can still turn it around. “We’ve gotta stick together. We’ve got to. That’s ‘a team.’ Everyone has to stay positive. Everyone has to take care of their responsibility.”

Tulane is finishing up a three-game road trip Saturday and could easily be 3-3. The Green Wave lost in overtime at Army and by five points at UAB. They’ve also played then-No.2 LSU tough for one half.

Tulane’s win came at home against Southeastern Louisiana.

The Green Wave is nursing an eight-game losing streak in conference road games. Their last C-USA road win? At SMU in 2005.

“We’ve always had tough games with Tulane,” Bennett said.

“They’re much like us. They’re trying to find the right combination and just get the thing clickin’ to get a win.”

Bennett’s record stands at 18-46 in his sixth year. Bob Toledo, in his first year at Tulane, owns a 79-73 mark in his 14 th head coaching season.

At UCLA (1996-2002), Toledo led the Bruins to two Pac-10 titles and two top ten finishes. Fired after two consecutive seven-win seasons, he remained out of coaching for three years.

Toledo took the Tulane job after one year as an assistant at New Mexico.

Bennett sounded optimistic Tuesday. “I don’t think we’re that far from putting a game together,” he said.

“It’s frustrating to the players. It’s frustrating to the coaches and I know it’s frustrating to the fans.”

“This season is not over,” he said, citing the Colorado Rockies’ amazing late-season run that landed them in their first ever World Series.

SMU Offense vs. Tulane Defense

Advantage: Even

SMU has the firepower to score big on Tulane but until mistakes are reduced that won’t happen.

The Mustangs rank last in red-zone scoring in C-USA, with 12 touchdowns and five field goals in 25 chances. Six turnovers and two missed field goals account for eight other opportunities.

The defensive front collects sacks like Tom Thumb. (Rim-shot) Tulane’s 19 sacks, including six against LSU, are tops in C-USA and 11 th nationally. (SMU has 10.)

Senior tackle Antonio Harris (6-3, 275) has started all 40 games during his career and is tied with SMU’s Cory Muse for the conference lead in sacks, with five. Avery Williams (6-0, 288) is a solid two-year starter at right tackle.

Senior middle linebacker Evan Lee leads Tulane in tackles with 56, including a career-high 13 against LSU.

Free safety David Skehan has three interceptions, tied for first in C-USA. Saturday, true freshman Phillip Davis makes his first ever start at left corner.

Tulane allows 29.8 points per game, fourth in C-USA. SMU is eighth offensively, at 23.5 per game.

Tulane Offense vs. SMU Defense

Advantage: Tulane

Here’s the good news for SMU: Tulane ranks dead-last in scoring offense in C-USA, averaging 18.2 points per game.

The bad news? Senior tailback Matt Forte (6-2, 223) could rip it big Saturday. Coming off back-to-back 200-yard rushing games, Forte’s per-game average (153.2) leads C-USA, is second nationally and exceeds that of SMU’s top three rushers combined.

Sanders fields a punt against UTEP.

He’s on track for 1,800 yards and is also Tulane’s leading scorer (54 points) and receiver (21 catches). Forte already has 12 rushes of 20 yards or more this year. Heard enough?

True freshman fullback Cody Blackwelder gets his first career start in the two-back set in place of injured Jeremy McKinney.

Quarterback Anthony Scelfo (5-10, 189) has started the last three games and is slated to start at SMU. At UAB, Scelfo connected on 19 of 37 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns - all career bests. (He also had two red zone interceptions.)

Toledo says redshirt freshman Kevin Moore (6-4, 232) will play Saturday too.

Sophomore tackle Tyler Rice (6-5, 296) makes a career-first start, in place of injured Scott Holt.

For SMU defensively, Bennett said Damon Hurst played better at middle linebacker this week. “I thought it gave us an opportunity,” he said. “I thought the second half he sort of got in a groove and it was the best inside-out play that we’d had to this point.”

Bennett also praised freshman tackle Ryan Leonard.

End Justin Smart’s play was affected by a serious migraine attack hours before the game which required medication, Bennett said. “Probably my mistake, playing him,” he added.

Linebacker Will Bonilla had a pick for the second week in a row.

Safety Bryce Hudman, SMU’s leading tackler with 59 stops, had nine at Southern Miss.

The Mustangs allowed 415 yards last week, split evenly between pass and run.

SMU’s pass defense ranks tenth in C-USA, allowing 317 yards per game. The rush D falls in the middle of the C-USA pack at 167 yards per game.

SMU vs. Tulane Special Teams

Advantage: SMU

Thomas Morstead was 0-2 in field goals at Southern Miss – a touch right from 52 yards, then not as close from 37 – dropping his season mark to 5-8. Bennett said he’s not concerned. “Probably anybody else, I would worry,” he said.

Tulane’s field goal kicker, Ross Thevenot, is 3-6 with a long of 46 yards. His punting average is 38.9 yards with a long of 55.

As a punter, Morstead continues to launch it, averaging 44.6 yards per try with a long of 72. That’s second in C-USA and 11th nationally.

Sanders’ 6.6-yard punt return average for SMU is sixth in C-USA. Phillip Davis’ 4.8-yard average leads Tulane.

SMU’s Jessie Henderson has averaged 22 yards per kickoff return on 22 attempts. Ade Tuyo, 23.1 yards on 11 tries for Tulane.

Intangibles

Advantage: Even

In two C-USA seasons, the road team has won this match-up. Tulane even pulled it off during the chaotic Katrina aftermath two years ago.

SMU’s home crowd may be sparse, the Fire-Bennett talk is a distraction and the pressure on the Mustangs to keep this season from rolling into the ditch is intense.

But then again … that pressure may bring out the best in SMU.

SMU vs. Tulane Prediction

It’s clichéd, but SMU has better talent than its record shows. Not sure what the problem has been. Maintaining focus can be a tricky deal.

Something tells me the breaks fall the Mustangs’ way this week. Maybe it’s the chili I had last night.

SMU, 24-22.

Quotable Bennett

• On his job status: “It’s not something I’m gonna discuss anymore. My allegiance and loyalty is always to SMU and to these players and to my coaches,” he said.

• On his disappointment after Southern Miss: “I don’t stay down long. I’ve had too many good things happen to me in this coaching career. I’ve had some bad things happen in my life. I don’t have time to be down. I don’t have time to worry about the future. I’m trying to help the present.”

• On Willis’ visible frustration during games: “I think he’d tell you, he’d like to be a little more even-keeled at all times. But the truth of the matter is everybody can’t be a Tom Brady. You’ve gotta be who you are. And Justin is very competitive. He’s a guy who wants to win at a very high level.”

SMU Football - Did you know?

• Emmanuel Sanders now has 1,045 career receiving yards for SMU, 200 shy of No. 15 Kevin Thornal (1993-96) on SMU’s career list.

• DeMyron Martin now has 1,442 career rushing yards, surpassing Gary Hammond (1969-70) for No. 20 all-time at SMU.

• Justin Willis’ 35 touchdown passes tie him with Mike Romo (1989-91) for second all-time at SMU. Willis has six 3+ touchdown pass outings in 17 games. Since 1915, SMU quarterbacks have combined for nine 3+ touchdown pass games.