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When: September 5, 2009, 7 p.m. (CDT)
Where: Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000)
TV: TWC Metro Sports
Radio: KTCK 1310 AM – Dallas
Web Stream: Mustang All-Access at SMUMustangs.com
Series: Teams have never met
The “All Grit, No Quit” SMU Mustangs will be looking for their first season-opening victory since 2000 when season #2 of the June Jones era starts before a sellout crowd at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Jones, who engineered the biggest turnaround in NCAA history when Hawaii improved from 0-12 to 9-4 and won a bowl game in 1999, has been busy after winning just one of 12 games in his first season on “The Hilltop.” He hired former NFL lineman and three-time Super Bowl winner Adrian Klemm as his new offensive line coach; he submitted the waiver request to allow running back Shawnbrey McNeal to play the Mustangs after two years with the Miami Hurricanes; and he implored defensive coordinator Tom Mason to install an attacking defense to get the ball for his Run-and-Shoot offense.
Soon after Jones installed his Run-and-Shoot offense a year ago, the Mustangs were off and running. They finished the season ranked 17th in the nation in passing offense despite starting a true freshman – Bo Levi Mitchell – at quarterback. Mitchell passed for 2,865 yards and 24 touchdowns, while two receivers combined for more than 2,000 yards and 20 TDs.
Klemm is teaching SMU’s offensive linemen to be aggressive. He says just because Jones’ Run-and-Shoot offense is primarily shoot, doesn't mean they can't take the aggressiveness and physical nature of the running game and apply it to the passing game.
McNeal, a 5-10, 190-pound back, hopes to energize a dismal running game, whose leading rusher in 2008 – Andrew McKinney – gained only 190 yards.
SMU must improve its defense, which was among the worst in the country a year ago, allowing 480 yards and 38 points per game. Mason’s vision for SMU’s defense is an aggressive unit that will confuse offenses and force turnovers.
Stephen F. Austin, the only Division II school on SMU’s 2009 schedule, improved to 4-8 after a 1-11 record in its first season under Head Coach J.C. Harper. The Lumberjacks have lost three of their last four season openers and enter the season looking for their first winning record since going 6-5 in 2004.
SFA is led by junior quarterback Jeremy Moses, who passed for 4,026 yards and 41 touchdowns last season. The heart of the Lumberjacks’ defense that was among the nation's leaders in sacks returns. Among those returnees is preseason All-American Tim Knicky, who was among the nation’s top 10 in sacks and tackles for losses in 2008.
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