SMU Mustangs

Not so Bright

Season Report Posted: May 20, 2010 02:03  

DALLAS -- SMU coach Nibble has had enough of quarterback Chance Bright's antics, for this week at least.

Nibble announced that he was suspending Bright for one game for a violation of team rules. Nibble wouldn't not elaborate on the nature of the misconduct.

Sources within the program said that Bright was suspended for organizing and taking part in drunken, nude snorkeling races in the university pool early Sunday after the team returned from Manhattan, Kan., where it beat Kansas State 40-0 on Saturday afternoon.

This is not the first time Bright has been involved in hijinks at SMU, sources said. The sophomore from Abilene has led or taken part in nude Olympics, drinking Olympics for freshmen and a nude basketball tournament that featured players drinking beers after each basket made.

One source said the coaching staff is not so displeased at Bright's behavior as it is "amazed that the kid stays in uniform at practice and is sober enough to call the plays."

When asked about those reports, Nibble frowned and said "No comment," then paused and added, "College has changed since I played."

The suspension comes on the heels of Bright's best game of his career. He hit four TD passes against Kansas State.

Redshirt sophomore Ricky Miles will take Bright's starting spot this week. He has completed 4 of 12 passes for 101 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions.

Texas Tech week

Season Report Posted: May 19, 2010 00:40  

The coaching staff is gathered in a conference room late Sunday night, 24 hours after a 19-7 win over Oklahoma. Texas Tech is coming in for a showdown in six days towing a 5-0 record, No. 18 ranking and the top scoring offense in the nation. Tech and SMU appear to be far and away the best in the Big 12 this season, so this is not only a battle for ranking, but a preview of the conference title game in December.

Coach NIbble calls first on Thames, the burly defensive coordinator tasked with stopping the Air Raid passing circus.

Thames pauses to gulp from a Pabst Blue Ribbon can then begins: "Samuels, the quarterback, is accurate but his arm isn't super and he doesn't make the reads that their last guy did; the receivers all have good hands and they're tough little SOB's, but they aren't real fast, and the tailback is OK but nuthin' special. I like their line, it's better than ours (he glances quickly at offensive line coach Griffin), but my guys (pass rushing ends Travis Freeman, Josh Johnson and Shane Wright) can take them. We'll stop that Air Raid shit."

Nibble: "You sound pretty confident."

Thames: "We'll muddle 'em, boss, gum up the short zones they live on. Come out in dime, mix in some 3-man line like we did last night, bang the receivers at the line and see if Samuels wants to stand in there and wait for deep stuff with my guys in his grill. As long as Terry's DB's don't fuck it up ..."

Terry, the secondary coach, takes the bait and cuts in: "Coach, I keep telling you it's not as simple as it sounds. (Tech's receivers) are the best I've ever seen at getting off the line."

Thames spits out the words along with a little beer: "Aw, shit, Terry, there you go again with that crap. Can your precious sprinters play football or not? (Turns to Nibble) Forget his ballerinas, gimme (speedy linebackers) Gates and Martin and a four-man rush, and my guys will punch them in the mouth all afternoon."

Terry: "Sure, Thames, while we're at it, let's just go 5- or 6-stack and hope they run the stinkin' veer. Let's just do it like they did in '75 when you were in school; of course, if they come out in a 21st-century offense we're fucked, but you go right on with your old-school fantasies..."

Thames, now red-faced, beginnig to crush the beer can in his fist: "Last time I checked you still won this game by punching the other guy in the mouth, which I can demonstrate ..."

A few of the other coaches try to hide smiles. Nibble, up until now enjoying the show, steps in: "I'm sure that won't be necessary, Coach, but thanks. Coach Terry, we won't leave your guys on an island. (to Thames) Jon, keep those linemen rotating. I want fresh pass rushers."

Nibble turns to Thomas, the offensive coordinator: "How's (starting tailback David) Miller? He ready to go?"

Thomas: "Foot's fine; probably 85 percent. We'll run (freshman Willie) Gold and (soph Nathan) King through there, but he and (fullback Tyler) Lane can pound it."

"I think this week's a good week to go away from our tendencies, maybe start off with the Special (flea-flicker) on first series, run (QB) Chance (Bright) out there with 5-wide on the second series. They're athletic up front and the 'backers can run, but they can be suckered. Let's see if they're paying attention with the Special, give them something to think about for December."

Nibble: "When was the last time we ran it?"

Thomas: "Last year against TCU (Week 2)."

Nibble: "OK, I think it's time; Special, it is, on first series. Let's drill on it this week. Go ahead with 5-wide, but in plus territory. I don't want Bright giving them a short field with a pick on our end. Once we get to midfield we can spread it out and see if we can get (sprinter WR Eric) Gibson and (Marcus) James and those guys deep a couple of times. Give Miller some running room."

"OK, Jon, gimme your best assessment and no macho shit: What can you hold them to?"

Thames, now calm and guzzling another beer, looks to Thomas: "Can you score 24?"

Thomas: "Done."

Thames: "I can hold them to 21."

Nibble to the group: "Let's get on 'em this week, guys. Don't let 'em get too happy with themselves over last night. I wanna see some spirit in practice ... (pauses) some fights."

The group begins to break up, with tired coaches heading for the door. Nibble pulls Thames back momentarily.

Nibble: "Take it easy on Terry, Coach. He's on our side."

Thomas grunts and faint smile appears: "I probably wouldn't have hit him."

Nibble: "Probably?"

New wave on defense

Season Report Posted: May 17, 2010 22:29  

Last year: 10-4 overall (6-2, Big 12, second)

Top returnees: G Derrick Johnson; TE Brandon Mills; WR Marcus James; CB Josh Bryant; CB Jake Cleveland; DT Dallas Baker; DE Josh Johnson; ROLB Thomas Gates.

Key losses: TB Bobby Martin; QB Brian Rogers; MLB J.J. Rooney; SS Maurice Robinson, LE Ben Humphrey, DTs Bill Norton and Cameron Wood, OLB D.J. Seal, OLB Adam Edwards.

Why they'll win: The defense lost a ton of 90-rated talent, but the guys moving up the depth chart could be as good. DE Arthur Weeks, Baker and Gates are ready to kill after a season of, well, seasoning, and guys like Bryant and Cleveland have been kicking ass for two years in the secondary. The best recruit, CB Walter Taylor, is a coverage whiz and will move into the nickle back spot right away.

Why they'll lose: Well, as good as the replacements could be, the guys leaving were experienced and beastly; it's no cinch that the new guys will be as good. Plus, there's the new-QB factor again. Rogers stepped in last year as a senior and threw for 3,381 yards, but he's gone so it's up to Chance Bright or scrambling Ricky Miles to take up the slack. And as good as underclassmen TBs David Miller and Nate King look, outgoing star Bobby Martin will be tough to replace.

Notable: SMU opens the season at defending national champ Cincinnati. ... No. 12 Texas, which beat SMU in the conference title game, comes to Dallas in Week 4. ... Speedy Willie Gold, the nation's top tailback recruit has impressive speed, but the best young runner in preseason camp was Arlington native Tyler Lane, a 5-9, 236-pound bull. He took the fullback job from soph Ty Jefferson, but Lane could see a lot of time lining up as the deep man in the two-TE set.