SMU welcoming in 2006 campaign

By Tim Farmer  |   Monday, March 06, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

SMU Mustangs
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The SMU Mustangs opened their spring practice this past Friday, but there is already a lot of enthusiasm in the land of the Mustangs, as they are coming off their best season since 1997, finishing with a 5-6 record. Their record includes a stellar mark against bowl teams, finishing 3-1 including an impressive 21-10 win over then #22 TCU. This performance earned head coach Phil Bennett a contract extension to keep him on the bench until at least the 2009 season.

However, the Mustangs return only one quarterback with any NCAA experience, so the spring practice will definitely go a long way towards getting this team, especially the offense, game ready for the 2006 season. Their projected starting quarterback, Justin Willis, is a redshirt freshman who hasn't taken a snap since his senior season at prep school in 2004. Willis' backup, senior QB Chris Phillips, hasn't taken a snap since suffering a rotator cuff injury in 2004. The good news is that regardless of who ends up lining up behind center in 06', the chosen signal caller will have help in the backfield from freshman All-America RB DeMyron Martin.

The specialty of Coach Bennett however is the defense, but they have some holes to fill there as well after graduating five starters. Of the players who do return, three are all-conference players. Two of them, Adrian Haywood and Justin Rogers, anchor the defensive line while safety Joe Sturdivant is the backbone of the secondary.

The returning Mustangs will get some help from a handful of incoming freshmen who project out to be all-conference players. The best of the crop is incoming TE Phillip Burley, who earned high grades from both Scouts, Inc and Rivals.com.

There is a lot of enthusiasm about this football team as the SMU Mustangs are primed to make a run at the Conference USA title this year and could end up making their first bowl appearance in nine years. Fans could finally be seeing the turning point for program that was considered elite for many years but fell from grace over twenty years ago.
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