Shaky Start for SMU.

For all of you non-Dallas-based readers out there, SMU gets some special attention because two of our "Fans," Ian McCann and Jake Batsell, have direct ties. As someone who stands at arms length from the school, allow me an unvarnished take on the team following last night's 56-27 whuppin' at the hands of Rice.

They are certainly not good. Not yet anyway. They made Rice, Rice, look like god's gift to football. Freshman QB Bo Levi Mitchell looked like a lost puppy at times, while the defense appeared to be playing some kind of a rugby-style, linebacker-less, 3-0-8 scheme. Needless to say, it didn't work.

All of that said, there was a lot to take hope from. Mitchell came out firing early and the offense moved the ball in the first quarter, a sign that the team was well prepared. That early execution also gives clues as to what a polished, more mature Pony team might do down the road. And, who knows, it's early in the season. Maybe Rice is some kind of spread formation, BCS-busting, Patriots-in-Disguise, juggernaut and the nation just doesn't know it yet (um, yeah, right).

It's clear that SMU is far from LSU. But this is the beginning, the foundation, Level One, for SMU under new coach June Jones. It only goes up from here.