UNIVERSITY PARK — School soccer — a sport now consumed by convention realignment, the switch portal, title, picture and likeness and a very revamped postseason system — is caught in the course of an period of the unpredictable, the unexpected and the untraveled. It introduced a handful of seismic adjustments in a couple of years. It has created a panorama that even the brightest of forecasters can’t declare to totally perceive.
And, maybe most significantly, there are few roadmaps left for schools and universities to navigate.
SMU is constructing one.
The Mustangs, of their first season of Atlantic Coast Convention play, pulled off their early leap from the Group of 5 to an influence convention higher than any earlier group. Their roster of homegrown expertise and international imports despatched a beforehand undefeated, nationally ranked Pitt group into Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Saturday in entrance of back-to-back sellout crowds. They management their very own future so far as the ACC Championship sport is worried. They are going to have severe curiosity in Tuesday's preliminary School Soccer Playoff rankings.
It's the type of factor that massive packages do.
“SMU, our program, belongs at this stage,” head coach Rhett Lashlee mentioned Saturday after the Mustangs' 48-25 win over Pitt. “Our program is able to competing at a excessive stage at this stage — which all of us thought … however we needed to do it.”
A better stage than any of their counterparts achieved within the first 12 months at this stage, no much less. No. 20 Mustangs (Eight-1, 5-Zero ACC) are the primary transplants from the Group of 5 to begin higher than 1-1 in league play throughout their first season in an influence convention. Their dismantling of the Panthers (7-1, Three-1) — wherein the Mustangs led by 28 factors at halftime and as many as 31 within the second half — left SMU considered one of two groups nonetheless undefeated in ACC play alongside of No. 5 Miami.
“It feels good,” SMU linebacker Brashard Smith, a former Hurricane himself, mentioned with a smile.
It seems to be good too. Smith scored twice — as soon as on a 71-yard run and once more on an 18-yard scamper — to gas an SMU offense that rolled up 467 yards in opposition to one of many convention's high defenses. The Mustangs' protection, led by Liberty switch Ahmad Walker (2.5 tackles for loss), Arlington native Ahmad Moses (10 tackles) and Miami switch Jahfari Harvey (who had considered one of SMU's three sacks), held Panthers to a few factors within the first half and only one third down conversion within the first two quarters.
Quarterback Kevin Jennings, who drew important reward from former Alabama coach Nick Saban on ESPN's School GameDay broadcast Saturday morning, handed for 306 yards with out a turnover and two touchdowns. It was a bounce again from his first hiccup final week in opposition to Duke, when he had 5 turnovers.
“He's the best coach that ever did it,” Lashlee mentioned of Saban, who mentioned Jennings could be probably the most underrated participant within the nation. “He appears to know what he's speaking about, to me, the way in which Kevin performed tonight.”
Jennings, nicknamed the “Silent Killer” of South Oak Cliff, confirmed as a lot persona as his moniker permits.
“Meaning quite a bit, truthfully,” Jennings mentioned. “A legend like that claims that about me. It was a surreal second, I needed to present it to all my mates round me. I used to be actually excited for that second proper there… there was no mistake.”
Neither did many of the GameDay group that picked SMU to win on Saturday. Or those that fought for the Mustangs to affix an influence convention after a long time in exile. Talking of which: the unique Pony Specific was really among the many 34,648 in attendance on Saturday. Craig James and Eric Dickerson have been on the SMU sideline and the 1983 group that beat Pitt within the Cotton Bowl was additionally honored.
Dickerson spoke with the group Friday night time. On Saturday, alum Bryson DeChambeau — who fittingly rode a Mustang onto the court docket with the US Open trophy in tow — participated within the pregame coin toss. He even took his to a scholar part that helped Ford Stadium lock out three of its high 10 video games this season alone.
“All of these issues are an enormous deal, nevertheless it's what makes SMU particular,” Lashlee mentioned. “It's good to ship at the moment.”
The Mustangs have found out how to do this.
“Truthfully, it simply feels good,” Walker mentioned. “I'm bringing again pleasure to the alumni that have been right here some time in the past, seeing the success they've had, simply bringing that feeling again. It feels actually good.”
Mustangs on the rise: See pictures from SMU's enormous ACC win
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