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Clever as that is, we all know money has nothing to do with it (and for the record, TCU has plenty). When SMU won in Fort Worth in 2011, SMU fans went crazy and talked trash (sound familiar?) and TCU fans acted like the end of the world was at hand. SMU celebrated that win, and deservedly so, and the next week, TCU went about its business. After last year's disaster, SMU's lead against TCU is 28-5-1 in the all-time series, but the fact is UNT won, and won big, last season. UNT fans enjoyed last year's win, and deserved to. But the parallel remains valid. Hope it's a good game.

Absolutely nothing wrong with that! It seems like we're saying the same thing, but just saying it differently. Yes, without question, SMU cares about this (and every) game, and malonish is right that if UNT wins, SMU fans will be irate. But would SMU prefer a win over UNT to a massive upset over TCU or Baylor? Of course not. Over a conference win? Of course not. That leaves James Madison, and UNT would be above them because of proximity, recruiting, etc. So yes — SMU wants to win. All I'm saying is that this game is far from a Super Bowl-type game to SMU. Of course they would hate to lose, just like UNT fans would hate to lose to SMU. That said, let's hope the series continues for years to come.

No question SMU fans want to win, but they see UNT like TCU sees SMU (put down the torches and pitchforks — hear me out). TCU acts as if they can't be bothered with little old SMU, but you can your last dime that they would throw up if SMU beat the Froggies. Same with SMU/UNT. SMU fans obviously want to win and would gag if they lost, and the "NTSU" stuff is nothing more than a dig at this week's opponent. Next week PonyFans.com will be full of "I hate TCU" talk. This week is no Super Bowl to SMU, although think that if it helps. Honestly, after last year, every game is big, but UNT is no bigger than any other. OK, maybe James Madison, but that's it.

I don't think anyone — most importantly, the players and coaches — are overlooking this game. Hard to do that after a 1-11 season, especially considering the outcome of last year's game in Denton. Your comment about the recruits (re: UNT/TCU/Baylor) is irrelevant, although correct, at least for now. All I'm saying is that beyond the "next game is the most important game" theory that coaches try to instill in their players, SMU doesn't see this as a big game. Not saying it is or isn't — just that that's the perception. Yup — the helmet is in recognition of 9/11. Wouldn't be surprised if Dubbya is there for the coin toss, too. (I don't know that. Just guessing.)

.... and still won a game? Impressive!

You're right. He's a good player, and insanely athletic for a lineman ... and possibly a little insane (in a good way), too. Good guy to have on your offensive line, or in a dark alley. Don't understand the venom he feels for Briggs, though. Briggs, I'm told, is a really good guy (and a pretty good player). Maybe there was stuff that went on in practice when he was at SMU, but even then, linemen usually have each other's back at all costs, don't they? I could almost understand if he picked out someone on the SMU defense and said he wanted to get THAT guy, but another OL? Rice's rep when he was at SMU was that he was a good player but just wired a little differently than the rest of the human race. Doesn't seem to be anything to conflict that reputation.

Yeah, right. I'm not saying it shouldn't be — they hated losing last year in Denton — but SMU fans aren't the ones hanging billboards and making t-shirts about beating UNT. If you asked SMU fans to rank all 12 games by importance, UNT would rank 11th or 12th (toss-up with James Madison). That said, last year's game showed that this year's game will be anything but a cakewalk, so there's no overconfidence, either. Hopefully the players are ready.

You're not really upset about a spread, are you? It has nothing to do with which team Vegas oddsmakers will think will win — it simply reflects where the money is being bet. For all intents and purposes, SMU's season ended in Denton last year. But the fact is, UNT has not yet played a game, and SMU was on ESPN last week, hanging with Baylor for a half. Bettors saw that game, and while most outside north Texas can't name more than a player or two on either team, SMU is more on the public radar now because of the hype around Chad Morris and the TV game last week, the first half of which was like a 2-hour commercial for SMU and Morris.

Because North Texas has a better offensive line than Baylor? Um .... OK. Forgive me for stepping in on Malonish's post, but ... hell no. Chad Morris was nowhere near content after the game. He is miles from being satisfied with the performance last week. And, as you point out, UNT rolled last year against an SMU team that went 1-11. They're not looking past anyone. As much as I would like to think (and do think) SMU wins this one, I can't predict it until it happens. Not after the trainwreck last year in Denton.

You folks run a damn good site. Keep up the good work. And good luck in 2005. (Those of us in SMU country have great faith in Coach Dickey and the Great Ramon Flanigan!)

Personally, I boycott the mag each year. (Disclosure: I'm a graduate and fan of SMU.) Campbell doesn't give SMU the coverage it deserves, nor does he give UNT the coverage you deserve. Campbell is the print journalism equivalent of Jerry Springer, Geraldo Rivera or that dork who "investigates" on the TV show "Cheaters." He's not a journalist, and he never was (although he did carry those business cards for a while). DC is a shameless homer for Baylor, and puts his mag together each year with the idea that Baylor belongs in the same breath as UT and OU and A&M (2004 upset notwithstanding). Personally, as much as I'd like to see the cover dedicated to my Mustangs, the team that deserves the cover? Your Mean Green (gawd, I can't believe I just wrote that!) Seriously, after years of mediocrity, the job that Coach Dickey (and the great Ramon Flanigan -- an SMU grad, of course) has done in Denton has been remarkable. I might cut my fingers off for typing this, but you folks deserve more pub than any team in the state. Campbell's mag is good for one thing: the HS coverage, but even that should be taken with a grain of salt, since all those HS profiles are written based on information sent in by each team's coach. (The 6'6", 320-pound OLs our teams recruit mysteriously will show up in the 6'3"/6'4" range, and their weight inexplicably drops 30 or 40 pounds). Basically, the mag is a directory for HS coaches to tout their players. The college coverage is poor (although they came close to giving UNT its due this year) if you're not a fan of UT or A&M. And the "Baylor is legit" crap just gets older and older every year.