| 06 January 2012
BBVA Compass Bowl
Southern Methodist takes on a Pittsburgh team looking for a repeat of last year’s bowl performance in the BBVA Compass Bowl, aka the Boise State Appreciation Bowl or perhaps the Arizona State Scum Devil Fan Club Bowl.
In what is by far the weirdest coaching story this season, both teams’ coaches were offered the head coaching job at Arizona State. SMU’s June Jones was all but set to accept the position in Tempe before the university rescinded its offer, supposedly under pressure from boosters. Instead, the Sun Devils turned to Pitt’s Todd Graham. Graham accepted the job after his AD at Pitt denied him permission to interview for it. Graham then notified his players of his departure via mass text message.
It didn’t go over real well.
Now, we are left with a bowl game between one team whose coach abandoned it and another whose coach wanted to leave but was forced to stay.
Talk about awkward.
Maybe The Reality TV Bowl would be a more apt title because you can’t make this stuff up. Oh, did I mention that Pitt is the defending BBVA Compass Bowl champion, having won last year’s game under, you guessed it, yet another interim coach?
Defensive coordinator Keith Patterson will take over the coaching duties for Pitt, just like former defensive coordinator Phil Bennett did in last year’s game. Patterson is the fifth head coach or interim head coach the Panthers have had in 13 months. Wisconsin offensive coordinator was hired to replace Graham but stayed with the Badgers through last Monday’s Rose Bowl. Pittsburgh had a mediocre year, finishing the regular season with a 6-6 mark. The Panthers never won more than two consecutive games but also never lost more than two-in-a-row. They did play well down the stretch, winning three-of-five games, with the two losses coming by a combined four points to Big East co-champions West Virginia (last seen mocking my Orange Bowl prediction and mauling Clemson) and Cincinnati.Say what you will about June Jones, but the man knows how to rebuild a football program. He rejuvenated a moribund Hawai’i program and eventually led it to a BCS berth behind quarterback Colt Brennan. He was lured away to the mainland to take over at SMU, a school that had been one of the worst in college football for years. While he hasn’t taken the Mustangs to a BCS game yet, Jones has taken the program to three straight bowl games, its first postseason appearances since 1984. This year’s squad started out strong, going 5-1 and knocking off rival TCU 40-33 in overtime. SMU faltered in the second half of the season, however, losing four of its final six games.
Key matchup: SMU defense vs. Pitt RBs Zach Brown and Isaac Bennett
Pitt RBs Zach Brown (L) and Isaac Bennett (R)
SMU needs to make Pitt one-dimensional and force Pitt QB Tino Sunseri to beat them. Sunseri has struggled at times this year, throwing for only 2,433 yards and 10 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in Graham’s spread offense. He has also been sacked an alarming 54 times. Leading rusher Ray Graham was lost for the season after hurting his knee on October 26 against UConn, and running backs Zach Brown and Isaac Bennett have stepped up in his absence. The duo has combined for 422 yards in the last four games. If they can be productive on the ground and give the offense manageable third downs, it will take a lot of pressure off of Sunseri. If SMU can stop Brown and Bennett and make the Panthers have to throw on third-and-long, SMU’s chances for victory will go up considerably.
Why you should watch: To practice your game routine for the national championship so that when Monday night rolls around, you’re all set to go. Um… well June Jones’ run-and-shoot offense is unique and can be entertaining to watch. Pitt is looking to repeat as BBVA Compass Bowl champions with another interim head coach, something that has never before been done in the long and rich history of the BBVA Compass Bowl. That’s compelling… right?
Why you shouldn’t watch: These are two bad teams. Pitt went 6-6 overall and 4-3 in an average Big East conference and struggles on offense. The Panthers are no better than 67th in the country in passing yards per game, rushing yards per game, and points scored per game. Sunseri threw the same number of interceptions as touchdown passes and has been sacked an astounding 54 times behind a suspect offensive line. SMU finished 7-5 overall (5-3 in Conference USA) and is coming in cold, having lost four-of-six. Jones’ run-and-shoot offense usually puts up a lot of points, but the Mustangs are only 71st in the country in points per game. McDermott has thrown 16 interceptions on the year. Both teams lost their leading rushers to season-ending injuries this year. Finally, morale could be pretty low after the whole coaching fiasco. Pitt players feel betrayed by Graham, and between all the emotions and a disappointing season, their hearts may not be in it. SMU’s coach didn’t leave, but by all accounts, Jones was all set to take the ASU job before the school changed its mind. How do the players feel about that? Will they want to play for a coach who was going to leave them? This could turn into a rout if one team gets down early and folds.
Prediction: Pittsburgh has more talent than SMU and possesses a decent defense. Jones’ teams traditionally are strong on offense and weak on defense, so while the Panthers’ offense isn’t great, it’ll be able to move the ball and score some points against SMU. Pittsburgh wins.
