Southern Methodist

Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, Texas, was founded in 1911.  These days it is mainly known as the school for wealthy debutantes in the Dallas area -- both the fictional Lucy Ewing and the actual Laura Lane Welch (now better known under her married name of Laura Bush) attended Southern Methodist.  But for a long time, Southern Methodist was known primarily for its membership in the Southwest Conference, and its very dramatic football history.  After the 1935 season, Southern Methodist was the first team from Texas to appear in the Rose Bowl.  Four Southern Methodist players -- Raymond Berry, Doak Walker, Forest Gregg, and Eric Dickerson -- are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Southern Methodist won the Cotton Bowls that concluded the 1948 and 1982 seasons.  All in all, a very proud heritage -- especially for a private school that had to spend most of its history going up against Texas, Texas A & M, and Arkansas.

But all that, of course, came to an end in 1987, when Southern Methodist became the first (and to this day, the only) college football program to receive the "death penalty" from the NCAA.  The scandals that led to the death penalty grew out of Southern Methodist's (mostly successful) efforts to build a national powerhouse that could compete with the Big Boys in Texas.  Southern Methodist went to four bowl games in the early 1980's -- winning the 1983 Cotton Bowl.  In the end, however, the price was devastating.  Not only did the scandal contribute to the break-up of the Southwest Conference -- which caused Southern Methodist to lose its place as a major conference school -- but Southern Methodist wouldn't play in any bowl game from 1984 until 2009.

These days, Southern Methodist is a member of the American Athletic Conference, and the Mustangs' schedule features games against schools like South Florida, Tulane, and Memphis.  Southern Methodist may never return to the Big Time again -- but, on the other hand, the Mustangs are still in Division I-A.  And if recent history tells us anything, it is that as long as you are in I-A, you are only one great coach from national prominence.  If Boise State can become a national power, Southern Methodist could always come back.

Southern Methodist has an all-time record of 12-14-5 in UCFC play, but they have not won a UCFC game since October 19, 1940, when they beat Auburn 20-13.  In fact, since 1966 the Mustangs have only played for the Big Gold Trophy one time -- that was a 45-7 loss to Baylor on September 28, 1991.