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SMU Opens Season Tonight Against Texas Tech

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SMU fans try to get their team to pony up with some cheering.
It’s time for SMU fans to “Pony Up.” (Staff photo: Chris McGathey)

It should be a pretty intriguing evening at Ford Stadium as SMU takes on Texas Tech to open the 2013 football season. Kickoff is set for 7 tonight.

The Mustangs, in their first season in the new American Athletic Conference, have six starters back on both offense and defense from last year’s 7-6 season that included a 43-10 Hawaii Bowl win over Fresno State. Among those returning starters are cornerback Kenneth Acker and quarterback Garrett Gilbert.

In his first year calling signals for the Ponies, Gilbert threw for 2,932 yards with 15 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He will have wide receiver Jeremy Johnson back after he had 67 catches for 679 yards and three touchdowns last season.

Meanwhile, Texas Tech will be getting the Kliff Kingsbury era started. The former Red Raider quarterback and Texas A&M offensive coordinator inherits a team that went 8-5 last season and also won a bowl game. Tech beat Minnesota, 34-31, in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

SMU will play Montana State at home next week. The Mustangs then hit the road to battle a pair of Top 25 teams in Texas A&M and TCU after an early bye week. Head coach June Jones and his team open AAC play at home against Rutgers on Oct.5.

Author

Chuck Cox

Chuck Cox

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