The 1978 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season . Led by third-year head coach Ron Meyer , the Mustangs compiled an overall record 4–6–1 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for sixth place in the SWC.[ 1]
With sagging attendance in recent years, including a dismal 6,918 against conference foe Rice, SMY athletic director Russ Potts orchestrated "Mustang Mania." Potts wanted to make SMU more visible in the Dallas area . Average attendance at SMU home games jumped from 25,644 in the previous year to 51,960 in the 1978 season. This was the highest average attendance for SMU home games since 1950 .[ 2] [ 3]
Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 9 TCU W 45–1441,112 [ 4] September 16 vs. Florida * W 35–2534,101 [ 5] September 23 at No. 3 Penn State * L 21–2677,404 [ 6] October 7 at No. 14 Ohio State * T 35–3587,712 [ 7] October 14 at Baylor W 28–2136,500 [ 8] October 21 No. 11 Houston L 28–4264,871 [ 9] October 28 at No. 7 Texas L 3–2265,289 [ 10] November 4 Texas A&M L 17–2057,208 [ 11] November 11 at Rice W 58–014,000 [ 12] November 18 at Texas Tech L 16–1945,101 [ 13] November 25 Arkansas L 14–2744,647 [ 14] *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[ 15]
1978 SMU Mustangs football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
DB
27
Charles Bruton So
DL
99
Eric Ferguson Fr
DB
9
Mark Gibson So
DL
80
Byron Hunt So
DL
61
Charles Hunt Jr
DB
20
James Mobley Fr
Special teams
Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) Ineligible
Team players in the NFL
edit
Player Position Round Pick NFL club
D. K. Perry
Defensive back
8
200
New York Giants
^ "2020 Football Media Guide" .^ "usurped title" . Archived from the original on December 8, 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link ) ^ "D Magazine : SPORTS is Mustang Mania Horsefeathers?" . Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2021 .^ "Ponies gallop past Horned Frogs 45–14" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . September 10, 1978. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "SMU drops Florida" . The El Paso Times . September 17, 1978. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Lions regroup to nip SMU, 26–21" . The Pittsburgh Press . September 24, 1978. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "SMU 'tutors' Bucks in 35–35 tie" . The Lima News . October 8, 1978. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Ford leads miraculous SMU comeback" . Abilene Reporter-News . October 15, 1978. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Houston bombards SMU 42–28" . The El Paso Times . October 22, 1978. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Fierce Longhorn defense throttles SMU" . The Marshall News Messenger . October 29, 1978. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "A&M slips past SMU with clutch field goal" . The Kilgore News Herald . November 5, 1978. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "SMU pops Rice" . The Odessa American . November 12, 1978. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "T-Tech tips Mustangs" . Tulsa World . November 19, 1978. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Arkansas rallies to clip SMU, 27–14" . The Odessa American . November 26, 1978. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "1978 SMU Mustangs Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 20, 2024 .
