1982 SMU Mustangs football team
American college football season
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The 1982 SMU Mustangs football team represented the Southern Methodist University in the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the first year for the team under head coach Bobby Collins and the Mustangs finished undefeated at 11–0–1,[1][2] and were Southwest Conference champions (7–0–1).
| 1982 SMU Mustangs football | |
|---|---|
Cotton Bowl Classic, W 7–3 vs. Pittsburgh | |
| Conference | Southwest Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 2 |
| AP | No. 2 |
| Record | 11–0–1 (7–0–1 SWC) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive scheme | No-huddle option |
| Defensive coordinator | Bill Clay (1st season) |
| Base defense | 3–4 |
| Captains | |
| Home stadium | Texas Stadium |
The Mustangs won their first ten games, the last of which came on a miraculous 91-yard kickoff return lateral-play in the final seconds against Texas Tech[3][4] to preserve the unbeaten and untied season to that point. In the regular season finale the following week, a tie against No. 9 Arkansas caused the voters in both polls to drop SMU from second to fourth,[5] costing the Mustangs the national championship. The tie was attributed in part to a lengthy and highly questionable pass interference call on Arkansas late in the game that allowed SMU to score the game-tying touchdown,[6] a call that announcer Keith Jackson stated on air was a bad call by the officials. Trailing by a point, head coach Collins opted not to go for the two-point conversion and the lead, and they kicked the extra point to knot the score at seventeen with under three minutes remaining. There was no further scoring, as SMU missed a long field goal attempt in the final seconds.[2][6]
Repeating as SWC champions, the Mustangs earned the automatic bid to the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day, where they defeated sixth-ranked Pittsburgh 7–3.[1][7] Played in near-freezing conditions, it was the final college game for the "Pony Express" running back tandem of Eric Dickerson and Craig James, as well as for Pitt quarterback Dan Marino.
After SMU's tie to Arkansas, Penn State moved up to second and then defeated No. 1 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to secure the top spot in the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, despite a slightly less impressive final record of 11–1.[8][9][10]
The Mustangs were runners-up in the final AP Poll, but the Helms Athletic Foundation, in the final year in which it selected a national college football champion, split the honor between SMU and Penn State. On the season, the Mustangs outscored their opponents by a combined score of 354 to 160.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 11 | Tulane* | No. 8 | W 51–7 | 33,814 | [11] | ||
| September 18 | at UTEP* | No. 6 | W 31–10 | 33,509 | [12] | ||
| September 25 | TCU | No. 6 |
| W 16–13 | 43,321 | [13] | |
| October 2 | 6:30 p.m. | North Texas State* | No. 7 |
| W 38–10 | 30,118 | [14] |
| October 9 | at Baylor | No. 6 | W 22–19 | 30,000 | [15] | ||
| October 16 | Houston | No. 5 |
| W 20–14 | 31,817 | [16] | |
| October 23 | at No. 19 Texas | No. 4 | W 30–17 | 80,157 | [17] | ||
| October 30 | Texas A&M | No. 4 |
| W 47–9 | 50,008 | [18] | |
| November 6 | at Rice | No. 2 | W 41–14 | 25,000 | [19] | ||
| November 13 | at Texas Tech | No. 2 | W 34–27 | 45,954 | [20] | ||
| November 20 | No. 9 Arkansas | No. 2 |
| T 17–17 | 65,101 | [21] | |
| January 1, 1983 | vs. No. 6 Pittsburgh* | No. 4 | W 7–3 | 60,359 | [22] | ||
| |||||||
Rankings
Game summaries
Tulane
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Wave | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| No. 8 Mustangs | 7 | 17 | 7 | 20 | 51 |
at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
- Date: September 11
- Game time: 7:12 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 92 °F (33 °C)
- Game attendance: 33,814
- TV: Superstation WTBS
| Scoring summary | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | Tulane | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Turnovers | ||
| Time of possession | ||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulane | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| SMU | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
SMU romped to a season-opening victory over Tulane with a school-record 519 yards rushing. Senior Eric Dickerson ran for 183 yards and two touchdowns, and went over 3,000 career rushing yards. Craig James added 110 yards and a touchdown. It was the 10th time Dickerson and James each ran for more than 100 yards in the same game.[23]
At UTEP
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 6 Mustangs | 14 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 31 |
| Miners | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
at Sun Bowl • El Paso, Texas
- Date: September 18
- Game time: 6:40 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 33,509
| Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | SMU | UTEP |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Turnovers | ||
| Time of possession | ||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| UTEP | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
TCU
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horned Frogs | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 13 |
| No. 6 Mustangs | 0 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 16 |
at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
- Date: September 25
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 43,321
| Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | TCU | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Turnovers | ||
| Time of possession | ||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCU | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| SMU | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
In the Battle for the Iron Skillet, SMU beat TCU 16–13.
North Texas State
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Green | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| No. 7 Mustangs | 14 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
- Date: October 2
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 30,118
| Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | North Texas State | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Turnovers | ||
| Time of possession | ||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Texas State | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| SMU | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
At Baylor
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 6 Mustangs | 0 | 0 | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Bears | 7 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 19 |
at Baylor Stadium • Waco, Texas
- Date: October 9
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 30,000
| Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | SMU | Baylor |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Turnovers | ||
| Time of possession | ||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Baylor | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
Houston
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cougars | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| No. 5 Mustangs | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
| Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | Houston | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Turnovers | ||
| Time of possession | ||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| SMU | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
At Texas
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 4 Mustangs | 0 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 30 |
| No. 19 Longhorns | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 17 |
at Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, Texas
- Date: October 23
- Game time: 2:50 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 80,157
- TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson (play–by–play), Frank Broyles (color commentator) and Tim Brant (sideline reporter)
| Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | SMU | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Turnovers | ||
| Time of possession | ||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Texas | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
Texas A&M
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aggies | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| No. 4 Mustangs | 16 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 47 |
at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
- Date: October 30
- Game time: 11:30 a.m. CST
- Game attendance: 50,008
- Referee: Wendell Shelton
- TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play–by–play) and Steve Davis (color commentator)
| Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | Texas A&M | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Turnovers | ||
| Time of possession | ||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| SMU | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
Eric Dickerson ran for over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns on 14 carries.
At Rice
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 2 Mustangs | 0 | 20 | 7 | 14 | 41 |
| Owls | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
at Rice Stadium • Houston, Texas
- Date: November 6
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 25,000
| Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | SMU | Rice |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Turnovers | ||
| Time of possession | ||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| Rice | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
In the Mayor's Cup, SMU beat Rice 41–14.
At Texas Tech
Arkansas
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 9 Razorbacks | 7 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| No. 2 Mustangs | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
- Date: November 20
- Game time: 2:50 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 65,101
- TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson (play–by–play), Lee Grosscup (color commentator) and Tim Brant (sideline reporter)
| Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Going into this game, SMU needed a victory or a tie to claim the SWC championship and secure a trip to the Cotton Bowl. Arkansas, on the other hand, needed a victory over the Mustangs plus a win over Texas the following week. The game proved to be marred by controversy due to questionable officiating.
Late in the fourth quarter Arkansas led SMU 17-10 with time winding down. From the Mustang 43 yard line, SMU quarterback Lance McIlhenny lofted a pass to receiver Jackie Wilson down the left sideline, with Wilson being defended by Arkansas cornerback Nathan Jones. The pass was long, and Jones was in fact in front of Wilson as both players went to the turf together. Jones was flagged for pass interference, and since that penalty was a spot foul instead of 15 yards at that time in college football, the ball was placed near the Arkansas 15 yard line. SMU would score the game-tying touchdown a few plays later, and the game ended in a 17-17 tie, handing the Mustangs the conference championship. Play-by-play announcer Keith Jackson would even say on live television that the pass interference penalty on Jones was "just a terrible call". The officiating crew was suspended after this game and the NCAA issued an apology to Arkansas. This egregious call directly influenced the NCAA to change the rules for pass interference over the following summer so that a pass interference penalty would be 15 yards and not a spot foul.
| Statistics | Arkansas | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Turnovers | ||
| Time of possession | ||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| SMU | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
Vs. Pittsburgh (Cotton Bowl)
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 6 Panthers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 4 Mustangs | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
at Cotton Bowl • Dallas, Texas
- Date: January 1
- Game time: 12:30 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 60,359
- Referee: Jimmy Harper
- TV announcers (CBS): Lindsey Nelson (play–by–play), Pat Haden (color commentator), and Pat O'Brien (sideline reporter)
| Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Statistics | Pittsburgh | SMU |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | ||
| Total yards | ||
| Rushing yards | ||
| Passing yards | ||
| Turnovers | ||
| Time of possession | ||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving | |||
| SMU | Passing | ||
| Rushing | |||
| Receiving |
Roster
| 1982 SMU Mustangs football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Awards and honors
- Eric Dickerson, consensus All-American,[26] third in the Heisman Trophy voting,[27] despite splitting time with Craig James.[28]
NFL draft
Six Mustangs were selected in the 1983 NFL draft, which lasted 12 rounds (335 selections).
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Dickerson | Running back | 1 | 2 | Los Angeles Rams |
| Russell Carter | Safety | 1 | 10 | New York Jets |
| Wes Hopkins | Safety | 2 | 35 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Gary Moten | Linebacker | 7 | 175 | San Francisco 49ers |
| Craig James | Running back | 7 | 187 | New England Patriots |