Miami Hurricanes followers ought to root for Rhett Lashlee and the SMU Mustangs on Saturday

The SMU Mustangs are street underdogs to the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday, December twenty first at midday on TNT/Max. PSU is an 8.5 level favourite with a 67.4% win expectancy per ESPN.

On the helm of the SMU Mustangs is Rhett Lashlee. Lashlee, a former Miami OC. has his Mustangs within the School Soccer Playoff in yr considered one of ACC membership. ‘Canes followers must be pulling for Lashlee and co. Saturday vs. Penn State, and I’ll inform you why.

So how did Rhett do it in yr one within the ACC the place Mario Cristobal has failed in three seasons at Miami? SMU definitely was making ready for this transfer to the ACC forward of time. Lashlee went again to SMU (he was previously their OC) with the objective to get the roster as much as snuff within the P4.

SMU has donors and boosters with deep pockets and being situated within the Dallas-Fort Price space, with the funding that space makes in highschool soccer, is definitely an edge.

The Mustangs are eleventh in SP+ general whereas Miami is tenth. SMU’s defensive SP+ is twenty sixth in comparison with Miami being forty second. SMU’s offense is 4th whereas Miami’s is 1st, however the ‘Stangs have a decrease rated kicking recreation (sixteenth vs. 52nd).

SMU dropped their massive video games in opposition to BYU and Clemson however did pull out wins in opposition to Pitt and Louisville. Miami additionally beat Louisville however misplaced to unranked Syracuse and unranked Georgia Tech. Each losses got here in November whereas SMU misplaced to the Cougars in week three and Clemson within the ACC Championship Sport.

No bitterness in the direction of SMU must be had- they earned their spot into the ACC Championship Sport and performed a detailed recreation in opposition to a Clemson squad that backdoor’ed their approach into each the ACC CG (thanks, Mario) and the CFBPO.

I’ve completely good causes Miami followers must be rooting on SMU for the playoff.

1- The roster is loaded with former ‘Canes

Say what you need concerning the switch portal however many of those Hurricanes have been proven the door and Lashlee welcomed them with open arms. Romello Brinson, Jakai Clark, Jared Harrison-Hunte, Jahfari Harvey, Elijah Roberts, Brashard Smith, and Key’Shawn Smith are all former ‘Canes on the SMU roster.

To not point out former Hurricanes legend, Russell Maryland’s son RJ Maryland, can also be on the Stangs roster. Okay. Smith, B. Smith, and Clark are starters on offense for SMU whereas Harvey, Harrison-Hunte and Roberts are starters on protection.

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Lashlee has found out how one can make B. Smith a star- he has logged 1,500 whole yards and 18 TD’s this season. Okay. Smith has averaged 16.5 yards per catch with 5 TD’s.

Harrison-Hunte, Harvey and Roberts are 1-2-3 on the group in tackles for loss and three of the highest 4 Mustangs in sacks. Harvey, a participant that I assumed had a ton of potential, has 12 TFL’s, seven sacks, and two compelled fumbles for SMU.

Roberts (5.5 sacks) and Harrison-Hunte (6.0 sacks) logged 9 and eight TFL’s, respectively. It’s good to see the gamers we have been pulling for succeed, so long as they aren’t at a rival.

2- Former Miami coaches haven’t all the time fared so effectively

A head coach has three major roles of their program that must be objectives at each stage.

1- Mannequin on your gamers a profitable path in life.

2- Coach your coaches and information them to a promotion.

3- Overachieve on the sphere.

Not each former Miami head coach or assistant has fared fairly in addition to Manny Diaz has. Diaz landed on his ft because the DC at Penn State earlier than taking up the pinnacle job at Duke.

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As a substitute there’s Artwork Kehoe’s that went into teaching exile, Patrick Nix who went again to the HS ranks, Randy Shannon has bounced across the state of Florida, Mark D’Onofrio was fired at Houston and Josh Gattis was simply fired at Maryland.

Seeing Rhett Lashlee discover success is an effective factor for Miami soccer. He was usually related to Gus Malzahn however now could be normally introduced up as a former Miami OC who labored wonders with Tyler Van Dyke.

Lashlee having success reveals that former Miami assistants don’t need to float round to Louisville, or as NFL place coaches, or to UTSA with a view to hold making a buck. They will change into head coaches and push their program into the playoff.

3- If Mario can’t get it completed, perhaps Rhett is subsequent in line

Mario Cristobal is now 22-15 at Miami at 12-12 within the ACC. Rhett Lashlee is 29-11 at SMU (previous to the playoff beginning) and 8-0 within the ACC within the common season (earlier two years have been within the AAC).

Lashlee has coached SMU to 2 bowl video games and a playoff look in addition to an ACC Championship Sport look. Cristobal has coached Miami to 2 bowl video games in three years and not using a journey to Charlotte.

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Cristobal will completely have one other two seasons to ‘determine it out,’ but when he doesn’t make a single ACC Championship Sport by 2026 he’s gone. Even the Cristobal-friendly powerbrokers at UM gained’t stand for him not making a single journey to Charlotte in 5 seasons of ‘Canes soccer.

That brings us again to Lashlee. If Lashlee can proceed having success at SMU in ‘25 and ‘26 he might be the subsequent in line at The U. He’s confirmed that he can win within the ACC, and accomplish that with Miami expertise as his characteristic operating again.

Whereas he’s an offensive coach at coronary heart his protection is enjoying effectively. He simply has to get this group over the hump and to behave like they’re able to win a giant recreation. SMU is presently fifth within the ACC in recruiting and thirty third within the nation.

However Lashlee has blended HS recruiting with the portal to get his sort of guys. Add that to having a four-star QB signed for 2025 and Lashlee might not wish to depart Dallas.

The Wrap

As a Miami fan in case you’re questioning who to tug for through the School Soccer Playoff the reply is clearly SMU. It could actually’t be Clemson and Dabo Swinney. It could actually’t be PSU, Ohio State, or Notre Dame for apparent causes. Possibly you’re a sicko and can pull for the G5 group in Boise State. However the clear reply is Rhett Lashlee’s Mustangs.