SMU DEATH PENALTY

                           SMU DEATH PENALTY

In the early 1980's Southern Methodists University or SMU for short owned the best overall record in collegiate football. From 1981-1984 SMU rode on the back of their famed backfield the "pony express" that consisted of running backs Craig James and Eric Dickerson.

But as the middle of the decade approach the university became greedy and committed a ton of violations against NCAA rules. Power of the football program ceded to the oil tycoons and estate men of the region and recruiting violation after recruiting violation was committed. From paying recruits to giving them gifts the only thing that matter was winning and this greed and coruption would ruin the football program forever.

SMU at the time was a member of the southwest conference. Currently known as the BIG 12 conference it was a powerhouse football conference with big members like Texas, Arkansas, and Texas A&M. Although there were multiple violations throughout the conference in every team SMU got the worst of it: The Death Penalty. The Death Penalty is when a college team has one or more seasons taken from plus bowl bids, and scholarships taken away. SMU had three seasons taken from them for their greed and corruption. The program hasn't been the same since seeing only one winning season since the year before the death penalty and only one bowl game.

SMU has since joined the American Athletic Conference a smaller yet competitive conference then the old southwest. Recently it seems as thought things are looking up for them as the have a decent head coach who took them to there only bowl game since 1984 and hopefully they will one day be good again as i believe no one team should suffer that long.