1982 SMU Mustangs football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1982

| team = SMU Mustangs

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Southwest Conference

| short_conf = SWC

| CoachRank = 2

| APRank = 2

| record = 11–0–1

| conf_record = 7–0–1

| head_coach = Bobby Collins

| hc_year = 1st

| off_coach =

| oc_year =

| off_scheme = No-huddle option

| def_coach = Bill Clay

| dc_year = 1st

| def_scheme = 3–4

| captain = Craig James

| captain2 = Gary Moten

| stadium = Texas Stadium

| champion = Co-national champion (HAF)
SWC champion
Cotton Bowl Classic champion

| bowl = Cotton Bowl Classic

| bowl_result = W 7–3 vs. Pittsburgh

}}

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 {{nowrap|at 11–0–1,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rW8RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XuIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4594%2C451463 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Mustangs (11-0-1) cotton to No. 1 |date=January 2, 1983 |page=4D}}{{cite journal|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1983/01/10/627614/cottoning-on-to-no-2-its-smwho |journal=Sports Illustrated |last=Putnam |first=Pat |title=Cottoning on to No. 2, it's SMWho |date=January 10, 1983 |page=21}}}} and were Southwest Conference champions {{nowrap|(7–0–1).}}

A tie in their regular season finale against No. 9 Arkansas on November 20 caused the voters in both polls to drop SMU from second to {{nowrap|fourth,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fhVWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JuIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3504%2C5580331 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=wire services |title=Mustangs lose No. 2 position to Penn State |date=November 23, 1982 |page=3B}}}} 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 {{nowrap|touchdown,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fBVWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JuIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6582%2C5355027 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=wire services |title=SMU makes a tie as good as a win |date=November 21, 1982 |page=6F}}}} 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 {{nowrap|final seconds.}}

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 {{nowrap|7–3.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eTMdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g6UEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6882%2C217690 |work=Tuscaloosa News |location=(Alabama) |agency=Associated Press |title=SMU in high Cotton after stopping Pitt|date=January 2, 1983 |page=4B}}}} 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 {{nowrap|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 {{nowrap|of 11–1.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rm8RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XuIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6518%2C661061 |work=Eugene Register Guard |location=(Oregon) |title=Only dissent on No. 1 comes from No. 2 |agency=AP, UPI |date=January 3, 1983 |page=1C}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DdFRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9G0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5657%2C253054|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=At long last |date=January 3, 1983 |page=23}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LXEjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B2AEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6316%2C1476438 |work=Pittsburgh Press |last=Donovan |first=Dan |title=National title belongs to players - Paterno |date=January 3, 1983 |page=C1}}}}

The Mustangs were runner-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

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1982

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 11

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 8

| opponent = Tulane

| site_stadium = Texas Stadium

| site_cityst = Irving, TX

| score = 51–7

| attend = 33,814

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87425472/mustangs-run-to-517-victory-over-tulane/|work=Austin American-Statesman|title=Mustangs run to 51–7 victory over Tulane|date=September 12, 1982|accessdate=February 20, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 18

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| rank = 6

| opponent = UTEP

| site_stadium = Sun Bowl

| site_cityst = El Paso, TX

| score = 31–10

| attend = 33,509

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/waco-tribune-herald-mustangs-zip-miners/166221245/|newspaper=Waco Tribune-Herald|title=Mustangs zip Miners, 31–10|date=September 19, 1982|accessdate=February 20, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 25

| w/l = w

| rank = 6

| opponent = TCU

| site_stadium = Texas Stadium

| site_cityst = Irving, TX

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 16–13

| attend = 43,321

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-monitor-smu-staves-off-fired-up-tcu/166260252/|newspaper=The Monitor|title=SMU staves off fired-up TCU|date=September 26, 1982|accessdate=February 20, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 2

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 7

| opponent = North Texas State

| site_stadium = Texas Stadium

| site_cityst = Irving, TX

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 38–10

| attend = 30,118

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87991562/smu-mustangs-trample-north-texas-state/|work=The Daily Advertiser|title=SMU Mustangs trample North Texas State|date=October 3, 1982|accessdate=October 29, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 9

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 6

| opponent = Baylor

| site_stadium = Baylor Stadium

| site_cityst = Waco, TX

| score = 22–19

| attend = 30,000

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-news-journal-bears-fall-to-must/166260367/|newspaper=Longview News-Journal|title=Bears fall to Mustang comeback|date=October 10, 1982|accessdate=February 20, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 16

| w/l = w

| rank = 5

| opponent = Houston

| site_stadium = Texas Stadium

| site_cityst = Irving, TX

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 20–14

| attend = 31,817

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tyler-courier-times-smu-edges-housto/166260478/|newspaper=The Tyler Courier-Times|title=SMU edges Houston, 20–14|date=October 17, 1982|accessdate=February 20, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 23

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 4

| opponent = Texas

| opprank = 19

| site_stadium = Texas Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Austin, TX

| score = 30–17

| attend = 80,157

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-mustangs-roll-b/166260611/|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|title=Mustangs roll by Longhorns|date=October 24, 1982|accessdate=February 20, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 30

| w/l = w

| rank = 4

| opponent = Texas A&M

| site_stadium = Texas Stadium

| site_cityst = Irving, TX

| score = 47–9

| attend = 50,008

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-caller-times-mustangs-ove/166260729/|newspaper=Corpus Christi Caller-Times|title=Mustangs overwhelm Texas A&M, 47–9|date=October 31, 1982|accessdate=February 20, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 6

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 2

| opponent = Rice

| site_stadium = Rice Stadium

| site_cityst = Houston, TX

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 41–14

| attend = 25,000

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-smu-pounds-rice/166260877/|newspaper=The Post-Crescent|title=SMU pounds Rice|date=November 7, 1982|accessdate=February 20, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 13

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 2

| opponent = Texas Tech

| site_stadium = Jones Stadium

| site_cityst = Lubbock, TX

| score = 34–27

| attend = 45,954

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-galveston-daily-news-smus-wild-kick/166261026/|newspaper=The Galveston Daily News|title=SMU's wild kickoff return bails out 34–27 victory|date=November 14, 1982|accessdate=February 20, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 20

| w/l = t

| rank = 2

| opponent = Arkansas

| opprank = 9

| site_stadium = Texas Stadium

| site_cityst = Irving, TX

| score = 17–17

| attend = 65,101

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-caller-times-smu-arkansa/166261158/|newspaper=Corpus Christi Caller-Times|title=SMU, Arkansas tie; Mustangs win SWC|date=November 21, 1982|accessdate=February 20, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = January 1, 1983

| w/l = w

| neutral = y

| nonconf = y

| rank = 4

| opponent = Pittsburgh

| opprank = 6

| site_stadium = Cotton Bowl

| site_cityst = Dallas, TX

| gamename = Cotton Bowl

| score = 7–3

| attend = 60,359

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-ponies-cap-big/166131227/|work=Austin American-Statesman|title=Ponies cap big year with Cotton victory|date=January 2, 1983|accessdate=February 20, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

Roster

{{American football roster/Header

| year = 1982

| team = SMU Mustangs

| teamcolors = f

| offensive_players =

{{American football roster/Player|num=87|class=Jr|first=Rickey|last=Bolden|pos=TE|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=67|class= |first=Andrew|last=Campbell|pos=OL}}

{{American football roster/Player|num= |class=Sr|first=Jeff|last=Courtwright|pos=QB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=36|class=Jr|first=Mark|last=Crites|pos=RB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=19|class=Sr|first=Eric|last=Dickerson|pos=RB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=28|class=Sr|first=Charles|last=Drayton|pos=FB|inj=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=21|class=Fr|first=Reggie|last=Dupard|pos=RB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=70|class=So|first=Dale|last=Hellestrae|pos=T|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=32|class=Sr|first=Craig|last=James|dab=Craig James (running back)|pos=RB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=2|class=Fr|first=Don|last=King|dab=Don King (defensive back)|pos=QB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=7|class=So|first=Bobby|last=Leach|pos=WR}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=11|class=Jr|first=Lance|last=McIlhenny|pos=QB|link=y}}

| defensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=13|class=Fr|first=Keith|last=Brooks|pos=DB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=74|class=So|first=Michael|last=Carter|dab=Michael Carter (nose tackle)|pos=DT|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=29|class=Jr|first=Russell|last=Carter|dab=Russell Carter (American football)|pos=DB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=46|class=Sr|first=Wes|last=Hopkins|pos=DB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=1|class=Fr|first=Rod|last=Jones|dab=Rod Jones (cornerback)|pos=CB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=91|class=Jr|first=Clarence|last=McDade|pos=LB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=5|class=So|first=Reggie|last=Phillips|pos=CB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=23|class=Sr|first=Blane|last=Smith|pos=DB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=78|class=Sr|first=Richard|last=Neely|pos=DT|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=54|class=Jr|first=Tony|last=Good|pos=OLB}}

| special_teams_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=3|class=Jr|first=Jeff|last=Harrell|pos=K}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=32|class=Sr|first=Craig|last=James|dab=Craig James (running back)|pos=P|link=y}}

}}

{{American football roster/Footer

| head_coach = *Bobby Collins

| asst_coach =

| accessdate=

}}

Rankings

{{Ranking movements

| poll1title = AP

| poll1firstweek = 0

| poll1lastweek = 15

| poll1_0=6

| poll1_1=8

| poll1_2=6

| poll1_3=6

| poll1_4=7

| poll1_5=6

| poll1_6=5

| poll1_7=4

| poll1_8=4

| poll1_9=2

| poll1_10=2

| poll1_11=2

| poll1_12=4

| poll1_13=4

| poll1_14=4

| poll1_15=2

| poll2title = Coaches Poll

| poll2firstweek = 0

| poll2lastweek =15

| poll2_0=11

| poll2_1=–

| poll2_2=6

| poll2_3=8

| poll2_4=7

| poll2_5=6

| poll2_6=5

| poll2_7=4

| poll2_8=4

| poll2_9=3

| poll2_10=2

| poll2_11=2

| poll2_12=4

| poll2_13=4

| poll2_14=4

| poll2_15=2

}}

Game summaries

=Tulane=

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegePrimaryStyle|SMU Mustangs|year=1982|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Tulane Green Wave at No. 8 SMU Mustangs – Game summary

|date={{dow tooltip|September 11, 1982}}

|time=7:12{{nbsp}}p.m. CDT

|road=Green Wave

|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=0 |R4=7

|home=No. 8 Mustangs

|H1=7 |H2=17 |H3=7 |H4=20

|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas

|attendance=33,814

|weather={{convert|92|F}}

|referee=

|TV=Superstation WTBS

|reference=

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=Tulane|HomeName=SMU|state=collapsed}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=1

| Time=

| Team=SMU

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Craig James

| yards=42

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Jeff Harrell

| Visitor=0

| Home=7

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=13:58

| Team=SMU

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Eric Dickerson

| yards=14

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Jeff Harrell

| Visitor=0

| Home=14

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=

| Team=SMU

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Lance McIlhenny

| yards=8

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Jeff Harrell

| Visitor=0

| Home=21

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=

| Team=SMU

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=33

| Kicker=Jeff Harrell

| Visitor=0

| Home=24

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=5:15

| Team=SMU

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Eric Dickerson

| yards=25

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Jeff Harrell

| Visitor=0

| Home=31

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=SMU

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Reggie Dupard

| yards=3

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Jeff Harrell

| Visitor=0

| Home=38

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=7:54

| Team=Tulane

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Elton Veals

| yards=1

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Tony Wood

| Visitor=7

| Home=38

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=SMU

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Reggie Dupard

| yards=46

| kickresult=no good

| Kicker=Jeff Harrell

| Visitor=7

| Home=44

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=SMU

| DrivePlays=—

| DriveLength=—

| DriveTime=—

| Type=IntTD

| Def=Jackie Wilson

| yards=7

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Jeff Harrell

| Visitor=7

| Home=51

}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Tulane Green Wave\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|Tulane!!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|SMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Tulane Green Wave\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|Tulane	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|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.{{cite news|title=SMU's Pony Express mauls Green Wave, 51-7 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/215965902/ |newspaper=Shreveport Times via newspapers.com |date=September 12, 1982 |access-date=October 6, 2019}}

=At UTEP=

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|SMU Mustangs|year=1982|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=No. 6 SMU Mustangs at UTEP Miners – Game summary

|date={{dow tooltip|September 18, 1982}}

|time=6:40{{nbsp}}p.m. CDT

|road=No. 6 Mustangs

|R1=14 |R2=14 |R3=3 |R4=0

|home=Miners

|H1=0 |H2=7 |H3=3 |H4=0

|stadium=Sun Bowl Stadium • El Paso, Texas

|attendance=33,509

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=SMU|HomeName=UTEP|state=collapsed}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|SMU!!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|UTEP Miners\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|UTEP
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|SMU	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|UTEP Miners\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|UTEP	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

=TCU=

{{see also|1982 TCU Horned Frogs football team|Battle for the Iron Skillet}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegePrimaryStyle|SMU Mustangs|year=1982|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=TCU Horned Frogs at No. 6 SMU Mustangs – Game summary

|date={{dow tooltip|September 25, 1982}}

|time=7:00{{nbsp}}p.m. CDT

|road=Horned Frogs

|R1=0 |R2=3 |R3=10 |R4=0

|home=No. 6 Mustangs

|H1=0 |H2=6 |H3=0 |H4=10

|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas

|attendance=43,321

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=TCU|HomeName=SMU|state=collapsed}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|TCU Horned Frogs\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|TCU!!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|SMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|TCU Horned Frogs\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|TCU	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|SMU	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

In the Battle for the Iron Skillet, SMU beat TCU 16–13.

=North Texas State=

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegePrimaryStyle|SMU Mustangs|year=1982|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=North Texas State Mean Green at No. 7 SMU Mustangs – Game summary

|date={{dow tooltip|October 2, 1982}}

|time=7:00{{nbsp}}p.m. CDT

|road=Mean Green

|R1=0 |R2=7 |R3=3 |R4=0

|home=No. 7 Mustangs

|H1=14 |H2=10 |H3=7 |H4=7

|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas

|attendance=30,118

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=North Texas State|HomeName=SMU|state=collapsed}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|North Texas Mean Green\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|North Texas State!!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|SMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|North Texas Mean Green\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|North Texas State	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|SMU	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

=At Baylor=

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|SMU Mustangs|year=1982|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=No. 6 SMU Mustangs at Baylor Bears – Game summary

|date={{dow tooltip|October 9, 1982}}

|time=7:00{{nbsp}}p.m. CDT

|road=No. 6 Mustangs

|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=14 |R4=8

|home=Bears

|H1=7 |H2=6 |H3=0 |H4=6

|stadium=Baylor Stadium • Waco, Texas

|attendance=30,000

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=SMU|HomeName=Baylor|state=collapsed}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|SMU!!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Baylor Bears\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|Baylor
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|SMU	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Baylor Bears\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|Baylor	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

=Houston=

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegePrimaryStyle|SMU Mustangs|year=1982|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Houston Cougars at No. 5 SMU Mustangs – Game summary

|date={{dow tooltip|October 16, 1982}}

|time=7:00{{nbsp}}p.m. CST

|road=Cougars

|R1=0 |R2=7 |R3=0 |R4=7

|home=No. 5 Mustangs

|H1=7 |H2=3 |H3=7 |H4=3

|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas

|attendance=31,817

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=USA

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=Houston|HomeName=SMU|state=collapsed}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Houston Cougars\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|Houston!!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|SMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Houston Cougars\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|Houston	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|SMU	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

=At Texas=

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|SMU Mustangs|year=1982|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=No. 4 SMU Mustangs at No. 19 Texas Longhorns – Game summary

|date={{dow tooltip|October 23, 1982}}

|time=2:50{{nbsp}}p.m. CDT

|road=No. 4 Mustangs

|R1=0 |R2=7 |R3=3 |R4=20

|home=No. 19 Longhorns

|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=0 |H4=17

|stadium=Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, Texas

|attendance=80,157

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=ABC

|TVAnnouncers=Keith Jackson (play–by–play), Frank Broyles (color commentator) and Tim Brant (sideline reporter)

|reference=

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=SMU|HomeName=Texas|state=collapsed}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|SMU!!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Texas Longhorns\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|Texas
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|SMU	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Texas Longhorns\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|Texas	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

=Texas A&M=

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegePrimaryStyle|SMU Mustangs|year=1982|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Texas A&M Aggies at No. 4 SMU Mustangs – Game summary

|date={{dow tooltip|October 30, 1982}}

|time=11:30{{nbsp}}a.m. CST

|road=Aggies

|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=3 |R4=6

|home=No. 4 Mustangs

|H1=16 |H2=10 |H3=14 |H4=7

|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas

|attendance=50,008

|weather=

|referee=Wendell Shelton

|TV=CBS

|TVAnnouncers=Verne Lundquist (play–by–play) and Steve Davis (color commentator)

|reference=

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=Texas A&M|HomeName=SMU|state=collapsed}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Texas A&M Aggies\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|Texas A&M!!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|SMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Texas A&M Aggies\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|Texas A&M	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|SMU	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Eric Dickerson ran for over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns on 14 carries.

=At Rice=

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|SMU Mustangs|year=1982|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=No. 2 SMU Mustangs at Rice Owls – Game summary

|date={{dow tooltip|November 6, 1982}}

|time=2:00{{nbsp}}p.m. CST

|road=No. 2 Mustangs

|R1=0 |R2=20 |R3=7 |R4=14

|home=Owls

|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=14 |H4=0

|stadium=Rice Stadium • Houston, Texas

|attendance=25,000

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=SMU|HomeName=Rice|state=collapsed}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|SMU!!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Rice Owls\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|Rice
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|SMU	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Rice Owls\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|Rice	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

In the Mayor's Cup, SMU beat Rice 41–14.

=At Texas Tech=

=Arkansas=

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegePrimaryStyle|SMU Mustangs|year=1982|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=No. 9 Arkansas Razorbacks at No. 2 SMU Mustangs – Game summary

|date={{dow tooltip|November 20, 1982}}

|time=2:50{{nbsp}}p.m. CST

|road=No. 9 Razorbacks

|R1=7 |R2=0 |R3=3 |R4=7

|home=No. 2 Mustangs

|H1=0 |H2=7 |H3=3 |H4=7

|stadium=Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas

|attendance=65,101

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=ABC

|TVAnnouncers=Keith Jackson (play–by–play), Lee Grosscup (color commentator) and Tim Brant (sideline reporter)

|reference=

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=Arkansas|HomeName=SMU|state=collapsed}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=1

| Time=

| Team=Arkansas

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Gary Anderson

| yards=3

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Martin Smith

| Visitor=7

| Home=0

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=

| Team=SMU

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Eric Dickerson

| yards=6

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Jeff Harrell

| Visitor=7

| Home=7

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=

| Team=SMU

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=49

| Kicker=Jeff Harrell

| Visitor=7

| Home=10

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=

| Team=Arkansas

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=27

| Kicker=Martin Smith

| Visitor=10

| Home=10

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=Arkansas

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Gary Anderson

| yards=3

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Martin Smith

| Visitor=17

| Home=10

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=SMU

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Lance McIlhenny

| yards=7

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Jeff Harrell

| Visitor=17

| Home=17

}}

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.

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Arkansas Razorbacks\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|Arkansas!!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|SMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Arkansas Razorbacks\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|Arkansas	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|SMU	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

{{cite news |title=S.M.U. IN BOWL AFTER 17-17 TIE |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/21/sports/smu-in-bowl-after-17-17-tie.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 21, 1983 |access-date=September 23, 2019}}

=Vs. Pittsburgh (Cotton Bowl)=

{{see also|1983 Cotton Bowl Classic|1982 Pittsburgh Panthers football team}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{CollegePrimaryStyle|SMU Mustangs|year=1982|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=No. 6 Pittsburgh Panthers vs. No. 4 SMU Mustangs (Cotton Bowl) – Game summary

|date={{dow tooltip|January 1, 1983}}

|time=12:30{{nbsp}}p.m. CST

|road=No. 6 Panthers

|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=3 |R4=0

|home=No. 4 Mustangs

|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=7 |H4=0

|stadium=Cotton Bowl • Dallas, Texas

|attendance=60,359

|weather=

|referee=Jimmy Harper

|TV=CBS

|TVAnnouncers=Lindsey Nelson (play–by–play), Pat Haden (color commentator), and Pat O'Brien (sideline reporter)

|reference=

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=Pittsburgh|HomeName=SMU|state=collapsed}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=

| Team=Pittsburgh

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=43

| Kicker=Eric Schubert

| Visitor=3

| Home=0

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=

| Team=SMU

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RushTD

| Runner=Lance McIlhenny

| yards=9

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Jeff Harrell

| Visitor=3

| Home=7

}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;" ! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Panthers\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|Pittsburgh!!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}"\|SMU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

class="wikitable" style="float: right;" ! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle\|Pittsburgh Panthers\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|Pittsburgh	Passing
Rushing
Receiving
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|year=1982\|border=1}}; text-align:center;"\|SMU	Passing
Rushing
Receiving

{{cite news |title=Stout S.M.U. Defense Holds Off Pitt, 7-3 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/01/02/sports/stout-smu-defense-holds-off-pitt-7-3.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 2, 1983 |access-date=September 22, 2019}}

Awards and honors

Eric Dickerson, consensus All-American,Eric Dickerson: Pro Football Hall of Fame, http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?PLAYER_ID=55 third in the Heisman Trophy voting,{{cite web |title='82 Heisman race no Walker in the park |url=https://www.espn.com/dallas/ncf/story/_/page/heisman-dallas-week8/james-dickerson |date=November 1, 2011 |access-date=October 6, 2019}} despite splitting time with {{nowrap|Craig James.Eric's College Days at SMU, {{cite web|url=http://www.ericdickerson29.com/college.htm |title=College |access-date=2015-07-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030604082837/http://ericdickerson29.com/college.htm |archive-date=2003-06-04 }}}}

NFL Draft

Six Mustangs were selected in the 1983 NFL draft, which lasted twelve rounds (335 selections).

class="wikitable" width="50%"
style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle\|SMU Mustangs\|color=white}};" \| Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL team
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Eric Dickerson	Running back	1	2	Los Angeles Rams
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Russell Carter	Safety	1	10	New York Jets
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Wes Hopkins	Safety	2	35	Philadelphia Eagles
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Gary Moten	Linebacker	7	175	San Francisco 49ers
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Craig James	Running back	7	187	New England Patriots
align="center" bgcolor=""

{{cite web| url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1983.htm| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071221193403/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1983.htm| archive-date = 2007-12-21| title = 1983 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com| website = Pro-Football-Reference.com}}

References

SMU

Category:SMU Mustangs football seasons

Category:Southwest Conference football champion seasons

Category:Cotton Bowl Classic champion seasons

Category:College football undefeated seasons

SMU Mustangs football