SMU quarterback Preston Stone does not catch himself by chance announcing his program performs within the American Athletic Convention anymore.
“I am beautiful hardwired to suppose (Atlantic Coast Convention) at this level,” Stone stated with a grin on Monday at ACC Media Days in Charlotte.
Stone and trainer Rhett Lashlee lead the Mustangs again into the power-conference ranks of school soccer in 2024. SMU joins Cal and Stanford because the ACC’s 3 new member colleges.
This system’s fresh soccer custom is also missing, however SMU performed in opposition to the likes of Texas, Texas A&M and Arkansas within the Southwest Convention till the league’s dissolution in 1996.
“We had been in this degree a few years within the Southwest Convention, gained over 11 convention championships, 3 nationwide titles, had a wealthy historical past and custom,” Lashlee stated Monday. “To have had that and misplaced it, now to have it again. I don’t believe there is any query our faculty, and we consider our program proper within the middle of Dallas belongs at the nationwide degree. We are humbled and thankful for the chance to be again.”
The Mustangs have not gained a bowl recreation since 2012, however they are coming off an 11-3 marketing campaign that noticed them run the desk within the American and win the convention championship recreation. It was once this system’s winningest season for the reason that 1982 nationwide championship marketing campaign.
The chaos of the hot spherical of convention realignment apart, Lashlee emphasised that he believes SMU earned the chance to be again in this degree.
“We are aware of it’s a special alternative,” Lashlee stated. “We are shifting up in weight elegance. To play 10 immediately continual video games, we’ve not achieved that during virtually 30 years at our program. There may be going to be some adjustments there.”
A kind of adjustments integrated beefing as much as get ready for the soar in ability. Via Lashlee’s rely, 13 of SMU’s 20 incoming transfers play on both the offensive or line of defense.
Lashlee identified that SMU’s first two ACC video games come in opposition to Florida State and Louisville — the 2 colleges that performed in final yr’s convention championship recreation.
“I believe assured now we have a crew that is going to compete,” Lashlee stated. “What does that appear to be? I do not know. We are excited to get out and notice the place we stand.”
Stone threw for three,197 yards, 28 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in his redshirt sophomore season in 2023. A Dallas local, he frequently attended SMU video games as a kid.
“I be mindful when Baylor got here into the town and Courtland Sutton was once going loopy,” Stone stated. “I be mindful when Johnny Manziel tore us up again in 2012.
“Now now we have an opportunity to play big-boy soccer within the ACC. I believe extremely fortunate to be this college’s quarterback. That isn’t one thing I take flippantly.”
–Box Stage Media
