SMU Football ready for spring practice with goals in mind

The first spring practice of the Rhett Lashlee era for SMU Football is under two weeks away now. The Mustangs are busy in the weight room with new strength coach Shawn Griswold and his staff ahead of spring practices.

Griswold’s experience helps Lashlee’s staff begin to instill the culture wanted in the new era of SMU Football.

“It helps a lot just in the transition phase of a quick turnaround,” Lashlee told reporters about Griswold. “Him being able to hit the ground running. I think he’s brought some great guys in to be a part of the strength staff. In a 2-3 month cycle where there was a lot of new going on for our kids, a lot of things that I’m having to deal with, just having a stable guy to come in that walks right in Day 1 and knows exactly how to run a program, knows how to relate to the guys, I think is key for us being able to make this transition quickly.”

Beginning March 4, SMU Football will run through spring practice. The Mustangs will practice one week before spring break, going at it March 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10. After returning from break, the Mustangs will pick it up March 22, March 24, 25, 26, 30, April 1, 4, 6, 7 and 8, which is the spring game.

Competition is the mantra for SMU Football

SMU Football wants to find spots for players that might need to be moved around, but overall, the goal is competition to take center stage.

“I think starting with our whole roster, competition is going to be a big thing for us,” Lashlee said. “That’s one of the foundations we want our program to be built on because competition makes everybody better. You and I wake up every morning and we’re competing at a bare minimum with ourself.Competition is part of life and learning how to win, learning how to fail, but continue to compete is part of it. It makes everybody better.”

Speaking of competition, the quarterback battle between Tanner Mordecai and Preston Stone is a headline that everyone will watch. While Mordecai had a terrific first year on the Hilltop, Stone is there to take the next step in Year 2.

“You talk about a good offensive coordinator job to walk into, right? We got two outstanding quarterbacks on campus,” offensive coordinator Casey Woods said. “Really fired up about our returning starter from last year, Tanner. What he was able to produce on the field was unbelievable. Obviously he’s got great moxie. He’s done a great job in workouts and trying to be a leader and doing those things. Preston’s got unbelievable talent. Obviously, his success, both of them are championship pedigree guys, really excited to have that.”

SMU to take Scott Symons defense step by step

With a new defense going in for SMU Football, defensive coordinator Scott Symons focus is on building his playbook step by step. Technique and fundamentals are focal points.

“I’m excited to see different guys be able to get out there and compete this spring,” Symons said. “To me, this spring is not about installing the whole system, the whole defense. Let’s focus on building it the right way. That’s what I told the guys. If we get 50 percent of the defense in the spring, that’s fine. We had four practices the year we had COVID and didn’t tackle one time in spring, and I think we tackled once in fall camp, and won 10 games. It kind of changed my thought process on things.

“It’s about coaching and us being able to clearly articulate to them what we’re wanting to get accomplished and develop those techniques and fundamentals within the framework of our defense.”

Spring is a great time for SMU’s players to build relationships with coaches. Lashlee is excited about the coaches in place.

“I think for us to win, we have to have a connected team,” Lashlee said. “For us to have a connected team, we have to have a connected staff. We have to have staff that in this day and age, they know how to win, they know how to compete, they’re good at what they do, but they really genuinely care about the players that we have. They can develop relationships with the players we have. More so now than ever with the portal and all those things, that’s huge.”

“We want to have a championship mindset and a championship pedigree, to me getting a bunch of guys who have been there and done that I think is really important.”