In a season full of tumult and turmoil, SMU is looking to the outside for help in fixing something on the inside of the football program.
Earlier Monday, SMU interim head coach Tom Mason announced that he has added Tim Davis to his Mustangs coaching staff. Davis will aid current offensive line coach Wes Saun with that positional group.
Davis brings extensive experience to the squad, especially at the collegiate level. In a 31-year coaching career, Davis has spent time on coaching staffs at, among other places, Wisconsin, Utah, USC, Alabama and Minnesota.
Davis served as the line coach at Florida for two seasons before being fired shortly after the end of the 2013 regular season.
“I felt like we needed some help there and he can give us some help,” Mason, who took over the program after June Jones abruptly resigned a week ago today, said as his team was coming off a bye this weekend. “He’s an expert at that and he’ll bring a little energy.”
If Davis is going to help SMU’s beleaguered line, he has a tough row to hoe ahead of him.
This season, the Mustangs are 102nd in passing yards per game and dead last in rushing yards with minus-16 -- yes, they’ve run for negative yardage this season. Of SMU’s 39 carries, 24 of them either lost yards (21) or went for no gain (3). Mustang quarterbacks have been sacked 11 times in just two games.
So, yes, Davis -- and the new coaching staff next year -- has his work cut out for him.