Craig James knows the value of SMU football in the new-age of college football.
Yet he still has trouble comprehending the legacy of the "Pony Express." James – who starred in the backfield with Eric Dickerson for the Mustangs for 1979-82 – gets constant reminders at card shows from Northeast Ohio to New England.
"Eric and I marvel at this," James told Sporting News. "It was just a unique thing and a unique name – 'Pony Express!' People remember it. The '30-for-30' series. Eric and I can't believe it. With the re-emergence of SMU and the 'Pony Express' coming into play, it was a natural time to do this."
James and Dickerson are promoting the Pony Express Award, which is given to the best tandem in college football. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter won the award last season. No. 16 SMU, meanwhile, enters a Week 2 matchup against Baylor looking to continue to build on the momentum from last year's appearance in the ACC championship game and College Football Playoff.
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What is the 'Pony Express?'
James and Dickerson were prized high school recruits in Texas before both arrived in 1979. From 1981-82, SMU compiled a 21-1-1 record, which it capped with a 7-3 victory against Pitt in the 1982 Cotton Bowl.
Dickerson still holds SMU career records with 4,450 yards and 47 TDs. James had 3,742 rushing yards and 23 TDs. That earned the label "Pony Express" – one of the most-fabled nicknames in college football history. The Pony Express Award leans into that history.
"It can be linebackers, it can be corners, it can be two receivers. It can be a tight end and a quarterback," James said. "It's a tandem. We think by having the players select the winners it makes it unique by itself. By the players, for the players."
James said the award will honor players who are great teammates. Dickerson played 11 seasons in the NFL and made the Pro Football Hall of Fame. James helped New England reach Super Bowl XX in 1985 when he rushed for 1,227 yards and five TDs. That name stuck because they stayed together in college.
"In the transfer world, like Eric and I say, 'If we would have had the transfer portal when we were there, we probably would have went our separate ways,'" James said. “It's hard to have that and be unselfish at a position. That's why in this 'me' world I think having a 'we' award by the players is a pretty cool thing."
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Craig James on SMU's success in the ACC
SMU finished 11-3 in its first season in the ACC under Rhett Lashlee. The Mustangs made the first 12-team College Football Playoff. It’s a different feel for the program. Safety Isaiah Nwokobia, a Sporting News second-team All-American, felt that during a home game against Boston College last season.
"We were right by our student section," Nwokobia said. "I remember this being my first experience at SMU, I couldn't hear the player right next to me on the field. … That was an amazing experience, for sure."
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James noticed SMU's talent from the sideline during early-season victories against Florida State and TCU last season. Now, that excitement has spilled over into the Dallas market. James felt that at his real-estate business.
"I'm in a meeting recently, and the guys were talking about this and everybody was like, 'We are going to do this,'" James said. "The guy wasn't even a SMU alum. He was Baylor or some other school. The people in Dallas regardless of affiliation like this idea of SMU coming back. It’s a David vs. Goliath story."
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In 1987, SMU was given the "Death Penalty" as a result of extensive NCAA violations. The program did not play in 1987 or 1988, then went through the Southwest Conference, WAC, Conference-USA and the American Conference before joining the ACC during the latest round of realignment last season. James admits that he misses the old SWC days and the regional footprint it provided during the "Pony Express" heyday, but this is part of the new college football experience. The Mustangs are thriving in it.
"Here we are this little SMU getting whipped around all these little conferences," James said. "All of a sudden, we're in the big conference and they're playing against Clemson and Penn State and they win eight games in the ACC. It can happen, just like it did happen in 1979 when Eric and I were coming out of high school. Dallas recruits itself, and this is why the Big 12 didn't want SMU in the mix."
That is a bold statement heading into Saturday’s noon matchup against Baylor on The CW. SMU trailed 24-7 at halftime in a 34-31 loss to Clemson in the ACC championship game, and Penn State had a 28-0 halftime lead in a 38-10 win in the CFP semifinals, but Nwokobia sees this as an opportunity to show what the Mustangs have learned.
"The Clemson game we gotta start better, Penn State we gotta start better, different things like that," Nwokobia said. "But we know we can compete with anybody."