The Reclamation Initiative | The Coaching Career of Nico Augustine

Post by **Captain Canada** » 22 Jan 2026, 10:19

djp73 wrote: ↑
21 Jan 2026, 21:03

redsox907 wrote: ↑
21 Jan 2026, 23:19
Bama always pulls some shady shit in the playoffs

hope your bury them. NICK SABAN AINT WALKING THRU DAT DOOR

Soapy wrote: ↑
22 Jan 2026, 08:42
put ya big boy pants on

Caesar wrote: ↑
22 Jan 2026, 09:24
Time for Nico Augustine to show if he a winner or not. Don’t piss down ya leg, my boy.

In Nico, we trust :blessed:

Post by **ShireNiner** » 22 Jan 2026, 11:34

This is it. Dominated Bama then bounce to the SEC.

Post by **Captain Canada** » 22 Jan 2026, 18:40

SMU sees staff pilfered early, Sanchez tapped at San Jose State, Abraham moves to Michigan State
By Cheryl Smith

DALLAS – As much as SMU tried to keep the news internal for as long as they could, it was only a matter of time until leaks came forward. Especially when they are putting the finishing touches on prep for their National title game against number two ranked Alabama for all of the glory.

It has now been confirmed that both offensive coordinator Tony Sanchez and defensive coordinator Kerry Abraham will be taking new head coaching positions at San Jose State and Michigan State, respectively. This comes widely expected, as both have led their units to the top of national ranks for the better part of the last two seasons.

Sanchez takes over for Ken Niumatalolo, who accumulated a record of 52-27 with the Spartans since he took over the position back in 2024. Niumatalolo left the Spartans to take the offensive coordinator position for the Denver Broncos in the NFL under Sean Payton.

Meanwhile, on the defensive side of things, Abraham makes the speedy leap from D-II head coach to FBS coordinator to head coach in under five seasons, heading to the Big Ten to take over as the Spartans head coach. The Spartans finished in the basement of the conference with a record of 1-11, suffering their final victory at the hands of Abraham’s Mustangs.

Abraham commended Michigan State on a hard-fought game in which the Spartans had the number one ranked team in the country on their heels for the majority of the game. Abraham will be bringing his unique blend of blitz packages that has terrorized the ACC - and by extension, the nation - for the last two seasons on the way to record-breaking sack numbers.

Both coaches are expected to stay with SMU and coach for the Mustangs in the National championship game on Monday night.

Post by **Captain Canada** » 22 Jan 2026, 18:56

Monday, January 21, 2029 | Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL)

National Championship Game Preview: vs #2 Alabama (14-1, 8-0)

SMU Team Stats
Points: 46.9
Points Allowed: 18.1
Total Sacks: 86
Red Zone Conv.: 56%
Turnover Diff.: +19

Alabama Team Stats
Points: 38.5
Points Allowed: 19.5
Total Sacks: 47
Red Zone Conv.: 60%
Turnover Diff.: +19

Alabama 2029 Schedule
Wk 1 -- L 27-24 at Notre Dame
Wk 2 -- W 49-9 vs FCS Midwest
Wk 3 -- W 24-20 vs #16 Oklahoma State
BYE
Wk 5 -- W 45-14 vs Texas Tech
Wk 6 -- W 30-29 at Georgia
Wk 7 -- W 41-24 vs Vanderbilt
Wk 8 -- W 34-31 vs LSU
Wk 9 -- W 36-14 at #19 Missouri
Wk 10 -- W 38-13 at South Carolina
Wk 11 -- W 49-7 vs Tennessee
Wk 12 -- W 49-21 vs #8 Oklahoma
Wk 13 -- W 44-29 at Auburn
Conf. Champ -- W 35-17 vs #8 Oklahoma
CFP Rd 2 -- W 28-24 vs #7 USC
CFP Rd 3 -- W 52-14 vs #6 Indiana

Keys to the Game

Establish the run game early

Keep safeties between the end zone and Enrique Thrash by all means necessary

Get after the quarterback early and often

Win the line of scrimmage, especially in pass protection. Stop Thomas McCariens by all means necessary

Get Alonzo Cheeseman off of his rhythm, limit his quick game efficiency

Dominate man-on-man coverage, air it out against them early and often

CB Manu Hook & CB Alonzo Hix vs

WR Enrique Thrash & WR Jay Pool

Post by **The JZA** » 22 Jan 2026, 20:53

All I ask is for SMU to bring it home.

Post by **Soapy** » 23 Jan 2026, 07:46

Don't let Thrash thrash your lil shi

Post by **ShireNiner** » 23 Jan 2026, 08:43

It's all down to Cheese. If he's on, is game over. If he's giving the ball away, you done.

Post by **Captain Canada** » 23 Jan 2026, 13:49

(14-1, 8-0 SEC)

@

(15-0, 8-0 ACC)

SMU reaches immortality, hang on to defeat Crimson Tide to win National Championship

‣ Your SMU Mustangs are your 2029 National Champions. And no one can take that away from them.

Score

FINAL	1	2	3	4	T
#1 SMU	3	13	8	7	31
#2 Alabama	3	0	0	14	17

Game Summary

Through all of the uncertainty of what comes after and all of the internal doubts of legitimacy, the SMU Mustangs have made it to the mountaintop.

What a view it is.

SMU managed to hang on despite a two-touchdown performance in the fourth quarterback in a last, flurry attempt from the #2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide to win the 2029 National Championship by a score of 31-17 behind an excellent performance from Heisman-winning quarterback Alonzo Cheeseman and the smooth-running from upstart star running back Cal McCalebb. The Mustangs' strong defense held Alabama to only three points heading into the final quarter, turning over high octane Crimson Tide offense twice.

"This is everything we've ever worked for - the blood, sweat, and tears - culminated into one accomplishment," an emotional head coach Nico Augustine said to the media after the game. "You don't know what went on behind these walls to get to this. I couldn't be prouder of our team, our staff, our university."

The team traded field goals during a punt fest to start the game as both offenses felt one another out to start the game. It was the Mustangs that reached a steady rhythm first, opening the scoring with a 17-yard strike to wide receiver Eric DeLuca from Cheeseman early in the second quarter. SMU took control going into half-time, with two field goals from kicker Miguel Benitez put them to a multi-score lead.

"We wanted to get points on the board and not risk things too early," said Augustine on his decision to go for field goals in redzone opportunities. "They score in flurries, and we didn't want to put unnecessary pressure on the defense by gambling on offense. We relied heavily on Miguel [Benitez] and he showed up for us."

The defense showed up in the third quarter, causing a fumble early with a heavy hit from Jim Thorpe Trophy winning free safety Esteban Brewer that was snagged quickly from cornerback Manu Hook, who had played the game of his life thus far checking Alabama's number one wide receiver, Jay Pool. The unit came clutch again, with Alonzo Hix batting a ball targeting Enrique Thrash into the arms of defensive captain and MIKE linebacker Kevin Lockridge for a key interception. Wide receiver Marquis Avant and a two-point conversion in the form of a diving catch from Tomas Smoker gave SMU a solid three-touchdown lead.

The Crimson Tide stormed back in the final frame to the tune of two touchdowns, one to dominant tight end David Whittaker that had terrorized the Mustangs' zone defense and mismatches all game long before Jay Pool escaped in the back of the end zone for 14 points. An onside kick that landed square in the check of Armani Medlock spelled the end for Alabama's title dreams.

SMU, facing an off-season of change to both its roster but its staff framework, will be able to hang this National title in immortality forever.

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter

(4:35) Miguel Benitez, 46-yard field goal [SMU 3 - 0 BAMA]

(1:10) Dillon Vernon, 33-yard field goal [SMU 3 - 3 BAMA]

2nd Quarter

(10:49) Eric DeLuca, 15-yard pass from Alonzo Cheeseman (Miguel Benitez kick) [SMU 10 - 3 BAMA]

(4:29) Miguel Benitez, 23-yard field goal [SMU 13 - 3 BAMA]

(0:45) Miguel Benitez, 23-yard field goal [SMU 16 - 3 BAMA]

3rd Quarter

(5:46) Marquis Avant, 4-yard pass from Alonzo Cheeseman (2-PT conversion successful) [SMU 24 - 3 BAMA]

4th Quarter

(8:03) David Whittaker, 25-yard pass from Keelon Russell (Dillon Vernon kick) [SMU 24 - 10 BAMA]

(4:28) Cal McCalebb, 26-yard run (Miguel Benitez kick) [SMU 31 - 10 BAMA]

(1:55) Jay Pool, 8-yard pass from Keelon Russell (Dillon Vernon kick) [SMU 31 - 17 BAMA]

Team Statistics

QB Alonzo Cheeseman: 29-42, 329 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, interception

QB Keelon Russell: 36-49, 408 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, interception

HB Cal McCalebb: 20 carries, 121 rushing yards, touchdown, 5 catches, 32 receiving yards

HB Titus Dayes: 4 carries, 21 rushing yards

HB Alexander Romo: 5 carries, 25 rushing yards

HB Grant Hurley: 2 carries, 6 rushing yards, 7 catches, 39 receiving yards

WR Marquis Avant: 11 catches, 127 receiving yards, touchdown

TE Dwayne Kasay: 6 catches, 79 receiving yards

WR Eric DeLuca: 5 catches, 62 receiving yards, touchdown

TE David Whittaker: 11 catches, 198 receiving yards, touchdown

WR Jay Pool: 7 catches, 92 receiving yards, touchdown

WR Enrique Thrash: 5 catches, 35 receiving yards

MIKE Keke Madden: 12 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack

FS Esteban Brewer: 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, pass breakup, forced fumble

MIKE Kevin Lockridge: 6 tackles, tackle for loss, interception, pass breakup

WILL Thomas McCariens: 6 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, sack, pass breakup

WILL Tommy Avery: 9 tackles, 3 tackles for loss

CB Callum Rutter: 7 tackles, interception

DT Andres Maldonado: 3 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks

Post by **redsox907** » 24 Jan 2026, 17:09

I think the coolest part of this season is even tho Cheese won the Heisman, it was most definitely a team effort. There were times everyone stepped up and did their part

Now, on to bigger and better things for Coach Nico

Post by **Caesar** » 24 Jan 2026, 17:31

Coach Nico a real one. Bringing it back to the Pony Express days! Now, he needs to get the fuck outta Dallas before he gets them hit with another death penalty.

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