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Pony Express Coach Ron Meyer dies at 76

Pokes-WalkingBoss

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Former SMU head coach Ron Meyer dies at the age of 76
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1512522144-1981-MEYER.jpg

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Shot November 21, 1981 - FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - SMU players carry coach Ron Meyer off the field as the Mustangs clinch their first SWC title since1966. [ southern methodist university ] / This is an uncredited TDMN staff photo.

By Adam Grosbard , Staff Writer Contact Adam Grosbard on Twitter: @AdamGrosbard

Former SMU head football coach Ron Meyer died on Wednesday at the age of 76.
Meyer spent six seasons as SMU's head coach. He led the Mustangs to the 1981 Southwest Conference championship behind the Pony Express duo of Eric Dickerson and Craig James. He earned the Southwest Conference Coach of the Years honors that season before he left SMU to coach the New England Patriots, the start of a 10-year NFL career that included a six-year stint with the Indianapolis Colts.

Dickerson took to Twitter to mourn Meyer's passing, writing, "Devastated to hear the passing of my coach and great friend Ron Meyer. My mom and I loved Coach Meyer. He was a great man. Coach and his family are in my thoughts and prayers. God bless Coach Meyer!"

Born in Columbus, Ohio, on Feb. 17, 1941, Meyer played quarterback and defensive back for two years at Purdue before turning to a coaching career.

He started at Penn High School in Indiana before receiving a job as an assistant at Purdue. He spent six seasons at his alma mater before spending two seasons as a scout for the Dallas Cowboys.

In 1973, he got back into the college ranks with the head coaching job at UNLV. He spent three seasons there, earning the Division II Coach of the Year award in 1974, before accepting the SMU job.

Meyer finished his collegiate career with a 61-40-1 record and an 0-2 mark in bowl games, including SMU's loss in the "Miracle Bowl" when Jim McMahon led a furious 20-point BYU comeback in the final four minutes of the 1980 Holiday Bowl
 

PhilSimms11

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This got very little press. I only learned this watching PTI during their melancholy happy trails segment.
 

tnapucco

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Was he with a hooker when he was killed?

If so I have a good feeling who was behind it.
 

HuskerOC

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Man that was somewhat before his time.

One of the quotes that I believe is best attributed to Coach Meyer goes like such: "I'm not looking for guys who can play on Saturdays. I'm looking for guys who can play on Sundays.".

He is one of the first guys that really really put the hammer down on recruiting. While he did it primarily in the state of Texas back in the day, he was stretching and bending norms like nobodies business. Hell, he even nabbed a kid out of Pittsburgh, PA that basically gave the SMU program the death penalty all himself.
 

Rex Racer

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This got very little press. I only learned this watching PTI during their melancholy happy trails segment.

His passing was mentioned in the Boston papers (albeit very briefly) which is how I knew he passed on. Had he not coached the Patriots for few seasons I doubt anyone around here would have mentioned him.

RIP, Ron.
 

Rex Racer

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PhilSimms11

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He left for the NFL right when SMU was getting to be prominent bad asses in college football until it came crashing down. It would've been sweet to see how they would've fared in a CFP back then....

1982
(1)Georgia (11-0) vs (8)Texas (9-2)
(4)SMU (10-0-1) vs (5)UCLA (9-1-1)

(2)Penn St (10-1) vs (7)Clemson (9-1-1)
(3)Nebraska (11-1) vs (6)Pittsburgh (9-2)
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1983
(1)Nebraska (12-0) vs (8)Michigan (9-2)
(4)Illinois (10-1) vs (5)Miami (10-1)

(2)Texas (11-0) vs (7)Georgia (9-1-1)
(3)Auburn (10-1) vs (6)SMU (10-1)
 
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