Pirate Galaxy » 30, could be tempted is the likelihood B

WACO, Texas -- SMU coach Chad Morris believes his team is already better than at any point in his first season with the Mustangs. Now they get a big challenge at 23rd-ranked Baylor.Just building the program and changing the culture, Morris said. It was great to get the first win underneath us. I knew we were better coming into this season. I didnt know how much better. But I definitely feel like weve improved in a lot of areas, defense being the main one.After going 2-10 last year, SMU opened this season with a 34-21 win at North Texas, the first time since 2009 to be 1-0.The young Mustangs, who have already played 31 of Morris 47 signees, go into Saturdays matchup of former Southwest Conference rivals and against a Top 25 team as more than four-touchdown underdogs.Baylor is down to about 70 scholarship players, but still has plenty of talent on offense. Senior quarterback Seth Russell , who played only seven games last season before a neck injury, returned to throw for 163 yards and four touchdowns in less than a half in the opening 55-7 win over FCS team Northwestern State.That was the most points ever scored in a game for Baylor acting head coach Jim Grobe, who is in his 20th season as a head coach. He previously spent 13 seasons at Wake Forest and six at Ohio before taking over the Bears in the wake of the offseason turmoil that led the departure of Art Briles.I thought our kids had fun. I thought they were excited to be out there, Grobe said. I didnt see a lot of selfishness. ... Our guys were focused on the team.Some other things to know about the SWC reunion, which also includes Baylor defensive coordinator Phil Bennett facing the team for which he went 18-51 as head coach from 2002-07.SHOCK THE RECORDWhile Baylor has become known for its big passing numbers, senior running back Shock Linwood is coming off consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons and goes into Saturday only 107 yards shy of becoming the schools career rushing leader. Walter Abercrombies record of 3,665 yards has stood for 35 years. Linwood had nine carries for 97 yards playing only in the first half of the opener.SMU SIGNAL CALLERSSenior quarterback Matt Davis started the SMU opener at North Texas, and threw for 155 yards with two touchdowns before getting hurt in the third quarter. Redshirt freshman Ben Hicks had already gotten a few snaps before then, including an 88-yard TD pass, and finished 5-of-9 for 145 yards. Ben is a guy that we think really high of, Morris said. He doesnt move as well as Matt as we all know, but he can definitely make some plays with his arm and his feet. If hes the guy, then hell be ready to go. If its Matt, hell be ready.ALL OF A SUTTONSMU sophomore Courtland Sutton had four catches at North Texas for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Suttons scores included an 88-yard catch-and-run and a 46-yarder on a third-and-45 play. As a freshman last season, Sutton led the Mustangs with 49 catches for 862 yards and nine touchdowns, the first coming against Baylor.BAYLOR BACKUPWhen Jarrett Stidham decided to leave Baylor this summer, true freshman Zach Smith became senior Seth Russells backup. Smith, who went through spring drills after graduating high school early, got to play in the season opener and completed 5 of 7 passes for 60 yards with at a touchdown. While Grobe wishes the Bears had gotten Smith a few more snaps, the coach said he feels much better about having him back up Seth right now after watching him.TWO-TIMERSSMU was the first opponent when Baylor opened its new campus stadium along the banks of the Brazos River two years ago. Baylor won that 2014 season opener 45-0. But the Mustangs arent the first two-time visitor to McLane Stadium. Baylor opened this season with a 55-7 win over Northwestern State, the FCS team the Bears beat 70-6 in the second week of the 2014 season.---Online: AP College Football website www.collegefootball.ap.org Cheap New York Rangers Jerseys .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. Cheap Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists. http://www.jerseyscheapnhl.com/ . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. Cheap Hockey Jerseys . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. Talks for a much-mooted fight between Amir Khan and Kell Brook are underway, says Eddie Hearn, though the promoter says there is still a very, very long way to go before an agreement is made.For the first time, however, Hearn is adamant there is a real desire from both fighters to finally secure a date.Matchrooms Hearn is exploring a possible fight between the two -- which would be Britains biggest outside of the heavyweight division -- for May 2017.After years of Brook aggressively pursuing his rival, Khan recently became the aggressor on Twitter when, in a post referring to the IBF welterweight champion, he wrote: Ready when you are.Hearn believes Brooks recent fight with Gennady Golovkin has grown his profile to the extent Khan is finally tempted to face him, but has also stressed that previous negotiations have progressed further than the present ones without actually succeeding.Khan recognises the size of the fight, hes up for the challenge, Hearn said.Kells value has increased considerably, and there seems to be a real desire from both sides to get it done, but weve been here before.Weve held talks before, but theres never been the calling out from Amir that there is now, so thats why I say there seems a real desire from both sides. Not just both sides but both fighters.Theres a very, very long way to go, but well work quietly behind closed doors to try to finally get a fight over the line that I believe has to happenn.ddddddddddddIts still early days. Weve been further down the road before in terms of negotiations than we are now, and I was confident then. Im hopeful rather than confident. But when both fighters are calling each other out, its always a good sign.One possible reason Khan, 30, could be tempted is the likelihood Brook will struggle to return to the 147 pound welterweight limit having challenged Golovkin at middleweight.In Khans past fight, against Canelo Alvarez, was also fought at middleweight. Like Brook, he was stopped, but unlike Brook he has no history of struggling to make 147 pounds.Hearn insists Brook, also 30, planned to return to welterweight regardless, perhaps to defend his title against Americas Errol Spence, and that both the fighter and those around him are confident he can still make weight.When we had our meeting a couple of weeks ago the plan was very much I dont want to vacate my title, therefore Im staying at welterweight, Hearn said.Hes spoken to a nutritionist, to his team, and we feel like he can make welterweight. Can he be as effective as at 154 pounds? We dont know, but he can make welterweight.This was all so he could fight Errol Spence, before the Khan fight looked possible.Khans a big name, has a high profile. There are other options for him as there are for Brook. ' ' '