SMU has a very possible problem showing up at the game this coming Friday: Acadia. Acadia has beaten SMU already this year and is coming into town to try and make SMU go 0-4 on the season. A situation for Coach Steve Sumarah and Saint Mary’s that hasn’t happened in many years. Compounded by this situation? Jack Creighton has quit the team for mysterious reasons. SMU worst enemy isn’t Acadia, it’s themselves. Here is why.

SMU has lost a good player for selfish reasons. Creighton quit on his team and until we find out why, those reasons were selfish and make him look like a quitter. Im sure reasons true and false will run rampant around the AUS and CIS chat rooms and blogs but the bottom line is that he quit. That is not cool for SMU. Coach Sumarah lost Eric Glavic, a budding star to a Blake Nil run team in Calgary. So this isnt new to Sumarah’s camp. Im not saying Glavic left, or even Creighton left due to Sumarah but nonetheless the situation is not new. Creighton could have been the man to get them out of this funk but alas he is gone.

First thing is first, fix the QB situation. Micah Brown, a scrambly QB isnt what will get SMU to the finals. He is too young and inexperienced. He shows some greatness potential but he has a lot to learn and is not ready to burden the load.

The next problem is administrative. Is Sumarah the man for the job? There are arguments for and against this but that is a question that will only be answered months from now after the season. A managers true skills come to the top when stress and pressure is applied to his or her job. When a manager is truly great they get through the tough times given the chance. Will SMU give him the time to correct this Husky sled that is off track? We are only concerned about this because of the pedigree of the program. He has less time than say the Mount A coach for example. Either way SMU has a problem with many aspects.

One more thing before I go get for more coffee. What about recruiting? This SMU team, the number 1 program in the AUS has always picked up the best import players. I worry about those A players choosing other schools like Calgary, Queens, Laval and even another AUS team. Throw into the mix the new Atlantic football teams at Dal and UdM in Moncton and you have recruiting competition galore. Imagine being in Quebec and getting a chance to go to UdM and play football and getting a pre-med degree. Its now possible. Imagine being able to go to Dal as an A player and getting a degree in dentistry! It can happen.

A lot of things are happening right now. Who is going to beat who to the punch and take control of their destiny? SMU? Sumarah? Micah Brown? The SMU players themselves? Someone has to step up and make it right. Hurry up. Acadia is coming to town.