The defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants will host the Dallas Cowboys in the 2012 NFL season opener Sept. 5. The divisional rivalry is the first NFL game scheduled on a Wednesday since 1948 when the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Detroit Lions.

The 2012 Iron Skillet will be more of a match-up than ever next season, when the Mustangs take on the TCU Horned Frogs at home in Ford Stadium this fall. This past season, the Mustangs defeated TCU 40-33 in overtime to take home the trophy in the 76th meeting of the two teams.

Four SMU football players were chosen in the 2012 NFL Draft, making it the highest number the Mustangs have taken since 1985. Tackle Kelvin Beachum, corner Richard Crawford, tight end Taylor Thompson and guard Josh LeRibeus were all selected on Friday and Saturday by NFL teams.

The Mustang offensive line has been one of the units on the football team that has been under the most scrutiny this spring after the graduation of all five starting linemen. The line is crucial to the success of the offense not just to protect the quarterback and open running lanes, but because the players up front make all the protection adjustments and calls to get the complicated blocking schemes right.

In the early 1960s, every Texas high school football player in the state dreamed of earning a full scholarship to play football in the old Southwest Conference that consisted of seven of Texas’ premier universities and the University of Arkansas. So what was so different about this kid from Beaumont who grew up idolizing NFL superstars like Jim Brown and Gale Sayers? He had all the intangibles.

Bob Palcic has been hired as SMU’s new offensive line coach after coaching three Outland Trophy winners at his previous coaching spots, which is the award given to the nation’s top offensive lineman every year. Palcic joins the SMU football team’s coaching staff with more than 40 years of coaching experience.

QB follows Bo Levi Mitchell to Eastern Washington

After leading the Mustangs to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and the Armed Forces Bowl his freshman and sophomore years, Kyle Padron will be transferring to Eastern Washington. Padron lost his starting job to J.J. McDermott in the opening game against Texas A&M his junior and final year as a Mustang.

Humbled. Honored. These were some feelings conveyed by junior Zach Line after being honored by the Touchdown Club of Columbus last weekend in Columbus, Ohio. Line and junior Darius Johnson were named "Players To Watch" at the 57th Annual Touchdown Club of Columbus Awards Banquet.

Of the more than 300 top NFL prospects invited to the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine, two Mustangs scored a spot on the invite list. Offensive linemen Kelvin Beachum and Josh LeRibeus will represent SMU at the Combine Feb. 22-28 in Indianapolis, Ind. Beachum has started in every game since his freshman year at left tackle.

With 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter of the BBVA Compass Bowl at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., SMU was beating The University of Pittsburgh 28-3. Running back Jared Williams was leading the Mustangs with 11 carries for a total of 40 yards when he was placed on a stretcher and carried off the field.

Millions of people will tune into NBC this Sunday. Like every other Super Bowl Sunday, it is a toss up whether people are watching the game or waiting for the commercial breaks. Then, there are those select people who just wait for the half-time show.

"I have been here since the day after our bowl game, and I have been here since then except for when I had to go to the All-Star game in California." Kelvin Beachum is not on vacation or taking a semester abroad. In fact, he is doing something that takes hard work and dedication.