The play was so uncharacteristic. Richard Moore, SMU’s sixth-year senior, had watched Tyler Sneed catch East Carolina’s fifth touchdown of the first half. Sneed had all but walked into the end zone.
But as the play reached its inevitable conclusion, handing the ball to the referee, Moore came over and shoved him. Penalty flags came flying in. This was the manifestation of frustration as a two-win East Carolina team ran up the tally to 42-7 on a shocked SMU group late in the second quarter.
It was the fitting image of a senior leader beginning to feel as though a flukey start, with trick plays and fake punts, was hardening into a harsh reality that SMU just could not stop the Pirate offense.