What we learned from Sonny Dykes' already-evident influence during SMU spring game

UNIVERSITY PARK -- No one expected SMU to magically transform into an American Conference contender over the course of a month of spring practices, the first under coach Sonny Dykes. Instead, the name of the game for the Mustangs was progress.

Following Saturday's spring game, Dykes was happy to report that progress had been made.

"We got a long way to go just trying to make all the pieces fit together," Dykes cautioned at first. "But I thought it was a good spring, I really did. I like the way they competed."

Injuries that left the team with eight healthy offensive linemen and five available cornerbacks meant that SMU couldn't do a traditional blue vs. red scrimmage Saturday. Following…