“Meyer's recruiting strategies began to reflect on the scoreboard in 1980, when the Mustangs qualified for their first bowl game since 1968 with a high-powered running offense led by Craig James and Eric Dickerson, the latter of whom had allegedly received a new gold Pontiac Trans Am as part of his recruitment to SMU. Facing Brigham Young University (BYU) in the 1980 Holiday Bowl, SMU fell 46‍–‍45 despite having led by three touchdowns late in the fourth quarter.”

Go Cougs.