SMU Turns It Around on Houston : Southwest: Mustangs remember 95-21 shellacking and upset Cougars, 41-16.

Some people have the Alamo, and some have 95-21.

Southern Methodist, still smarting from a 95-21 thrashing by Houston three years ago, avenged that defeat Saturday by shocking the favored Cougars, 41-16, as Rongea Hill ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns.

It was the last home game for Hill and 29 others, including 10 starters, who were freshmen involved in the 1989 debacle that epitomized how far the once-mighty program had fallen after the NCAA “death penalty” for repeated rules violations.

“We wanted to pay them back for the 95-21 win. I will never forget that,” Hill said. “And now I will never forget this.”

With the homecoming victory, SMU improved to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the Southwest Conference. Houston, favored by 16 1/2 points, fell to 3-5 and 1-3.

Houston Coach John Jenkins, whom many blame for the 1989 game--he was offensive coordinator under Jack Pardee--said Saturday’s game “was a clear indication of what emotion can do for a ballclub when they are determined to win. I give SMU all the credit.”

The Mustangs got a break early in the fourth quarter when Houston’s Jamie Mouton muffed a punt and John Biggons recovered at the Cougar 26. Six plays later, Hill ran it in from four yards out, making it 34-16.

Hill then ran the ball eight times during an 89-yard drive capped by his four-yard score with 5:23 left in the game. The drive included a 41-yard run by Hill.

“I was somewhat surprised I got some of those big runs,” Hill said. “They knew we were going to have to run the ball to run down the clock.”