by MrMustang1965 » Sun Jan 19, 2003 9:34 pm
My father, I.T. Hurst, was a 'yell leader' in '47-'48. He passed away last month. His obituary said he was "SMU's #1 fan"...I don't doubt this for one second.
His ongoing project, along with head 'yell leader' Joe Redwine Patterson from '47-'48, was to bring the spirit back to SMU that existed in their days.
My father saw it all...Doak Walker, Kyle Rote, SMU at the Rose Bowl, SMU v. Notre Dame, SMU v. Navy (some kid named Staubach at QB), SMU v. Texas (Homecoming '65), SMU winning the SWC Championship, SMU having the first African-American football player in the SWC with Jerry Levias, the coaching of Hayden Fry, SMU playing and BEATING the OU Sooners in the first Astro Bluebonnet Bowl, the Pony Express Days of Dickerson and James and, sadly, the Death Penalty, and, joyously, the return of SMU football at Ownby Stadium and then the unveiling of Ford Stadium...there were many other 'moments' that Dad witnessed that I'm sure I am forgetting. The point of all of this....?
Not ONCE did my father EVER quit loving and cheering on the SMU Mustangs! He loved this school! So...if you want to honor him and the many other SMU alumni who have preceded you, PLEASE BRING BACK THE SPIRIT TO SMU that my father and his 'greatest generation' enjoyed so much! I know it's there...I can feel it! It just takes ONE PERSON to bring it forth...will you be the one?
GO MUSTANGS!
------------------
"Winning ain't everything...but it's a lot more fun than the alternative!"