Reality Check

[Mickey]

The defense was absolutley dominating yesterday. BUT:

1. SMU had 2 weeks to prepare for Rice.

2. Take away the first touchdown set up by a muffed punt recovery on the six yard line and SMU only scores two TDs against a pathetic Rice defense.

3. The students all left after the half time celebrations. Very disappointing! This has got to be addressed.

[Charleston Pony]

unfortunately, SMU has among the least supportive fan bases of any I-A program in the country...and it starts with apathetic students, who become apathetic alumni. We can't FORCE them to come to the games or stay until the end. Let's face it, SMU athletics has been down for so long that most kids that choose SMU today obviously could care less about athletics.

[jtstang]

Let's face it, SMU athletics has been down for so long that most kids that choose SMU today obviously could care less about athletics.

Yes, and it's hard to blame the kids for that.

[mr. pony]

It wasn't just the kids leaving.
As the third quarter ended, the aisles began to fill on the press box side as fans streamed out as if SMU had just given up a fumble and trailed 28-0.
It was really sorry.

[Corso]

The defense was absolutley dominating yesterday. BUT:

1. SMU had 2 weeks to prepare for Rice.

Right. But against an offensive system that had ripped us up in the past, it was a very good performance, no matter whether we had an extra week or not.

.... 2. Take away the first touchdown set up by a muffed punt recovery on the six yard line and SMU only scores two TDs against a pathetic Rice defense.

True. But we did move the ball all day. This is not the stagnant offense of years past.

.... 3. The students all left after the half time celebrations. Very disappointing! This has got to be addressed.

That was embarrassing.
Kind of wish those fans who stayed were louder, too.

[ponygirl08]

Everyone knows yesterday was our homecoming game. The only reason about half the people were there(students or not) were to see who was going to win King and Queen.
Yeah it sucks that nobody is at the game - but its not any of our jobs to worry about it - so just enjoy the game, and be as loud as you can to make up for the missing!

[Arkpony]

Yes..and the students acted like they COULDN'T care less also. That is, they had NO interest.

(Sorry, one of my pet peeves)

[Charleston Pony]

it's interesting watching on CSTV's all access because they don't go to commerical breaks...you just hear the announcers talking of camera and you hear the background noise. There was far more "sorority girl screaming" at the halftime festivities than there was during the game.

Let's face it...most SMU students just don't appear to be sports fans. If you are an avid sports fan and it in any way affects your college choice, SMU would be far down on that list.

The only way to improve attendance is to appeal to sports fans in the Dallas area. It will take a marketing blitz and the promise of an improving product on the field. I think this team is improving and they could really hype a guy like DeMyron Martin next year...but better be prepared to spend big bucks getting people to attend and can't expect much ticket revenue in the process. Would be a good challenge for SMU's marketing classes. It has to start by selling the total game day experience...have to make the Blvd more appealing to those not affiliated with SMU.

[covok48]

I remember reading years ago about how "Mustang Mania" swept Dallas due to a SMU's marketing blitz in the late 70's even though they [SMU] had subpar teams throughout the 70's.

How was it successful then?
Can it be successful now?

Sorry but I read the article years ago and wouldn't know where it find it.

[LawSchoolPony]

I think grass-roots efforts help also...we have had a tent at every home game w/ no less than 20 people, sometimes closer to 40 - and I would say 75% of them had no connection whatsoever to SMU. We just invited them for a tailgate, and they all raved about the atmosphere and the whole campus gameday environment.

Reality though, was that maybe 2 of them would actually come to the games w/ us each week, but it was still good to have them on the boulevard, and we'll take anyone that wants to go to the games...

So, have a tent, and invote folks who you think might enjoy some college football atmosphere.

[Stallion]

you know you make a good point. If I was AD I'd encorage every Fraternity and Sorority and other campus organizations to sponsor an alumni tent. I believe it might make attending the game more likely if you knew that you were likely to see some old friends.

[DallasDiehard]

Damn good idea, Stallion. I think there are a few Greek organizations that do an alumni tent, but all of them should.