A ten-year plan for SMU Football competitiveness

[East Coast Mustang]

The size of Ford would definitely change the strategy. But we just didn't give away tickets. We had a large marketing budget and co-opted with local corporations like Ford etc to provide free advertising, TV commercials, weekly TV show (at great time after Sunday Nite sports),TV bumper stickers, posters, billboards. We were marketing Dallas much like a professional sports franchise would. It seemed like a different local corporation was the sponsor of 1 game. Wasn't Dr. Pepper the sponsor of the Jerry Lewis Bowl? The corporations would usually sell both their product and the SMU game in the same commercial. "Test drive a new Ford mustang and get 2 free Tickers to the SMU/Baylor game this Saturday. We got Dallas' attention-its the only time we have ever reached the greater Dallas sports fan in the last 50 years

Well, how could we implement this today?

Have Sewell dealerships give four tickets to the next home game to every new or used car buyer that week? Or two tickets for test driving a car on the Sewell lot?

I've always thought we need to step up our marketing/billboard strategy around town. Even if it is those smaller billboards in West Village or Preston Center. We need a bigger presence in and around Dallas.

What about working out a deal with American Airlines where you get 10X miles on your AA card if you use it to buy SMU football tickets?

How about having our bank sponsors like Bank of Texas and PlainsCapital giving away 2 or 4 free tickets to everyone who setups a new account, or refinances their loan, blah blah blah.

[Stallion]

Here's DMagazine article talking about the sponsors and Russ Pott's plans for each game of the 1978 season. Note the advertisements, the bumper stickers and schedules had already caught Dallas' eyes. Sponsors-7/11,Dr. Pepper, Frito Lay, Jack-in-the Box and Ford

http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/1978/10/0 ... thers.aspx

[East Coast Mustang]

Here's DMagazine article talking about the sponsors and Russ Pott's plans for each game of the 1978 season. Note the advertisements, the bumper stickers and schedules had already caught Dallas' eyes. Sponsors-7/11,Dr. Pepper, Frito Lay, Jack-in-the Box and Ford

http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/1978/10/0 ... thers.aspx

Interesting. While many of our problems are unique to our situation, I think the larger problem is how much easier it is for people to stay home and watch games on huge HDTVs and not pay for concessions, tickets, etc and frankly have a better experience watching the game. I think this a problem that many big time college and pro teams are facing.

also, in the late 70s you didn't have 20 college games on at a time that you could watch on TV. today, we have exponentially more competition for our product. With that being said, we could definitely help ourselves by implementing many of the MM tactics and marketing the hell out of SMU football around Dallas.

[coloradoStang]

Im an undergrad, question for you older guys. What was Mustang Mania? I have a couple shirts that say it and the promo shirts for the rutgers game say it (I think). I just assumed it was a slogan we use every once in a while?

[PK]

Im an undergrad, question for you older guys. What was Mustang Mania? I have a couple shirts that say it and the promo shirts for the rutgers game say it (I think). I just assumed it was a slogan we use every once in a while?

Major advertisement blitz in Dallas for SMU back in the day. Bumper stickers, t-shirts, etc. Sort of a full court press advertising wise.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Im an undergrad, question for you older guys. What was Mustang Mania? I have a couple shirts that say it and the promo shirts for the rutgers game say it (I think). I just assumed it was a slogan we use every once in a while?

http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/greatest-moments-25.html

[Stallion]

"If you have some luck-and you got the nack
You can be a Mustang Maniac"