UPDATE: Save Peruna Campaign

[Spaz]

Apparently the administration feels the same way we do.
I have it from a reliable source (don't know if he wants his name out here or not) that the Preseident's Executive Council met about the offer of the Senior Class Gift...A large black horse. It was decided that the horse was "not in the best interest of the school."

HOORAY!!!

<img src="http://members.aol.com/soreste/woohoo.jpg" alt=" - " />

<small>[ 11-12-2003, 02:35 PM: Message edited by: Spaz ]</small>

[DallasDiehard]

Ditto - HOORAY!

[EastStang]

That was smart. They know that the alumni would not take to a large horse in a pen on the sideline or with a rider like the Red Raiders have. UVA has a guy on a horse with a sword, the students used to shoot spit wads at him. Traditions are meant to be kept. I think its time for Peruna to take another cab ride to a game.

[Big Cat]

Boo! I think that would have been a great idea...Peruna needs to go!

[Stallion]

a Minority of 1

[abezontar]

That would be one expensive cab ride, I say we save those antics for the next time we get to make a trip to a bowl game, even if it is the Ft. Worth Bowl.

[Spaz]

Hey Big Cat! GO HERE!!!
NOW, realize how wrong you are....

If you don't, just remember, you get your way, might as well start calling it
TEXAS TECH AT DALLAS!!
GO RAIDERS....I MEAN MUSTANGS!!!

[couch 'em]

lol another cheap plug eh? And the ____ _______ show continues. :p

[Special_Delivery_Smu_Fans]

We vote to keep the current Peruna!

School Traditions Should Not Be Thrown Away Casually.


<img src="http://www.smu.edu/admission/images/pics/03.12.09.002.13.jpg" alt=" - " />

[j_bowling]

What?! I'm new to the board and this is the first I've heard of this topic. Dude, Spaz, I loved your article. I didn’t even know a couple of those stories! (Killing the Fordham mascot and mounting Tech’s horse?! I love it!) I'm going to go off on this now, even if it's already a dead issue that’s been widely discussed. WHOSE ideas was this? WHO in the senior class even CONSIDERED proposing a black horse as a class GIFT?! I want names. You have got to be kidding. They should be expelled from the university. Seriously. Find another campus entrance to memorialize or sign these transfer papers to UTA. This is the most idiotic proposal in the history of idiotic proposals. I suppose they wanted us to eliminate all references to the word Pony from our history while we're at it. What, is it the "Mustangs should have a Mustang" logic? (I would really like to know if someone can present the other side of the argument.) Look on the helmets, jerseys, and other uni’s. It's THERE. And the rest of us all have a great looking mustang logo to put on bumper stickers and hats. How could adding a "full size" Mustang possibly outweight what we would be subtracting? If we had had an actual Mustang for the last 80 years, that would be one thing. But we haven't. We've had Peruna. And Peruna II. And Peruna III. And so on. Was this a small faction of seniors wanting to rewrite themselves into history, or has it gotten so bad on campus that the student body is apathetic to our football tradition? Peruna is by far my favorite mascot of all time. There is no more ironic, unique and hilarious (in an entertaining way) mascot in all of sports. 1.) How many school mascots are named after an alcoholic spirit, let alone a banned one? THINK about that. You couldn't get that approved in a million years these days. How f'n COOL is that? And no, you can't change the type of animal and keep the same name. I won't even discuss this. 2.) Peruna is unique in other ways. How many schools have a horse vs. how many have a Shetland pony grazing on their sidelines? Speaking of, I think with the new turf football field the groundskeepers should set out a pallet of grass behind the end zone just for Peruna nibble on. And do you really want to watch a person on horseback (which we've all seen a million times) or do you want to see two handlers trying in vain to keep up with Peruna charging across the field, taking out the occasional cheerleader, player or anyone else in his way? (This has happened, and just the possibility of this happening is worth the price of admission.) And if you were to have a horse and rider, who's going to ride the horse and what do they wear? And how do they not help but become the focus of the mascot? It's simply a bad idea that gets worse the more I think about it. 3.) Costumed Peruna. You know you have a great mascot when the local NBA team copies your mascot (if you haven't seen Champ, there are a few subtle differences in the face and tail, but he's basically Peruna spray painted blue. I've written Mark Cuban about the lack of originality in this matter. I urge you to do the same if you agree, even though it won't change anything. Maybe we can get Champ and Peruna to square off or something at an SMU basketball game.) Since I'm officially rambling now, the greatest mascot bravado I've ever witnessed was when Peruna mockingly tossed out an official at a heated basketball game a few years ago, and was in turn tossed out himself. It was priceless sports comedy of the highest order. 4.) Peruna is a significant part of a GREAT tradition at SMU. We have a storied football history, a great band that plays great songs, pony ears, great school colors, etc. AND a Shetland pony mascot that didn't get run over on Mockingbird in 1934 for nothing. I've personally only experienced the last ten years on the Hilltop. And I dream of the day when I get to experience all of the rich SMU tradition and spirit in *full* force when we have a competitive, winning football program someday (soon, hopefully). I loathe anyone who suggests Peruna not be a part of it.

[yesindeedydoody]

Instead of big horse how about we adopt a Ford Mustang as our mascot? I like the 1971 Model (fast and with lots of muscle.)
After every quarter and touchdown it could do donuts in the end zone or on the 50-yard line.

<img src="http://www.fordheritage.com/mustang/advertising/images/lg1971-1.jpg" alt=" - " />

[PonySnob]

Right now, the team plays more like the Mustang II of the mi70's!

[j_bowling]

ha! as long as it's black.

[FloridaMustang]

Tradition is great, but the tradition sucks. Peruna is laughable.

[abezontar]

Much like you are FloridaMustang