A question about the origin of the Mustang logo.

[PoconoPony]

I was at SMU during the period 1963-70 and distinctly recall reading in the DMN various accounts about Iacocca coming into the locker room after the game and advising Hayden Fry and the team that they were going to name their new young persons car the Mustang. I recall members of the football team making mention of the event after the game; however, the car had not hit the market at that time so the impact of the naming was not particularly regarded with much mention. When the car was finally introduced, Hayden Fry and 8 other members of his staff were immediately provided with brand new Mustangs painted blue over red. These cars were direct evidence of the naming. If fact Fry and staff were subsequently provided new Mustangs for a number of years thereafter. It was an amazing sight to see 9 Identical Mustangs parked in a row along the east side of Moody adjacent to where the football offices were located in those days. It was also scuttlebutt at SMU that the SMU student body had at least 3 students who were the off spring of very high ranking Ford officials and that these students had suggested the mustang name to their fathers. The wild, stout, muscular, high spirited, fast mustang had all the attributes that Ford wanted for their car. Thus, the possible origin of the naming.

Later that year I, along with 7 other students ,was provided by a local Ford dealer a 1964 deep red Mustang black top convertible for a week to drive the then Kodak queen and her court around Dallas and ultimately around the inside of the Cotton Bowl as part of the half time pageantry of the bowl game. Ironically, the Kodak queen was a beautiful gal from Minnesota where I finished high school. She was dating a swimmer at the U of M who was the only guy who had handed me a single defeat in my high school swimming career. Great time and fond memories.

[bubba pony]

https://books.google.com/books?id=bANS- ... &q&f=false

go to page 56. Hayden Fry's book.
Hayden Fry confirms Ford motor company named their car after SMU Mustang.

[PK]

https://books.google.com/books?id=bANS-aNcpn4C&pg=PA55&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false

go to page 56. Hayden Fry's book.
Hayden Fry confirms Ford motor company named their car after SMU Mustang.

After reading the part about naming the Ford Mustang, I kept reading more of the book preview. Lots of interesting information and entertaining reading in that book.

[SMU_Alum11]

Well someone needs update the Wikipedia page because it has entirely different answer: "Executive stylist John Najjar, who was a fan of the World War II P-51 Mustang fighter plane, is credited by Ford to have suggested the name".

Also the source that driven that comment on the wikipedia page: http://mustangs.about.com/od/faq/f/faq_name.htm

"It is widely rumored that Iacocca came up with the name after attending an SMU Mustangs college football game. The story goes something like this. Iacocca and several Ford execs were at an SMU football game which pitted the Mustangs against the Michigan Wolverines.

Although the Wolverines were off to a solid start, the Mustangs gave them a run for their money. Although Michigan was victorious in the end, Iacocca was won over by the team's spirit. He supposedly walked into the locker room and said, "Today, after watching the SMU Mustangs play with such flair, we reached a decision. We will call our new car the Mustang. Because it will be light, like your team. It will be quick, like your team. And it will be sporty, like your team." Although this makes for a great story, it is widely disputed and backed by no actual eyewitnesses other than Iacocca, who has not commented on the matter. As for my take on the situation, I'll stick with John Najjar's story until someone can prove otherwise."

[Bergermeister]

I'll go with the Hayden Fry version. Even IF it's not true, the legend embodies a positive SMU slant in naming the famous car. Give ourselves credit. Why the frantic search for the so-called "truth"? Truth is overrated, anyway. Ask a Clinton. Excitement '68. Pony Up.

[PK]

Well someone needs update the Wikipedia page because it has entirely different answer: "Executive stylist John Najjar, who was a fan of the World War II P-51 Mustang fighter plane, is credited by Ford to have suggested the name".

Also the source that driven that comment on the wikipedia page: http://mustangs.about.com/od/faq/f/faq_name.htm

"It is widely rumored that Iacocca came up with the name after attending an SMU Mustangs college football game. The story goes something like this. Iacocca and several Ford execs were at an SMU football game which pitted the Mustangs against the Michigan Wolverines.

Although the Wolverines were off to a solid start, the Mustangs gave them a run for their money. Although Michigan was victorious in the end, Iacocca was won over by the team's spirit. He supposedly walked into the locker room and said, "Today, after watching the SMU Mustangs play with such flair, we reached a decision. We will call our new car the Mustang. Because it will be light, like your team. It will be quick, like your team. And it will be sporty, like your team." Although this makes for a great story, it is widely disputed and backed by no actual eyewitnesses other than Iacocca, who has not commented on the matter. As for my take on the situation, I'll stick with John Najjar's story until someone can prove otherwise."

Actually both could be true. John Najjar may have suggested the name for the reasons noted, but the Ford execs may have been influenced by the SMU team's efforts and flair to make the decision on Mustang as the name they wanted to use. Any PFs around who were in the locker room after the game to vouch for Hayden's account?

[PoconoPony]

My recollection was that the game was against Ohio State not Michigan. The Ponies rolled up more that 650 yards of offense, threw roughly 68 passes, but suffered 4 interceptions in the OSU end zone suffering the loss. OSU had at least 4 All Americans playing in that game. OSU was viewed as the top team in the nation. It was an SMU show all day and even the OSU crowd came to appreciate the Ponies for their fight and running all over a highly vaulted OSU defense. Remember, those were the days of the Big 10 being a ground and pound running offense and OSU had never encountered a passing attack like they saw that day. Despite the loss SMU received considerable national recognition and praise for the effort that day.

[PK]

My recollection was that the game was against Ohio State not Michigan. The Ponies rolled up more that 650 yards of offense, threw roughly 68 passes, but suffered 4 interceptions in the OSU end zone suffering the loss. OSU had at least 4 All Americans playing in that game. OSU was viewed as the top team in the nation. It was an SMU show all day and even the OSU crowd came to appreciate the Ponies for their fight and running all over a highly vaulted OSU defense. Remember, those were the days of the Big 10 being a ground and pound running offense and OSU had never encountered a passing attack like they saw that day. Despite the loss SMU received considerable national recognition and praise for the effort that day.

I don't think the Ford management folks would have been at the Ohio State game.

[mrydel]

The Ohio State game was in 68. Chuck Hixson at QB.

[PoconoPony]

The Ohio State game was in 68. Chuck Hixson at QB.

Game in question was on 9/26/1964 @ OSU which was ranked #5 at the time. Look it up.

[mrydel]

The Ohio State game was in 68. Chuck Hixson at QB.

Game in question was on 9/26/1964 @ OSU which was ranked #5 at the time. Look it up.

Wow. Interesting because we played almost the same game you described in 1968. Chuck had an amazing game.

Went back and looked it up. In 1964 we lost 27-8. Had 214 total yards including 135 passing on 14 completions in 23 attempts.

In 1968 I could not find the total yards but Chuck had 417 passing with 69 attempts.

[PoconoPony]

The Ohio State game was in 68. Chuck Hixson at QB.

Game in question was on 9/26/1964 @ OSU which was ranked #5 at the time. Look it up.

Wow. Interesting because we played almost the same game you described in 1968. Chuck had an amazing game.

Went back and looked it up. In 1964 we lost 27-8. Had 214 total yards including 135 passing on 14 completions in 23 attempts.

In 1968 I could not find the total yards but Chuck had 417 passing with 69 attempts.[/qYouote]

You are right, I am confusing the stats with the Hixon game in 1968. However, it was at the 1964 OSU game that the Iacocca locker room announcement occurred. I believe that the Mustang car had been hyped up by Ford for a period of time before it's introduction. The actual introduction was possibly within 10 days after the 64 game. Lots of hype and splash in Dallas.

[PK]

You are right, I am confusing the stats with the Hixon game in 1968. However, it was at the 1964 OSU game that the Iacocca locker room announcement occurred. I believe that the Mustang car had been hyped up by Ford for a period of time before it's introduction. The actual introduction was possibly within 10 days after the 64 game. Lots of hype and splash in Dallas.

If you will read the Haden Fry book linked earlier, it was in the locker room after the 1963 game against Michigan that Iacocca's announcement was made. The production of the Ford Mustang started in March,1964.

[Arkpony]

Regarding the origin of the name Mustang at Ford, I heard an audio of Fry describing exactly how it happened. Iococa DID come into the SMU dressing room after the game and announce to the team that he was naming a new car Ford was coming out with the Mustang in honor of SMU. He told Fry he could have the very first one off the assembly line but would have to be paid $1 for it. All this from the lips of Fry himself..in much more detail than I have briefly outlined. Fact!

[bubba pony]

I heard Hayden Fry tell the story verbally as well. Fry is a hall of fame coach with no need to fabricate the story. Those that say the car is named after the airplane have no proof, all conjecture