That's It. Its Time For Me To Resurface

[MustangKurt20]

Yes Hoop Fan I am extremely bitter! As far as my education here at SMU it hasn't been the most rigorous or on the other hand it hasn't been just a total cakewalk. Keep in mind that I went to a small public 2A school in East Texas where the quality of education was, with respect to my dear alma mater Lone Oak HS, virtually nonexistent. Am I an unhappy student at SMU? No not really. When I was freshman I bought all that nonsense about The Commitment and how Phil Bennett was the answer to SMU's prayers and that Jim Copeland was a man of integrity and honor. None of these things came to pass. It baffles me that someone like Jim Copeland has managed to stay in control of SMU's athletic department for so long considering the abysmal records of SMU's money generating sports during his tenure. And the student population here at SMU is what it is. Its a country club mentality here. Is that in itself terrible? No not really. But the condescending and narrow minded mental framework of your typical SMUer is disgusting to most people.

[ponyboy]

I love SMU deeply and have ever since I can remember. My father graduated in '63 with a Math degree and taught in the law school from '67 to '92. We attended every home football game with few exceptions. I bleed Harvard red and Yale blue. I graduated in '89 with a Philosophy and English degree. I've attended some MBA at Cox and and now taking some classes towards my MS in Information Engineering Management.

Having said all that, I largely agree with the poster. Snottiness is ugly, no way around it. SMU tends to take it to the level of art, though. And as jt points out, it hasn't been the best of times for the revenue sports in the last few years -- although the move to CUSA was a plus.

The problem with SMU is this: It is not Southern, it is not Methodist. I have nothing against our friends from the north and east of us. But, like anywhere, you tend to respect less the further away you are from. There are of course always exceptions. But it's the absolute abandonment of, if not outright attack upon, Christianity -- at least in Dedman where I spent all my time -- that is the source of a great deal of angst for those who come to this university expecting a religious-based, or at least religious-informed, education.

Best of luck to you, Kurt. Don't give up on SMU.

[MustangKurt20]

East Stang...

I'm not going to fake friendships with people I can't stand just to improve my financial or social status! I guess that's one way to go about it but I just can't imagine someone with any balls going out of their way to be a brown noser to a 19 year old kid! If I make it in this world it won't be riding on someone else's coattails. If I fail to be successful then it will be MY fault. If I am successful it will be MY doing.

[Hoop Fan]

don't be bitter man, life is too short. There are good people and bad people everywhere, even Highland Park. Now go to the last Utep game and be part of the solution, not the problem.

[Stallion]

Oh my goodness PonyBoy I'm so sorry you didn't get your religious indoctrination at SMU poor baby probably learned about evolution and perhaps that the world was created MORE than 10,000 years ago. Thank God for an education that tests accepted religious breliefs. I'm sure you would be happy at Liberty, Oral Roberts and Baylor where they teach the TRUTH.

[ponyboy]

Oh my goodness PonyBoy I'm so sorry you didn't get your religious indoctrination at SMU poor baby probably learned about evolution and perhaps that the world was created MORE than 10,000 years ago. Thank God for an education that tests accepted religious breliefs. I'm sure you would be happy at Liberty, Oral Roberts and Baylor where they teach the TRUTH.

That's an uncalled for and ignorant attack that smacks of bigotry.

[ponyplayer]

Stallion is a lawyer not a bigot, they can not be the same person,.........

[McAndless]

I wish you the best of luck over the next few years, when you finally realize what you're saying now. Let go of the insecurities and narrow-mindedness. Class doesn't cost a penny, and good people will appreciate a good human being no matter if their dad's name is on the building or if he cleans it. I, too came to Dallas from a smaller middle class town and I had heard about snobs before I came. If you go to the Theta house at UT, you're gonna meet snobs. That's the culture and appreciate it for its many valuable lessons you learn. Since you have a semester left, spend the next 6 months enjoying the truly privileged opportunity you have. Your diploma may become worth a little bit more.

[abezontar]

No offense MustangKurt20, but you sound as though you need to do a little bit more research before you make decisions in life. I knew coming here this school's reputation, at how close the reality was to that reputation. I also knew that there were a lot of people on campus that didn't fit the stereotype. It only took a few conversations with current students (when I was in high school) and some alums to figure that out. Likewise to those that wanted a more religious based education. If you didn't get what you wanted out of your experience at SMU the fault is yours not the University's.

As for making it on your own in the world......good luck....you are probably going to learn real quick that it is very hard to get a job on a promise to work hard and well. You need those connections to get your foot in the door, without it life is much much more difficult. It doesn't require you to suck up to a 19 year old either, it may require you to set aside your preconceptions and look for the good in people though.

[hunters]

I second cutting everyone some slack on grammar and spelling.

[feelan]

East Stang...

I'm not going to fake friendships with people I can't stand just to improve my financial or social status! I guess that's one way to go about it but I just can't imagine someone with any balls going out of their way to be a brown noser to a 19 year old kid! If I make it in this world it won't be riding on someone else's coattails. If I fail to be successful then it will be MY fault. If I am successful it will be MY doing.

so everyone but you is a stuck up rich kid from a wealthy family? What a load of crap. I came from a small town, went to SMU on scholarships and loans and grants, hated the first year and a half and then found a group of people that were pretty much in the same socio-economic class and had a great time the rest of the way. I was there when we had the lone winning season, but for the rest of my time during and since it has been pretty much the same so cry your sob story somewhere else.

My guess is you didn't try very hard and looked at what everyone else thought SMU was and just went along with it. You are in for a very long hard life if this is how you deal with things that aren't perfect for you.

[93Mustang]

MustangKurt20,

As I think you'll agree, SMU is a great place to get an education. Not only that, it's a great place to make friends that you will keep for life. While our football team and basketball teams are down right now, but that's no reason to completely give up on the school. When you started at SMU these programs weren't much better. Most on this board want things to get better and some, including myself, believe we might finally be heading in the right direction assuming a few more important changes are made this offseason. We need new young graduates like you to make the jump from fb/bb purgatory. You claim to be upset at the apathetic snobs who I'll concede are easy to find at the school, but if sports fans like yourself give up on the programs, we'll fail for sure in our attempt to return to respectability. Get over your bitterness and support your school's teams. It will be frustrating, as you know from your four years, but someday when we make some obscure third rate bowl game or make it to the NCAA tournament the fleeting moments of joy that will bring will help you to forget the miserable run we are currently enduring.

Beaten down, but not defeated 93' graduate

[BUS]

All of us come from different backgrounds. I had no desire to go to SMU but due to family ( financial ) pressure I went. The days of bouncing at C&W clubs all week and steer wrestling was not the norm for an SMU student.

I had a great IH scout II SUV back before they were SUV's.

I ended up meeting a bunch of really cool people - I am a Kappa Sigma Fat Boy. How is that? They took in a goat roper and the friends that I have now are the K. Sig's that I met.

SMU is not Ivy League when it comes to education but VERY good.

Relax and meet as many people as you can. It's fun if you let it be fun.

I am all for the spelling and gramer Poleese to stopp commenting. I Dont speel well eighther.

[abezontar]

You wouldn't happen to still have the International Harverster would you?

[BUS]

No I sold it after I got married. ( the first time )

That was the strongest truck I have ever driven. You could go though a creek with water at mid dor height.

Oh well.