Ford Game Day -- Not Kid Friendly

[SMU Football Blog]

Is it that Ford is not kid friendly or there is one security guard that is a nitwit? I think it is the latter.

Note on strollers: if the security guard asks if the stroller will fold up and fit under the seats, the answer is "Yes." I saw a woman answer "no" to that question; that woman was an idiot.

The security people are morons. We all know they are morons. Half the time, they are not the same from week to week. They don't know the rules or the unwritten rules. You have to get the complaint to Orsini. He needs to know the security needs to be continually educated.

[ponyboy]

This isn't a Highland Park High School game where it is a kiddie-land free-for-all. Teach your son to watch a football game or take him to daycare. They should not admit anyone under 14 years of age anyway.

You are now consistently the biggest idiot on this board. Sorry PonySnob.

[Pony in SA]

Is it that Ford is not kid friendly or there is one security guard that is a nitwit? I think it is the latter.

Note on strollers: if the security guard asks if the stroller will fold up and fit under the seats, the answer is "Yes." I saw a woman answer "no" to that question; that woman was an idiot.

The security people are morons. We all know they are morons. Half the time, they are not the same from week to week. They don't know the rules or the unwritten rules. You have to get the complaint to Orsini. He needs to know the security needs to be continually educated.

It was not one just one guard, I knew not to just go thru the yellow shirts at the gate. I spoke with 2 supervisors, one in blue shirt with supervisor badge and one in white/blue shirt with tags and hat who said he was in charge of that side of the stadium. He said he could not explain why they were selling exact same football they said could not be allowed in the stadium.

[Caballo]

I had the same experience with a yellow shirted lady at Gate 2. Seems outside footballs are dangerous projectiles. My son has also been bringing a ball to the game for the last five years. I just put his ball in the bushes across the street and retrieved it at the final gun. My son and his friends struck up a football game on the turf after the players had left the field. The yellow shirts let them play for about 20 minutes. I guarantee that is what they will remember most about the game for the rest of their lives. Hopefully they will not remember our defense.

[Special_Delivery_Smu_Fans]

I can understand their liability concerns, but it seems it needs to be handled better. Probably not best to sell SMU footballs at the stadium and then refuse entry to those spending money on the SMU product. I agree we need to always be "recruiting" new SMU fans of all ages. We must really bend over backwards to make SMU games kid/family friendly events. The carnival atmosphere in the endzone has really helped in this area. The grassy hill should probably be removed from the endzone "playground list" but just add more kiddy slides, ect.. Those kids will still have a great time. If the wife and kids have a splendid time then they will want to return to SMU games.

I think the grassy endzone has been a liability worry for years that has never had the correct solution.



I wonder if it could work to install a 4 foot black chain-link fence around the top edge of the grassy knoll?



Place small signs on the fence warning people to not cross over the fence as well as place 3 yellow vested security agents so no one would be tempted to climb over the fence.

I guess the worry or hesitancy to build a low fence is if we start winning and selling out a few more games that we might need that area open for over-flow general admission type seating. But couldn't they still close the grass hill in with sections of 4 foot black chain-link fence but have a large gate every 10-15 feet. The gates could be locked until the need ever arises to ever sell the grassy area as over-flow seating.

[Blue Horseshoe]

You may want to take a look at Duke BB's post. For those who have gone to games this year, it seems as if they are more interested in instituting new rules/policies to our game day experience. This administration is making it harder and harder to enjoy what cool experiences we have.

You can wait it out, however, until we possibly lose to ASU and TCU. At that point, you probably won't even need a ticket!

I'm sure that we can find plenty of OPEN space around or in the stadium to throw some footballs.

Good Luck

[jtstang]

You can wait it out, however, until we possibly lose to ASU and TCU. At that point, you probably won't even need a ticket!

I'm sure that we can find plenty of OPEN space around or in the stadium to throw some footballs.

Hell, at that point you might want to consider talking to Bennett about your kid walking on.

[EastStang]

I say let people come as they want, bring what they want, eat what they want, drink what they want, let Freedom Ring.

On the other hand, I live in the Washington DC area. At Redskins games every fan is frisked to be sure that we aren't bringing any weapons into the Stadium and of course if you have a flask, well sorry that goes too. Can't deprive ole Dan Snyder of $7 for a watered down bourbon. The Nationals on the other hand who are trying to build a fan base pretty much let you bring food and unopened bottled water into the stadium. They don't frisk, just check in purses and coolers. The Caps have now banned food from the Verizon Center. They're afraid of the dredded Chipotle Burrito bomb, I guess.

In all seriousness, there is petty and there is security. Living in the DC area where we have high government officials, elected officials and military brass living and playing, I do understand and appreciate teams attempting to ensure a safe environment at games so that a Black Sunday event does not occur here. On tthis September 11 anniversary, we do need to keep that in mind. As one who smelled the smoke from the Pentagon, it is not something easily forgotten. There needs to be a balance and hopefully these petty rule makers will keep that in mind. If you want to build a fan base, be flexible. If you've got a captive fan base, be a jerk.

[Special_Delivery_Smu_Fans]

I think Steve Orsini will listen and make the needed improvements.

He answered an e-mail I sent him the very same day.

Throwing this size party, problems are to be expected. I bet there are gameday problems at every college stadium in America. I know I prefer the guy in charge now as opposed to the past. This guy is very motivated and energetic. Sure he is focused on money, but money plays a huge part in getting where we all want to be.

Minor details are all "pieces of the puzzle", but most of these issues are minor than can be easily fixed. We had a couple of issues arise concerning parking, the Kickoff Luncheon, and the ticket office. Soon we had unexpected follow-up calls from the Orsini staff. From our point of view that kind of caring and followup response was unheard of from the previous AD.

[ponyboy]

True. I had a complaint and Orsini called me personally the next day.

[SmooBoy]

He bought me a steak. It was medium rare.

[FordtoTolbert]

Orsini is a stud, the right guy for the job.....I have never seen anything like this. I would say that the [deleted] and moaning about EVERYTHING is as bad as I have seen since 1989...ice in coke, my dog, my cat, the yellow shirt parkking guy, the yellow/red/blue/badged stadium dude, hot dog line, footballs, bushes, Phil this, Phil that, the band sucks, the D sucks, the O sucks, everybody is stupid, everybody is an idiot....

Who wants to be part of this? Freedom of speech, right on...but this is so freakin' counter productive, it baffles me...I'm tired of [deleted], I'm tired of listening to it and reading it....KNOCK THE SNOT out of Arkie State boys!! Long Live Gary Hammond.

[jtstang]

Two points in response. When Copeland was here and we were losing our @ss for 10 years you were [deleted] and moaning as loud as anybody. Second, you are in Memphis, and as best I can tell have been back for a handful of games since Ford opened. People here are registering complaints they had AT FORD from LAST SATURDAY AND MONDAY BEFORE THAT.

Go ponies and long live Jerry Levias.

[ponyboy]

Go Ponies and long live Chris Bordano.

[jtstang]

Go Ponies and long live Chris Bordano.

Amen, brother.