UPDATE: Save Peruna Campaign

[j_bowling]

Why is Peruna laugable? What are some mascots you like and why?

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

Originally posted by FloridaMustang:
Tradition is great, but the tradition sucks. Peruna is laughable.

What's more laughable? A miniture horse or some clown dressed up in the Mustang Maniac outfit trying to ride a horse?
It amazes me that people are so negative towards Peruna.Peruna, for all his faults, is a cool mascot. Sorry that we don't drug up a large bovine to put on display, or keep a collie on a leash or even better yet, keep a startled bear in a cage. I just don't understand why people have such animosity towards Peruna.
One story that makes me love the Peruna tradition more is a story that was relayed to me. I don't remember the year but it was a game down in Austin sometime in the early 80s and the shorthorns were putting on a presentation for Bevo to celebrate his birthday. Anyway, during the presentation they gave Bevo a cake made from hay. As a "courtesy" the shorthorns "invited" Peruna to have some cake with Bevo. Well, the handlers brought Peruna up to the cake. At this point, Peruna is just sniffing the cake as the crowd waits, in anticipation, for Peruna to take a bite. Well, Peruna gets up there, sniffs the cake and just walks off, completely stunning the crowd. Who couldn't like a mascot that basically told a sea of Burnt Orange that they could take their hay and stick up their rears?

<small>[ 11-13-2003, 01:05 PM: Message edited by: Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex ]</small>

[yesindeedydoody]

Originally posted by PonySnob:
Right now, the team plays more like the Mustang II of the mi70's!

But I thought that was the problem at SMU. The problem is not with the performance of the coaching staff or the team, it is with the perception that others have of us and with our traditions. Others see a pony therefore we are small and beatable. If others saw a big horse then SMU must be big and hard to beat.....

[Spaz]

UGH!!!
Honestly? The program will speak for itself. No team looks at a mascot and goes, "HOLY ****!!! A BIG BLACK MUSTANG1!!! We's gonna die!!!"
If we had a kick [deleted] program, everyone would be on board with Peruna. Just wait til we're good again, and you'll NEVER hear anyone talk of such nonsense again...

THE SPAZ

[PlanoStang]

I vote we make all negative posters for NOT keeping the little Shetland pony known nationally as SMU's mascot, Peruna, to suffer being dragged as Peruna runners for next year!!

[gostangs]

Anybody who messes with Peruna is doomed to lead a pitiful and meaningless life. Another stupid state school run of the mill horse we don't need. Worst idea I have EVER heard -

[Mustangs35SMU]

Never even heard of this! Really pisses me off how some people say that we show Lack of Spirit! SMU doesnt have many real fans but its those fans who attend every sporting event! those who go to the game weither we're 0-10 or 10-0 that are the True fans! And if you're saying that those fans show Lack of spirit then you're mind really needs to get checked! :no: :no:

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[EastStang]

Small harmless mascot? Name one other school mascot that has actually killed an opponant's mascot (Peruna I) and "f'd" another opponants mascot (Peruna IV). Go ahead. Harmless? A grenade is small too, but you wouldn't want one flipped into your dorm room. Until you can name two such mascots get outta here. Then I'll add in the dozens of cheerleaders with bite marks on their butts, bands that had their half time shows disrupted, new astroturf fields that received a special equine gift, bears that got chased around the stadium, steers that got kicked. Go to an Arkansas game and check out how energetic Big Red is. Is that what you want? Peruna was one of the most recognized mascots in the 50s', 60's and 80's. But since we stink, Ralphie, Uga, Bevo, have all gotten more press.

[KnuckleStang]

Amen, East. Calls for the coach's head during a winless season, that's to be expected. But the eighty-year mascot? Unbelievable. Talk about misplaced anger. It's such a stupid idea, it leaves me speechless.

If we were winning now, and people got to see Peruna run a little more, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Mascots look a lot cooler when you win.

[Spaz]

Hey East, it sounds like you have a bunch of cool Peruna Stories...Would you mind either sharing them with the entire board or maybe send me some? I'd LOVE to hear them so I can have more fuel for the naysayers.

The Spaz

[EastStang]

Back in the mid 70's there was a long story in the Daily Campus about some of the Peruna lore (check their achives). However, what I remember were these stories. In 1935, SMU played Fordham in NYC at the Polo Grounds. (By the way playing on the offensive line for Fordham was one Vincent Lombardi). In order to get Peruna from the train station to the game, they had to stuff him into a Cab. (This was during the depression so a little cash went a long way back then). The ride got him so riled up (what NYC cab ride wouldn't) that when they brought the two mascots out to mid field, Peruna kicked the Fordham ram in the head and killed it right at the 50 yard line. They had to drag the Fordham mascot off the field. Another story had to do with the Baylor bear. We were playing Baylor and their bear handlers thought it would be cute to try and scare Peruna by having their bear come up close to him. Peruna kind of lazily reared up on his back legs, and the Bear took off. They had to stop the game for half an hour to try and catch the bear. Turns out, horses scare the ### out of bears. The already great story of Peruna smelling Misty the Tech horse in heat. The little guy had big thoughts that day and was trying to mount the large mare. The two schools negotiated that the mascots would be given a nice room for the rest of the game. Another piece of lore was that he kicked BEVO in the stomach and knocked the poor cow to his knees. While I was there, several Peruna incidents occurred. As you know Peruna runs the field at the end of each half. We were playing Rice at the Cotton Bowl. The MOB forgot about this and all of the sudden they were marching on as Peruna came through. Trumpets, flutes, saxes flying up in a straight path which let you know where Peruna was. Totally funny. Then, a moment made famous by our outlaw alum, Jim Dent, against the Froggies. They got new astroturf. When the handlers brought Peruna to the field, the Frog stadium manager came up to the handlers and asked, is that horse gonna do his business on my new carpet. The handlers said, "no, we don't feed him much on game days to prevent that." Moments later, Peruna lets fly a huge massive on the new carpet. The DC headline the next day (after we won the game) was "SMU dumps on TCU". While I was there, the female cheerleaders all complained that Peruna would try and bite them on their rears when they walked by him. They used to run him after every touchdown. While I was there we rang up 63 points one game, I thought his handlers would die. I'm sure there are some newer stories. I have not heard of any Peruna VI stories yet. Hopefully, he will add some colorful moments in the years to come as his predecessors did. But all that being said, he is also a very approachable animal. Kids can't go pet the LSU Tiger or Shasta (the Houston Couger), but Peruna seems okay with it.

<small>[ 11-14-2003, 11:10 AM: Message edited by: EastStang ]</small>

[Greenwich Pony]

Replace Peruna? Somebody down there in Dallas is smoking dope. Seriously. About a quarter of the time up here in New York when I say I went to SMU, somebody brings Peruna, if not by name, then by some other reference- usually the Fordham story, but people not even vaguely associated with Dallas or sports seem to know Peruna.

Peruna is the perfect mascot for our school; small, fiesty and well-known. We run rings around big, slow state schools, with their big dumb personality-less mascots. Let's face it, SMU has personality. Not everyone may like it, but it's got a distinct flavor. I know it's bad down there on the gridiron, but it can't be so bad that we have to take it out on our mascot.

If they want to boost school spirit, why not have a program at orientation where they discuss the traditions and history of the university (I seem toremember they had that in the late 1980's); make Peruna more visible (the best all-school party was always Peruna's Birthday) and actually push the vast traditions that SMU has rather than try and invent new fightsongs, new mascots etc. I firmly believe that NO SMU graduation candidate should recieve their diploma if they don't know the words to Varsity and Pony Battle Cry at the very :thumbupcool: least.

[Spaz]

I agree, Greenwich. Since I've been here, Peruna's Bday has turned into Block party, which has pretty much turned into nothing. Now, it's just taking up valuble drinking time here at SMU.
Seriously, one of my FAVORITE freshman memories was going to then called Block Party (on Peruna's Birthday) and partying, eating food, and watching COOLIO and some other bands. BRING THAT BACK PEOPLE!! Who do I talk to about that?
Get some great local rock bands, some student bands, some games (we had sumo suits, a bullriding thing, etc) and bring Peruna up to a big cake for everyone!

PS, AWESOME peruna stories. EVERYONE should know these!

Also, I know this is a little ****ty for the atheletes, but can PERUNA be Pony of the week? That's my vote!

The Spaz

[FloridaMustang]

Oh it's just too much fun being an SMU fan among such jackasses as you.

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

To quote a famous American Icon....Can't we all just get along?

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