20,335

[PoconoPony]

This game was not originally scheduled for this weekend. We had to switch because Tulane inadvertently scheduled another game the same date we had them scheduled and this was the only weekend available to switch to.

Mrydel is absolutely accurate on this matter. SMU had no choice but to reschedule. Never-the-less, most of the big games this weekend had full houses and students were very much present. I must; however, keep in mind a remark made to me by a very handsome couple as we approached the Moody parking garage after the UTEP game. I remarked to them that I was excited that the SMU students had flooded the field after the game and for the first time, "I thought the SMU students were starting to getting it." The wife immediately remarked to me to the effect, " Remember most of the students at SMU today are not here for the sports and are focused only on academics." I had to pause because I am aware that a very large percentage of students at SMU are attending on academic scholarships ( above 70% if my memory is correct) and she was absolutely accurate in her statement to me. We have a far more serious and academically focused/pressured student body than most colleges and the priorities are therefore far different. These students need to be cultivated and winning should greatly help. Unfortunately, our small enrollment coupled with the academic issues will always cause our student participation to be an issue. We really need work harder to captivate the alumni and Dallas community to make up the difference. I know professional sports....etc.; however, I do not want to get into all of those issues and excuses. My point is that we simply have a small student body with a different focus.

[Pony_Fan]

we cant compare ourselves to anyone else. It's just a bad weekend for SMU fball...I dont care what the situation is. Families are more important to them. I don't know how many students are out of state, but I would imagine it's pretty significant. 20 yrs of s*cking doesnt help at all. We lost 2 decades of students and alums.

TCU has the attention of all of Fort Worth. USC/UCLA -- seriously?

I'm guessing we had maybe 3K worth of students..maybe. If 10K was bought, there was a serious botch in the system.

Enough [deleted], it's done and was no surprise to anyone in terms of attendance.

[Oliver]

I don't want to continue to beat a dead horse, but I think the only thing that will change the culture is consistent winning. I don't really buy the whole "SMU students are only here for academics" excuse, because most people I know, myself included, made the decision to come here based on greek life, friends, women, parties, yes football, and the great college town and overall college experience SMU offers. And it didn't hurt that SMU has solid academics.

Decades of futility will do this to even the best and most loyal fan bases. SMU fell off the map for 20+ years, and it will take a couple seasons of winning for the student body, the alumni, and the community to finally believe in the program again. I'm pleased to see the excitement its already generated though, I talked to a cab driver all the way back to campus from DFW about SMU football today. The more people that are excited about it the better, I say bring in the band-wagoners, welcome them with open arms, If the community gets behind this team again, I can only imagine what attendance will be like, it would be a beautiful thing.

On another note, page 34 of the latest SI had a little blurb about SMU and bowl eligibility, sorry if this was already mentioned, I just got around to reading this issue on the plane.

Go Ponies!

[SMU 86]

I agree with that Oliver.

[tristatecoog]

UH improved home attendance by 17% this year and the Rice game attendance was awesome, even though it was just short of 30K. I think next year is when the greater Dallas community starts to get behind SMU football in a much bigger way. It builds over time and SMU football has a great foundation.

BTW, Tulane is a lousy program right now.

[EastStang]

We were 1-11 for two consecutive years. The year before that we were 6-6 and choked against Rice with a Bowl bid on the line. No excuse, but it takes time to catch the wave. A bowl win, an upset of Tech early (or even a losing shootout like 55-49) and fans will start to come. Fun wide-open offense, is what fans will be attracted to. I have friends and family that only now have interest in the NFL because of their fantasy team and because Redskins fans are so turned off by the present state of affairs, they are just not interested anymore and are finding other ways to spend Sunday afternoons.

[SMU_is_bowling]

the fact that there were 100's of folks at the ticket line excited me ... even if they did not plan well or decided to go back and tailgate ... I loved seeing those long lines and was surprised by them as I too had to purchase an extra ticket for the wife of a friend who had never been to an SMU game before! That kind of stuff is encouraging!!!

Go Stangs! Enjoy Hawaii!


(I will be changing my name shortly!)

[BRStang]

Personally, I was actually surprised by the attendance. I expected far less b/c of the Thanksgiving holidays, but pretty much the entire west sideline had a decent crowd. Not as crowded as the UTEP game, but good for Thanksgiving. You gotta expect that the student section would be light since 1/2 the student body is from out of state.

The boulevard, however, was a lot more quiet than for UTEP.

The key to more attendance for Thanksgiving weekend is to KEEP WINNING!! FWIW, I actually came to 4 games this season. That's the first time in 6 years that I've been to more than one game. I'm not a fairweather fan, but it's a frickin' pain to travel 7 hrs, spend $500 doing so, and then lose. Put a product on the field that's worth seeing and I am there! I would bet if we keep winning like this, you'll start seeing more fans from out of town on Thanksgiving weekend.

Thanks for the great year, Mustangs!!

[Mustangsabu]

This game was not originally scheduled for this weekend. We had to switch because Tulane inadvertently scheduled another game the same date we had them scheduled and this was the only weekend available to switch to.

Mrydel is absolutely accurate on this matter. SMU had no choice but to reschedule. Never-the-less, most of the big games this weekend had full houses and students were very much present. I must; however, keep in mind a remark made to me by a very handsome couple as we approached the Moody parking garage after the UTEP game. I remarked to them that I was excited that the SMU students had flooded the field after the game and for the first time, "I thought the SMU students were starting to getting it." The wife immediately remarked to me to the effect, " Remember most of the students at SMU today are not here for the sports and are focused only on academics." I had to pause because I am aware that a very large percentage of students at SMU are attending on academic scholarships ( above 70% if my memory is correct) and she was absolutely accurate in her statement to me. We have a far more serious and academically focused/pressured student body than most colleges and the priorities are therefore far different. These students need to be cultivated and winning should greatly help. Unfortunately, our small enrollment coupled with the academic issues will always cause our student participation to be an issue. We really need work harder to captivate the alumni and Dallas community to make up the difference. I know professional sports....etc.; however, I do not want to get into all of those issues and excuses. My point is that we simply have a small student body with a different focus.

I must respectfully disagree with this. I love SMU and it is a respectable institution, but SMU does not have an academically focused student body, when taken as a whole. I both studied there, albeit Graduate School, and taught there. The atmosphere at the school is laid back, Greek life is the predominant element by far. If you need proof just take a tour of the libraries on a daily basis. Libraries are the barometer for how academically serious the student body is, and our are empty, not even packed at exam time. That is unusual.

On Game Days I would venture that our students are a large part of those that hang on the boulevard, and the days when the students turn out in numbers are the days when the Greek organizations demanded it.

[mustangdm]

If you need proof just take a tour of the libraries on a daily basis. Libraries are the barometer for how academically serious the student body is, and our are empty, not even packed at exam time. That is unusual.

You must not go in there in the evenings. I frequent the library around 10 or 11 during the week and most of the time it is impossible to get a table or a computer in the main room.