Quick Read: SMU and Southern Dallas County

[LA_Mustang]

So what lesson do we draw from that? Is it their history of winning alone? Should we use them as a model? I'm not being sarcastic are cute, seriously how do we become more like USC?

No, that's a very good question. When I first got to LA it was right before the Pete Carroll era started and USC gear was still seen all over the city. Very similar to the way you see TCU all over FW now. Just from an outsider's perspective, USC seemed to be involved with many inner city events and schools. As someone in this thread posted about the TCU/DeSoto HS partnership, USC seemed to do the same type thing.

Until SMU truly embraces the city, and by that I don't mean inviting a few kids to a football game and giving them a shirt, things won't change. We could have mentors that show up at DISD schools. Go to the advanced classes and talk to them about SMU, scholarships, financial aid and give them a contact if they have questions. Every inner city school has bright kids and they need to realize that there's a great school in their own city that's an option. You don't have to be rich or an athlete to go to school here - bright kids from all backgrounds are welcome. Maybe we have started doing that but I'm not aware of it.

[couch 'em]

How does SMU prioritize? Raising academic standards and admitting half the students from outside Texas doesn't leave a lot of opportunities for south dallad

In essence you are saying there are few, if any, students in southern Dallas County that can meet SMU's academic standards. Really? Talk about stereotyping a whole community.

No, I'm saying the region terms to be lower income. That means fewer academic standouts, and WAY fewer that have the means to attend SMU. Even with major scholarship money SMU is expensive to attend. Then factor in the social cost. A 20 year old car and walmart clothes at UT - no big deal. At SMU? You stand out, you aren't getting into the good Greek orgs, and you are on the outside of the social society. At that point why are you at SMU? The networking is the main advantage of SMU.

So take 5000 undergrads at SMU. Freshmen are what, 1500? Half of those are from our of state, so now you have 750. 750 people from the entire state of Texas. Now for those few spots you have to find someone academically capable, financially capable, and willing to spend the money and jump in to a foreign culture, AND worthy of taking that spot from someone else.

[ponyboy]

Let's go back to the extreme hypothetical. We've got Lance, Eric, and Craig. We've got Harvey Armstrong, Michael Carter, and the rest of the team. We're kicking everyone's tails and contending for the national championship. It's 1982 all over again. We expand Ford to 45K in a fit of enthusiam. The Big 12 begs us to join and we do. Would we fill the stadium even then? History says no.

Why is that? Why will we never be Bevo, Aggie, Tech, or even Baylor? I believe the answer has something to do with who we are. We're exclusive by design. Regular folks just don't feel comfortable with our demographic. Talk to any normal person who's walked the Boulevard.

[CalallenStang]

This discussion is ridiculous. SMU will not be deserving of Dallas' support until SMU starts supporting Dallas. All of Dallas, not just West Plano.

[NewAgeMustange]

I love the boulevard and wish it was open longer. All night and day like The Grove, but SMU is a culture shock. A major one that will knock kids on their rears. I came from rural kansas and my first summer back I was working at a country club and realized SMU kids drove nicer cars than the CC had parked in the lot.

It takes a year or two for kids to get settled, Maybe that's why we only have what 88% freshmen returning rate. But I have never heard anything about SMU going out and talking with kids about school. My gf went to plano west and she has said multiple times they never saw smu at college day. and I had to jump through hoops to schedule an interview with smu for my application.

SMU is a club, a club that I love and that every PF on here loves, but until there is a fundamental shift I don't see the outreach happening. Some majors have kids go out to DISD as part of the degree program, but I've heard more about Junior league and Slipper club doing more for DISD kids / at risk youth then SMU. Maybe they aren't broadcasting it loudly enough if they are doing it.

[ponyboy]

When I first got to LA it was right before the Pete Carroll era started and USC gear was still seen all over the city. Very similar to the way you see TCU all over FW now. Just from an outsider's perspective, USC seemed to be involved with many inner city events and schools. As someone in this thread posted about the TCU/DeSoto HS partnership, USC seemed to do the same type thing.

Until SMU truly embraces the city, and by that I don't mean inviting a few kids to a football game and giving them a shirt, things won't change. We could have mentors that show up at DISD schools. Go to the advanced classes and talk to them about SMU, scholarships, financial aid and give them a contact if they have questions. Every inner city school has bright kids and they need to realize that there's a great school in their own city that's an option. You don't have to be rich or an athlete to go to school here - bright kids from all backgrounds are welcome. Maybe we have started doing that but I'm not aware of it.

Thanks for the great response. I believe that's a big part of the answer, outreach and involvement. For the record, and I think you know this, I am a white and conservative and have always viewed programs like affirmative action with a great deal of skepticism. But we've GOT to be more inclusive, proactively so.

[ponyboy]

SMU will not be deserving of Dallas' support until SMU starts supporting Dallas. All of Dallas, not just West Plano.

Yes.

[LA_Mustang]

This discussion is ridiculous. SMU will not be deserving of Dallas' support until SMU starts supporting Dallas. All of Dallas, not just West Plano.

I think it is a good discussion but I agree with you we don't deserve the city's support until SMU start supporting the city. And this goes way beyond athletics.

[sbsmith]

Let's go back to the extreme hypothetical. We've got Lance, Eric, and Craig. We've got Harvey Armstrong, Michael Carter, and the rest of the team. We're kicking everyone's tails and contending for the national championship. It's 1982 all over again. We expand Ford to 45K in a fit of enthusiasm. The Big 12 begs us to join and we do. Would we fill the stadium even then? History says no.

Why is that? Why will we never be Bevo, Aggie, Tech, or even Baylor? I believe the answer has something to do with who we are. We're exclusive by design. Regular folks just don't feel comfortable with our demographic. Talk to any normal person who's walked the Boulevard.

We'd hit 45K for the OU, Baylor, Tech, TCU, Texas and Okie State games with a lot of help from visiting fans. We'd need to have several more seasons like that to get most of those tickets in the hands of SMU fans. 45K fans worth of loyalty isn't built overnight. Regular folks would feel a lot more comfortable with our demographic if we were winning like the elite programs in the state.

[Stallion]

The broader issue-can't be dismissed-only 14% of African Americans met the standards of College preparedness as Texas SAT scores continue to plummet to historic depths even in comparison to a state like California with similar minority makeup

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-ne ... ar-low.ece

[CalallenStang]

The broader issue-can't be dismissed-only 14% of African Americans met the standards of College preparedness as Texas SAT scores continue to plummet to historic depths even in comparison to a state like California with similar minority makeup

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-ne ... ar-low.ece

What is SMU doing to fix this?

[skurtn]

The broader issue-can't be dismissed-only 14% of African Americans met the standards of College preparedness as Texas SAT scores continue to plummet to historic depths even in comparison to a state like California with similar minority makeup

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-ne ... ar-low.ece

What is SMU doing to fix this?

We're raising SAT standards over time, to become a more exclusive university that has a greater percentage of the best and brightest.
I'd quote Turner on this, but I can't find the interview right now. If I recall, we've raised minimum SAT requirements about 200 points since I started my freshman year in 1996.

[CalallenStang]

The broader issue-can't be dismissed-only 14% of African Americans met the standards of College preparedness as Texas SAT scores continue to plummet to historic depths even in comparison to a state like California with similar minority makeup

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-ne ... ar-low.ece

What is SMU doing to fix this?

We're raising SAT standards over time, to become a more exclusive university that has a greater percentage of the best and brightest.
I'd quote Turner on this, but I can't find the interview right now. If I recall, we've raised minimum SAT requirements about 200 points since I started my freshman year in 1996.

You misread my question

[skurtn]

You misread my question

I answered your question, but in a very veil sense. Here, I'll answer it more directly.
Nothing, as far as I can tell.

[AustinPerson]

SMU's only goal (academically and athletically) should be to be considered on the same academic level of Stanford and Rice. If that entails getting 50 kids from DeSoto, great.

Of course, I realize that getting to the Stanford/Rice academic level is quite a stretch and will probably never happen with until we start admitting more science nerds.