Are the students too high class to come to the game??

[mrydel]

I repeat. Please go back and visit the historical numbers. With the exception of UT,A&M, and Arkansas, even during our hey days, Ford would not have been full. We are not going to be filling Ford, even if we are #1 in CUSA. May even be more difficult due to other teams not traveling well if we are the favorite (see Rice, 2009). Put a keg at the end of each aisle and bottles of whiskey under each seat, and all you will get are 20,000 drunks fans.

We need to do better. Winning will help and possibly beer could help, but we have to face the reality that until we find opponents that will bring 15,000 fans, the stadium is most often going to have an echo. Right now, the people we need to come to our games are the non-related fans, and they would rather stay home and watch UT vs. Central Eastern Lower School on TV than come to see us play a non BCS level game.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

mrydel dont ya think we can eventually come close to filling Ford stadium? TCU is not playing teams that travel well and they are getting around enough to fill Ford. And like SMU...TCU is a small private school. Yes Yes Yes Yes I know SMU is a LONG way from being on TCU's level of football, but I think an SMU winning games and going to bowls with an exciting run & shoot offense will get Ford a lot more filled up over the next few years. I agree we need to attempt to schedule teams that are "natural rivals" and/or have large alumni bases in Dallas that would show up to see their old school they rarely get a chance to see in person.

[abezontar]

To be honest, I hate these threads. Categorizing all students/all greeks don't go to the games..just want to get slammed drunk, etc. is wrong, just stop it.

As a senior and the president of my fraternity, I have missed 1 football game and 1 basketball game in my time here on the Hilltop. You will find me in the front row at each event. In fact, Friday if you are interested I make a game sheet for every basketball game detailing "interesting facts" about the opposing players that makes for some great times in warm ups. If you sit in the lower bowl, and would like one come find me. I will be there an hour/ hour and a half before the game.

I know this has already been beaten like a dead horse, but at EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL there is has an attendance problem. I have been to many SEC venues, and so many students leave during the game for a variety of reasons, but predominately because they are drunk. The two things that differentiates SMU from these larger institutions is that the student sections are so packed that you can't tell the difference when 1/2 of the student section has left at half time. The other is community/alumni support. Many of the surrounding community/some alumni (excluding those loyal PF's) could care less about the success of SMU, and if they do decide to come to the game sit on their hands and don't cheer. I cannot tell you how many times at b-ball/football games that in the last minute of a close game many of the non-students sit there and don't cheer, and to frankly put it; it pisses me off.

Before we rip the students, let's also acknowledge that there are attendance problems with other facets as well. All I want to see is a packed Ford Field/Moody Coliseum with everyone students/alumni/community alike cheering for the Ponies.

I salute your enthusiasm, sir, but I honestly feel you may be an exception to the rule.

I will agree with you, however, on your last point. We have an attendence problem, not just a student attendence problem. I'd say we need more alums there, as well. I know a bunch of alums that don't go to games on saturday for about the same reason as students: they just can't be bothered.

It's easy to point and yell at students when they choose drinking, partying, and the prospect of getting laid over football, but if you can possibly remember back to those days, I think you'll find those were the top 3 things on many of your lists, as well.

As soon as SMU football can be as exciting on a regular basis as those three things, we'll be set. It's starting to look that way, but it ain't gonna happen overnight

I suppose those in the band already knew that wasn't a possibility.

[mrydel]

mrydel dont ya think we can eventually come close to filling Ford stadium? TCU is not playing teams that travel well and they are getting around enough to fill Ford. And like SMU...TCU is a small private school. Yes Yes Yes Yes I know SMU is a LONG way from being on TCU's level of football, but I think an SMU winning games and going to bowls with an exciting run & shoot offense will get Ford a lot more filled up over the next few years. I agree we need to attempt to schedule teams that are "natural rivals" and/or have large alumni bases in Dallas that would show up to see their old school they rarely get a chance to see in person.

Yes. I do believe we can fill or get close to filling Ford with a winner. We played in the Cotton Bowl when I was there and it was sad to see all of the empty seats. That is the beauty of a smaller stadium. But we have to win and also make the experience a good one to visit. I personally do not think beer is the answer. It may be an ingredient if that is what the powers that be want, but I would like to think we could put a product on the field that does not require you to be drunk to see. I just think that we spend too much time worrying about the crowd when it will come to us when we have the right product and atmosphere. But I think the talk that comes up about expanding Ford any time we get more than 30,000 for one game can be dropped. Unless we found ourselves a member of the Big 12 or the SEC, or major conference changes occured, that will never happen.

[The Spaz]

To be honest, I hate these threads. Categorizing all students/all greeks don't go to the games..just want to get slammed drunk, etc. is wrong, just stop it.

As a senior and the president of my fraternity, I have missed 1 football game and 1 basketball game in my time here on the Hilltop. You will find me in the front row at each event. In fact, Friday if you are interested I make a game sheet for every basketball game detailing "interesting facts" about the opposing players that makes for some great times in warm ups. If you sit in the lower bowl, and would like one come find me. I will be there an hour/ hour and a half before the game.

I know this has already been beaten like a dead horse, but at EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL there is has an attendance problem. I have been to many SEC venues, and so many students leave during the game for a variety of reasons, but predominately because they are drunk. The two things that differentiates SMU from these larger institutions is that the student sections are so packed that you can't tell the difference when 1/2 of the student section has left at half time. The other is community/alumni support. Many of the surrounding community/some alumni (excluding those loyal PF's) could care less about the success of SMU, and if they do decide to come to the game sit on their hands and don't cheer. I cannot tell you how many times at b-ball/football games that in the last minute of a close game many of the non-students sit there and don't cheer, and to frankly put it; it pisses me off.

Before we rip the students, let's also acknowledge that there are attendance problems with other facets as well. All I want to see is a packed Ford Field/Moody Coliseum with everyone students/alumni/community alike cheering for the Ponies.

I salute your enthusiasm, sir, but I honestly feel you may be an exception to the rule.

I will agree with you, however, on your last point. We have an attendence problem, not just a student attendence problem. I'd say we need more alums there, as well. I know a bunch of alums that don't go to games on saturday for about the same reason as students: they just can't be bothered.

It's easy to point and yell at students when they choose drinking, partying, and the prospect of getting laid over football, but if you can possibly remember back to those days, I think you'll find those were the top 3 things on many of your lists, as well.

As soon as SMU football can be as exciting on a regular basis as those three things, we'll be set. It's starting to look that way, but it ain't gonna happen overnight

I suppose those in the band already knew that wasn't a possibility.

Diamond M-cest, my friend...

[Moose]

Ah how we forget. I went to every football game (and most basketball games) during the Pony Express years. I would get on the beer bus to Texas Stadium and watch every play. But, I remember thinking what weak fans most of us students were back then. Half of them spent the entire time with their backs to the game talking to the other drunk students behind them. It was like being at a party with a band playing.

[jtstang]

Ah how we forget. I went to every football game (and most basketball games) during the Pony Express years. I would get on the beer bus to Texas Stadium and watch every play. But, I remember thinking what weak fans most of us students were back then. Half of them spent the entire time with their backs to the game talking to the other drunk students behind them. It was like being at a party with a band playing.

I remember that too, but at least they were there. I'd take that kind of attendance today for sure.

[Phxfan]

I repeat. Please go back and visit the historical numbers. With the exception of UT,A&M, and Arkansas, even during our hey days, Ford would not have been full. We are not going to be filling Ford, even if we are #1 in CUSA. May even be more difficult due to other teams not traveling well if we are the favorite (see Rice, 2009). Put a keg at the end of each aisle and bottles of whiskey under each seat, and all you will get are 20,000 drunks fans.

We need to do better. Winning will help and possibly beer could help, but we have to face the reality that until we find opponents that will bring 15,000 fans, the stadium is most often going to have an echo. Right now, the people we need to come to our games are the non-related fans, and they would rather stay home and watch UT vs. Central Eastern Lower School on TV than come to see us play a non BCS level game.

Sorry to compare, and it is not really a true comparison. ASU started out in the WAC. Winning the WAC several times and no one would invite them to a bowl. No one. So they started thier own bowl. The Fiesta Bowl. Most of the fans were not ASU alumni, still are not, but people that came here from somewhere else. They just kept winning, and the PAC 8 invited them in. They did produce a good product and now are in the PAC 10. It does take time and work and winning. SMU does have a national product it can capitalise on, if they win and are relevant. Did Bob Hope go to SMU or several other movie stars that supported the school? I really think reaching out to the community at large would be a great boost to the school.

[lwedge]

The Mustang Club needs to a better job and elevate the "experience" before the game on the Blvd.

It is weak. Not enough chairs - TV's some of the time. Fodd is OK - the beer is cold and plentiful.

Give those on the fence a reason to come. Feels like a high school homecoming reunion.

Nothing elaborate - just more fan friendly.

There are a lot of options on game day around the Blvd., but the Mustang Club could make itself a "place to be".