A question about the origin of the Mustang logo.

[UConn/SMU]

I've read the story about how Lee Iacocca saw an SMU-Michigan game in 1963 and was so impressed with the SMU team that he named Ford's new sports car after the SMU Mustangs. I don't know if it's true, but I believe it since I've read it from so many reliable sources.

My question is about the logo. Ford & SMU use the exact same Mustang symbol, but who had that logo first? In photos of SMU football helmets pre-1965, the Mustang logo is not the same one that we share with Ford today.

[Peruna88]

I can't tell you anything about the logos, except for this:

Ford Mustangs run left:



SMU Mustangs run right:

[Mexmustang]

Maybe that's been the problem, they should run forward, whether on the left or right side of the helmet.

[PlanoStang]

I can't tell you anything about the logos, except for this:

Ford Mustangs run left:



SMU Mustangs run right:

Yup, Fords never run right. But, if you're sitting on the west side of Ford Stadium, and the Mustangs are headed for a TD in the north end-zone, then technically we're stealing Ford's logo

Anyway, we first used the Ford Mustang logo on our helmets in 68.



in 67, we didn't have any logo on the helmet, and during the SWC chamionship year of 66 the logo below.

[NavyCrimson]

i found these sites quite accurate:

http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/

http://www.helmet-collectors.com/colleg ... C/SMU.html

http://swchelmets.tripod.com/smu.html

the last one is really neat!

[OldPony]

PlanoStang- I think you are mistaken. I believe the Mustang became the same as Ford's in '63 or '64 but I am almost certain that it has been the same since football season on '64. I believe that there is actual;ly no truth to the legend of Lee Iaacoca. I think Hayden Fry simply called Ford and asked permission to use it and it was granted. Not the thing of legend but certainly in line with Fry's marketing philosophy. Fry drove a blue and red Mustang in '64 and if I know Fry, he talked Ford or some Ford dealer into paying for it(:

[Ponymon]

My father-in-law went to that game. He said that they had never heard of SMU at that time and expected a complete wipe-out. They learned the hard way that SMU was for real and confirmed that Iaacoca did name the car after SMU's mascot. My father-in-law has had tremendous respect for the school ever since then. As a matter of fact his daughter ended up going SMU, which is where I met her. He followed her to Dallas shortly thereafter, when his company transferred him here, and he goes with me to most of the home games.

[PlanoStang]

PlanoStang- I think you are mistaken. I believe the Mustang became the same as Ford's in '63 or '64 but I am almost certain that it has been the same since football season on '64. I believe that there is actual;ly no truth to the legend of Lee Iaacoca. I think Hayden Fry simply called Ford and asked permission to use it and it was granted. Not the thing of legend but certainly in line with Fry's marketing philosophy. Fry drove a blue and red Mustang in '64 and if I know Fry, he talked Ford or some Ford dealer into paying for it(:

Nope, the bottom picture from my post above is Jerry Levias running back a punt against Navy in 1966 with Billy Bob Stewart looking for someone to block. See the decal on the helmet.

When I was in grade school, I cut out SMU football newspaper clippings, etc., and taped them to notebook paper, and kept them in an improvised notebook paper folder. A few years ago, my Dad SMU 50 found it, and gave it to me. Also, back then thought the SMU uniforms with the bright red helmets, and blue jerseys were really "neato" Also, see the links to the helmet history sites in the post below mine above.

When the Ford Mustang came out in 64, or 65, I knew someone from SMU would have a 2 tone Ford Mustang with a red top, and blue bottom made. I vaguely remember seeing one somewhere. I guess that was Fry's my first year at SMU in 72. Also took my Texas driver test in a red 66 Mustang with a white convertible top which belonged to my childhood sweetheart who went to SMU her freshmen, and sophomore years. Rode back, and forth back home to Longview a couple of times in it.

[NavyCrimson]

you're exactly right plano -

i did the same thing from about '65 to '67 -

what an era!

[UConn/SMU]

Thanks for providing the links to the old helmets & jerseys. Some people don't like the royal blue jerseys, but I thought they were pretty cool. My first contact with SMU was watching the 1982(?) Cotton Bowl against Pitt. I was a student at UConn and I knew nothing about SMU. But when I saw those blue unis with the Mustang logo on the helmet, I thought that was the best combination in college football.

I had no idea that I'd be taking graduate classes at SMU less than six years later.

[OldPony]

My apologies Plano. OP was there from 64-69 football season and didn't remeber the change. Sometimes eyewitnesses are very good!!! Maybe we didn't notice the unis because we were watching good football?

[hnoor0055]

They learned the hard way that SMU was for real and confirmed that Iaacoca did name the car after SMU's mascot. My father-in-law has had tremendous respect for the school ever since then.

[Top Twenty]

Our logo first appeared at the opener in Auburn in 1968.

[Nacho]

http://www.helmethut.com/College/SMU/TXXSMU6366.html

[NavyCrimson]

The best & most original logo SMU ever had for the football helmet.