REWARD THE FANS

[ALEX LIFESON]

Here is a ground level shot of the SMU crowd at Rice. The angle doesn't do the crowd justice. I was sitting front row in the upper deck at the 50 yard line. Since I had a bird's eye view, the SMU crowd started at the Rice 45 yard line (south side of the 50) and ran north, just a little past the north goal. Almost everyone in the upper deck were SMU fans. Most of you people that know me, are aware that I am one of the die hard fan's, that's at every game, home and away year after brutal year. One of the MANY frustrating things about yesterday was, we had a lot of fans that finally tip toed out of the closet. Because they were lured out again and hoped this was going to be different. What a crying shame that once again, we sent all of these people home crushed. This was the biggest road crowd since the 1997 game at 0-10 TCU, with a bowl possible............we all know what happened that day as well. This was a very bitter pill for all of us to swallow. All of the publicity SMU was getting and BOOM! Rice, a team that we dominated last year decided to make a change, and they end our dreams with a rookie coach, and a rookie OC, and a bunch of high school coaches in their first year! AARRRHHHHH!!!! I was at Rice Stadium the last time we won there in 1986, I was 25 then. I will be 49 when we try it again. Come on people...... this is frikin' Rice we're talking about! Not some top 10 team! My rising blood pressure is reminding me to apologize to Bus, PonySoprano, BigHorse and all of my other friends that witnessed my meltdown after that game. I'm just glad nobody got hurt, and I'm not in jail!

[Mustangs35SMU]

Awesome job guys for showing up. Was in shock when I saw the photo on the Rice board.

Glad to see so many SMU fans out there in Houston!

[BUS]

We all left feeling down. At least you got to let it out and it really was not that bad.

One point you made is very true..... Just when we get NON SMU people excited to come to games... we seem to lay an egg.

Two QB sneaks or DM dives and we win.

[smupony94]

Cool, I was actually able to see myself. Of course when you are wearing a blue SMU shirt in the midst of red it is not hard to find yourself.

[ALEX LIFESON]

I have to say, it was great to see so many people in red pulling for the Stangs. Lot's of Mustang fun in the tailgate too. I ran into people I havn't seen in years, mabey next time we can seal the deal!

[RGV Pony]

Did anyone ever think that knocking down one of those upper decks and [gulp] making the place look MORE like Amon Carter would be an improvement?

Seems like that would be in line with Graham's goal of making it hold 45000.

[FloridaMustang]

What was the total # of SMU fans there?

[expony18]

my parents couldnt believe how many smu fans were at the game!

[mustangbill67]

The official attendance was 12,867. As the photo shows, the east side was red. There was also a smattering of red on the home side as well. I do not know how many we had but it was a great atmosphere the entire game. Easy roundtrip road trip from Dallas to Houston. Great tailgating. Tremendous effort by the players. Too bad we got the same mediocre, predictable play calling that we have had all year in short yardage situations. This team should be 9-3.

[tristatecoog]

The overall attendance was pathetic. It looks like SMU showed up with 2-4K fans but Rice laid a big egg. Were those Rice's students next to the SMU fans? All 80 of them? Two weeks in a row Rice has big games and they have less than 13k in attendance. Last week they played ECU and the Pirates supposedly had only 50-100 there. So it seems like Rice's base actually dropped against the Ponies if one can believe the attendance figures.

[MrMustang1965]

The overall attendance was pathetic. It looks like SMU showed up with 2-4K fans but Rice laid a big egg. Were those Rice's students next to the SMU fans? All 80 of them? Two weeks in a row Rice has big games and they have less than 13k in attendance. Last week they played ECU and the Pirates supposedly had only 50-100 there. So it seems like Rice's base actually dropped against the Ponies if one can believe the attendance figures.

Thanksgiving break probably accounted for the dismal showing by Rice students.

[perunapower]

The overall attendance was pathetic. It looks like SMU showed up with 2-4K fans but Rice laid a big egg. Were those Rice's students next to the SMU fans? All 80 of them? Two weeks in a row Rice has big games and they have less than 13k in attendance. Last week they played ECU and the Pirates supposedly had only 50-100 there. So it seems like Rice's base actually dropped against the Ponies if one can believe the attendance figures.

Thanksgiving break probably accounted for the dismal showing by Rice students.

Didn't stop a lot of our students (including myself) from making the trip.

[MrMustang1965]

The overall attendance was pathetic. It looks like SMU showed up with 2-4K fans but Rice laid a big egg. Were those Rice's students next to the SMU fans? All 80 of them? Two weeks in a row Rice has big games and they have less than 13k in attendance. Last week they played ECU and the Pirates supposedly had only 50-100 there. So it seems like Rice's base actually dropped against the Ponies if one can believe the attendance figures.

Thanksgiving break probably accounted for the dismal showing by Rice students.

Didn't stop a lot of our students (including myself) from making the trip.

Props to those SMU students, too! I met two of 'em at a gas station in Huntsville and they were PUMPED! Great to see that attitude/excitement with SMU students for a change. I hope it continues in 2007!

[PonyLove]

[quote="RGV Pony"]Did anyone ever think that knocking down one of those upper decks and [gulp] making the place look MORE like Amon Carter would be an improvement?

No disrespect to Rice University or their team, but that stadium is a dump! The ladies' restroom barely had running water. Sure makes you appreciate Ford.

[SmooPower]

I finally found myself. Took me about 3 or 4 viewings of this image.