The Liberty Bowl

[FordtoTolbert]

I guess our football nirvana next season would be the Liberty Bowl, right? If we win the C-USA Championship, we are Memphis bound? Is this the biggest thing we could achieve next season?

Reason for asking...I spent last night hanging out with some Liberty Bowl types, board members, officials...great people, fun. We discussed all things C-USA and I expressed my hope that the Ponies would grace the streetsof Memphis and the Liberty Bowl turf next season...I was greeeted with warm smiles and "yes, we would love to see the Mustangs in Memphis..." REALLY? Seriously, or are you guys just being nice?

Last year, USC filled up one half of the stadium...Houston had a strong, strong crowd on the west side of the LB....the pre game parade down Beale Street was PACKED!

My question...we have a nice run this coming season and win C-USA. I assume we go to the St. Jude Liberty Bowl..realistically, how many Pony fans show up? Would the Libert Bowl officials be pleased with our turn-out? What is it going to take to turn out for moments like this?

I remember a student trip in 1980 to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl...4 students signed up so we had to go on the alumni trip, which was not full...have times changed? Just some food for thought during this fball down time...

[abezontar]

I don't think times have changed, I think the diehards would be there, I don't know about anybody else. I thought we had a decent turnout at Rice last year, but I don't know how often we could repeat that.

[EastStang]

To go to the Liberty Bowl, we would have to be CUSA champions (and even then the invite isn't automatic). If we were CUSA champions, we would have had by all accounts a great season and gotten fans very excited including I suspect some dormant ones. Fans like me who live further away, would make an effort to go to the Bowl game because we're finally in one and we finally have a shot. Heck, we might even arrange for some bus trips for Alums from all over the midwest, St. Louis, Little Rock, Kansas City to go there. The Mustang Club could charter a plane and have deluxe accommodations in Memphis. All in all, I suspect we would sell out our required ticket subscription. Now if the bowl is the Hawaiii Bowl and we're playing UH, I suspect that we might have trouble making quota.

[ALEX LIFESON]

What would be weird is, we play AT Memphis, on the last game of the season.

[PonyKai]

Also don't discount the possibility that if the team makes a good run, and winds up playing an SEC team in Memphis, the team WILL get national publicity for finally "exorcising the demons" of 20 years ago. That in turn could lead to some fairweather fans or people who just want to see the team succeed. Nothing exponential, but something to consider.

[FordtoTolbert]

Party at my house for the Memphis State game T'giving weekend. Left over turkey/dressing/cranberry sandwiches...we can watch the 1982 SMU / Texas game to get our blodd pumping. I figure my humble home can handle the 21 peope who are going to show up....

[RGV Pony]

I think we'd have around 5000 in Memphis. A superhuman outpouring of support and we'd have 6500 or so.

That's one thing about our small support base. I could be wrong, but I think I read where the last time NTSUA&I was in the New Orleans Bowl they had between 12 and 15000 go. If so, it's pretty ironic that they got more fans there than at most of their home games.

[westexSMU]

[quote="FordtoTolbert"]I guess our football nirvana next season would be the Liberty Bowl, right? If we win the C-USA Championship, we are Memphis bound? Is this the biggest thing we could achieve next season?(quote)...................HOW's THIS FOR A SUNSHINE ANSWER........."biggest thing we could achieve next season" ... Well actually, If SMU went undefeated in 2007, we could be asked to a BCS BOWL, just like Boise State was last year and Utah was a few years ago. *Just answering your question, not predicting.

[Charleston Pony]

let's just say the Liberty Bowl is lucky to have the SEC involved with this game. SMU would do well to bring 3000 and we'd be saying we brought 10,000 but the truth is SMU just doesn't travel...we don't even support this program at home.

Barring a death in the family or some other major conflict, I would certainly be among the attendees. But in response to the original questio, no doubt the LB would depend on the SEC team to fill the stands. Would have to hope for Ole Miss, Alabama, Tenn...hey, it wouldn't matter. Any of those SEC schools (except Vandy) would help fill those seats. That's why they are BCS and we are not.

[PonyKai]

Of course if we weren't discussing the possibility of our first bowl in two decades, we would probably be better represented by more fans.

[Charleston Pony]

that wasn't the case when we were winning championships in the SWC back in the 80's. Ask the guys from those teams how well they were supported on the road. I remember road trips to play SWC opponents where there weren't but a couple thousand SMU fans

[PhirePhilBennett]

I'd almost hate to win the conference outright and then have 5,000 show up to Memphis...

I'd rather gradually get better and improve the fan base.

...Yes, I'd take 9-0 in Conference over 6-6 anytime.

[smu diamond m]

I'd rather gradually get better and improve the fan base.

That just doesn't make sense.

[perunapower]

...Yes, I'd take 9-0 in Conference over 6-6 anytime.

We only play 8 conference games. So going 9-0 in 8 games would be downright impressive.

[PhirePhilBennett]

...Yes, I'd take 9-0 in Conference over 6-6 anytime.

We only play 8 conference games. So going 9-0 in 8 games would be downright impressive.

count again...

5-0 in division
3-0 out of division
1-0 in Conf champ game (must win to get to CUSA Bowl in Memphis)
=========
9-0 (note: don't have to be undefeated, but it was best-case scenario. Theoretically, you have to at least be 5-4 in conference to play in Memphis).