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Saturday night, the reality of JJ coming to SMU hit home to me in a very personal way. My 15 year old grandson came over with his family for dinner. He and I have always been very close and I continually have tried to get him interested in SMU. This is partly because I want him to go to my school and partly because he is already a 6'2", 220 pound hoss of a defensive lineman.

Prior to Saturday, I had had a difficult time even getting him to talk SMU football. But when he walked in the door Saturday, his first words to me were, " Hey, did you see who SMU hired as their coach? WOW." And now he wants to go to some games.

That is awesome...people are talking!

Friend of mine is a big booster to UT and has never talked about our football program. Past saturday he asked me if I was planning on keeping my season tickets this year because he was thinking of buying four seats to Ford because he was excited to see what JJ can do.

I feel you dude. I went back home for the weekend to hang out with some friends before my trip to Omaha this week and the first thing out of all their mouths was "How the hell did SMU pull that off?! Think you can score me some tickets for some games next year?" The only time they've ever mentioned SMU football to me was to rub it in my face. Maybe the worm has finally turned.

With the Cowboys moving to Arlington in '09, does SMU football (as played by JJ's teams) become an attractive option for Dallas FB fans on Saturday?

As our press releases always report, SMU is the only NCAA Division 1A Athletic Program in Dallas. It would be terrific if we built our fan base beyond alums, parents and students.

There was a time at the Cotton Bowl, that SMU was the city's team.

Water Pony wrote:With the Cowboys moving to Arlington in '09, does SMU football (as played by JJ's teams) become an attractive option for Dallas FB fans on Saturday?

There are so many UT and OU and A&M fans in town that I guess the landscape of football watching in Dallas won't change a hell of a lot, but getting the Cowboys further out of town is always a good move.

What will get SMU to be a more viable option for the Dallas sports fan is winning! Plain and simple. It won't matter if we hang 50 on everyone we play and then turn around and give up 52. We have to win games. Playing an exciting brand of football is nice but its all about wins and losses (especially in Dallas).

Winning matters.

I know quite a few UT alumni who have graced Gerald J Ford on a Saturday when the horns weren't playing or there wasn't a schedule conflict.

Once we begin winning, more folks will attend the games.

Water Pony wrote:With the Cowboys moving to Arlington in '09, does SMU football (as played by JJ's teams) become an attractive option for Dallas FB fans on Saturday?

It doesn't hurt that they will be jacking up ticket prices either. But as has already been pointed out, winning is #1 with the Cowboys move and prices going up being a distant 2 & 3.

I've noticed that twice on the other board, a player and a coach posted interest in SMU... good sign.

Water Pony wrote:With the Cowboys moving to Arlington in '09, does SMU football (as played by JJ's teams) become an attractive option for Dallas FB fans on Saturday?

As our press releases always report, SMU is the only NCAA Division 1A Athletic Program in Dallas. It would be terrific if we built our fan base beyond alums, parents and students.

There was a time at the Cotton Bowl, that SMU was the city's team.

Never really thought of this angle, but I think there is something to it. SMU will be the only affordable option for football.

SMUMan02 wrote:

Water Pony wrote:With the Cowboys moving to Arlington in '09, does SMU football (as played by JJ's teams) become an attractive option for Dallas FB fans on Saturday?

As our press releases always report, SMU is the only NCAA Division 1A Athletic Program in Dallas. It would be terrific if we built our fan base beyond alums, parents and students.

There was a time at the Cotton Bowl, that SMU was the city's team.

Never really thought of this angle, but I think there is something to it. SMU will be the only affordable option for football.

I think that's an excellent point. I live about 10 minutes from where the RoughRiders play. When my kid wants to go to a baseball game this summer, do you think I'd rather a) drive all the way to Arlington and then all the way back, or b) drive 10 minutes, see a game in an excellent facility, and drive back home.

True, diehards would still drive to The Ballpark. How about football, though? How many 'diehards' are going to plunk down those prices? If you take your average football fan who likes the college game, and they live in Plano, Frisco, Allen, Rockwall, Mesquite, you have the Cowboys on one hand (plus the drive there and the drive back) or the Mustangs on the other (which could be the new it thing with the new offense etc), I think we're going to have a real viable option.

Live for Saturdays! Pony Up! Flying Mustang Circus! Slingbox Effect! Be in your seat before Kick-offs! Butt$ in the seats! Don't go to the concession stand!