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http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/101609dnmetperuna.4006ebe.html

Two things that stuck out at me:

-The student that prefers Peruna and sees the value of a tradition is a transfer from OSU.

-This [deleted] quote "The mustangs, which have been trained, will be decked out in SMU colors of red and blue and will kneel at the appropriate time. Geldings are good, Pickens said.
"They keep their minds on what they're there for," she said. "They are not going to be naughty boys."

What the ---- does that mean? I thought the whole point was to have some big(ger) scary horse that would rally the boys to victory. It sounds like Peruna DEFINITELY portrays the spirit of a wild horse more than these other two, but we are supposed to now be satisfied that we have a mascot matching our namesake by definition alone. This is like the Aggies having some guy named Mike stand on the sideline, wearing jeans and a button down shirt. "Oh, he's an ACTUAL farmer, get it?"

Also, if you watch the associated video, it shows Peruna going nuts in a field, bucking around, running, etc. Then it has interviews with the guys riding Felio and El Compadre, and he says that the new horses were easily trainable and they are lucky they are so "nice and gentle." Give me a break. Admit it, if you were in support of a 'real mustang' on the sidelines, is that what you were imagining?

Our friend the good GSP is quoted in the article, ha!

I am so embarrashed for my university at this pathetic chapter in its history. More embarrassed for those that support this ridiculous trashing of an 80 year tradition. You ought to be ashamed to call yourself SMU Fans. This is one of those defining moments that define real SMU Fans as far as I'm concerned and I don't have any respect for those that don't line up with Peruna. Period. Its a black and white issue. If you support this [deleted] then somewhere along the way you missed the essence of being a Mustang.

Every single one of the fears that "doom and gloom bitchers about everything including the sunshine" is included and verified in that article. Thank god we will have castrated horses kneeling on the field during the game. That's exactly what this school needed to really establish ourselves in the world of college football. We wouldn't dare want any "naughty boys" messing it up. In fact, that quote from Pickens is so far in outer space it looks like it belongs in a flippin porno video.

The DMN photo (at least the on-line version) shows a rider wearing burnt orange -- this is moronic.
The SID can't even get a photo op right.


And for the record, my support for Peruna is in no way an attack on Ms. Pickens' or JJ's support for the Foundation. It's a worthy project and one that doesn't need to co-opt SMU traditions to attract attention.

Stallion wrote:I am so embarrashed for my university at this pathetic chapter in its history. More embarrassed for those that support this ridiculous trashing of an 80 year tradition. You ought to be ashamed to call yourself SMU Fans. This is one of those defining moments that define real SMU Fans as far as I'm concerned and I don't have any respect for those that don't line up with Peruna. Period. Its a black and white issue. If you support this [deleted] then somewhere along the way you missed the essence of being a Mustang.

Well said Stallion. And this tidbit further ticked me off....

"Madeleine Pickens, wife of Dallas billionaire T. Boone Pickens, will present the mustangs during the SMU-Navy game at Ford Stadium.

"This now puts SMU in a whole different light," she said.'

Huh? So we were just some poor school aching for some kind of direction with our sad mascot? And... now we will be known nationally in a positive light because we have a real honest to goodness horsie that's full size? Two of them!

I'm just so happy that the trophy wife came to our rescue to put us in a "whole different light." I can sleep well knowing that all is well at SMU with our tame horses "that aren't naughty boys."

I don't know how you can print news articles that quote anonymous text from a message board. This articles feels like a 5th grader wrote it.

Also, no knock on the Pickens or anything, but why do they need us to support the wild horse foundation? Aren't most of those horses out west? Can't they get the Broncos or someone with a NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT? This charity, to me, seems extremely low on the radar in comparison to things like the United Way, homeless shelters, etc. that actually benefit humanity. That is just my opinion, so if you care about wild horses, I'm sorry.

Let's beat Navy. Football is exciting again on the hilltop!!!!!

How in the world does the President or the AD let an article like this get printed?? (I know, they can't control the DMN, but can't they spin this better?). Talk about painting the program in a negative light. This article makes us sound so pathetic and thank God Mrs. Pickens is here to save us.

"This now puts SMU in a whole different light." -- are you kidding me?? She really said that? What light were we in before (other than losing football)? Did we abuse horses before?

And can't you tell the handler, when you know media is going to be present, not to wear a burn orange shirt?

This just goes from bad to worse, but I am not totally suprised. Its going to be much harder to bite my tounge on Saturday, but I will.

Notice the article verifies what we have been saying. The geldings will run in front of the team. So yes it does replace Peruna in that aspect alone.

I just watched the video and now I'm more pissed than before. They are riding those tamed mustangs. This is unbelievable. Mr Culwell is gracious in his interview but you can sense the disappointment in his voice and feel the insult SMU has bestowed on the keepers of Peruna. It’s just disheartening to see what this has turned into.

Give those horese to the equestrain team.

Please also check out the full page ad on page 15 of the first section of the DMN.

I've held my tongue throughout this controversy, but after reading this article and watching the associated video online I can't help but be extremely disappointed in SMU. I had decided that I was going to wait to see what SMU was going to do with these geldings, and I still am, before I started calling for the administrations' heads, but what is this? I feel that Peruna XIII and IX really portray what SMU is (or at least should be), small and spunky. We are not big, docile, and castrated, no matter how many times the administration has tried to portray us that way.

Long live Peruna!

First off, for once a source comes through for me!

Second, this article confirms what we have been "whining" about all along. Peruna is being sidelined for two trick ponies.

Statler wrote:Notice the article verifies what we have been saying. The geldings will run in front of the team. So yes it does replace Peruna in that aspect alone.

I guess we have offically become Texas Tech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqWqf_6jmEY
Are we going to have a bell ringer on the field, too?

PonySoprano wrote:Are we going to have a bell ringer on the field, too?

If you remember a few years ago, we DID have a bell ringer in the south endzone! Thanks Dr. Turner!