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Friends,



Wow! What an exciting season for the SMU Mustangs Football Team thus far. It all began September 5th with an opening night victory, supported by a great, sellout crowd - a true home field advantage.



With so much more at stake now, we must finish the same way we started. Since our last home game (vs. Tulane) is during Thanksgiving break, attendance may be a challenge as most students return home.



It is really important that we have a good crowd for this potentially pivotal last home game. At stake is the opportunity to go to our first bowl game in 25 years, and possibly, participating and hosting the Conference USA football championship game in Ford Stadium the following weekend. It is equally important to create positive momentum going into next season.



As shared with many of you, I am committed to do all I can on and off the field to take SMU Football to the next level. Progress is being made. A few weeks back, Steve Orsini, several members of our marketing team, and I have finalized a program that I believe will help in this endeavor.



The Program has three objectives, both short and long term...



1. Increase attendance for the final home game against Tulane (Saturday, November 28).



2. Reach out to under-served youth in the Dallas community by providing a rare opportunity to attend an SMU football game.



3. By targeting these youth groups, we will raise awareness and build loyalty with new young fans. It will also create a positive introduction for possible future student athletes, who might not otherwise choose SMU as a college option.



How will the Program work?



Selected Dallas area non-profit youth groups (i.e. YMCA, Dallas Parks & Recreation, Boys & Girls Clubs) will be invited to participate in a special program called the MUSTANG BUS BRIGADE. Each group will receive the following benefits if you chose to support this Program:



- Round-trip bus transportation for 50 people to and from Ford Stadium. The trip will originate from the youth group's home location.



- A hotdog and soft drink at the game for each youth group member.



- A ticket to the Tulane vs. SMU game for each youth group member.



- Participation in a 15 minute SMU Spirit Orientation (at Ford stadium) prior to kick-off. There, youth group members will be taught SMU traditions and when to make noise at the game (i.e. opponent’s third downs). SMU related prizes will be awarded to the most enthusiastic groups.



Based on past experiences, we have learned that providing free transportation and food are the strongest incentives to ensure actual "butts in seats."



Our goal is to have 200 buses sponsored, which will result in 10,000 additional fans attending the game (50 people per bus @ 200 buses). The sponsorship cost for each Bus (including tickets and food) is just $750.



There is no doubt in my mind that this plan will work. And to put my money where my heart is, I have personally sponsored two buses.



To date, we have 164 sponsored buses of our 200 goal. Just 36 more to go.



We really need your help to make this happen. Honestly, your loyal support and friendship has been one of the main reasons we have accomplished so much in such a short time. It would truly mean a lot to our Football Team to have your involvement once again - this time, as part of the Mustang Bus Brigade.



Please consider sponsoring one or more buses if you are in a position to do so. Again, each bus sponsorship is just $750. Our deadline is Friday. Sponsors of the buses will be recognized on the Gerald Ford Stadium Scoreboard and the gift is tax-deductible.



Here is a list of loyal friends who have supported the Mustang Bus Brigade to date. Special thanks goes to those (names that are capitalized) who have sponsored or secured five or more buses...



Charlie Adams

Lynn & Bob Abbott

Frank Aldridge

John Alper

Michael Ansolabehere

Robert Aycock

Fred Ball

John Bauer (with Chris Rentzel & Gene Hanson)

JOE BAYS

JOE BEARD

Bob Beaudine

Cash & Lou Beth Birdwell

Barbie & [deleted] Blaylock

Randy Bowling

Brad Brookshire

[deleted] COLLINS

Rick Cowart

Chuck Dannis

Robert D. Davis

Lance Ectheverry

GERALD FORD

Greg Gardner

Sid Greehey

Ray Green

Jerry Griffin

Cleve Hardman

Albon Head, Jr.

John Hoopingarner

DAVID HUDNALL

Bill Jackson

June Jones

Sandy Kaufman

GEORGE KILLEBREW

Hugh & Gail King

Greg Kraus

Darrell & Jo Ann Lafitte

Bob Lamoreaux

Jerry LeVias

PAUL LOYD

Jack McClasin

John H. McElhaney

Jack I. McJunkin, Sr.

DAVID MILLER

Steve Morton

Michael Nadeau

Buddy Nichols

BRUCE ROBSON

Vic Salvino

CARL SEWELL

Michael Shore

John Slates

Michael Smith

ROGER STAUBACH

Steve Tatum

Guy Thomas

JOHN TOLLESON

David Underwood

Boyd Waggoner

Richard Ware

Steven Wilensky

Billy "Bull" Wood

Barbara Hitzelberger-Wooten

Bill Zimmerman



It is a really special time for SMU Football. Words alone cannot express my appreciation for everything you have already done for our team. It has made a difference!



Please contact Lee Meredith via email ([email protected]) or phone (214-768-2879) to confirm your bus/buses sponsorship no later than this Friday (November 20). Thanks for your consideration and ongoing support! I Believe.



June

So I guess Robert's last name is C_ox perhaps?

Way to go guy's over the top.

Mestengo wrote:So I guess Robert's last name is C_ox perhaps?

Way to go guy's over the top.

If that was his last name it would have shown as Hancock. That is the default word for such terms.

I've always wondered why we don't do this for every home game (until, of course, we have natural sellouts ) A great way to make SMU Dallas' team...also, pass out blue and red SMU t-shirts if they promise to burn the Longhorn t-shirts their parents bought them at Academy

I don't see Boone Pickens on the list. If not a bus, you'd think he could at least sponser a wagon pulled by a couple of "mustangs".

How many "underserved Dallas youth" can make it out to Hawaii?
Or, for that matter, SMU fans who would never put "just" and "$750" together in the same sentence?

(I'm all for Hawaii - UNLESS we win C-USA.
A championship should be shared with our fans - ALL our fans - at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.)

Mestengo wrote:So I guess Robert's last name is C_ox perhaps?

Way to go guy's over the top.

it's A-Y-C-O-C-K

mr. pony wrote:A championship should be shared with our fans - ALL our fans - at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.)

when talking directly about the CUSA Championship, don't you think that watching them win the championship with their own eyes is enough sharing? if we make it to that game, it will be played on our home field.

Dutch wrote:

mr. pony wrote:A championship should be shared with our fans - ALL our fans - at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.)

when talking directly about the CUSA Championship, don't you think that watching them win the championship with their own eyes is enough sharing? if we make it to that game, it will be played on our home field.

Oh, sure that would be fantastic.
But I don't think it's yet a done deal about being at Ford. Maybe I'm wrong.

But in answer to your question - nope, not enough. The bowl is special - as we all know.

I appreciate the effort, and the commitment to try to get the area excited about the team. Also a neat experience for the kids. Would love to sponsor a bus, but all my money is going to buying tickets for Dec 5

If i was a player.....I know which bowl I would want to go to.

http://www.sheratonhawaiibowl.com/

compared to

http://www.libertybowl.org/

Great plan. One thing that is important from here on out regarding bowl placement is Butts in Seats. Coach Jones understands that. Even if we give out tickets for free and bus them in, its still butts in the seats and hopefully will create Mustang fans of the future. I'd like to have every kid in South Dallas wearing an SMU hoodie instead of UT.

Not sure why they are so intent on pulling kids out of South Dallas. You would think that they would be pulling kids out of Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco, Southlake, Mid Cities, Cedar Hill, Irving, Lewisville and Coppell. These cities have robust youth football leagues that would easily fill 3 or 4 buses each. These kids are football fanatics and would show up in big numbers if you offered free tickets and a free ride. I know Allen bought almost 500 tickets this year alone to the Navy game.

if you can't make a $750 contribution make a $250 contribution - that is what i did

mr. pony wrote:How many "underserved Dallas youth" can make it out to Hawaii?

Depends on how many buses we have going to Hawai'i.