PonyFans.com

Greetings, PonyFans. Game Day is upon us for what most consider the biggest game SMU has played in 25 years — the 2009 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

I got to the stadium about a half an hour ago, and will offer some posts from what I see around me, and leftover notes from practice this week — right up until game time.

Incidentally, I have no idea where the ESPN cameras will focus, but if they show a shot of the press box, look on the left end — there's a balcony hanging below the SMU radio booth. The only guy there — white SMU hat and red SMU shirt — is me.

Both teams are here. Mustangs walked in a few minutes ago. Nevada is entering the stadium now.

Go Ponies

Atmosphere is a little new:

First of all, how cool is it to be watching SMU football in December? At THE END of December? That alone makes it a great atmosphere.

Pre-game music is a little bizarre, if only because sunny, 80-degree days make it a little difficult to get into the holiday spirit. At the moment, the stadium PA system is blaring holiday carols with a distinctly tropical flair. Think Frank Sinatra backed up by Caribbean steel drums. Festive, but a little ... different.

First players out to start stretching and warming up: Youri Yenga, Kyle Padron, Chase Kennemer, Kelvin Beachum, Jr., Pat Fleming, Braden Smith.

That's all good, but how are the burgers?

SmooPower wrote:That's all good, but how are the burgers?

Funny you should ask — about to go check out the pre-game media spread right now. I'll let you know.

Parking lots weren't too crowded when I arrived, but I saw several cars with SMU banners hanging from them, and maybe a couple dozen tailgaters in SMU jerseys and t-shirts. Again, I was early, but it seemed the amount of SMU gear among the early arrivals greatly outnumbered the Nevada fans.

Hawaii officially wins for pressbox atmosphere. The pressbox at Gerald J. Ford Stadium is much nicer, as is the entire building.

But Aloha Stadium's pressbox is an open-air hallway with massive openings that look backward over Pearl Harbor.

Equally important, the food is impressive (sorry)! Some sort of ham and pineapple dish, spring rolls, some kind of sesame salad and a few other things I can't remember. Still on my first plate.

Apparently it's a Pepsi-only stadium, which is a drawback, but water will keep us alive.

SMU warming up in classic (2009 road) uniforms: white helmets (of course), white jerseys, white pants.

Looks fantastic.

enjoy the game

After last night's men's basketball game (personal opinion: I hate people who blame officials for the outcome, but SMU got jobbed last night — a ref who couldn't get up and down the floor all night missed a clear-cut traveling call with just over a second left, allowing College of Charleston to score the "winning" basket), SMU head coach Matt Doherty said he and his team will be at the Aloha Bowl today to support their football teammates before heading back to the hotel to rest up for tomorrow's 9 a.m. (Hawaii time) game against Northeastern.

For those who don't have an atlas handy, that's 1 p.m. Central Time. Be sure to tune in to hear Rich Phillips and Allen Stone call the game on KAAM (770 AM). Pregame show starts at 12:45 p.m.

Your updates are very much enjoyed as I sit here in 18 degree temperatures, snow on the ground and wishing my commitments had allowed me to be there. Go Mustangs.

The more you talk to Kyle Padron, the less he seems like a freshman. Remember, this is a guy who played five full games of varsity football in high school, and has a little over five games of college experience. That's it. But talking to him this week, he seemed as calm and ready as anyone, and it didn't come across as naive innocence. He sounds confident, sure of the game plan and fully schooled on the talents and tendencies of his opponents. I've covered a lot of other bowl games in which players four or five years his senior have appeared more nervous and unsure of themselves. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

PoconoPony wrote:Your updates are very much enjoyed as I sit here in 18 degree temperatures, snow on the ground and wishing my commitments had allowed me to be there. Go Mustangs.

Stay inside and stay warm, screaming at your TV. Happy holidays to you and yours.

Ticket sideline reporter Sean Bass has taken the first shot of the day:

One of the SMU graduate assistants was walking toward midfield and got partially obscured a group of players warming up. I asked Sean "who's that guy in the black shirt behind those players?"

Sean's response: "June Jones"

Thanks, Sean — pretty sure I can pick Coach Jones out, even in a crowd. Kind of thought it was obvious that I meant the OTHER guy in the black shirt on the 45-yard line.