New to SMU - Questions

[wake20]

Hey guys, I was recently accepted to SMU law school and, unless anything changes in the next few months, it looks as though I'll be in Dallas next fall. I went to Wake Forest for my undergrad, so I'm familiar with the smaller school atmosphere and gorgeous co-eds in sundresses.

I had actually forgotten June Jones left Hawaii for SMU (and they won a bowl game last season), so a strong football season would just be a bonus to attending a great school.

On to the questions...

*I noticed a freshman quarterback finished the season for the Mustangs. Is he the real deal?
*How is the tailgating atmosphere at SMU? Wake was pretty tame before our record-breaking season in 2006, when we won the ACC. With only 4,000+ undergrads, though, it was never that great.
*Do you see SMU putting up a fight against TCU next season?
*What are your predictions for the season? SMU seems like a fun team to watch with June Jones' style of play.

I have never lived in Texas, so I'm sure I'll be in for a bit of a culture shock, but I'm looking forward to my time in Dallas!

ETA: 1 more question

*Are the football and basketball games always televised in Dallas?

[mustangxc]

*Congratulations!
*We are hoping that Padron is the real deal. All signs point to yes!
*SMU is one of the best places for tailgating in the country, maybe too good for our own good as too many people never walk in the stadium to actually watch the games.
*SMU should be competitive with TCU next season, we were this season at least the first half.
*I think we will post a similar record to last season as we caught our share of lucky brakes and have replaced an FCS team with Texas Tech on the schedule. However, we did lose 2-3 games we should have won so 6-9 wins should be expected.
*Welcome!

[Roach]

1. Kyle Padron played well when he was thrown in as a true freshman, and set the all-time SMU single-game passing record in the butt-kicking of Nevada in the Hawaii Bowl. But I still think it's early. Yes, he's a very talented kid, and has a bright future, but ... maybe it depends on your idea of "the real deal." He should be very good, but will he be a star? Draftable? Still way too early.
2. Tailgating is fantastic. Latch on to some grad school friends, and start planning your parties now.
3. Actually, yes — I do see us putting up a fight. I'm not sure I'm ready to suggest that we break through and beat them yet, but it should be closer ... maybe much closer.
4. I think the overall team will be better, but the seniors we lost were very talented. I think it might be one of those deals where the team plays better, but the wins and losses don't necessarily reflect it. I'll say we win 6 or 7 IN THE REGULAR SEASON (I love being able to say that) and return to a bowl.

In 2011, we really break through with a big year, including a win over Froggy High.

[PoconoPony]

Welcome Wake 20. SMU is very similar to Wake in virtually every sense. You will come to love the bigger city environment and the law school is excellent. As for the Mustangs, be prepared for mucho action with some real adventures of emotions as the football team is very young and prone to mistakes; however, June Jones has infused a tremendous dose of raw talent into the team with only one true recruiting season and a throw together class when he took over in 2008 just 4 weeks before national signing day. We are are all anxiously awaiting to see how this year's recruiting class finalizes as it appears the best in many years. A class of versatile athletes and speed more than defined positions. A bit short on DL and OL players which is the focus of 2011. Padron is the real deal and he is positioned to run the complex Run and Shoot offense far more effectively next year with a season under his belt. We have speed and JJ will throw and do the unexpected. Truely an entertaining form of football.

At any rate, the Boulevard ( "vard" is the main street area greenway space thru the heart of campus) and the site of great tailgating. You had better like Mex food and Bar-BQ. You will find everyone very friendly Texas style and there will be more food and drinks than you could ever imagine with everyone asking you to join them. If you cannot find enough food, drinks and good new warm friends on the Vard in the first 10 minutes something is wrong with you. The general group of guys who are habitually commenting on this site set up a large tailgate operation on the greenway right across from Perkins Natatorium (middle of the action) and you will quickly meet most of the poster if you hang around for a short period of time. Do not be afraid to become involved in campus and athletic department affairs which most graduate transfer students tends to shun or avoid. SMU has tremendous networking and your involvement in the school will pay many future dividends. Good Luck.

[RGV Pony]

welcome to the board, Wake. All of the responses you've gotten so far are pretty accurate. I have a question for you-how in the world did Wake hold on to Grobe after that 2006 season? I know he's since gotten a 10 year extension, but with what he did and where, I'm impressed Wake held off all the other potential suitors.

[wake20]

Thanks for all the responses, guys!

As for Grobe, he had his bags packed for Arkansas before a last minute change of mind after meeting with our players. I think he may have entertained the idea of meeting with Nebraska and Michigan officials, but has stayed with Wake. At this point, I think he's pretty set on staying until he retires, as he has a pretty sweet deal and is fairly old.

Do you guys see June Jones moving on any time soon if he gets the right offer? Excuse the ignorance, but I really don't know anything about the situation! SMU seems like a great fit for him.

Also, how supportive of SMU are Dallas residents? I remember at Wake, we had a ton of Duke, UNC, and NC State fans in Winston-Salem, and it got quite annoying. With UT and other schools in another conference, I'm assuming most residents love SMU, right?

Finally, I probably shouldn't admit this, but I am from the Washington, DC area and love the Redskins. I come in peace.

[mustangbill67]

I would also add that the law school has a very good tailgate with free food and beer. You can grab some food, drinks there and then wander around the vard.

[gostangs]

There can be no peace unless you drop that Redskin problem.

You will love the Vard. You will really like our football team. You will really be disappointed with the basketball situation.

Most Dallas people are consumed with Pro sports - and if they are college fans are consumed with the bigger schools - especially the big one for the masses down in Austin. We are making progress and inroads - but this is a town that worships winners and has no time for anythign even average - so although it is now about 2x better then the few yrs - we still have far to go.

You should develop an intense dislike of the color purple and horny toads (describing a variety of toad not an amorous state of mind).

[FroggieFever]

Don't stop Bo'leavin.

[Stallion]

Nobody stopped Bo'Leavin'

[PonyKai]

Oh and the co-eds...you'll love the co-eds, especially coming from the greater Washington DC area. It's like another planet in the Park Cities.

[Mestengo]

Welcome!

[ALEX LIFESON]

Welcome aboard the June Jones Express!

[Mexmustang]

My son goes to Wake for graduate school after attending HP high school and SMU. While he loves the school and thinks it extremely pretty, he misses the variety of good food in Dallas. It is really a small town!

I went to a couple of football games last year and was amazed at the fan support. The school appears to be much smaller than SMU and the stadium away from Campus, but the stands were full on a rainy day versus Navy. There must be alot of Wake alumni in the area.

I loved the crowd, liked the stadium, liked the team, but much prefer the Blvd.

[SMU21TCU10]

*Kyle Padron will be as good (if not better?) than Colt Brennan was. 4th in the country in Passer rating as a true freshman.
*We will win 9-11 (including bowl) games next year unless we have a bunch of OL and DL injuries
*June Jones is not going anywhere for the next 5 years. He is the highest non-BCS paid coach. And has no real pressure at SMU. Plus he has stated several times that there is a real reason and goal for him at SMU but he is not ready to reveal it?!
* Tailgating is awesome
*I think we will beat Texas Tech at tech opening game
*TCU game is at home this year ,however i think TCU will be better next year and we will lose
*I think after another big season and bowl game (or dare i say Conference championship? We were in 1st place in our division this year going into the 12th week! And were the only team to beat East Carolina) Dallas in general will start paying a lot more attention to SMU