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I imagine this has been discussed on here before I joined, but I wonder why we don't have something like this at Ford? How impressive, especially to recruits & parents, to see names like Walker, Rote, Meredith, LeVias, Dickerson, James, etc. honored at our stadium? A lot of talent has come from our small school and a lot of people don't realize this.

Supposedly we do although I have never seen it up close. I believe there are flags at the top of Ford with certain players' names (and Cash Birdwell). A tribute if true but unable to be viewed which kind of misses the point of the tribute. Can someone confirm that these flags do at least exist?

There are also banners hanging in the concourse displaying record holders.

I haven't noticed the flags and will look for them on the 30th (assuming we can fly them at a bowl game). I have seen the "museum" and while it's impressive, recruits & parents who only go to a game wouldn't see it.

If the flags are what I think they are, they are very small pennants flying at the top of the northeast corner of the stadium. There is no way to kn ow what they are or what they represent without being told. Again, I could be wrong but this is what I understand to be the case. I hope someone on ponyfans can clear this up.

Would be nice to have the names prominent in the stadium.

One step at a time...we just decided to welcome back our great players from the 80's. Now we better get our marketing hats on for both our fans, players and recruits and bring back our heritage as well. Be proud that it was our own alumnia that put together last night's piece, be proud of our "climb" in the past twenty four months and be very proud of our heritage.

mrydel wrote:If the flags are what I think they are, they are very small pennants flying at the top of the northeast corner of the stadium. There is no way to kn ow what they are or what they represent without being told. Again, I could be wrong but this is what I understand to be the case. I hope someone on ponyfans can clear this up.

Your recollection is correct on location and form, but I'm almost 100% sure they are numbers and not names.

I thought for years that there should be better recognition of all the great names and any Nat'l Championship we claim, preferably have the titles on the scoreboard structure as big as can be. Imagine recruits, parents, casual fans, and opposing fans seeing the Championships when they come to Ford. Most people don't know we were that good.

RE Tycoon wrote:

mrydel wrote:If the flags are what I think they are, they are very small pennants flying at the top of the northeast corner of the stadium. There is no way to kn ow what they are or what they represent without being told. Again, I could be wrong but this is what I understand to be the case. I hope someone on ponyfans can clear this up.

Your recollection is correct on location and form, but I'm almost 100% sure they are numbers and not names.

I thought for years that there should be better recognition of all the great names and any Nat'l Championship we claim, preferably have the titles on the scoreboard structure as big as can be. Imagine recruits, parents, casual fans, and opposing fans seeing the Championships when they come to Ford. Most people don't know we were that good.

Prior to the BCS, do schools typically only recognize a national championship if it was from the AP or do they include the secondary organizations as well? In 1935, SMU was 1 of 5 schools that were crowned "National Champion" by various organizations with TCU also being one of the 5 schools. In 1981, 6 schools received the "National Championship" award with the National Championship Foundation giving it to 4 schools - Nebraska, Pitt, Texas and SMU - Nebraska was 9-3 that year. Clemson was 12-0 and received the distinction from the AP. In 1982 3 schools were "National Champions" with most organizations giving it to Penn St, while SMU received it's from the "Helms Athletic Foundation. It's almost like going to a cheerleader competition where every squad wins an award..................

PonySnob wrote:
Prior to the BCS, do schools typically only recognize a national championship if it was from the AP or do they include the secondary organizations as well? In 1935, SMU was 1 of 5 schools that were crowned "National Champion" by various organizations with TCU also being one of the 5 schools. In 1981, 6 schools received the "National Championship" award with the National Championship Foundation giving it to 4 schools - Nebraska, Pitt, Texas and SMU - Nebraska was 9-3 that year. Clemson was 12-0 and received the distinction from the AP. In 1982 3 schools were "National Champions" with most organizations giving it to Penn St, while SMU received it's from the "Helms Athletic Foundation. It's almost like going to a cheerleader competition where every squad wins an award..................

I completely agree with you, but it's the cache you get by publicizing it. Joe recruit or casual fan won't go look up the championships and disregard it because it's not AP, they will think wow, SMU has won 3+ National Championships. Right or wrong that AP, UP, Helms, etc all had different champions? I don't really care, that's history, but doesn't mean we should disregard our history.

PonySnob wrote:

RE Tycoon wrote:

mrydel wrote:If the flags are what I think they are, they are very small pennants flying at the top of the northeast corner of the stadium. There is no way to kn ow what they are or what they represent without being told. Again, I could be wrong but this is what I understand to be the case. I hope someone on ponyfans can clear this up.

Your recollection is correct on location and form, but I'm almost 100% sure they are numbers and not names.

I thought for years that there should be better recognition of all the great names and any Nat'l Championship we claim, preferably have the titles on the scoreboard structure as big as can be. Imagine recruits, parents, casual fans, and opposing fans seeing the Championships when they come to Ford. Most people don't know we were that good.

Prior to the BCS, do schools typically only recognize a national championship if it was from the AP or do they include the secondary organizations as well? In 1935, SMU was 1 of 5 schools that were crowned "National Champion" by various organizations with TCU also being one of the 5 schools. In 1981, 6 schools received the "National Championship" award with the National Championship Foundation giving it to 4 schools - Nebraska, Pitt, Texas and SMU - Nebraska was 9-3 that year. Clemson was 12-0 and received the distinction from the AP. In 1982 3 schools were "National Champions" with most organizations giving it to Penn St, while SMU received it's from the "Helms Athletic Foundation. It's almost like going to a cheerleader competition where every squad wins an award..................

As long as a prominent news source from the time recognized you as national champion you are free to recognize it. I know USC added a national championship banner from the 30's a couple of years ago because they wanted to recognize all of their national championship teams. Why not do it, they are all mythical anyway.

Yes, we have the small pennants at the top of the north end of the stadium. Not only are they small and hard to find, they merely have numbers - no names, except for Cash Birdwell's initials.

I believe these are the only remnants of the Jim Copeland push to retire the "jersey" of everyone at SMU who is in the PRO football hall of fame. Plus Cash got thrown in when he "retired" (to continue working for the Mavericks.

It's as dumb as the Jim Krebs banner which listed the date the banner was raised instead of the years he played at SMU. That has since been fixed. The pennant situation needs to be fixed, too, with permanent plaques somewhere around the stadium or Doak Walker Plaza.

Longtime wrote:
It's as dumb as the Jim Krebs banner which listed the date the banner was raised instead of the years he played at SMU. That has since been fixed. The pennant situation needs to be fixed, too, with permanent plaques somewhere around the stadium or Doak Walker Plaza.

I've always thought it would be cool to have busts of all our greats ringing the plaza.

RE Tycoon wrote:

Longtime wrote:
It's as dumb as the Jim Krebs banner which listed the date the banner was raised instead of the years he played at SMU. That has since been fixed. The pennant situation needs to be fixed, too, with permanent plaques somewhere around the stadium or Doak Walker Plaza.

I've always thought it would be cool to have busts of all our greats ringing the plaza.

With a special section of the women's busts for Jtstang.

Remember, we do have banners with our great players names and pictures in the concourse as you walk around the stadium. And they have not just our hall of fame players; they have guys like Louie Kelcher, Russell Carter, Lance etc.

“Circle of Champions” can make it happen.