PonyFans.com

After all the [deleted] and hand ringing from PF's (including from me) about the sucky SMU fan base for not buying tickets to a bowl game in our own stadium, we should give ourselves a pat on the back for coming out in force to the game. There's no question the majority of the fans were for SMU, even if some looked like Army fans due to the stupid "black-out".

While I wish this was type of crowd was common place for us, we all know it is not, so I'm glad when we can get SMU fans to show up in full force. Now we need our players to show up in front of these big crowds so the casual/bandwagon fans will want to come back.

RE,
I agree. It was nice to see all of the Mustang fans show up. There was plenty of Red and Blue thru out the stadium. It would be nice if those folks show up in the fall for home games.

GO PONYS
BEAT A&M!!

The TCU game on national TV had, from my perspective, more SMU fans than TCU fans in attendance. The same was true for the AFB. That is good as it gives the impression to the nation that SMU is supported by a strong fan base. Kids we are recruiting in say, California, will see those national games and have a positive impression.

And the game atmosphere when we have a significant size crowd with a lot of SMU fans is so much better than the wilderness years.

AFB SMU 60 Army 40
SMU 75 TCU 25

The way I look at the game is that it was an opportunity for the occasional SMU fan to be impressed and come back next year. I personally took four casual SMU fans to the game, and their response after the game was, oh well, it was a close game. They thought the best part of the event was Gary Sinese's band (who were awesome, by the way) and the flyovers. They also all commented on what in the world we were doing in black uniforms. Instead of seeing a dominating SMU win, they likely won't be back until there is another big event. Another lost opportunity to get a bigger crowd base.

In the stands I think there were about 6,000 unaffilated, about 14,000 SMU fans and about 10,000 Army fans. About 30,000 actually with butts in seats. When SMU made a big play not too many fans on the homeside between the 20s really reacted. Hard to tell in the SRO because they were always standing or sitting.

It seemed to me essentially all of the Army fans were on the east side of the stadium, and on the south end. i was on the east side as well and there were definitely others sprinkled around but it looked to me like the west side was pretty excited when we scored. Maybe they were just happy that ANYBODY scored.......

slightly disagree on butts in seats - there were not 6 empty sections in the end zone - more like 4 - countered by a pretty big SRO crowd - so I would guess 33

there are only about 32,000 seats, but I'd agree there was about 34,000 fans in attendance.

happy with the turnout, same pitiful crowd participation until the 4th quarter. We have got to get some cheers. The 4th quarter S-M-U chant with the drumming was very cool, and loud. Wish that happened more often. Felt like a real football game for a minute.

Pweesey wrote:happy with the turnout, same pitiful crowd participation until the 4th quarter. We have got to get some cheers. The 4th quarter S-M-U chant with the drumming was very cool, and loud. Wish that happened more often. Felt like a real football game for a minute.

Really wasn't much to cheer about during the 1st half...IMO
Agree with everyone else about the SMU turnout, it was good after all the hand wringing on here.

Pweesey wrote:happy with the turnout, same pitiful crowd participation until the 4th quarter. We have got to get some cheers. The 4th quarter S-M-U chant with the drumming was very cool, and loud. Wish that happened more often. Felt like a real football game for a minute.

Completely agree - the 500 or so uniformed Army folks and that little pep band in the southeast stands made more noise many times than the entire rest of the stadium. They had all kinds of traditional chants and cheers going on throughout the game.

b_caesar wrote:

Pweesey wrote:happy with the turnout, same pitiful crowd participation until the 4th quarter. We have got to get some cheers. The 4th quarter S-M-U chant with the drumming was very cool, and loud. Wish that happened more often. Felt like a real football game for a minute.

Completely agree - the 500 or so uniformed Army folks and that little pep band in the southeast stands made more noise many times than the entire rest of the stadium. They had all kinds of traditional chants and cheers going on throughout the game.

We don't have traditional chants, every 5 years we have to get new ones more like ___________ state university does

couch 'em wrote:

b_caesar wrote:

Pweesey wrote:happy with the turnout, same pitiful crowd participation until the 4th quarter. We have got to get some cheers. The 4th quarter S-M-U chant with the drumming was very cool, and loud. Wish that happened more often. Felt like a real football game for a minute.

Completely agree - the 500 or so uniformed Army folks and that little pep band in the southeast stands made more noise many times than the entire rest of the stadium. They had all kinds of traditional chants and cheers going on throughout the game.

We don't have traditional chants, every 5 years we have to get new ones more like ___________ state university does

Does "Oklahoma" fit in the blank?

I did run into several UT fans from Dallas that wanted to see a bowl game. Random, but nice they game.