keystone wrote:I'm a Clemson fan. Grew up in Oklahoma watching the Sooners and the Cowboys...but I fell in love with Clemson the first time I went to a game. I now live close to Clemson and go to every game I can. What made me love Clemson?
Tradition, the Rock, the Hill...where the Blue Ridge dawns its greatness! The tailgates...where even visiting fans were always invited to our spot...until the whistle blew and then it was on! Under Dabo they developed the Walk of Champions where the players arrive on buses and unload and walk through the throng of fans on the way to the West End Zone. Clemson has a program that EVERYONE feels like they're a part of the team...of the success...and of the failures. And it's never yielding...
SMU is at a crossroads. I don't know SMU's tradition. I don't know if you feel a part of something special or if you're fan base is fragmented and apathetic. I've seen on this board excitement like I've never seen on a message board. If you believe, which I know you do, the few can impact the many. The die-hards can change the minds of the bandwagon fans. I write this because I do believe something as simple as two words "Lock Arms" can be the new signature at SMU. As with Dabo's hiring and his use of "All In" he captured the fans immediately...and they all got behind him. A young wide receiver's coach named Dabo Swinney launched into a head coaching job for a former National Championship Team. He needed something so that the world would BELIEVE....and "All In" did it. It brought Clemson together for a single purpose. To WIN! Coach Morris said it Monday....Lock Arms!
I'm proud to say that I'm a new Mustang Fan...more than you'll know. WATER PONY is a genius. I'm locking my arms with Water Pony on this one! SMU will go to a bowl game next season. SMU will be proud again of their football team and of their fans. SMU will be THE story in 2015. I don't care if I'm wrong...what matters is that I believe.
Keystone, awesome post. We want you and all the other Clemson fans to keep checking in - y'all are great.
SMU fans have been dying for something to get excited about for almost 30 years. We got the first taste of real success after Larry Brown was hired and the school went nuts supporting him and the team. I see the same thing happening here. Our previous coach was distant and didn't want to embrace the school. SMU can be tough in that regard, but it appeared he went out of the way to antagonize the fans and alumni in addition to promoting an us against them attitude. That attitude slowly eroded his support and the fans quit giving him the benefit of doubt.
In two days, HCCM has changed the relationship of the Coaching staff to the school and its fans. The #LockArms and #Tempo can work because the fans will sense that it is more than just empty marketing.
Please understand that whenever SMU fans got excited about the team and traveled to support the team (College Station and Waco) we were treated to an unprepared team and blow outs. The past staff didn't believe they could compete with the big boys of our old SWC conference mates and just tried to get through this games; but those are the teams the SMU fans cared most about playing and beating. This staff says they are afraid of no one. That is huge for SMU fans. We will respond to HCCM's confidence and work ethic. We are as hungry for success and he and his staff are.
Lastly, Waterboy is one of the most reasoned posters on the board. His posts are always worth a read.
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 11:33 am
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