Team leaving before Alma Mater

[ROCKNEPONY]

I've been to a ton of games over the years and the teams always stayed for the school song win or lose.

The last two games they have gone to the locker room before the school song. So have these coaches and players decided they are above singing with the fans?

Losing is common, disregard fo
r tradition is very disappointing.

[35straight II]

Same

[BUS]

Yep

[PlanoStang]

Bad look.

[soccermom]

I bet if people email Lashlee and/or Hart and voiced this, it would change.

[ROCKNEPONY]

Rhett asks us to buy tickets, join the club, come early, stay late, support the team. Then he brings a small group of disinterested players to the mustang walk (A shortened walk at that) They walked through the band, cheerleaders, and fans with blank faces, no fan engagement and many of whom were staring at their phones. Do they really think we care about them as individuals? as if they are some celebrity? I cheer for SMU not these gone in 1 to 4 year individuals.

Then I stay to the end of a brutal, messy, poorly played and poorly called game, to "support the team" and the team and Rhett leave the field so I can watch the BYU players stay and sing with their fans.

College football is about the school, not the players. If I want great football athletes I surely wouldn't be a fan of SMU over the years...nor this year. I'd watch pro-football or Alabama or Georgia.

I'm a fan of SMU not a particular group of players. If the team and players disrespect the band and the school, then they show themselves to be completely self centered athletes using SMU solely as a platform and income... why should i care or support them? why buy tickets, SMU gear, mustang club membership and donate?

To be an SMU football team, you have to care about the school, its students and alumni base. Strange there is a failure on Rhetts part to recognize how this comes across to us in the stands and on the street during the walk. At least pretend you care!

[soccermom]

Rocknepony, then email the right person/people and communicate your thoughts/ideas to them.

[Finally]

why are y'all so shocked that a team comprised mostly of NIL mercenaries doesn't care about the school, fans, or traditions? They're obviously only here for the money, otherwise they would have come to SMU in the first place.

do you also think members of the Cowboys play for the star on the helmet or the tradition?

[NavyCrimson]

Unfortunately you're correct. However someone needs to set them straight on our traditions like any other school would.

[Horseshoe]

Let's get the offensive line and other issues sorted out first.

[ROCKNEPONY]

It seems to me that this is a cultural issue. It tells the players they aren't connected to the school, it's history or its traditions. It gives the impression they are just paid employees doing a job. Can we say FSU.

BYU stayed and sang their school song and they won as a team for their school. They certainly weren't the most talented on Friday.

As to contacting individuals, this is on my weeks agenda. The original post was to give voice to what I saw in case others felt it also. If it is not an issue for others then my post and my voice will be ignored...as it should be...and I will adjust to the loss of a loved tradition.

[angryfan04]

I guess BYU doesn't have any NIL mercenaries, or maybe the BYU coach and players just know better.

[mtrout]

These guys just want their NIL money and sweet facilities. They don't care about the alma mater. It's a new world out there. We (meaning all the schools plus the NCAA) created this.

[Charleston Pony]

I was among a large group of fans who left before the alma mater as well so I'm not about to cast any stones on this issue

[GHammond]

They sang VARSITY before the game started.