PonyFans.com

Coach Bennett sure fired everyone up tonight at the Mercury Grill recruiting recap party.

What a great turn-out.

Looks like we have some excellent players joining the SMU Family.

Some big guys and some talented skill players.

I think next year if the current trend continues we may be forced into a bigger facility for the annual recruiting party.

How about the top floor of Ford Stadium.....with stadium lights on and scoreboard lit?

Thanks to Jim Copeland, Coach Bennett, and Scott Secules for an enjoyable evening.

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the BLVD and Games to begin!

GO MUSTANGS!

Me too -- I wish the season started tomorrow!

GREAT night. My favorites from the videos:

1. Columbus Givens
2. Mitch Enright
3. Clayton Cox

Great night, and a big turnout. Very excited about the juco's!

Actually...

Most kudos should go to Ms. Kristi Kaiser, Suite and Event Coordinator for the Mustang Club. Outstanding job.

Also, kudos to Chris Walker of the Mustang Club for a job well done.

My only complaint about last night, was there was no presentation from the other sports. I think this needs to be expanded to include all sports with the February signing day. Why can't we have a brief opening presentation of the soccer and volleyball recruits. This would show that the Mustang Club not only supports Football and Basketball, but all sports.

You know, this might bring in more Mustang Club members.

Last night was great and Columbus Givens looks like he may be very special. I agree it would have been nice to include a short presentation on the other sports. I know some posters to this board could care less about the other sports but if we are going to build our base and increase Mustang Club membership, we need to actively support and promote the entire SMU athletic program. I know our men's soccer program gives us great national exposure and the only real possibility of a national championship anytime in the near future.

Sorry to ran on your parade, and I know I'll catch heat for this...but if you are trying to build the Mustang Club, don't waste people's time talking about other programs that most people don't care about. There is a reason that Basketball and Football are considered "Revenue Sports". They are the only ones people will pay attention to and pay to go and see.

I thought the presentation last night was short and sweet.

Sonic wrote:Sorry to ran on your parade, and I know I'll catch heat for this...but if you are trying to build the Mustang Club, don't waste people's time talking about other programs that most people don't care about. There is a reason that Basketball and Football are considered "Revenue Sports". They are the only ones people will pay attention to and pay to go and see.

I thought the presentation last night was short and sweet.

No heat from me. I agree completely. I would make an exception if one of the other teams accomplished something really special.

Dooby wrote:No heat from me. I agree completely. I would make an exception if one of the other teams accomplished something really special.

Dooby, would you not consider 'exceptional' the Men's soccer record & rankings?

Well, you can have some heat from me. The Lady Mustang Swimmers are ranked #6 nationally. Both soccer teams deserve recognition as does Volleyball, etc. Fortunately, most SMU fans and alumni value the entire SMU experience including our rich, non-revenue Sports tradition. I'll leave it at that.

I agree with Water Pony. As a Mustang Club member, an ex-football scholarship player, and fraternity rat (who by the way as a pledge was required to attend Basketball and Swimming to support frat bros.) I support and read about all SMU sports teams. I think you Dallas guys are so lucky to be able to attend these Announcement events, but including all Fall recruits would be not only nice, but entertaining to me. I can't get enough of the Mustangs.

You know what...I don't think apologies are neccesary that there is a focus on football and just football. I'm sorry that ESPN, DMN and every other publication and media entity in the country focuses on football on national signing day and not volleyball/rowing/soccer etc.

Complaints about something like this is akin to that girl's story in the school paper in the fall where she compained that the rowing team was being ignored by the athletic department: Uttery Ridiculous!!

Give me a freaking break already.

I know this isn't politcally correct but I really don't give a damn. A wonderful program was put on last night and people complain about the volleyball team not getting recognition. Once again, sorry. This is the world we live in and football is the focus for the very, very, very large majority. Please see this weekend as an example that this is a phenomenom not limited to the Hilltop.

Go ahead and Fire Away...

Let me explain or comment on the proposal of presenting all signee's.

It doesn't have to be as in depth as the football signee's. We don't need videos and the coach's talking about every recruit. But, I think that the handouts should include all sports. Let the other coaches attend and make brief (very brief) comments about the new players they have recruited. I am not proposing every sport be included. But the major sports - Soccer, Swimming and maybe tennis and volleyball. You are correct that if we included rowing, equiestrian, golf, etc. The program would become very long and boring. But, I still think we should give a little public attention to more of the other sports, whether revenue or not.

Ponyfans.com does have a lovely picture of the SMU Rowing Team on its home page today. ROW SMU!

SWC2010 wrote:

Dooby wrote:No heat from me. I agree completely. I would make an exception if one of the other teams accomplished something really special.

Dooby, would you not consider 'exceptional' the Men's soccer record & rankings?

Well, as a student I probably went to more SMU soccer games over four years than most. I went to two. The interest just isn't there, but if somebody won an NCAA championship, then I'd force everybody to acknowledge it.

The fact is that people pay/contribute to be in the Mustang Club. 90% do so because of Football. Why should they be compelled to listen to what the volleyball team is doing, when the fact is that if not for Title IX, there would be no volleyball team or crew team. The signing day party isn't about the kids, it is about the alumni.

I agree with Eddie P's comments.