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Dear Coach Tubbs:

I've never been much of a basketball fan. Football has always been my favorite sport, especially on The Hilltop. But, by god...I am becoming a basketball fan more and more with every SMU game I attend this year!

There are several reasons for this:

First - I just got married to an SMU alumnae who knows and loves the game as do my three new stepdaughters. I'm no dummy!

Second - watching the Mustangs in Moody Coliseum brings back memories of my childhood when my father, an SMU alumnus and former SMU yell leader, would take me to the games. Also, being a spectator in Moody Coliseum to this year's SMU Men's Basketball team makes me feel like I'm on the 'ground floor' of a new business venture. I can see what the possibilities are for the future under your guidance as the team's new head coach.

It's apparent to me that you care about these Mustangs, not just as athletes but as young men and helping shape their futures and that you truly have a passion for the game and especially for SMU!

Now, while I'm no expert on the game, I would like to offer a few suggestions as a fan and ticket holder. Take them for what you want.

First - PLEASE*PLEASE*PLEASE Get these young men to practice their free throws! Every game I've been to this year has been devoid of consistency with making free throws. I've always heard that basketball games can be won or lost at the free throw line. The more I watch the Mustangs this year, the more I find that to be true. I've heard that Bobby Knight at Texas Tech locks his players in the field house after a loss until they each hit 10 consecutive free throws in a row. It might not be a bad idea to consider a similar exercise for the Mustangs.

Second - Continue gelling this team into a unit as you have already done. Individual performances are great but games are won by TEAMS, not by single players. I've already seen a vast improvement in the Mustangs from the first game of the season, now that they're in conference play. Keep it up!

And finally...for what it's worth...let the players know that we - as loyal Mustang fans - appreciate their hard work. I know that Moody Coliseum has more empty seats than filled seats during home games. And many times it seems there are more visiting teams' fans in the stands than Mustang fans. But that will soon change. I truly believe that. I've noticed that some of the local sportscasters (Channel 5, for example) are giving the Mustangs more coverage and that helps build a better fan base...especially when the Mustangs are WINNING!

I look forward to attending the remaining home games in 2005. I know that I'm getting good entertainment value for my money when I come to the games. Tonight was especially enjoyable for me and my twin 11-year old stepdaughters with the win over Hawaii!

Thanks for your time, Coach! Keep up the winning ways and GO MUSTANGS!

Sincerely,
Mr. Mustang 1965

Well said, MM65. And while they do practice their free throws -- ad nauseum -- you're right in that they need to make more. Sometimes, it's a comfort thing. You can hit a hot streak and every free throw goes in, whether you shoot it normally or drop-kick the thing. Other times, you can get in a rut, when you couldn't hit water when you toss a ball out of a boat. I don't know if the Ponies are in that kind of a rut now, but here's hoping they'll start to drain more.

Mr.Mustang1967, Ididn't know your dad was a former yell leader, weren't you picked as Mr. Mustang by a cute cheerleader at Pigskin Review one year???

The lovely Diane Cosper, SMU cheerleader in 1965 - seen at left - congratulated me on being selected as "Mr. Mustang" that year. I won a drawing held at the Homecoming BBQ lunch on the floor of Moody Coliseum. The photo at left appeared on the cover of the alumni magazine "The Mustang" in December, 1965.

My now deceased father was a yell leader for the Mustangs in 1947-48.