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one of my pet-pevees with the WAC are these ridiculous Thursday Nite games. Check these numbers which suggest that SMU probably draws 50% less of its own fans on Thursday Nite than they do on Saturday Nites.


Thursday Nites:

Fresno 2422
UTEP(with plenty of UTEP fans) 3736
SJSU 2061

Saturday Nites

Nevada 3121
Boise St 3624
Hawaii 3254


It will interesting to see how SMU draws this week playing Louisiana Tech on Wednesday Nite. Hopefully, this problem will go away when we move to CUSA.

just to compare these attendance figures to TCU which plays on Wednesday Nite in CUSA:

Wednesday Nite

Tulane 3673
Houston 4791
Marquette 4282

Saturday Nite

Memphis 5789
East Carolina 3843
UAB 5459

Now there are some variables in there because Memphis and UAB are two of the better/more attractive teams in the conference and the Wednesday Nite schedule doesn't have a team above .500 except UH at 6-5 in conference -but one could estimate that the Saturday Nite bump is more in the range of 20% or less as opposed to the 50% bump at SMU playing a Saturday/Thurday Nite schedule.

Winning and being more competitive will help the Mustangs. I still don't understand why the student body doesn't come out to support the teams (basketball, football, soccer, etc.). Oh, wait...yes, I do.

even winning program like smu soccer doesnt attract lot of people

I've noticed something interesting from the DMN’s Calvin Watkins. He always mentions the [deleted] poor home attendance in the first paragraph or two of each SMU game recap....from today's story- ""on Saturday night before a crowd of 3,254 at Moody Coliseum." If you look at game recaps by the other staff writers, they rarely ever mention attendance numbers. I believe this is Calvin’s subtle little way to poke fun at the 50K+ Metroplex alums that cant take 2 hours out of their busy schedule to support SMU athletics.

I don't see it that way. I see it as his way of showing that SMU athletics can't attract a crowd. Period. Who cares whether the spectators are alumni or not?

LA_Mustang wrote: .... I believe this is Calvin’s subtle little way to poke fun at the 50K+ Metroplex alums that cant take 2 hours out of their busy schedule to support SMU athletics.

Interesting view, but I disagree. I remember attendance figures in DMN stories by Ken Stephens, David McNabb, Jodie Valade, Rana Cash, Rick Alonzo, Debbie Fetterman -- I think the DMN editors must require it or something.

Who cares whether the spectators are alumni or not?

Are you kidding? I care. And I think anyone who cares about SMU athletics should see that it's the biggest problem we face.

Maybe I didn't express myself properly and, if so, I apologize.

I don't care whether folks paying to watch an SMU basketball game (or football game or soccer game, etc.) are alumni or not. Naturally, I'd love it if the majority of them were. But I'm not an SMU alumnus and lately I've been sitting with spectators who aren't, either. At least we're there supporting DALLAS' ONLY DIV. 1-A UNIVERSITY!

But...if we get 10,000+ spectators from the Metroplex at a basketball game, they could all be alumni from Stallion's favorite college: East Tennessee State Barbers College, for all I care!

WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(as I pick myself off the floor and get back into my chair)
You didn't go to SMU???????????

Nope. Wanted to but couldn't. But you can read more about my love for SMU in the thread "Open Letter to Coach Tubbs" on this forum.

Well, I'm certainly glad you're a Mustang fan. We could use a few more like you.

Actually we could use a whole bunch like you.

I've set a goal to bring at least 10 new Mustang fans into the fold this year, either thru attending a basketball or football game as my guest.

I am also planning on becoming a member of The Mustang Club for the first time ever along with my new wife (an SMU grad!).