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They should talk about basketball too..how about win at least 1 game in fball??


NEWS


Groups to evaluate game attendance
Committee seeks to increase fan support for football in '04


By Ryan Trimble
News Editor
February 12, 2004


Athletic Director Jim Copeland and Associate Athletic Director Shawn Heilbron assembled the committee in an effort to brainstorm and implement ideas that will boost attendance at next year’s five home Mustang football games.

Wednesday afternoon, members of the Mustang Club, Young Alumni Association, Pony Parents and the Sports Marketing Advisory Committee were among the groups that joined forces with SMU’s Athletic Marketing Department in holding the first meeting of the newly formed Football Attendance Committee.

“We’re all about 32,000,” said Heilbron, referring to the seating capacity of Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Heilbron and the committee are undertaking the task of filling the stadium by focusing their efforts on target groups and prospective SMU football fans.

Ford Stadium was built to hold 32,000 fans, but it was also built with the potential to add 13,000 seats. To accomplish this, the stadium would have to change from its current horseshoe shape into a full oval.

“We’ve already talked about the possibility of opening up the grassy area at the open end of the stadium for student seating,” Hollis said. “It would almost be like bringing a part of the Boulevard into the stadium.”

Wednesday’s meeting focused on students, and the 4,500 reserved seats for student seating at every game.

“Issues that affect students in supporting athletic teams are different from those that affect young alumni, for example,” Heilbron said.

Other questions raised were how to get students from the Boulevard to the stadium at game time, and how to spark basic awareness and enthusiasm among students about the football program.

Student Body Vice-President Lyndsey Hummert noted efforts of increasing spirit at Mustang Corral, Week of Welcome and AARO as integral in this process. Associate Director of Marketing Cherri Hollis also noted the efforts of the SMAC this past year and ideas for next year’s schedule.

While last year’s attendance was lower than Athletic Marketing would have hoped at just 17, 435 people in attendance per game, the committee remains positive that next year attendance will increase.

2003’s most attended game was the Mustangs game versus the Oklahoma State Cowboys; 27,106 were in attendance for the contest. In contrast, the least attended game was against the Boise State Broncos. A mere 10,109, less than one-third of the stadium’s capacity, attended that game.

Football Attendance needs attention. The students don't feel much of an obligation to attend because 1) they are having too much fun at the Boulevard 2) don't see it has their responsibility 3) want a winning team first 4)are too cool to go 5) better things to do, watch TV, etc. 6) all of the above and 7) none of the above

The students can make a real difference in the atmosphere and they need to be in their seats before the team comes on the field, IMHO. I have been to several ND games and the students and their section are one of the main attractions. It feeds on itself and the players do not want to disappoint them. The alumni expect alot; referenced by 400+ signatures to the Board this week to demand that FB be better managed.

:w00t:

Again the athletic department shows its ignorance. It is real easy....win!!! How do you win in Division 1-A? Lower your academic standards and allow the coaches to recruit with the same athletic model as most other Division 1-A schools. How does a school like N. Texas, who just recently started competing at the Division 1-A level, win more than SMU in recent years? The coaches are able to recruit with a Division 1-A model. How many current N. Texas, TCU, or Texas Tech players could gain acceptance in SMU or were even recruited by SMU? Not many. I feel like a broken record on this board but apparently the idiots running the show at SMU do not get it.

Not only are you a broken record JR, but you continue to not see the forest because of all the trees. The Athletic Department is not the ones setting these standards and requirements that keep us from competing on a level playing field...it is the SMU Board of Trustees and therefore the Administration which includes the Faculty Senate that makes those decisions. President Turner has made some progress in getting changes made, but he has to work at it in a manner that keeps all parties somewhat appeased which means he can't just ram these changes down people's throats. We have made some progress, but there is still more to be done. If our Board would make the same kind of commitment that TCU's Board did, things would happen much faster. I think that because of what happened to get us the DP has made our Board overly cautious about Athletics and their focus has been much more concerned about academic issues.

Write the Board and tell them about the many more millions you would contribute if SMU would just have a world class football team. That will get them energized.

When I was there.. there was always something better to do.. ESPECIALLY at the greek houses. Greek support was sporadic... they'd all show up for one game and then disappear. For some reason, I always saw the Kappa Sigs at the game and heard about beer pong at Sigma Chi.. not slamming anyone... because the lack of support is across the board. But with our greek polarized student body, MUCH of the support needs to come from them, like it does at any large state school with a huge greek population.

A bigger problem is location. It's Dallas.. and in Dallas, hell there are countless things to do. TCU had an amazing season, and their attendance was still below expectations. ECU, for example, gets TREMENDOUS student support despite their terrible season, especially from the greeks. Then again, Greenville, NC is not Dallas and the whole student population is polarized around student athletics because there is less to do (and their student population is much larger as well).

<small>[ 02-14-2004, 03:48 AM: Message edited by: FloridaMustang ]</small>