Dear PonyFans,
I just wanted to write a quick note thanking everyone for their support through emails, phone calls and text. (This will be the only time I write I promise) Ever since my first email to the ticket I have received tons of emails from not only the SMU community but from people around the state and even some clear across the country!
Now I know that most coaches would never attempt to walk into a show like "The Hardline" and attempt to talk about SMU and Tennis with those guys. My entire purpose was to get publicity for my team & SMU and to get them to mention SMU on the air. I know that I took an unconventional approach to advertising SMU but hey, since my first email was read on air, the ticket has mentioned "SMU Tennis" a total of 23 times in four days and so my goal was accomplished! I wanted to give a confident, laid back and fresh face to SMU so that the guys on the show know that "Hey we have some pretty awesome people over at SMU that we should support!" Some may say that me writing this letter on Ponyfans is very unconventional, but I guess I am just an unconventional coach and I love you guys!
Make no mistake; I knew EXACTLY what I was getting myself into. I knew that they in the past had not spoken highly of SMU and that is EXACTLY why I did it. I wanted a challenge and I wanted them to become fans of SMU Tennis...Even though my ways were unconventional, I wanted to win them over and I (including my entire team who was listening) think that I did that.
To let everyone know the guys on the show before, during and after were all very respectful, fun and really great guys! I expected MUCH worse and they kept it to a minimum. Let me all remind you that many tennis fans did not become tennis fans until Anna Kournikova came on the pro scene, now that she is gone, they are still tennis fans! After the show Corby said he would like to take some tennis lessons from me and Mike wanted to come and have bar-b-q at the courts with my dad...Even if this never happens, I was glad to hear that they enjoyed us!
Ponyfans thank you so much for the support that you show not only to SMU Tennis but the rest of SMU Athletics! I am so proud to be an SMU Mustang, I am proud to lead such talented ladies and I am proud that we have fans such as you to support us!
I hope to see you all at our new facility in the spring, come have some Bar-B-Q with my Pops and cheer on the SMU MUSTANGS!!!
Pony Up!
Coach Lauren Longbotham-Meisner