ECU AD no Copeland

[Nacho]

Lack of fan support had nothing to do with not getting into the Big 12. That was politics all the way. UT wanted to go to the Pac-10; A$M wanted to go to the SEC. The state legislature said no way. As a compromise then governor and Baylor alum Ann Richards along with the lieutenant governor (Bullock I think who was a TT alum) packaged UT, A$M, Baylor and TT together to form the Big 12. End of story. Nothing to do with SMU's attendance.

I saw plenty of average Dallas fans in the early 80s. Winning does that. Last week Irving HS played MacArthur HS in front of 7500 people in a small stadium. MacArthur is undefeated and Irving had 1 loss. I remember when you could count individual people in those stands. Winning doesn't cure cancer but it does put people in seats. People love a winner and will come out of the woodwork to see one.

[mrydel]

A winning team will make Ford look respectable but I do not think SMU will ever have a waiting list for season tickets, or standing room only due to an over abundance of SMU fans. That is just the way it is and has been since at least 1968.

[Nacho]

Does anyone remember the SMU-TCU game at Texas stadium played in front of 58k? To me that was probably the most surprising crowd I have ever seen at an SMU game and it was electric. SMU was 2-0 at the time and I think TCU was also. Admittedly we drew well then against the big schools but not so well against the smaller/lesser knowns. I am absolutely positive that we could sell out Ford almost every game if we had a winning team.

[BRStang]

Lack of Fan support: Another area where Copeland has failed SMU, although I mentioned it earlier.

Winning football games is 70% of SMU's battle in getting more fans--an obvious failure for which Copeland bears some responsibility. But the other 30% (maybe more) is the cultivation and nurturing of new and old fans alike that he has ALSO FAILED TO DO.

It's no secret why the greater Dallas population has no interest in SMU. As I have said earlier, if you're a plumber (no disrespect to plumbers) living in Mesquite, why would you take your son or daughter to an SMU game when (1) they always lose; (2) they aren't fun to watch; and MOST IMPORTANTLY, (3) he can't even afford to send his child there when they go to college. Isn't it easier to simply root for UT or TT (or go to a Cowboys game) than to get all wrapped up in the snobby little bubble that is SMU? What has SMU done for that guy?

Copeland must be (and should have been all along) RELENTLESS in his quest to get the metroplex to back the Mustangs. Examples: (A) Send Bennett, his coaches and the players to more local elem and high schools for speeches and PR, (B) Encourage MORE local students (not just inner-city kids) to come to games and make them feel that they CAN BE A PART of SMU; (C) Advertise, not just by putting up posters in Smoothie King, but thru TV and Radio commercials; (D) Get students, players, coaches, faculty and alumni involved in MORE charity and community service work to encourage a feeling that SMU is Dallas and Dallas is SMU, and seek PUBLICITY for this.

Being a private, academic-minded university that draws its students from all over the country is always going to be tough for a football program. But the AD must think outside the box and be RELENTLESS in building support for athletics. Look at other private schools like ND, USC, Stanford, and yes, TCU. They all have alumni throughout the country, but they also rally their home base cities behind them...they also WIN!

[Stallion]

we had crowds of over 55,000 for Baylor, NTSU, TCU and Rice among others who were the dregs of the conference and Texas under Mustang Mania. Now many seats were given away but I didn't see SMU turning down all the recruits who suddenly took a strong interest in SMU. See how recruiting goes when 6,000 show up.