The life of an SMU fan

[SMU2007]

Don't take this too seriously, but couldn't help but think of this with all the recent excitement.

Just for fun, a brief synopsis of my time as an SMU fan (no doubt other examples exist):

Nationally prominent team --> harshest punishment in NCAA history (ok, this predated me a little)

Shell out the big bucks for an offensive guru who is going to return us to our glory days! --> disaster where we end up worse off that when he got here

We get invited to a major conference! --> so do a couple other teams, everyone currently in says they want to leave. no longer a major conference

We have one of the best young recruiters in the country! --> head coach has hissy fit and pushes him out of town

best hoops team in ages! --> horrible ncaa tourney snub

#2 recruit in the country coming here! --> academically ineligible. goes to china.

hire a coach who seems like a perfect fit, best case scenario! --> TBD.

[Comet]

Get to the NIT champnioship game after only 2 years here is a heck of an accomplishment.

[Digetydog]

Don't take this too seriously, but couldn't help but think of this with all the recent excitement.

Just for fun, a brief synopsis of my time as an SMU fan (no doubt other examples exist):

Nationally prominent team --> harshest punishment in NCAA history (ok, this predated me a little)

Shell out the big bucks for an offensive guru who is going to return us to our glory days! --> disaster where we end up worse off that when he got here

We get invited to a major conference! --> so do a couple other teams, everyone currently in says they want to leave. no longer a major conference

We have one of the best young recruiters in the country! --> head coach has hissy fit and pushes him out of town

best hoops team in ages! --> horrible ncaa tourney snub

#2 recruit in the country coming here! --> academically ineligible. goes to china.

hire a coach who seems like a perfect fit, best case scenario! --> TBD.

If you are going to be a SMU fan, you are going to have to come to grips with disappointment. It is part of the deal.

1) As a freshman, I showed up on campus expecting to see us compete for a National Championship. We got the Death Penalty.
2) We convinced Larry Johnson (UNLV/NBA Superstar) to attend SMU. Even though he passed his exams, Ken Pye said no.
3) During the post=DP years, we rejected players (FB and BB) for academic reasons that ended up at Notre Dame and Duke.
4) We decided to build a great on-campus stadium. While pretty, it is a horrible design.
5) We got kicked out of the SWC
6) When TCU got invited to the MWC, we couldn't get an invite!!
7) We hired Bill McCartney to coach the team. He changed his mind after it was announced.

[gostangs]

never thought of our stadium as a horrible design. Don't really get that one.

With you on all the others. maybe we are finally paid up on our 1980's deal with the devil - and we are released from our bondage.

[StallionsModelT]

No one said it would be easy.

I think a lot of what you say here goes back to the "culture change" that CM has been talking about. Everyone needs to change their mindset and that includes fans. There is no conspiracy theory. There is no man behind the curtain. Our failures in the past have no bearing on our success in the future. I think Chad is going to do wonders to erase the battered wife syndrome so many of us have had for so long.

[SMU Section F]

I think a lot of what you say here goes back to the "culture change" that CM has been talking about. Everyone needs to change their mindset and that includes fans. There is no conspiracy theory. There is no man behind the curtain. Our failures in the past have no bearing on our success in the future. I think Chad is going to do wonders to erase the battered wife syndrome so many of us have had for so long.

This a thousand times over.

I'm hoping Chad Morris' tenure will see the visor replace the tin foil hat as the official headwear of SMU fans.

[OR-See-Nee]

Changing culture is really difficult. But it is needed on the Hilltop.

[PonyFan32]

never thought of our stadium as a horrible design. Don't really get that one.

With you on all the others. maybe we are finally paid up on our 1980's deal with the devil - and we are released from our bondage.

The most common complaint about the stadium I've heard is that the windows don't open. Makes the football experience pretty sterile inside the club seats or the suites. Would have been nice to have windows that open for nice days or just to allow the fans inside to participate a bit more and hear the crowd noise (for the few times we actually draw a decent crowd that isn't entirely the opposing fans).

Also, you could say we didn't build enough suites, which is why they've been progressively adding some along the north edge of the stadium.

The best example I can think of... when I was in school, I had a class in the ALEC part of the stadium, with windows that overlooked the stadium. Even though that was awesome, it was pretty inexcusable to build a classroom for the general student population that would have been in the perfect position for either suites (for revenue) or coaches' offices. Not surprised that they later redid that part.

I guess the other one to think of is the supposed lights issues related to how they placed the lights on either side.

[couch 'em]

Stadium is bad in that it minimizes prime seats (sideline) and has tons of low value end zone seats. Also looks small time.

[Digetydog]

never thought of our stadium as a horrible design. Don't really get that one.

With you on all the others. maybe we are finally paid up on our 1980's deal with the devil - and we are released from our bondage.

Our stadium is gorgeous, but fundamentally flawed.
1) It has an enormous amount of seats in the endzone and corners for a stadium of its capacity; and
2) In has an insufficient number of "good" seats (between the goal lines) for a stadium of its capacity.

If we ever need to expand our capacity to 40-50K, our design dictates almost 100% of them will be in the South EZ and Corners. Rough guess, our endzone/corner seats would be at least 50% of our total capacity.

In contrast, look at Baylor's new stadium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLane_Stadium). Maybe 1/3 of their 45K seats are in the endzone. TCU's new stadium: Same deal. http://ev9.evenue.net/evenue/linkID=tcu ... harts.html

[SMU2007]

never thought of that, but very true.

[Pony Fan]

never thought of our stadium as a horrible design. Don't really get that one.

With you on all the others. maybe we are finally paid up on our 1980's deal with the devil - and we are released from our bondage.

Our stadium is gorgeous, but fundamentally flawed.
1) It has an enormous amount of seats in the endzone and corners for a stadium of its capacity; and
2) In has an insufficient number of "good" seats (between the goal lines) for a stadium of its capacity.

If we ever need to expand our capacity to 40-50K, our design dictates almost 100% of them will be in the South EZ and Corners. Rough guess, our endzone/corner seats would be at least 50% of our total capacity.

In contrast, look at Baylor's new stadium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLane_Stadium). Maybe 1/3 of their 45K seats are in the endzone. TCU's new stadium: Same deal. http://ev9.evenue.net/evenue/linkID=tcu ... harts.html

We could double deck both sides between the goal lines.

[mrydel]

If we ever have reason to expand we will put an upper deck on the east side. Leave the grassy knoll.

[CoxMustangFan]

If we ever have reason to expand we will put an upper deck on the east side. Leave the grassy knoll.

Agreed. Love me some grassy knoll.

[mrydel]

I believe there are already plans in existence for the east side deck. Just no reason to put them to use.