Nothing ever changes

[carolina stang]

Let's see...With 4 games to play we're 2 and 5.

If we go 6 and 5 Copeland stays
If we go 5 and 6 Copeland stays
If we go 4 and 7 Copeland stays
If we go 3 and 8 Copeland stays
And finally at 2 and 9 (God help us) Copeland stays.

It's been asked before. Are the 75 to 100 people who regularly post on this site the only ones who care? Do you think Turner thinks everything is allright? I'm just dumbfounded. Any manager's job performance like this in the private sector would not only be pink slipped (several times) but likely would "never be a manager again."

And you know it's not just about the coaching. In the fall of 1978, the whole city of Dallas was under the spell of Mustang Mania for a 4-6-1 team. You couldn't turn on the radio without hearing a commercial promoting the next game. Every inner city kid in Dallas must have been at the Houston game that fall. I remember being in such a bad traffic jam we didn't arrive at the game until the 2nd quarter.

I think we could stand even a 4-7 or a 5-6 if there was excitement and the thought that things would get better.

My letter goes out to Turner tomorrow.

Thank God for the Astros. I agree Nacho. It helps!

[Nacho]

Go Stros

[Pony_Fan]

Let's see...With 4 games to play we're 2 and 5.

If we go 6 and 5 Copeland stays
If we go 5 and 6 Copeland stays
If we go 4 and 7 Copeland stays
If we go 3 and 8 Copeland stays
And finally at 2 and 9 (God help us) Copeland stays.

It's been asked before. Are the 75 to 100 people who regularly post on this site the only ones who care? Do you think Turner thinks everything is allright? I'm just dumbfounded. Any manager's job performance like this in the private sector would not only be pink slipped (several times) but likely would "never be a manager again."

And you know it's not just about the coaching. In the fall of 1978, the whole city of Dallas was under the spell of Mustang Mania for a 4-6-1 team. You couldn't turn on the radio without hearing a commercial promoting the next game. Every inner city kid in Dallas must have been at the Houston game that fall. I remember being in such a bad traffic jam we didn't arrive at the game until the 2nd quarter.

I think we could stand even a 4-7 or a 5-6 if there was excitement and the thought that things would get better.

My letter goes out to Turner tomorrow.

Thank God for the Astros. I agree Nacho. It helps!

I am sending a letter tomorrow. I have sent emails but want a letter in his hand. Anyone know the direct mailing address? PO BOX?

[Pony Ride]

Let's see...With 4 games to play we're 2 and 5.

If we go 6 and 5 Copeland stays
If we go 5 and 6 Copeland stays
If we go 4 and 7 Copeland stays
If we go 3 and 8 Copeland stays
And finally at 2 and 9 (God help us) Copeland stays.

It's been asked before. Are the 75 to 100 people who regularly post on this site the only ones who care? Do you think Turner thinks everything is allright? I'm just dumbfounded. Any manager's job performance like this in the private sector would not only be pink slipped (several times) but likely would "never be a manager again."

And you know it's not just about the coaching. In the fall of 1978, the whole city of Dallas was under the spell of Mustang Mania for a 4-6-1 team. You couldn't turn on the radio without hearing a commercial promoting the next game. Every inner city kid in Dallas must have been at the Houston game that fall. I remember being in such a bad traffic jam we didn't arrive at the game until the 2nd quarter.

I think we could stand even a 4-7 or a 5-6 if there was excitement and the thought that things would get better.

My letter goes out to Turner tomorrow.

Thank God for the Astros. I agree Nacho. It helps!

In 1978, we were playing in the SWC that brought a few more interested fans. It's hard to drum up support against ECU, Tulane, and Rice...especially when we average 2 wins a year.

[PK]

In 1978, we were playing in the SWC that brought a few more interested fans. It's hard to drum up support against ECU, Tulane, and Rice...especially when we average 2 wins a year.

It's time to stop blaming the competition...we are the problem. Texas has no problem filling their huge stadium when they play Rice or even a 1-aa team.

Until we can fill Ford with SMU fans, we have no one to blame but our own sorry [deleted] admin and their lack of commitment to a winning program. We live in a society that is not willing to support an organization that does not win and win big. There is no SMU tradition driven support left in Dallas. The only way we are going to get support is to win...often and big.

[Pony Ride]

In 1978, we were playing in the SWC that brought a few more interested fans. It's hard to drum up support against ECU, Tulane, and Rice...especially when we average 2 wins a year.

It's time to stop blaming the competition...we are the problem. Texas has no problem filling their huge stadium when they play Rice or even a 1-aa team.

Until we can fill Ford with SMU fans, we have no one to blame but our own sorry [deleted] admin and their lack of commitment to a winning program. We live in a society that is not willing to support an organization that does not win and win big. There is no SMU tradition driven support left in Dallas. The only way we are going to get support is to win...often and big.

That's absolutely ridiculous that you would use Texas as an example. Look at the size of their alumni base vs. ours. I did say that it is hard to bring fans in with bad competition, but I also emphasized the fact that it's almost impossible when you're dealing w/ a team that wins 2 games/year.

I have no problem w/ you blaming the administration. I agree, but I do not think it stops there. I just pointed out that in 1978 we were playing teams that drew interest from the community.

[PK]

My statement was ment to apply to the general audience and not just you Pony Ride. I myself have tried to use the "...well San Jose doesn't have any fans in the area, thus small turnout" approach to excuse the empty stadium. That just doesn't cut it anymore. It certainly explains the empty visitors area, but we should be able to fill all those other seats. People will come to see a winning program no matter who they are playing (Texas being the example I chose to use) and we have plenty of "people" in the Dallas area. 32,000 out of 1.5 million is all we need to fill the stadium.

BTW, Texas probably has more fans who are not alums than they have alums. Every UT wanabe who goes to the Austin area JC's and hang around the UT campus to pretend they go there plus all the never been to college folks who just think it is cool to be a UT fan. At one time, SMU use to be like that in Dallas.

[couch 'em]

There is no SMU tradition driven support left in Dallas. The only way we are going to get support is to win...often and big.

Speaking of, am I the only one who doesn't understand why we do not advertise our history in our stadium? The player banners in the concourse are nice, but surely some "National Champions __ SWC champs _____" type signs in the actual stadium would be nice. Even with the large gaps in years it would be better than everyone thinking we have sucked forever like most students do.

[abezontar]

True, and why don't we advertise more to the community. I never see ads in the DMN, or on more than one billboard across 75 from campus. We have no visibility in the community because it appears as though we don't try to have any visibility in the community. If I am wrong please tell me, but logically, if no one sees your advertising or promotions are they really there?

[jtstang]

True, and why don't we advertise more to the community. I never see ads in the DMN, or on more than one billboard across 75 from campus.

Psst...it's probably because we don't have a product.....

[abezontar]

maybe so, but if we want Dallas recruits, and the Dallas community to support us, we need to advertise to them....and we do have a product that the large hispanic population in the area would enjoy, especially since FC Dallas is moving to Frisco....SOCCER!!! We should be pumping that up all over the hispanic areas of the community, why aren't we doing that? We don't need 32,000 to fill Wescott, just a couple of thousand. Give them cheap tickets and get them to cheer for SMU, it would do a lot to help our relations with the community.

[PK]

There was an ad for kids day at Ford last week in the Sports section. I don't remember seeing it more than one day though. Advertising like recruiting is affected by the budget...another benefit of BCS membership...a bigger budget.

[jtstang]

maybe so, but if we want Dallas recruits, and the Dallas community to support us, we need to advertise to them....and we do have a product that the large hispanic population in the area would enjoy, especially since FC Dallas is moving to Frisco....SOCCER!!! We should be pumping that up all over the hispanic areas of the community, why aren't we doing that? We don't need 32,000 to fill Wescott, just a couple of thousand. Give them cheap tickets and get them to cheer for SMU, it would do a lot to help our relations with the community.

Now that's a good idea--don't they always sell out those international matches at the Cotton Bowl? If they just love the sport, there's no reason soccer fans in the metroplex shouldn't adopt SMU as their team.

[abezontar]

maybe we should just close up shop then. If we are already running a deficit in the sports department, and we aren't willing to take on enough debt so that we can actually do what we need to be successful, then what is the point? I would rather lose 15 milliion a year for 3 years and be able to show an increased fan base and good competitive programs, then lose 3 million a year for 15 years and have the same old crap we have now.

[EastStang]

The Athletic Department ought to set up a realistic budget for marketing and advertising for three years until it becomes more self sustaining. They need to get the casual Dallas fan to adopt the Mustangs. Perhaps start in University Park and Highland Park and move outward. "I'm from University Park and SMU is MY TEAM". I'm from Highland Park and the Mustangs are MY TEAM. "I'm from Dallas and the Mustangs are my team". "I'm from South Oak Cliff and the Mustangs are my team." Perhaps a radio campaign.