ATTN: People who run band

[Blunt Pony]

Last year's atmosphere was amazing. Could it be that we are selling more advertising spots? Doing more sponsored contests? Having to read more copy? My memory is not great, but like everyone else, I just know that last year's atmosphere was better. Might have been that we all had a new toy to play with and now it is just settling into the mean. I hope not, but when the ticket/donation increases are announced and take effect get ready for it to get a little quieter.

[bubba pony]

I want Elvis and George Thorogood "bad to the bone", Why can't I have what I want????

[DiamondM]

Oh, and while we're complaining, I'd like to register a complaint about cheerleaders who cannot throw a t shirt more than 6 rows up. Even the guys. The people in the red seats are all going to end up with 20 free tshirts each this year because I have yet to see one even get to the loge. Can we get them them some throwing practice, or a tshirt cannon?

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Oh, and while we're complaining, I'd like to register a complaint about cheerleaders who cannot throw a t shirt more than 6 rows up. Even the guys. The people in the red seats are all going to end up with 20 free tshirts each this year because I have yet to see one even get to the loge. Can we get them them some throwing practice, or a tshirt cannon?

Now that's a valid complaint!

I have seen one or two make it to the upper level but that's about it.

[LA_Mustang]

Again, I was told there are three groups in play here - the band, the DJ and the promotional/advertising group (fastest layup, most shots made, dance cam, ect). The problem is they are given their time slots during the game but no one is working together. We need someone who understands the flow of the game to say when each group should perform. It needs to be flexible based on the game.

DiamondM, how is it handle at Duke? Is there single director that everyone follows, or has Duke done this for so long that everyone just knows?

[CoxMustangFan]

Oh, and while we're complaining, I'd like to register a complaint about cheerleaders who cannot throw a t shirt more than 6 rows up. Even the guys. The people in the red seats are all going to end up with 20 free tshirts each this year because I have yet to see one even get to the loge. Can we get them them some throwing practice, or a tshirt cannon?

LOL...glad you mentioned it. I sit in the first few rows of the blues and my kids have been heart broken all season long. Put some arm into ladies.

[White Helmet]

The % of girls is no higher than it was pre-Don Hopkins. The culture is different, clearly. You can see every one of them is generally sober. Echos of the MOB problem.

"Some of you can play drunk and some of you can't. You know who you are."

[smusportspage]

Oh, and while we're complaining, I'd like to register a complaint about cheerleaders who cannot throw a t shirt more than 6 rows up. Even the guys. The people in the red seats are all going to end up with 20 free tshirts each this year because I have yet to see one even get to the loge. Can we get them them some throwing practice, or a tshirt cannon?

LOL...glad you mentioned it. I sit in the first few rows of the blues and my kids have been heart broken all season long. Put some arm into ladies.

More t-shirts to throw and sling shots!

[LA_Mustang]

Not one person, a committee of the complainers on ponyfans who have the expertise and know exactly how to run the game presentation need to control everything. Sorry, just interested in on-the-court play and don't really pay attention to all that other crap. I guess my need to be constantly "entertained" is non-existent. Pony Up.

Yes, you're representative of the SMU old. Just watch the game and avoid the crowd noise, standing and actual cheering. The people around me, mostly 50 to 65 years old, just sit there the entire game. They never clap, never yell a word or never stand up. The first couple of games I wasn't sure if they were for SMU or the other team, still not 100% sure. They only game any real noise came from our section is when our "fans" sold their tix to Hog fans. Now they were loud!

If you just want to watch the game without a true home court advantage then congrats. Continue to golf clap and whisper to your buddy next to you how swell our basketball team is playing.

[freqz]

The % of girls is no higher than it was pre-Don Hopkins. The culture is different, clearly. You can see every one of them is generally sober. Echos of the MOB problem.

"Some of you can play drunk and some of you can't. You know who you are."

Ah, Vegas by bus.

[PerunasHoof]

Had the mini package last year (6 tickets to the conference games) and have full season tickets this year.

I don't think the band is responsible for it "feeling like a funeral" or "sucking the energy out." I would say we haven't played as exciting opponents yet. And with Arkansas, unfortunately, we barely had a home court advantage. The upper section is still barely >50% of capacity. Get an actual sold out game and then you can compare. I also think we need to give the student section more alcohol and stop kicking Luigi out. He has a full time security escort now, its BS.

I haven't noticed a drop off in the game presentation. People complaining about the video intro, do you want an exact repeat of last year? Then you would complain we aren't being innovative. The intro is fine and my favorite part is watching the Memphis coach flip out when KF makes the 3.

[ObeyMyDog]

It's all working in concert together. The game presentation is awful, the promos during the timeouts have a lot to do with it. They need to be packed in at halftime or eliminated, they kill energy. There is no debate there.

However, if those stupid things are going to run it would be nice to pull some energy back with some house music. The band just doesn't do it, regardless of what they are going to play. If you are going to suck energy out with crappy game presentation, only loud electronic noises are going to bring some energy back.

On top of that though, the band looks disinterested and their choices last night were especially awful. Maybe I didn't hear the standards they always play, but that is because I tuned them out after rolling my eyes in to the back of my head after one song that (as someone stated earlier) sounded like they were going for a "concerto" atmosphere or something. I don't recall people really ever cracking jokes about the band, and this year the jokes are starting to feel standard with the group I sit with at every game

[PerunasHoof]

The students and most of the fan base do get into it when they play Peruna and Pony Battle Cry. I hope we don't stop playing those. I hope no one is advocating for that.

As for the other songs they play, I'm indifferent to those and wouldn't mind if we played more "Bring em out," AC/DC, etc...

[Pony ^]

I'm sick of Turn Down For What and most every song played as well. Need variety at least

[PonyTime]

Dear Rick Hart, fix this:


Last year it was full of students, players' girlfriends and family with signs and they were loud and fun. Tonight it was five dudes sitting with their feet up on the benches.

^^^^THIS

I said the same thing last night about that section being empty.

I know that there are students who want to go to the games, but can't get tickets. We should be filling in these lower seats with the students who will get loud and rowdy.

Also - Is the alumni band going to be performing at the games over the break?