Herman Challenges UH Fans

[PerunasHoof]

We always shut down our tailgate and walk in before kickoff. That won't change this year. I'm not trying to make this personal, I just don't understand your logic of coming on here and bashing the school to the people that DO go to the games and support the team.

Historical attendance from when? The 90's or 2000's? The team wasn't good then either. In the 70's and 80's we played in Texas Stadium, not a fair representation. Like Charleston said, a 32K stadium is a better fit for our school.

I'm willing to see what happens if we become competitive and successful. I'm hoping the situation will be like Moody and people will want to watch the games.

[Pony Boss]

our football attendance has been pretty weak dating back to when I was in school in the early 70's, even in the early 80's when we were steamrolling SWC opponents (our numbers were aided by visitors in those days). I was pleased to see Ford built to accommodate 32k and Moody downsized to 7k as those numbers fit SMU well. We don't need to sellout Ford for a good football environment. Just need about 25k and the place looks pretty good. That's why I like games with UNT, Texas State, etc...rather than Montana State and JMU. Unless/until this program reaches a Top 25 caliber of play on the field, we are going to need help from our visitors to even approach sellouts. I'm confident Chad and his staff will do a better job marketing the program than JJ and his did, so that's a start.

Weak relative to a 90k cotton bowl, or a 65k tx stadium? Offcampus stadiums by the way. That was then this is now. No reason to not draw well with a great team taking the field.

[SoCal_Pony]

Some say winning will cure the attendance problems, I happen to disagree. But regardless, the best marketing campaigns are done before you start winning.

You need some buzz to generate excitement (we do in Chad, we did with Ron) + realistic expectations that your product will improve (we do with Chad's recruiting, we did with Ron's recruiting). That's the best time to launch your campaign.

Good news is we don't have to fill up a 65k stadium. What I think is imperative is a mini-Mustang Mania campaign that gets an additional 7-10k into Ford each home game (sans Baylor) this season.

It helps with recruiting and gets us to where we want to be quicker.

[Pony Boss]

Isn't #PonyUpTempo the new Mustang Mania?

[peruna81]

Isn't #PonyUpTempo the new Mustang Mania?

Uhhh, no.

[Stallion]

PonyUpTempo and its player created sidekick StangGang16 have been huge successes in uniting the class. This is a tight-knit class which should be a great help in keeping it together

[East Coast Mustang]

Three things we need to do:

1. Win
2. Play an exciting brand of football
3. Engage the community

June went 1-for-3 up until 2013. Once Chad gets it clicking we're going to be fun to watch offensively, and he won't be a complete hermit in terms of marketing the program in DFW like June was.

[Pony Boss]

I'm a believer in the 3 postulates ECM said up there. In this day and age you need to stand out and doing those 3 you bring something Dallas doesnt have: exciting college football. Win amd they will come has worked for everyone else. There ain't no year in year out 11 win programs that don't fill their stadium. SMU aint any different.

[SMUer]

Get that man more energy drink...on tap...in his office

[tristatecoog]

Biggest buzz I remember was the opener in 2014 against Tech. Coming off bowl, GG, KK at Tech, big crowd, on TV, big home season schedule... after that, not so much. A&M didn't sell out the extra seats even with JFF.

Need new coach (check), new stadium, highly recognized player(s) and solid opponent at a "reasonable" price, unlike Aggy game. Beating spread vs Baylor and beating UNT would be a fantastic start.

[Charleston Pony]

our football attendance has been pretty weak dating back to when I was in school in the early 70's, even in the early 80's when we were steamrolling SWC opponents (our numbers were aided by visitors in those days). I was pleased to see Ford built to accommodate 32k and Moody downsized to 7k as those numbers fit SMU well. We don't need to sellout Ford for a good football environment. Just need about 25k and the place looks pretty good. That's why I like games with UNT, Texas State, etc...rather than Montana State and JMU. Unless/until this program reaches a Top 25 caliber of play on the field, we are going to need help from our visitors to even approach sellouts. I'm confident Chad and his staff will do a better job marketing the program than JJ and his did, so that's a start.

Weak relative to a 90k cotton bowl, or a 65k tx stadium? Offcampus stadiums by the way. That was then this is now. No reason to not draw well with a great team taking the field.

If/when we put a "great" team on the field (which I will define as a Top 25 caliber group that will be very difficult to beat at Ford), I agree we will be able to fill Ford and for "name brand" opponents or really important games, I'm hopeful I will live to see the day the grassy slope of the south end zone is littered with fans who purchased SRO tickets.

[RGV Pony]

Idk... Serious question : let's say we are idk 15-1 going into the game vs Gonzaga in Feb and they are 16-0, both with top 5 rankings. Do you guys think we would sell out the AAC if that was a sometimes alternate venue?

I'll acknowledge that bball and fball are two different sports etc etc etc. And I'm not suggesting AAC should be a venue. Wondering what our ceiling for Dallas support might be. Maybe it's 7000 in hoops and 25000 fball?

[Pony Boss]

I don't buy the ceiling thing.

[East Coast Mustang]

Idk... Serious question : let's say we are idk 15-1 going into the game vs Gonzaga in Feb and they are 16-0, both with top 5 rankings. Do you guys think we would sell out the AAC if that was a sometimes alternate venue?

I'll acknowledge that bball and fball are two different sports etc etc etc. And I'm not suggesting AAC should be a venue. Wondering what our ceiling for Dallas support might be. Maybe it's 7000 in hoops and 25000 fball?

I have plenty of friends that are dying to get basketball tickets and can't, and many non-SMU affiliated friends who always want to come to games. I think our bball window is much higher than 7K

[Pony Boss]

Things grow. If you give it time, 10 years of sustained success in both sports will definitely push those 25k and 7k limits way higher. That is how programs are built.