CROWD MAKES ME PUKE --- DO WE HAVE ANY STUDENTS?

[newshound]

Winning cures all is very much a myth. We won HUGE in the 80's in the SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE and nobody came, relatively speaking. We sold out Texas Stadium -- the NFL's best stadium at the time -- only when UT or A&M was in town, for the most part.

But when the program was MEDIOCRE but marketed aggressively (1978--80), the stadium -- the beat up old Cotton Bowl -- was full. See: MustangMania.

Winning does not alone solve the problem. It just one ingredient in a formula for success. Does it help? Of course. But you have to have a competitive team and the presentation and operations have to be buttoned down. People notice. And they have a thousand other places to spend their money and time. We need casual fans, people who are transplanted, hundreds of miles from their favorite team. If you grew up going to or rooting for Michigan or UCLA or Florida State, you'd come to SMU and think, "OMG, this is a Division I game?" I had the same thought going to the old Arlington Stadium ("OMG, is this a Major League ballpark?")

Did Chad Morris have to win big to change the culture? He won two games, then five games, mostly against weak teams. But his staff has changed the culture and the perception of the program. Imagine how they collectively felt taking the field on Saturday. If I were a player, I can tell you I may have turned around and gone back to the locker room. They have changed the culture with attention to detail, doing the little things, being in tune with social media and their kids and their recruits. Winning has had NOTHING to do with it. Taking care of business and making incremental gains on a daily basis is what they have been all about. You hear Chad say it all time: "We want to get one percent better each day." And Bill Walsh always preached, "The score will take care of itself."

In basketball season, Moody has been pretty full (not always packed, though), no matter who we play. The team is not good, it's GREAT. So that helps. But the game presentation and operation is really solid. Not perfect, but absolutely representative of the product. The opponent has become almost a non-factor. Sure, when UConn or Memphis or Louisville rolls in, it's much more fun. But coming back from 19 points down to Tulane was pretty damn exciting too. Beating Cal in the NIT at the buzzer was pretty great. Coming back to stun Cincinnati and Houston? Great stuff. All complemented by a really solid gameday environment. That adds up to a full arena.

Being in a better conference would help, sure. But you have to schedule football so that you have a chance to win early in the season. That builds confidence in the players so you have something to play for in October and November. And, to get into a better conference, we need to start winning AAC FOOTBALL championships and pumping out 10-win seasons -- eventually in front of big crowds in this top 10 media/TV market.

As for scheduling "attractions" like BIg 12 "South" teams in football, we routinely get embarrassed. Since 1989, we have ZERO wins in almost 70 games vs. OU, OSU, Baylor, Tech, Texas and A&M combined. ZERO. One tie in San Antonio vs. the Aggies. Thank God they stopped going back for more beatings. (Although who wouldn't want a shot at Baylor this season?). Hell, we didn't even schedule paydays; it was all home-and-home so we lost twice in each time.

Remember, TCU was playing New Mexico and Colorado State and no-name teams like that in the Mountain West. They dominated the league, had good -- but nowhere near great -- attendance yet provided a great in-stadium gameday experience (which, for the most part, they still do). Winning did not cure their attendance woes. Winning and moving up the Big 12 and renovating their stadium while continuing to provide an exemplary fan experience (including flawless cellphone service) have added up to where they are now. And, they have had a couple of losing seasons mixed in.

So, stop telling me winning is the magic bullet. June went to four straight bowl games and never energized the fan base to the point where SMU was a hot ticket. Sure, we made more headlines, and The Ticket paused from mocking the program for a bit. But, the in-stadium gameday experience, as it remains today, was downright bad.

If ONE single person can tell me that what SMU presents at Ford Stadium from pregame to the final gun is truly representative of and to the standards of the rest of the University, I'd like to hear his/her argument.

Chad Morris has laid the foundation -- and he won't stick around too much longer. So, now is the time to get all of the moving parts moving forward together. Ride this recent wave of success on the field so that the SMU staff will take more pride in what they do to deliver a polished, entertaining, fun and family-friendly day on campus. Someone has to take the lead and show them the way. Don't blame the hearty alums that have stuck this out for 30 years or more. Build off them and off the momentum of this 4-1 start and what Chad Morris has built so, even if he does leave, he leaves us with a chance to continue to move up in the college football echelon.

#PonyUp

[peruna81]

...and win Saturday against Houston...

[newshound]

... that, too!

[SMU_Alum11]

5 point underdog, I like those odds. If I were in Vegas, I would put money on us!

[lollaperuna]

I think that when people say "win and they will come", they mean have a Boise state type season or two, make it to one of the big bowls, beat a few blue bloods etc. like TCU did. 3-1 to start the year three years after being the worst team in the country isn't winning.

Bingo! Winning in the MW didn't do it for TCU, beating Oklahoma in Norman got it started. Newshound makes some good points on game day experience, but the casual fan (non SMU) isn't going to be moved by anything but a Top 25 team. UCF cracked the Top 25 this week and should still be ranked when they come to Ford in November, but don't be disappointed when there isn't a huge attendance spike. Got to beat a NAME school.

As for basketball, you really can't compare the two. 7K vs 32K for starters, and its super easy to rock Moody if it were only half full. Also, if you think Moody is full just because SMU got it all right with presentation and concessions you are mistaken. Start losing and that crowd will thin big time.

[Mustangsabu]

I did sit next to a guy during the second half who turned to me and said "these guys are good enough to compete in D1"...

Oh and I counted (roughly) the students during he second quarter. Under 300. So we certainly aren't getting 25% of the students. Also,
When you include grand students and part timers our enrollment is 10k. I can't help feeling we should be able to improve on 300...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[smusic 00]

Not trying to defend anything, but a lot of students have figured out the grassy knoll is a comfy spot to watch from. Easily a few hundred sitting there; just saying.

[Pony ^]

We need to host all of our games at Highland Park's stadium. Not sure we would even sell that out. If I were HCCM, I would 100% call out the fanbase and students. He has nothing to lose as he already has a foot out the door anyway.

I was more embarrassed by the size of our band again. they fill 1/4th of a corner of 1 section. It's embarrassing. Wish I had a picture

[soccermom]

Our attendance was much better when I was in school during the Pony Express days, but there will always be more ut, a&m, tt fans than SMU fans b/c of the difference in the size of the schools. Winning always helps with attendance but people have to like the game, too. I love football so I always went to the games, but most of my girl friend's couldn't stand it. I think I remember my sorority requiring you to sign up, and go, to a certain # of games. Students need to save brunch for Sundays, not on game days.

[SmooBoy]

Attendance is pathetic and the reasons have been spelled out pretty clearly here. Winning helps. Regional opponents/rivals will always be better than northeast and midwest question mark schools.

You are welcome to rag on the band, but the program has never exceeded 90 something. There are almost 80 members this year. So in good times and bad, the band numbers have wavered by no more than 15 or so. Again, you can diss the entire history since it's never been big, but unlike other students, they are always there to support the team (and other women's and men's teams).

[GeorgiaMustang]

I completely agree. I flew in Saturday morning to attend my first game in about 3 years and was really excited to show off our campus to my girlfriend. I was very disappointed with attendance, especially since we are more competitive than we have been in several years.

[RufusKing]

Winning cures all is very much a myth. We won HUGE in the 80's in the SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE and nobody came, relatively speaking. We sold out Texas Stadium -- the NFL's best stadium at the time -- only when UT or A&M was in town, for the most part.

But when the program was MEDIOCRE but marketed aggressively (1978--80), the stadium -- the beat up old Cotton Bowl -- was full. See: MustangMania.

Winning does not alone solve the problem. It just one ingredient in a formula for success. Does it help? Of course. But you have to have a competitive team and the presentation and operations have to be buttoned down. People notice. And they have a thousand other places to spend their money and time. We need casual fans, people who are transplanted, hundreds of miles from their favorite team. If you grew up going to or rooting for Michigan or UCLA or Florida State, you'd come to SMU and think, "OMG, this is a Division I game?" I had the same thought going to the old Arlington Stadium ("OMG, is this a Major League ballpark?")

Did Chad Morris have to win big to change the culture? He won two games, then five games, mostly against weak teams. But his staff has changed the culture and the perception of the program. Imagine how they collectively felt taking the field on Saturday. If I were a player, I can tell you I may have turned around and gone back to the locker room. They have changed the culture with attention to detail, doing the little things, being in tune with social media and their kids and their recruits. Winning has had NOTHING to do with it. Taking care of business and making incremental gains on a daily basis is what they have been all about. You hear Chad say it all time: "We want to get one percent better each day." And Bill Walsh always preached, "The score will take care of itself."

In basketball season, Moody has been pretty full (not always packed, though), no matter who we play. The team is not good, it's GREAT. So that helps. But the game presentation and operation is really solid. Not perfect, but absolutely representative of the product. The opponent has become almost a non-factor. Sure, when UConn or Memphis or Louisville rolls in, it's much more fun. But coming back from 19 points down to Tulane was pretty damn exciting too. Beating Cal in the NIT at the buzzer was pretty great. Coming back to stun Cincinnati and Houston? Great stuff. All complemented by a really solid gameday environment. That adds up to a full arena.

Being in a better conference would help, sure. But you have to schedule football so that you have a chance to win early in the season. That builds confidence in the players so you have something to play for in October and November. And, to get into a better conference, we need to start winning AAC FOOTBALL championships and pumping out 10-win seasons -- eventually in front of big crowds in this top 10 media/TV market.

As for scheduling "attractions" like BIg 12 "South" teams in football, we routinely get embarrassed. Since 1989, we have ZERO wins in almost 70 games vs. OU, OSU, Baylor, Tech, Texas and A&M combined. ZERO. One tie in San Antonio vs. the Aggies. Thank God they stopped going back for more beatings. (Although who wouldn't want a shot at Baylor this season?). Hell, we didn't even schedule paydays; it was all home-and-home so we lost twice in each time.

Remember, TCU was playing New Mexico and Colorado State and no-name teams like that in the Mountain West. They dominated the league, had good -- but nowhere near great -- attendance yet provided a great in-stadium gameday experience (which, for the most part, they still do). Winning did not cure their attendance woes. Winning and moving up the Big 12 and renovating their stadium while continuing to provide an exemplary fan experience (including flawless cellphone service) have added up to where they are now. And, they have had a couple of losing seasons mixed in.

So, stop telling me winning is the magic bullet. June went to four straight bowl games and never energized the fan base to the point where SMU was a hot ticket. Sure, we made more headlines, and The Ticket paused from mocking the program for a bit. But, the in-stadium gameday experience, as it remains today, was downright bad.

If ONE single person can tell me that what SMU presents at Ford Stadium from pregame to the final gun is truly representative of and to the standards of the rest of the University, I'd like to hear his/her argument.

Chad Morris has laid the foundation -- and he won't stick around too much longer. So, now is the time to get all of the moving parts moving forward together. Ride this recent wave of success on the field so that the SMU staff will take more pride in what they do to deliver a polished, entertaining, fun and family-friendly day on campus. Someone has to take the lead and show them the way. Don't blame the hearty alums that have stuck this out for 30 years or more. Build off them and off the momentum of this 4-1 start and what Chad Morris has built so, even if he does leave, he leaves us with a chance to continue to move up in the college football echelon.

#PonyUp

I remember MANY, MANY games at Texas Stadium, glory days, at the Stadium Club, packed, 3/4 of the people had their backs turned to the field, socializing, as ED rambled down the sidelines....it's ALWAYS been like this, folks.

[smitty329]

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... ight-year/

Anyone expect the trend to change in 2017?

Factors include:
Technology - I can watch from my living room easier than I could 10 years ago. Wonder if the attendance numbers will soon reflect electronic as well - # viewers.
Tradition - My family has been attending games for 3 generations and I could see myself no where else than at the game on Saturdays.
Success - changes in attendance are influenced by team success - something to play for - conf title, etc.

[SMUer]

How many clapping hands and smiling faces (approximately) would be the minimum amount we should expect our players to muster the bravery to walk out of the tunnel and make the enormous sacrifice of giving their best effort in sport?

[03Mustang]

I think we should all just enjoy what we have this season and hope the next guy can keep it going...CM will be somewhere else next season, and that's not necessarily because of attendance, it's because we were always going to be a stepping stone.

If attendance gets better one day then that's great, but I have accepted that I can't control that (beyond my trying to get friends/others to come) and it's unlikely it will ever be much better.

Until we break away from the perception of the small private school that is detached from the greater Dallas community nothing changes, and I honestly believe that most alums don't WANT that to change. Students coming on here and talking about brunch is a perfect example of the problem...same with people bringing their f'ing dogs to the Boulevard.

Make fun of TCU/Ft Worth all you want but they don't have the same elitist rep over there and that's a big part of why the city and their t-shirt fans love them. We aren't viewed as welcoming or accessible, so even if fans outside the SMU community are interested they don't feel welcome.