Texas Monthly: Guide for the SMU Bandwagon Fan

[Dukie]

“If a lot goes right, they really could play on New Year’s Day. Okay, if everything goes right.”

https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-cultur ... -football/

[shadowman]

Very nice story, and clever angle on the title, made me chuckle anyway.

[mr. pony]

After the obligatory “only program ever to receive the NCAA death penalty” and “secretly paying players,” just once I’d like to see, “At least 20 programs since then have qualified for the death penalty but for some reason none received it. SMU, of course, was hardly the only school paying players or otherwise breaking the rules back then.”

The fact that the NCAA never used it again - (when they could and should have) - is the enduring crap-sandwich SMU must tote in its lunch box — as supposedly the worst of the worst for all time.

(Hell, even Pedo State wasn’t shut down.)

[One Trick Pony]

After the obligatory “only program ever to receive the NCAA death penalty” and “secretly paying players,” just once I’d like to see, “At least 20 programs since then have qualified for the death penalty but for some reason none received it. SMU, of course, was hardly the only school paying players or otherwise breaking the rules back then.”

The fact that the NCAA never used it again - (when they could and should have) - is the enduring crap-sandwich SMU must tote in its lunch box — as supposedly the worst of the worst for all time.

(Hell, even Pedo State wasn’t shut down.)

Was watching ESPN 150 last night and they were talking about cheaters and I thought wow how come ....boom
Yes it gets old.

[Mexmustang]

That, plus the lack of comment about the entire SWC (save for Rice) doing the same thing without the mention or the penalty. I did like our inclusion with Ole Miss, as thought they are the only SEC school to pay players.

[shadowman]

I do agree that it gets tiresome to always be hearing that, but I think it is actually getting us more exposure this year. The media likes a good story and this is it, SMU finally rising from the ashes of the Death Penalty. If we were just a perennial bad team that is finally having a nice season, the interest would not be nearly as high without the death penalty angle.

We just need to keep riding the wave by winning. Then when the media proclaims us back, maybe we can shed that monkey from our back.

[Dukie]

I do agree that it gets tiresome to always be hearing that, but I think it is actually getting us more exposure this year. The media likes a good story and this is it, SMU finally rising from the ashes of the Death Penalty. If we were just a perennial bad team that is finally having a nice season, the interest would not be nearly as high without the death penalty angle.

We just need to keep riding the wave by winning. Then when the media proclaims us back, maybe we can shed that monkey from our back.

Agree with this. This is the first time SMU has been nationally relevant. Even Ped State got some of this in their first good season or two in their recovery. It’s a one-time story angle that will disappear if the success is sustained.