Jerry LeVias Statue - Monument

[GHammond]

I was on Auburn's campus recently and enjoyed seeing the statues of Jackson, Sullivan, Newton, and the new ones honoring coaching legends Dye, Jordan and Hare....they have quite a history there and do a nice job of recognizing and amplifying that history. SMU has a stellar football history as well as the Doak Walker statue is cool, and a "must see." What about Jerry LeVias? 3X All SWC, All American, College Football HOF, and an Academic All American as well....that should be enough to garner some sort of monument. But when you also consider everything he had to endure to integrate the SWC and college football, his status is legendary. What do we need to do to make this a reality? Open to ideas......

[ponyboy]

I’m normally against statues and such when the honoree is still living. But this is a no-brainer. 100% for this idea. Maybe incorporate it into the Ford expansion.

[Water Pony]

[DiamondM75]

Should also have a statue of dandy Don Meredith.

It would be so cool to create an area around the Doak Walker statue with statues of Meredith, LeVias and Dickerson. I agree with not having statues of current living legends. Just look at TCU/Patterson and Penn State/Paterno.

[mrydel]

Jerry’s legacy to SMU is as significant as is Doak Walker’s. If ever another statue is built it needs to be Levias. And it needs to be now while he is still with us to be properly appreciated. I understand the worry about recognition of someone living in case something derogatory happens in their life after the statue is presented. There is no danger of this with Jerry. He is definitely worthy of recognition right now.

[mustangxc]

Yes to Jerry LeVias, no to Dandy Don and the rest. Jerry was one of our greatest players and people. The fact he was the first person to integrate in the SWC makes it a no-brainer, and now more than ever given our attempts to build a bridge to DISD. People need to see that SMU is very welcoming to people that look like Jerry. We already make it welcoming to people that look like Doak. We need everyone on board in order to truly become Dallas' team and boost attendance. I love ED to death and he is an amazing ambassador for SMU. I want him on the sidelines as much as possible but don't think he or Dandy Don merit statues.

[peruna81]

It is long overdue...

I always thought it would be appropriate to have LeVias with Hayden Fry by his side, pointing to go in the game. For the many times SMU has been on the wrong side of right, this is one that WAS right...and there was a reason LeVias was recruited to SMU, and it was Fry.

Fry is the only good thing Baylor has ever turned out.

I want to say Laughead did a promo photo of that somewhere...

[HubbaHubba]

I think I can get behind this.

[Bergermeister]

It is long overdue...

I always thought it would be appropriate to have LeVias with Hayden Fry by his side, pointing to go in the game. For the many times SMU has been on the wrong side of right, this is one that WAS right...and there was a reason LeVias was recruited to SMU, and it was Fry.

Fry is the only good thing Baylor has ever turned out.

I want to say Laughead did a promo photo of that somewhere...

Terrific idea. Hayden Fry pointing the way for Jerry Levias would be very fitting. I'd chip in for that!

[SEASPony]

Wonderful ideas! Where do I sign the petition?

[GHammond]

One thing I have learned over the years is that people like to contribute to VERY specific things....I could see our family cutting a nice check towards this endeavor, as I am sure many other would do as well. AD Hart - make it so!!

[AfricanMustang]

Yes to Jerry LeVias, no to Dandy Don and the rest. Jerry was one of our greatest players and people. The fact he was the first person to integrate in the SWC makes it a no-brainer, and now more than ever given our attempts to build a bridge to DISD. People need to see that SMU is very welcoming to people that look like Jerry. We already make it welcoming to people that look like Doak. We need everyone on board in order to truly become Dallas' team and boost attendance. I love ED to death and he is an amazing ambassador for SMU. I want him on the sidelines as much as possible but don't think he or Dandy Don merit statues.

Copied from Wikipedia...

LeVias was the first African-American scholarship athlete and second African-American football player in the Southwest Conference. In his 1987 book, Richard Pennington has told the story of the integration of the Southwest Conference, beginning with John Westbrook at Baylor and Jerry LeVias at Southern Methodist University in 1966

He was recruited to the Southern Methodist University in the spring of 1965 by Coach Hayden Fry. LeVias had over a hundred scholarship offers, but none from the traditional historically black college football powers he expected to play for (like Grambling, Alcorn St., Southern, Prairie View etc.) He was deemed too small by those schools to be offered a football scholarship. Coach Fry saw in LeVias the character, academic potential, and skill that would be needed to successfully integrate the Southwest Conference.

This first campaign on the varsity squad, LeVias led SMU to their first Cotton Bowl appearance since Heisman winner Doak Walker suited up for the Mustangs, almost two decades earlier. LeVias' touchdowns against rivals Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M and TCU saw the Mustangs earn the conference title in often dramatic fashion. Once LeVias demonstrated his ability on and off the field, Darrell Royal, head coach at the conference power Texas, quipped that LeVias no longer looked too small. Speaking with LeVias' high school coach, Royal said, "Well, he didn't sound very big then when you described him, but he looks plenty big to me now." Texas had passed over LeVias, not only due to his size but because the Longhorns would not integrate their athletic teams until after being named consensus National Champions in 1969. LeVias wore the number 23 (for Psalm 23), which he also wore during his professional career, at his grandmother's insistence.

LeVias was three times consensus All-SWC, 1966–68, and All-America as a senior. He twice led the league in receiving and held every career record when his three varsity seasons ended, including the single game mark for reception yardage (when he caught 8 passes for 213 yards against North Carolina State in 1968.) LeVias ended his career with a TD catch in SMU's scintillating victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the 1968 Bluebonnet Bowl and followed that as the MVP of the Senior Bowl. On top of these achievements on the field, LeVias was an Academic All-American his senior year.

[SoCal_Pony]

Jerry LeVias is certainly the most deserving of a statue, but Eric Dickerson is the greatest football player in SMU history.

ED has been loyal to our school, he’s been a great ambassador, but he’s also been slighted many times due to his association with SMU, the College HOF selection being the most obvious snub.

I would build that statue for Jerry, it’s a great idea. But before i broke ground I’d tell Eric Dickerson he’s next.

[SoCal_Pony]

It is long overdue...

I always thought it would be appropriate to have LeVias with Hayden Fry by his side, pointing to go in the game. For the many times SMU has been on the wrong side of right, this is one that WAS right...and there was a reason LeVias was recruited to SMU, and it was Fry.

Fry is the only good thing Baylor has ever turned out.

I want to say Laughead did a promo photo of that somewhere...

Terrific idea. Hayden Fry pointing the way for Jerry Levias would be very fitting. I'd chip in for that!

Sorry, Hayden Fry is too Iowa. I’d make it Jerry only.

[Bergermeister]

Sorry, Hayden Fry is too Iowa. I’d make it Jerry only.

Hayden had Texas roots and proud of it. We're the ones who showed him the door. (And ended up with Dave Smith )