Orsini's next most important hire

[RGV Pony]

...should be the person to ANSWER the questions we have about attendance and the person who ENACTS a solution. An individual with experience and insight, who can objectively create a plan that will accomplish goals.

Will Ws equal a full Ford?
Will Ws pack Moody?

Is it Park Cities apathy we are dealing with?
Is it too tough to compete in the Dallas sports market?

There must be an excellent candidate who can accomplish these goals and answer these questions. Whether it requires creating a new position, combining a few, or whatever...IMO this is as important to SMU athletics as the demonstrated commitment to bball was in hiring Doherty (and coming through with the practice facility etc.)

First goal should be that at least people in Highland Park know that it is MUSTANG Game Day on a Saturday...signage, billboards, whatever.

Yes, I'm brainstorming, yes I'm rambling...and I'm trying to think of a situation where a program went from no attendance to great attendance. VTech was that way once. UConn also, leading up to the opening of their new stadium. Any suggestions? Thoughts? What programs have had similar challenges? I know SMU is private, so it may be a stretch, but I can remember growing up in New Mexico the Lobos (or hobos as they were called then) would get crowds of 8k...11k...18k...then they expand the stadium from 30k to 42k and have sold it out more than a few times; last year's average attendance was 37,282.

Finally, is there any reason (besides budgetary constraints) that would/should prevent Orsini from hiring such a person/creating such a position?

[expony18]

start playing at the HP satdium... especially for the halloween game... it will look like the stadium is packed...