Black Sunday

by **35straight** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 12:03 pm

Make sure that you all go to church and pray for our Mustangs this Sunday. Feb. 25th is the 20 year anniversary of the Death Penalty. Wow, I cant believe its been that long. Partly because I was six at the time. Go Stangs.

Notice the sign. Bennett said that his first meeting with us as Head Coach. I'm still here.

by **ponyboy** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:53 pm

Man, that is unbelievable -- 20 years. I was a 20 year old sophomore when this came down. It hurt. But what hurt even more was the breakup several years later of the SWC.

by **mr. pony** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 3:49 pm

by **PonySnob** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:11 pm

It's hard to believe that we still have not recovered from the Death Penalty after 20 years.............

by **PonyLove** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:52 pm

This is one anniversary I will not be recognizing. In fact, I'd be happy if we didn't have to hear about it again. There are plenty of good things happening at SMU---let's move on!

by **mr. pony** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:18 pm

Look for a major feature in the DMN Sunday. Basically, how we've never gotten over it, and may never, with lots of stats before and after DP.

by **smupony94** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:16 pm

God I can't believe it has been that long. I was a freshman the year we did not have football. We have been terrible since then and yet I am still a Pony Fan.

by **crazy horse** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:53 pm

Others have said this before, and I agree with their thoughts.

As far as harming the SMU football program, I put the top three events in this order:

1. The Pye Penalty - Far more harmful and longer lasting effects than anything the NCAA did.

2. The End of the SWC - No conference configuration to date has come close to making up for the loss of association with UT, A&M, Tech, Baylor etc.

3. The NCAA DP - Without the above two, we wouldn't be reading a thread like this.

by **Ikus** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:10 am

PonyLove wrote:This is one anniversary I will not be recognizing. In fact, I'd be happy if we didn't have to hear about it again. There are plenty of good things happening at SMU---let's move on!

Couldn't agree more.

What say we issue a moratorium here and now not to mention it on this site again? Those of us who get on this site regularly are the most active fans SMU has, and if we all move on, the rest of the school community eventually will have to do the same.

by **mr. pony** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:13 am

Nope, crazy horse, I can't agree.

*TCU wasn't hurt by the SWC breakup.

*The Pye penalty was a result of the DP.

*SMU's DP was a major cause of the SWC breakup, (along with Arkansas leaving.)

The DP was the catalyst for everything and its effects remain, mainly because of the stigma of SMU being the only school that ever did and ever will receive it.

To say all this is not using it as a crutch or whining, either. These are just facts.

by **mr. pony** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:17 am

[quote="IkusWhat say we issue a moratorium here and now not to mention it on this site again? Those of us who get on this site regularly are the most active fans SMU has, and if we all move on, the rest of the school community eventually will have to do the same.[/quote]

I suggest you stay in bed Sunday and don't read the paper or watch Dale Hansen. It will be everywhere.

by **Stallion** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:18 am

[deleted]. SMU shot itself in the head. The Pye Fiasco would not of happened at a single other SWC school not including Rice which lives in its own world. And what's more most of YOU sat back and acted like SMU was doing us a favor by letting us play Ivy League Football. Our leaders let us down. The voices at this university who could of and should of made a difference by standing up for a strong, competitive but clean football/basketball program fell silent.

by **OC Mustang** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:31 am

crazy horse wrote:Others have said this before, and I agree with their thoughts.

As far as harming the SMU football program, I put the top three events in this order:

1. The Pye Penalty - Far more harmful and longer lasting effects than anything the NCAA did.

2. The End of the SWC - No conference configuration to date has come close to making up for the loss of association with UT, A&M, Tech, Baylor etc.

3. The NCAA DP - Without the above two, we wouldn't be reading a thread like this.

Without #3, then #1 would have never happened, and #2 might have included a better deal for SMU. And frankly, if we are looking to pinpoint cause, go thank Steve Malin for his contribution, and by extension Mike Cavan. And hey, let's not forget Copeland. Pye's been dead for 13 years, 2/3rds of the time since the DP. If you want to burn the man in effigy, knock yourself out. But he's been out of the picture, and plenty of other folks have stakes in the game since. While we are on it, how long has Turner been in a spot to do something about it? Last time I looked, a President and a Board could unilaterally decide policy changes without faculty input. If athletics in general and SMU football in particular is so important ($30 million important to Ford & Co.), then make the call and do it, right?

So, crazy horse, wouldn't you concede that the flogging of Pye has gone on long enough? I mean c'mon, it isn't as if the faculty is conducting seances to induce the old man to haunt the athletic program, is it?

by **Stallion** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:40 am

The great Mike Cavan -still the only football coach in SMU post DP era to post a winning record in the last 20 years!!!! Phil Bennett has none of the excuses that Rossley, Gregg or Cavan had and he still can't post a winning record playing NTSU, Sam Houston State Monument and Hillbilly State. And why couldn't Bennett gets us over the hump because he couldn't beat lowly Rice or NTSU.

by **Ikus** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:44 am

Stallion wrote: .... what's more most of YOU sat back and acted like SMU was doing us a favor by letting us play Ivy League Football....

Most of US sat back? Remind us how actively you get involved?

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