Boulevard to Ford

[Mustang98]

So far the Orsini regime has done an excellent job of changing the mindset that SMU is a Division I program and should act like one. I think the increased rate for tailgating spots on the boulevard is long overdue and will lead to better things. Here is my question.

The "Boulevard" as you all know is a great environment and well attended. The problem is that not all of the people on the Boulevard go straight to the stadium by kickoff. How can SMU (without using physical force or being unconstitutional) get the folks on the Boulevard into Ford Stadium by kickoff? I am assuming you can't shut down the Boulevard 20 minutes before kickoff. How do other big programs like UT, Georgia, Alabama, etc. get their fans into the stadium? SMU fans like to drink and eat as much as a fan from UT, Georgia, and Alabama. I think I know the answer to my question, but I wanted to see if any of you guys had ideas on how to get our fans into Ford by kickoff. (Even though the players have a helment and face mask on, they can still see how many people are in the seats.)

[MrMustang1965]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz .....this question has been 'asked and answered' so many times, it's ridiculous. The answer is: putting a winning team on the field.

Next question.

[PonySnob]

The "Boulevard" as you all know is a great environment and well attended. The problem is that not all of the people on the Boulevard go straight to the stadium by kickoff. How can SMU (without using physical force or being unconstitutional) get the folks on the Boulevard into Ford Stadium by kickoff? I am assuming you can't shut down the Boulevard 20 minutes before kickoff. How do other big programs like UT, Georgia, Alabama, etc. get their fans into the stadium? SMU fans like to drink and eat as much as a fan from UT, Georgia, and Alabama. I think I know the answer to my question, but I wanted to see if any of you guys had ideas on how to get our fans into Ford by kickoff. (Even though the players have a helment and face mask on, they can still see how many people are in the seats.)

Start putting a winning SMU football team in Ford Stadium..........unfortunately, we don't have near the winning tradition of the programs that you mentioned....even in the days of the SMU "pro" teams we did not win 9 or 10 games a year on a regular basis. Unfortunately, our only tradition since 1987 has been one of losing.......

[that's great raplh]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz .....this question has been 'asked and answered' so many times, it's ridiculous. The answer is: putting a winning team on the field.

Next question.

go away

[jtstang]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz .....this question has been 'asked and answered' so many times, it's ridiculous. The answer is: putting a winning team on the field.

Next question.

Thank you.

[Mustang98]

You guys have a real "Copeland" (a.k.a. Loser) mentality. I think there could be some creative ways to get people into Ford. SMU has always struggled with this even when we were winning in the 1980's. When you drove or were bused out to Texas Stadium or the Cotton Bowl, it was easy to say, "Well, I think we'll just hang outside by the keg for a while." It's understandable because you had to drag all sorts of stuff with you to get set up in Irving or Fair Park.

The Boulevard is different. The Boulevard is on location and you can start so much earlier than you could at Texas Stadium or the Cotton Bowl. Theoretically you can be ramping down your festivities earlier and then head to the game. Is there a countdown to kickoff announced on a PA system? For example, "Twenty minutes to kickoff Mustang Fans!" , "Five minutes to kickoff Mustang Fans!"

[mrydel]

You guys have a real "Copeland" (a.k.a. Loser) mentality. I think there could be some creative ways to get people into Ford. SMU has always struggled with this even when we were winning in the 1980's. When you drove or were bused out to Texas Stadium or the Cotton Bowl, it was easy to say, "Well, I think we'll just hang outside by the keg for a while." It's understandable because you had to drag all sorts of stuff with you to get set up in Irving or Fair Park.

The Boulevard is different. The Boulevard is on location and you can start so much earlier than you could at Texas Stadium or the Cotton Bowl. Theoretically you can be ramping down your festivities earlier and then head to the game. Is there a countdown to kickoff announced on a PA system? For example, "Twenty minutes to kickoff Mustang Fans!" , "Five minutes to kickoff Mustang Fans!"

There is a large countdown clock on the grounds, but personally, I look at my watch. I have to vote with putting a good product on the field. Although I do not think it is necessary, you can get into the endless "alcohol sales in the stadium" discussion.

[2112]

here is a comparison from stadium to team. we built a palace, but furnished it from walmart.

[PonySnob]

Although I do not think it is necessary, you can get into the endless "alcohol sales in the stadium" discussion.

Do they sell alcohol at UT, A$M, Notre Dame, Michigan, OU, Georgia, etc, etc? Somehow these schools seem to sell out every game......without selling alchohol at the concession stands. If people want to drink at a game, it is not like it is the most difficult thing to do. That is why they sell the flask size bottles of your favorite spirit at Parkit Market or any other liqour store. Even if beer was sold in Ford, would it suddenly make everybody on the boulevard go rushing into the stadium so they could pay $5 for a beer......especially if the product on the field was still playing like has for the better part of 20 years.

[Mexmustang]

Aside from have an entertaining team, entertaining schedule (opponents) and winning records...

Have a "last call" by all SMU associations, fraternities, law school, alumni tents.

Get the fraternities to pledge to back it up and move to the stadium together to their seats.

Start a tradition of our own, where the students follow the band as it belows out the fight song, say from the fountain or the steps of Dallas hall and begins the march down the Blvd. followed by the students, fraternity groups, etc.

Make it like a parade. Each campus fraternity or student organization, if they wish has their own obnoxious banners or posters "XYZ sponsors today's frog leg supper", or "Alpha Beta Kappa says Burry the sand aggies" etc.

Sell beer in the stadium, or outside in the plaza and allow remits of the students. Have a 30 minute period when sales are closed 15 minutes before kickoff until 15 minutes after kickoff (or when SMU first scores, or gets a first down, etc). Last time I checked there were profits in the sale of beer.

Manage our starting times, when TV permits, that has the games played later in the afternoon and evenings so the Blvd. experience has a chance to play-out. Nothing worse than a Noon or 1:00PM kickoff, when the students and fans have just arrived on the scene. Better to delay afternoon starts unitl 3:30 or 4PM and evening starts until 7:30 or 8PM.

[jtstang]

You guys have a real "Copeland" (a.k.a. Loser) mentality.

That likely comes from watching twenty years of losing. You probably weren't even borrn when it started.

[MustangIcon]

Have a "last call" by all SMU associations, fraternities, law school, alumni tents.

Get the fraternities to pledge to back it up and move to the stadium together to their seats.

But without a good product on the field and solid opponents what incentive does a fraternity or any student organization have to make this pledge or back it up?

"hey guys, lets put down the beers, leave the girls, and go watch our football team beat up on Sam Houston even though we won't go to a bowl game again this year" Thats the mind set a lot of people have and you can be angry about it or you can realize that not everyone is hardcore about SMU athletics like posters on this board.

We will not have good support until we have winning teams. Thankfully for us, at Bennett's current pace we should have a real, winning program around the time JWill's children are enrolling at SMU .

[LonghornFan68]

Sell beer in the stadium

I like it, I like it!

[PonySnob]

Sell beer in the stadium

I like it, I like it!

Which schools sell alcohol at their on campus stadiums?

[PK]

Playing our games at the Cotton Bowl had its down sides, but you could go out the gate and buy a beer. Can't remember whether you could bring it into the stadium or had to drink it outside the stadium, but at least you could buy it during the game. Is UP still a dry area????