Homecoming

[Charleston Pony]

the 14k attendance figure says it all. Is that the lowest attendance in history for a Homecoming game? I remember a Rice game in a cold rain at the Cotton Bowl a few years back that drew only 16k, but even in Ownby with 2-9 seasons we drew better than this.

The only question that remains is whether this team goes 0 for 12. Certainly appears we are on our way. Thank you to those who are still supporting this bunch. They really need the support to endure a season like this. I feel bad for our seniors. Hopefully the rising seniors will taste some success next year.

Meanwhile, let's hope the bball team is as competitive as they were last year. Even our soccer team has had a very disappointing year. Definitely a tough year for Mustang faithful.

[MrMustang1965]

It's pretty sad when the attendance/crowd at The Boulevard for the tailgate parties OUTNUMBERS the attendance/crowd in the stadium for the actual game. And, as someone earlier predicted (sorry I can't remember who it was) after the halftime Homecoming court was announced, the majority of the students left. Thank God for the Mustang Band! :thumbupcool:

[Nacho]

An entire group came and sat in front of me for halftime and then left when it was over. They never saw any of the game. I saw the same thing in the student section. They came in right before the half, yelled their lungs out for some homecoming Queen and then left.

[abezontar]

I don't know why anyone is suprised at the people who showed up for halftime only. That happens every year at homecoming, what has always bugged me is when the group that wins the homecoming week 'spirit' competition gets up and leaves.

[FloridaMustang]

Oh yeah, so who won this year anyway?

[cowboypony]

Here's the reality about the lack of attendance. I posted on this some time back about how we've lost a generation of supporters since the DP. If you take a current student, what traditions or culture does he/she have relative to SMU athletics. All he/she knows is losing - and losing big. Our football team probably doesn't even register on the radar screen of most students. I graduated in 1987 and am the last class that had 4 years of winning football. It's really quite simple: start winning and playing exciting football (hopefully against exciting regional opponents)and the students will then add that to their PDA's as an event to attend. Anyone younger than me doesn't have any first hand knowledge of SMU when SMU was competitive.

Nothing disappoints me more than seeing the lack of support from our fans and, particularly, our students. But, put yourselves in the shoes of a 20 year old going to school in Dallas and tell me you can blame them.

The marketing guys have really done a very good job but, at some point, we have to create a tradition by winning. Note that I didn't say "recreate" b/c most people under the age of 38 only know SMU as being a perennial loser.

Go Ponies!

[The PonyGrad]

Originally posted by Nacho:
An entire group came and sat in front of me for halftime and then left when it was over. They never saw any of the game. I saw the same thing in the student section. They came in right before the half, yelled their lungs out for some homecoming Queen and then left.

So Nacho, were you wearing a red polo with an SMU helmet on it?

[abezontar]

I dunno, I wasn't really paying attention to the announcements. My guess is some greek organization. Does anyone know what has to be done to win that competition?

[Nacho]

Am I being followed?

[Stallion]

Don't worry Nacho-first they threaten to hang you in effigy.

[The PonyGrad]

Originally posted by Nacho:
Am I being followed?

I'll take that as a yes.

No, you were not being followed but I was on that row with you when all the Frat boys and girls were leaving.

[mrydel]

Guess it is a good idea not to travel to effigy. :laugh:

[Nacho]

Come over and say hello next time. I don't bite.

[Southland]

Originally posted by Charleston Pony:
the 14k attendance figure says it all. Is that the lowest attendance in history for a Homecoming game?

All about winning baby! Win, and the community will get interested. SMU has done a nice job with everything else (facilities, increased marketing exposure, partnerships, etc.).

Since moving to California after graduation, I've gone to SC games... USC was drawing 45,000 when they were a .500 team in the late 1990s (unless it was UCLA or ND). On Saturday, I was one of 82,000 in the Coliseum -- for UCLA, I'll be one of 92,000+.

SMU needs to win. Best case scenerio, SMU is ready to win games by 2005 (the first in CUSA).