Student Attendance/Enthusiasm Key for Recruiting

[ponyboy]

We'll be crawling with fans when we start winning. It's the Dallas way.

[ndsonofhype18]

go stars!

[Pony Soup]

We'll be crawling with fans when we start winning. It's the Dallas way.

I think more people will show up once we start winning, but why would we crawl around the stadium with them? I think walking would improve traffic flow and reduce lines at the one concession stand they keep open after the coin toss

[03Mustang]

We'll be crawling with fans when we start winning. It's the Dallas way.

I think more people will show up once we start winning, but why would we crawl around the stadium with them? I think walking would improve traffic flow and reduce lines at the one concession stand they keep open after the coin toss

weak

[Pony Soup]

weak

The point was to be on par with the level of the entire board right now...see "weak" thread. Thanks.

[smaniac38]

There were usually a few kegs on the buses for the passengers.

I do not advocate alcohol in Ford, but it did factor into students attending in my day.

What was the behavior of the students after riding over on a keg-bus probably as drunk as possible? Enthusiastic?

I do not remember (guess why). I do recall, however, that we all escorted our "pregnant" dates. We learned quickly that the security folks checked purses for alcohol, but never "patted down" a pregnant woman. Lots of booze in the "womb".

that's genius

[smaniac38]

Nice to see ndsonofhype18 try to alienate the last group of fans that do attend the games by insulting them.

I absolutely didn't insult anyone in my post. Included in my reference to the pre-1983 alums is my dad, the only person I know who is a bigger pony fan than me). All I'm saying is that a major factor in bringing talent to the program comes from the clear existence of student enthusiasm and support. I'm a sophomore at ND and we just got top RB Cierre Wood (#3 rated player in the country) to commit. He said a major part of his decision came from the incredible response from the student body. My buddies and I made a couple signs during his visit and hung them outside of Alumni and Dillon Hall. There's no denying the important role of the students. One of the biggest reasons I didn't end up going to SMU was because I have never been impressed with the fan atmosphere (save for Tulsa @ Moody a few years ago when we lost in OT, SMU's loss @ TCU knocking us out of bowl contention, and opening day at Ford Stadium).

Also, it looks like I ruffled a few feathers suggesting the Snoop Dogg performance. If you read my original post, I wasn't serious about bringing him in although he did perform during USC's football season last year. It's funny you voiced your disagreement with bringing in a rap act because the pep rallies are for students, not pre-1983 or even 73 alums. Sadly (no joke), Bruce Springsteen isn't as cool as he once was...

I'm actually the student rep for Notre Dame Athletics planning pep rallies and garnering student support for other less publicized varsity sports. We're forming a student group to welcome recruits to campus during visits after our clear success with Cierre Wood. I would suggest that SMU take notes from ND's PR program for football and look to Duke/UNC (like we are) for a good framework for successful basketball marketing. This season we're having the first ND Basketball pep rally in recent memory (and yes, we're booking rap acts for the show).

Can't wait to see what the former SWA marketing guy comes up with this season. Should be some very interesting changes coming soon.

How are you such a big fan if you chose Notre Dame over SMU? We all chose SMU, so doesn't that make us bigger/loyal fans?

[smaniac38]

AND Bruce Springsteen is much cooler than you

[pony warrior]

Something needs to be done. These are 2006 attendance averages for the Conference.

1. UTEP - 42,400
2. East Carolina - 37,100
3. Memphis - 32,400
4. Cent. Florida - 31,500
5. southern Miss. - 28,900
6. Marshall - 25,900
7. UAB - 23,100
8. Houston - 21,900
9. Tulsa - 21,300
10. Rice - 20,600
11. Tulane - 18,900
12. SMU - 15,400

Sorry, I don't have last years.

[Bergermeister]

We had the big time crowds - some at the Cotton Bowl but mostly at Texas Stadium largely due to the ticket giveaways,
Ron Meyer's shot of enthusiasm, Russ Potts' hype of Mustang Mania and the Pony Express. The large alumni base of conterence members Tech, UT and ATM - even Baylor helped boost attendance. We do not have that with the Rice alums and many former UH students are in correctional facilities - UTEP shows up pretty well - Tulsa and Tulane travel as bad as we do. In good years, we have had about the same percentage of students attend games as UT. Until we're good again, you won't get many SMU students in a red shirt - their loyalties will be with their fraternities and sororities and related activities. I hope Ford Stadium becomes "the place to be" on Saturday (or Thursday or when-ev-er) starting with the Texas State home opener. In the meantime, let's promote, promote, promote for the 2008 season and start making plans to get down I-45 to the Rice game in August - and, hopefully, have MORE fans than the Owls. And WIN!

[03Mustang]

Something needs to be done.

Meet "Something":

[jimhagle]

If and when we win the seats will fill but never think the students will be a big part of the equation at games -they to my knowledge never have been and I mean never. And I'm not counting a few isolated circumstances where we've won over the years. Apathy reigns for the most part-it's a sad fact.

[couch 'em]

If and when we win the seats will fill but never think the students will be a big part of the equation at games -they to my knowledge never have been and I mean never. And I'm not counting a few isolated circumstances where we've won over the years. Apathy reigns for the most part-it's a sad fact.

SMU only has something like 5000 undergrads, and again that many grad students. That means the "students" could never be more than 31.25% of the equation.

[PonyKai]

If and when we win the seats will fill but never think the students will be a big part of the equation at games -they to my knowledge never have been and I mean never. And I'm not counting a few isolated circumstances where we've won over the years. Apathy reigns for the most part-it's a sad fact.

Because we suck. Folks it's not a difficult issue here. We haven't gone because we suck and it isn't worth it. I don't want to hear a debate on why that's right or wrong or not a good reason, it's simply the truth. It's not some vendetta against the school, it's not some gripe with the stadium or team.

It's because we play in CUSA, we went 1-11 last year, we've had one winning season in every body knows how long, and until about January 7th, there wasn't a whole lot to get up for.

[Bergermeister]

Because we suck. Folks it's not a difficult issue here. We haven't gone because we suck and it isn't worth it. I don't want to hear a debate on why that's right or wrong or not a good reason, it's simply the truth. It's not some vendetta against the school, it's not some gripe with the stadium or team..

So, what do you do instead?