Official DMN Article on Geldings

[newshound]

I think it would be appropriate that anyone who has issue with the Pickens' gift work their way over to Peruna's grave at halftime in a show of support for the real mascot, the original mascot, the only mascot. Who's in?

[Dooby]

Not even close. It's just not right. You can't have some cowboy on the back of our horse and I can't believe they show him standing on the saddle.

It's cool when they're coming out of the trailer with no rider but I get disgusted the minute they put that saddle on them.

I can't support horses in our stadium with cowboys on them. It's simply wrong.

Just what did you expect them to do? Let these things run wild? To have to guys trying to run with it holding it from the side as with Peruna? The rider is the only option for a horse of this size.

And this is why I have been opposed to the idea for years. And, yes, this idea has been around for years.

You bring a full-sized horse into the stadium, you have two choices. First, the horse stands there drugged up on the sideline like BEVO. Second, the horse has a rider like Texas Tech. There is no third option, and anyone that has spent significant time around a horse knows it.

Anyone that supports this idea, and fails to realize the above, has not thought this thing through.

[PonySoprano]

They already have our new helmet logo for next year picked out:

[Stallion]

I pray for a failed "slow clap" Saturday Nite

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=s ... en&tab=wv#

[SMUPhil]

Just what did you expect them to do? Let these things run wild? To have to guys trying to run with it holding it from the side as with Peruna? The rider is the only option for a horse of this size.

Exactly what we've been saying all along (like 5 years ago, the last time this topic came up). I think the Peruna critics imagined something totally unrealistic, and now BOTH sides of the argument are going to feel like this is just an embarassment. There's a REASON we have Peruna, he's a stallion, he's spunky, etc. and his size allows for him to be managable in a sideline/game scenario. There was no way a full-size horse was ever going to be allowed to run around, kick, and buck. Peruna IX looks like a total bada$$ compared to the other new ones. I can't help but think the Culwell family feels slighted in all of this. You can really tell from the video that they 'get' Peruna, it's not just money they donate to the school.

[Hoop Fan]

I'm speechless. Really don't know what to say. I read that article and just laughed. Call it off SMU, you will look less stupid calling it off than going through with it.

[PonyKai]

Well at least now we can swap out "ALL OUT!" with "NO NAUGHTY BOYS!"

[Sam I Am]

If anyone boos, it should be at JJ, not the Pickens. The mascot issue comes from the coach, not a donor. Rethink the right way to form our protests and send the message where it belongs. I would rather become a Div. III school than let a hirling change a school's legacy. SMU needs Peruna more than it needs a winning football team. Find a coach who likes ponies and we'll do just fi ne.

[couch 'em]

I can't wait for 5-10 years from now when the same type of people wanting these new horses complain that they are not as big as Tech's horse, or that cowboys riding them "look gay", or they just stand there too much, or.....

[SMUPhil]

So, now that this new horse situation has been explained, anyone still in full support of this? Does this make you feel better at the water cooler at work when all the guys are talking football?

[carolina stang]

[ There's a REASON we have Peruna, he's a stallion, he's spunky, etc. and his size allows for him to be managable in a sideline/game scenario. There was no way a full-size horse was ever going to be allowed to run around, kick, and buck. Peruna IX looks like a total bada$$ compared to the other new ones.

Brilliant! Pee-rooney is a freaking badass.

I have this image (fantasy?) of the horses just before they are to lead the team on the field. One absolutely refuses to budge. Pretty soon there are four or five handlers on the field trying to pull him forward with great aplomb. The handlers are grabbing their sides with hernias because the naughty boy won't move. The rider is digging some hastily found spurs in the sides of said gelding. No luck. Finally the team has to runaround either side of the stubborn horse who has to be euthanized to start the first quarter.

Geldings: To quote Sam I Am: AMF

[couch 'em]

So, now that this new horse situation has been explained, anyone still in full support of this? Does this make you feel better at the water cooler at work when all the guys are talking football?

But....but....but....but....we have a big horse! Nobody will ever make fun of SMU football now!

[ponydawg]

Uuff. Man, i have been in the just win camp, but, kneeling horses....really? I have gone out on a limb thinking that Peruna will still be here being the main focus and this side show will be off to the side, so I wasn't to mad. But kneeling horses........kneeling......I guess it will be a big hit with the 6-12 year old girls.

Eeessh. Second thoughts about bringing my TX OU buddies.


p.s. Just win.

[OR-See-Nee]

Regardless of one's position on the issue of whether Peruna and/or Mustangs should be at the game, as mascots, etc., this episode has been a disastrous effort by the powers that be. It has caused unnecessary division in the ranks, it continues to make SMU look like a program and university with no direction, and as of right now, I don't see any benefit to the university or the football program.

To make matters worse, this division is covered by our local newspaper, on the front page of its webpage. The DMN isn't covering the fact that we've won more games this season than in the last two combined, but that there is controversy and division over the Pickens' Plan (and as noted, the rider isn't even wearing SMU colors!).

I was hopeful that with JJ's hiring, people outside of Ponyfans--the general public--would look at SMU in a new light. No longer a joke in college football. We're serious. We're going to kick arse. SMU is the place you want to be and to be associated with.

But now, we get this. Instead of looking forward to a great game against a great team, we become a laughing stock again. We don't know who we are, why we are here, or who our freakin mascot is.

I can only think that the SMU powers that be who put this together and agreed to it did so for the almighty dollar. While one shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, as an old saying goes, one can adequately prepare for the reception of the gift horse. The apparent lack of communication and buy-in by significant University constituencies is not excusable.

I only hope and pray that the powers that be conditioned the receipt of these horses upon the receipt of a significant amount of cash from the Pickens family and others on the board of the wild horse foundation. This gift has caused too much pain, conflict and negative publicity otherwise.

[SmooBoy]

You know the DMN is desperate when they have to resort to trolling PonyFans for quotes. too_bad_they_did_not_quote_june_bug