Football Team Naming Geldings

[TheNewKid23]

Agreed - he will be gone after 5-7 years but he knows in order to get those W's he has to change things up. No matter what the traditions are. What happened to the "Rainbow Warriors"? June got rid of it.

Let's be realistic here. "Changing the losing culture" is running off players with a bad attitude. Accomplished by Jones at both Hawaii and SMU.

Changing mascots/logos etc. are for marketing and attendance. It has nothing to do with winning, except maybe that it is hard to recruit players to wear a rainbow on their helmet in Hawaii.

How have those changes been for Hawaii since Jones left? Their team is sinking fast along with attendance.

He feels it would be easier to change the image of SMU aka marketing with larger horses that are easy to identify as being "impressive" than Peruna, that isn't impressive if you don't know anything about him. Great. I like a coach that tries to improve things. BUT, it is the job of the admin to draw the line where appropriate. Peruna is clearly loved by the vast majority of alumni and students as evidenced by the student senate. Some might not like black unforms, but they aren't that big a deal. I think black is gimmicky, but I don't really care that much. Peruna is different.

If June showed up in College Station and said they needed to replace their stupid little mutt with a pit bull to have a stronger manly image, he might litterally get lynched by crazy aggies.

Agree completely about what it does for marketing, recruiting, etc.(the rest about Hawaii program now is pointless though) and I think Peruna will still be the focal point because of the rich tradition. That's just one tradition Coach Jones doesn't like. Right along with the walk from Perkins Chapel... There's certain tradition he won't touch but there's others that he expressed his dislike for multiple times and Peruna was on the top of the list.

[Mestengo]

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[PonyKai]

I wonder how much June really cares or thinks about Peruna. I mean seriously.

It's part of the human dynamic here, June has a sizable ego. It helps a lot, he's supremely confident in his staff, system, and abilities...and in some cases, for some of us, it hurts. I'm willing to bet he cares more about what he gets stuck on the bottoms of his shoes than what you, I, the community cares about Peruna, or his thoughts about it, or his take on tradition. The funny thing is, he was very up front about it. His criteria for looking at coaching jobs after Hawai'i were places like Duke and SMU, places that have been losing for so long that they'd be willing to hand the reins over to June and allow him to reconstruct a winning program in the manner he feels is best.

Personally, as members of the University community it's up to as to [deleted] and whine and draw a line in the sand. Some things can go, some things cannot.

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

Please answer the question

"First and foremost, let me stress that Peruna, the black Shetland pony who made his first appearance at a campus pep rally in 1932, is and will continue to be our mascot,"
SMU Athletic Dirctor Steve Orsini - 10/12/09

I'm surprised that Steve gave you time away from his backside to let you post that message. I guess even he needs a break from you.

[RGV Pony]

There's certain tradition he won't touch but there's others that he expressed his dislike for multiple times and Peruna was on the top of the list.

Which tradition(s) won't he touch? Pony ears?

[Mestengo]

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[CalallenStang]

Please answer the question

"First and foremost, let me stress that Peruna, the black Shetland pony who made his first appearance at a campus pep rally in 1932, is and will continue to be our mascot,"
SMU Athletic Dirctor Steve Orsini - 10/12/09

(what was not said)

"Until an unspecified time at which we will make sure that the geldings overshadow and ultimately replace Peruna"

[Longtime]

Our mascot is for marketing purposes? Then it doesn't matter what sort of creature we have since we don't market the program.

When was the last time Peruna visited the studios of the local morning shows like Fox 4 Good Day and Good Morning Texas? Or heck, crashed The Ticket studios? Can you imagine the fun Gordon Keith would have if Peruna strolled into the studio and tried to bite Jub-Jub?

That's one of the many great things about Peruna - he's portable. He should be showing up all over Dallas in the days leading up to home games.

[Stallion]

Peruna hates the Dallas Press-his father was always complaining about the 2 years he was put out to pasture

[EastStang]

I'd pay good money to see Peruna bite Dale Hanson.

[WorldStang]

As a former Peruna Handler - I can tell you that he HATED Kenneth Pye. He actually bit him once and tried a few other times.

[skyscraper]

So is anyone (current students currently on-campus especially) going to this ceremony tonight? A first hand report would be interesting.

[Treadway21]

Glad to hear Peruna was with us on Pye. You can add that to his CV.

If you will notice on the Banjo "SMU's New Look" video, the wall painting of the Hawaii Bowl has the balding cowboy and gelding are prominently featured and I didn't see Peruna. Who says they will be replacing Peruna. At least they had some band members on it. I know it is nit picky, but what the heck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dewGbOVW6yY&feature=player_embedded

By the way which one is Justice and which one is the American Way - or does anybody care?

[S....M....U]

SMU's colors are patriotic, so I guess Liberty and Justice are fitting. From now on, the Cowboy's are America's (Professional) Team and SMU will be America's (College) Team.

[Mestengo]

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