Galloway asks whre are the SMU fans?

[Dooby]

I researched it myself. From 1997 to today, TCU is up about 10,000 a game. That puts us far behind where TCU was after their 1998 season. I also note they did it without bringing in teams that sold a lot of tickets. So, yeah, it is a concern. However, TCU never had to deal with the [deleted] SMU fan did the past 20 years. So SMU has farther to go, but we'll get there. It is going to take time and effort. I didn't expect to go to a bowl and magically fill Ford Stadium every week.

That being said, Growing up, I went to a lot of TCU games and I know that regardless of the printed numbers TCU had it's fair share of empty seats over the years.

Fact is it is on us to bring people to the games to experience ford and the boulevard.

[Topper]

TCU had much lower attendance than SMU for many many years back before the death penalty. Their ascendncey was in direct proportion to our decline. You can't really compare their attendance situation to ours until we have demonstrated a history of winning. It will also take many years to enlargethe base of alums who are football fans. Very few students have enrolled at SMU in the past 25 years because having a big time football team was important to them. Very few alums under age 50 can really identify with the great tradition of SMU football.

[SMU 86]

I think SMU is still considered Highland Park's college team and not Dallas' college team. The coaching staff is reaching out to the community better now and trying to change that perception but it will take time and work. It's going to take more than just winning games.

[Dooby]

But we don't get much of the highland park crowd beyond the alums. I bet 75% of TCU's tickets are sold to people living within 3 miles of the campus. Yes we need to market to all of Dallas, but our base is between downtown and 635 (for the record, I don't live there). We need to do better with our base. My brother and his kids go to lots of TCU games and they have no affiliation to the school. It is just something fun to do and they live a couple of miles from campus.

[SMU 86]

But we don't get much of the highland park crowd beyond the alums. I bet 75% of TCU's tickets are sold to people living within 3 miles of the campus. Yes we need to market to all of Dallas, but our base is between downtown and 635 (for the record, I don't live there). We need to do better with our base. My brother and his kids go to lots of TCU games and they have no affiliation to the school. It is just something fun to do.

I am not saying that is where the crowd comes from, I am saying that it what the perception is. Again, the coaches have put in place programs but it will take a while to pull more people in even the ones you are taking about.

[JasonB]

It is going to take time to build up a focus on the team. The crowds are better than what they were, which is nice, but it will take time to build a little history and tradition with the program. I think everyone took note of how full the student section was last week - The frosh and the sophmores are going to be football fans who come to every game. In two years, the majority of the student body will attend every game. That will help attendance in itself. The alumni have started buying in, which is why the west side is pretty full. The endzone and the east side will fill in once SMU starts hanging around the top 25. That is how Dallas goes.

[Big Hoss]

I would only listen to Randy Galloway's show if my only other choice was Russ Martin. Then again, given that choice, I might just put a bullet in my temple.

[Statler]

Ever since the Cowboys came to town, SMU has had problems drawing a crowd. There is so much in Dallas on any given weekend competing for the entertainment dollar. Even duing the Pony Express days we average around 32k and that was with a&m/ark and Tech/texas alternating. We had huge non=paying crowds with Brad Thomas' giveaways (and there is nothing wrong with that). I mean we did draw 60k for a Rice game.

[Uncle Bill]

I'm afraid that if we don't start showing better attendance we become unattractive to any major conference come realignment time.

[NastyStang]

It is going to take time to build up a focus on the team. The crowds are better than what they were, which is nice, but it will take time to build a little history and tradition with the program. I think everyone took note of how full the student section was last week - The frosh and the sophmores are going to be football fans who come to every game. In two years, the majority of the student body will attend every game. That will help attendance in itself. The alumni have started buying in, which is why the west side is pretty full. The endzone and the east side will fill in once SMU starts hanging around the top 25. That is how Dallas goes.

I second this, dead on...

[BIGHORSE]

All of the fans we have that don't go to the games probably think

yeah more of our fans should go to the games, but I will stay home

and watch it on T.V.

[Dutch]

Where are all of Galloways' listeners.

TCU still has attendance problems. they've been a top ten team for the past several seasons and they only sold out one game last year. Utah.

SMU & TCU don't and probably won't ever have 'Dirt Road Alumni' like UT/Aggie/TTech/OU/etc. (dirt road alumns are those that live down a dirt road, but cheer like they went to the university.

[Statler]

SMU & TCU don't and probably won't ever have 'Dirt Road Alumni' like UT/Aggie/TTech/OU/etc. (dirt road alumns are those that live down a dirt road, but cheer like they went to the university

We don't have "dirt road alumns." We have "patio furniture" alumns.

[Dutch]

SMU & TCU don't and probably won't ever have 'Dirt Road Alumni' like UT/Aggie/TTech/OU/etc. (dirt road alumns are those that live down a dirt road, but cheer like they went to the university

We don't have "dirt road alumns." We have "patio furniture" alumns.

I'll take 'em. we NEED fans outside of our small alumni base.

[MrMustang1965]

SMU & TCU don't and probably won't ever have 'Dirt Road Alumni' like UT/Aggie/TTech/OU/etc. (dirt road alumns are those that live down a dirt road, but cheer like they went to the university.

I'm borrowing this, Dutch! Good one!