MICHAEL BOWEN to appear on Wednesday's PonyFans LIVE

[PonyPride]

Former SMU wide receiver MICHAEL BOWEN is driving to Dallas from Austin to join wide receivers coach JEFF REINEBOLD on Wednesday's PonyFans LIVE show! (OK, so Bowen has business in Dallas, but we like to think he'll be here just for the show.)

For the younger PonyFans out there, Bowen joined the Mustangs as a freshman in 1986. A year later, when football was shut down, he transferred to Georgia, only to transfer back to SMU when football returned. He was the Mustangs' leading receiver in 1990, with 60 receptions, but what he'll always be remembered for around SMU was when he caught the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds against Connecticut to give the Mustangs their first victory after the death penalty. Bowen's catch gave the Ponies a 31-30 victory over UConn in a game that came to be known as "The Miracle on Mockingbird."

For good measure, former wide receiver MICK ROSSLEY — the third-leading receiver in SMU history — is going to try to come by at the end of the show, too. Maybe we can get him on the microphone, too!

Come out Wednesday night to meet Coach Reinebold and a couple of the greatest receivers in SMU history. Bring your questions and pens for autographs ... not to mention your appetites for Point Burgers.

NEXT SHOW
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 29
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Lakewood's 1st & 10

[ALEX LIFESON]

These two guys will love each other....birds of a feather! PONY UP!

[BleedingRed+Blue]

Bowen and Coach Reinebold — I'm going to try to get out of work early to make it over to Dallas for this one. Should be a great show (and I haven't had a Point Burger recently enough!)

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

This one is going to be [deleted] awesome! I can't wait!

[Big Al]

Looking forward to it!

[Bo17]

What a great night reconnecting with former teammates and all the great SMU fans who are still loyal after all these years. I am truly grateful to all those who were in attendance who made the night very special for me. We are a close family and I love all of you very much, teammates and loyal Fans alike! I met Coach Reinebold last night and he is an extremely talented coach and great person as well. With June Jones, Reinebold and the other SMU coaches our football program is in good hands. The success of any football program starts at the top with the coaches and we are in great shape there. These guys are smart, they relate to their players well, they are driven and they are committed. I was truly impressed by the whole experience and I can see that "OUR" football program is in good hands.

If there is one thing that I would like to see on this forum and from past players, fans and alumni it is the reference to our program being in the dumps in the past and talking about negative losing streaks and "death penalty" this and that's. We are a new program now and we are a winning program with great leadership and incredible student-athletes and we are beyond that. I want us all to look to our bright future and focus on what we are doing in the here and now. No more "Life after Death" comments please, that is long gone now and let's put it to rest. This should be all about "Living the Life" and having an incredible product out there each week on the football field and reaping the great benefits and rewards of a successful football program.

I know we are all looking forward to the ESPN 30 and 30 series about the SMU football program and the Death Penalty. That is fine that we are looking forward to it but I am hoping that once it has aired then we can put this whole Death Penalty thing to rest. Let's face it, the death penalty sucked on so many levels and yet it was a great thing on others. It was traumatic for the players and coaches who lost their team. It was embarrassing, frustrating and disappointing for the alumni and fans that lost their program. For the players and coaches who gained a new program and purpose during the rebuilding years, it was special and life changing. For the fans and alumni who had to struggle through the rebuilding process it was equally frustrating and disappointing yet it was sweet and galvanizing.

The SMU football program has gone through so much to get where it is today and now we should all focus on the here and now and focus on the positive. Focus on what we have as a program and support that program to the fullest. Less negative comments about the past and more positive future building comments about the present. People are watching what we do and are listening to the things we have to say. Negative comments and discussions about the past do our program a disservice! WE ARE ARE SMU FOOTBALL...WE ARE STRONG, WE ARE GOOD AND WE ARE PROUD!!!! PONY-UP or get run over by the stampede because this stampede is headed for greatness!

Woo-Hoo!

Bo

[PK]

Thanks Bo for being there last night...for making the 3.5 hr drive up to Dallas and again back home. Enjoyed meeting you and hearing your stories. You are right...the future is bright for SMU and all of us long suffering Mustangs fans.

Upward and onward. Go Mustangs. Beat Rice!!!!!!

[Big Al]

Re negative comments about the death penalty in years past...these have been used as a crutch by coaches(Bennett) and AD(Copeland), not necessarily fans, for poor recruiting and hires to cover their tails. Agreed we should get over it and move forward.

[Pony4Life]

You're right about the DP, Bo. It's a great thing that the 30/30 film is being made, as the university seemed to try to hide from its past for years. The fact is that it happened, and I can't wait to hear how it affected those who were intimately involved. It is a story that honestly should have been made years ago.

But you're also right that it is history. It is not what SMU is now. Our university has no reason to deny its past, because under June Jones, our future is so promising that we can acknowledge our past missteps. I want to echo the comments made by PK and Big Al and others and say thanks for coming so far to talk SMU football again, to those who were there in person and those who will watch your interview on PonyFans.com. After seeing that, there isn't a soul who can question your loyalty and passion for SMU. Thanks for driving up, thanks for everything you did on the field, and thanks for still caring so much about SMU.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Hey, I'm Big Al, who is this NEW copy cat? PONY UP!