Since the days I attended SMU, we've always faced attendance issues and I have plenty of class mates who don't support the program. Unfortunately, 20 yrs of post death penalty apathy resulted in a 20 year period of students (now alumni we should be counting on to fill our venues) who really didn't care much about football and may never be part of the solution. It has to start with getting the students involved. It's getting better, but that's where a good game atmosphere starts. I think the old codgers in the crowd feed off the student enthusiasm. Would be nice of we could get 1/3 of our students out for every game and for them to be rowdy.
I agree the casual sports fan in the DFW area is not going to come out to watch unless/until we put a Top 10 caliber team on the field AND schedule attractive opponents. Just like in the Pony Express days, we will have to give away tickets to pack Ford when Rice and Tulane are in town.