SMU Needs to Recruit the "Lost Generation"

by **2112** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 12:47 pm

SMUnewbie wrote:I know that the jersey was a one time thing, and I'm starting to think your a chick with all this obsessing you do over clothing colors.....find a new cause

...does ms stallions vagina...match her bald head...

by **smupony94** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 1:31 pm

Stallion must have had a bad New Year's Eve at Red River. Must be time for him to go on one of his "special" cruises.

not that there is anything wrong with that

by **Wuba** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 1:59 pm

[quote="Stallion"]Find a new team!!![/qu

Love the contrast between the title/theme of this thread and your comment. Do you see the irony of this comment? Why do you consistently opt for belligerence?

by **Peruna94&07** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:04 pm

As an undergrad of the lost generation 90-94 I can say the experience back then was one that football was not even mentioned. I am not even sure the DC covered the games.

I grew up watching the Pony Express and loved the Mustangs but it wasn't until I went back for my MBA 5 years ago that I was reintroduced to Mustang football. Since then I have been steadily increasing my support from a game or two a season to now a season ticket holder.

It takes time to convince us it is worth our time and money. We must remember the lost generation is the one with kids right now that are playing 1 - 3 different sports, so weekends can be challenging to say the least.

My thoughts on how to re-engage my generation is to leverage the alumni rosters and send marketing to the ones that live in the DFW area. Get those folks to come back, to see the Blvd, then go to the game. If the MC or the Alumni association would do something like 2 free endzone tickets and access the blvd tent I think you would get some folks that wouldn't normally attend. Yes this will cost some money but the long run will be worth it.

by **One Trick Pony** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:06 pm

Welcome SMU newbe!

by **smupony94** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:06 pm

I contacted 5 people in the last 3 weeks that are not members of the MC and 3 have pledged to join and commit to donating time and/or money.

The MC is working hard to track down people that have slipped through the cracks. I am only a small cog in the wheel, but I believe they have up to 40 people now in markets outside of DFW out to spread news about the MC.

by **Pony94** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:31 pm

I am also part of the 90-94 years. Even as a big sports fan, I remember the exact point that I lost interest. It was the Baylor game in 91? that they didn't even attempt a pass. It wasnt until I had the chance to see us pay at UNC in 2001, that I realized I was missing out. They very next season I moved back to Texas and have been going ever since.

I am not sure what is being done to target the alumni of the post death penalty, but I would assume the Young Alumni association is active. I would also hope that the Greek organizations are working on building the fan base.

Could the marketing group create a competition amoung the alumni/student groups to track new season ticket holders and attendance? I think the BLVD is a big selling point and if you can build the attendance on the BLVD, eventually, everyone will make their way into the stadium.

by **mrydel** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:39 pm

We do not have a marketing group. That is one of the problems.

by PK » Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:39 pm

Pony94 wrote:Could the marketing group create a competition amoung the alumni/student groups to track new season ticket holders and attendance? I think the BLVD is a big selling point and if you can build the attendance on the BLVD, eventually, everyone will make their way into the stadium.

Unfortunately the marketing group of the athletic departmet was fired/eliminated over a year ago and has not been replaced. Go figure.

by **Comet** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:39 pm

I'm obviously a new fan since I just started going to SMU for my masters. However, I'm a HUGE sports fan, college football included. I've pretty much have hopped on the pony express and it's been fun. I honestly think that SMU will be okay so long as they continue the trend of making it to bowls (and hopefully start reaching beyond low tier bowl games). Dallas is a city that lacks a college identity. If SMU can situate itself as THE Dallas school, there's no reason why support for Mustang football wouldn't grow like crazy.

You think College Station you think A&M
You think Waco you think Baylor
You think Lubbock you think Texas Tech, etc, etc

SMU will be able to regenerate that lost generation of fans by situating itself in this manner. It's very annoying to be in the Dallas area and tell someone "oh I'm getting my masters at SMU" and they reply "oh... is that in Dallas?" Academic rankings are skyrocketing and football is coming back, so I can see SMU's image growing exponentially, but it is still a slow process.

by PK » Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:42 pm

Welcome and glad you're on board.

by **mustangxc** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 3:03 pm

As a young alum (December 2003) I was sorely disappointed in the demographics at the bowl game. I didn't see very many people my age and was hoping to run into old friends. Sadly, I called many and if I was lucky they were going to watch the game on TV and those are people that live in Dallas. One of the depressing aspects of my fanaticism for SMU athletics is that aside from this board I really don't have very many friends I can share it with. Most of my classmates are very apathetic. Sitting in section 221 on thursday I was lucky to have a young alum next to me and we were the only ones cheering. I attribute this to the older crowd. Between the two of us we started chants and that helped spread the passion a little more throughout the section. When he left to go to the concessions I was unable to start any chants as no one followed my lead. I think that aside from the Mustang Club, maybe we as members of ponyfans could organize get-togethers. I realize that many of you may know each other but the only poster I know here is prof x/xtc/his newest handle, and that's because he was my chem lab ta. My past experience in attending some of the watching parties in Houston is that the people that show up can be pretty lame and disengaged from the actual game. I know that my game day experience would be much better if I was sitting with more hard core fans. I also think that it would be easier to spread our fanaticism if people saw us in large numbers. After all isn't the slogan stronger as one!!!

PS I know Kevin Knox from the business school tries to do his part in spreading the word, but I think we as alums need to unite so that it comes from us and spreads more easily.

by **ALEX LIFESON** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 3:05 pm

Welcome Comet, don't let any negative nellies discourage you, SMU needs every fan it can pull aboard!

by **Dooby** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:54 pm

It is going to fall to us to bring people to the game. We have to invite them; we have to get them wearing red and blue, on the boulevard and into the stands.

SMU marketing could be improved, yes, but SMU could also make it easier for us hardcore fan/season ticketholders/mustang club members to bring others to the games. Discounts on additional tickets would be a start. Free tickets, even better.

by **Dooby** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:56 pm

Also, I like the point system idea. The mavs do something similar to encourage attendance among season ticketholders.