I May Be Alone on this One, but if not

[Diehard Pony]

First of all, let me state that I think the on the field performance and wins are by far the most important things with respect to SMU football. Everything else, save class, integrity, etc., is clearly on a different and significantly lower plane.

With that said, I am supportive of the removal of the names from the jerseys for the short term because I think individualism to the point of detriment of the team existed last season. But I don't think it is good for the long term.

The following is the closing I wrote in an e-mail to Coach Bennett after I praised the efforts of the players and coaches at the Tech game. Again, like the rest of you, if they had to play naked to win I would be in support of it, that's not the point.

I realize many of you may not care about this at all, but if you agree, I hope you will communicate your thoughts to Coach Bennett as well.

"Lastly, I have a personal request. While I understand your desire for the team to think like a team and not as individuals (and I have heard rumors that there was some of that going on last year), I hope you will set up conditions under which the players can regain the names on their jerseys. I say this for several reasons: (1) we all know kids like to see their names on their jerseys, and want their family and friends to see it as well. I bet if you interviewed 10 high school football players and asked them if they liked names on jerseys or not, I would be willing to guess that 9 yes they do; (2) it might be Ok for Notre Dame or USC (two of only a handful Div I teams without names) to go without names on their jerseys in terms of player recognition because of the media coverage they receive, but not so with SMU. A perfect example is the fact that I took my sister and brother in law from Pennsylvania to the game and they came away talking about the play of #2 and #6 rather than Blake Warren and Rico Harris. You can bet in offices this week newcomers to an SMU game were referring to the play of numbers rather than names....Dallasites need to know who plays for SMU. Finally, (3) the only teams without names are a handful of elite teams (Penn State, Notre Dame, USC and a couple of others) and all of the Div II, Div III, and high school teams. I don’t want SMU to fall into the latter group which I think many might assume we have, or that SMU football is in such dire financial straits that we can’t afford to put names on the jerseys as some people have already asserted. The final point is obviously not good for recruiting.

I think it is a good idea to do this for awhile because, perhaps, this team needs it. But I think you would agree that in the long run you shouldn’t have to take the names off of jerseys to get players to perform as a team. Most outstanding teams do extremely well with the added benefits that come with named jerseys.

As I alluded to earlier, maybe you can challenge the team to earn the names back during the course of the season, or whatever timeframe you think appropriate, and by whatever measures you think appropriate.

I hope you will strongly consider this as I have enjoyed being able to readily identify SMU players beyond a handful of skill position players by the names they have had on their jerseys for the last 22 years, and SMU will benefit from the other positives that come from named jerseys. As I am sure you recognize, if it weren’t popular, it wouldn’t proliferate the college and professional scene".

Thanks so much for your consideration and for what you are doing for the program. See you in Fort Worth!

[Arkpony]

I think Coach is on the right track. And I really don't think parents will fail to recognize their sons because their names aren't on their backs Thanks for wrting word sof encouragement to the Coach too!

[Diehard Pony]

I think Coach is on the right track. And I really don't think parents will fail to recognize their sons because their names aren't on their backs Thanks for wrting word sof encouragement to the Coach too!

Arkpony,

I don't mean to be argumentative, but it's not the parents I am worried about. They may be among the few who do recognize anybody outside of a handful of skill position players.

Lettered jerseys is where we are in 2004. The players like them; fans like them...witness the sale of authentic jerseys.

I would be willing to bet outside of this board very few people could name more than 5 current SMU players. That's why the lettered jerseys came to be. Ironically, SMU was one of the first SWC schools to adopt them.

You know me, I will be supportive regardless, but I hope Coach Bennett makes them earn the names back.

[PK]

I don't believe the lack of names on the jerseys is a punitive thing and hense something they have to earn back. I've even heard that it was the team's decision or request to not have the names on the jerseys. What ever the reason, simply buying a program will solve the problem and if some pro scout wants to know who you are, he will find out. Same with the reporters, they won't be writing their game notes and stories using numbers rather than names. Maybe we fans need to start looking at the sport again as a team sport and not just one or two players that should be singled out. The O-line and D-line has lived for decades in relative anonimity because they weren't one of the flashy QB's or RB's...yet the flashes would be in a tough spot without those linemen.

I like the look of no names and was very quickly able to catch on to who was who. That's my two cents worth.

[Diehard Pony]

I like the look of no names and was very quickly able to catch on to who was who.

PK, I appreciate your position but you are part of the hardcore. Not part of the potental fan base who might be able to more readily identify with certain players that they don't know today. From my perspective, if no names on the jerseys were a good and popular thing, the vast majority would be doing it rather than less than a half dozen bigtime programs, and a huge mass of Div II and Div III programs that cannot do it because it is cost prohibitive.

[PK]

I'm not sure that the fact most of the other D-1 teams do it is necessarily a particularly good reason to do it. In reality, unless you're sitting near the bench or using binoculars, you usually see the number long before the name. I really don't mean to be argumentative. There will be some who agree with me (maybe) and most will probably agree with you. I was just stating my mind on the subject.

Go Ponies...whoever you are. Beat TCU!!!

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

Diehard,

I agree with you 100%. The names of the players need to be on the jersey. If Coach wants to use the "no name" as a gimmick for a few games then thats cool or like you suggest make it an earned type of deal for players.......but in the end the names need to be on the jerseys. Most fans are casual type of fans, not having any names on the jersey just keeps players faceless to fans. Usually fans have a favorite player and have you ever heard of anyone saying "oh my favorite SMU player is #14". It makes it harder for kids to identify with players. Come on, it is just plain dumb from a marketing standpoint. I bet the parents do hate it too. Look it may not be the most important thing, but it is a mistake to not have SMU players names on their jerseys.

[ponyte]

I don't really care. ND doesn't have names. Not saying we should be like ND, just pointing out that names are not entirely universal. I f we have names then we have names. If not then not. It neither adds to the game nor takes away from the game (my perspective, I speak for nobody other than myself). The only time a name might matter is when an opponent is watching a Mustang head for the end zone. That way, the opponent at least knows the name of the Pony that just blew by him.

[smudad]

I like the lack of names. I would like it less if it were simply a punative thing. Years ago, there weren't even numbers. Then names were added. Can we project that to pictures? All sports have become less team and more individual. (The commercial with the self-centered jerk hit a familiar cord all over the country.) If these young men are playing the game to be recognized at the local spots or on campus, they're in it for the wrong reason. I wouldn't mind seeing the names left off permanently.

That said, I respect the original opinion expressed. Like mine, it is just that; an opinion and a well reasoned one, given your letter. More than that, I appreciate your approach to Bennett on the subject. Well stated.

[EastStang]

Everyone knew who Doak Walker was and his name wasn't on his jersey. Excellence will get you attention regardless of the name or no name. If the team voted for no names, then that seals the deal for me. Buy a program, help a poor starving kid earn two bits, and enjoy us whipping Frog butt.

[jtstang]

I hate the new "no-name" jerseys. I understand the "no I in team" mentality, but that's hollow--you don't make on-field improvements through meaningless off-field gestures.

[PonySnob]

Put the names back on. It makes our struggling program look even more like a Div 2 or Div 3 team.

[PK]

Put the names back on. It makes our struggling program look even more like a Div 2 or Div 3 team.

Yeah just like ND, Penn State and USC...I prefer that company over some of the other D-1A programs running around these days.

Thank God our colors don't include purple.

[jtstang]

Yeah just like ND, Penn State and USC...

Wow, does taking names off jerseys really make us that good? Come on, PK, you know better than that.

[PK]

That post was in response to PonySnot and his reference to Div 2 and Div 3. Nowhere did I say we were that good, but is it any better to look like Arky State or Louisiana Monroe? I like the no name on the jerseys look...so shoot me. I didn't just start liking that look because we did it this year...I've always thought Penn State and ND were classy for doing it that way. It's a team sport. If in the end they go back to names on the jerseys, it won't upset me...it really isn't that big a deal one way or the other.