Game Atmosphere

[NavyCrimson]

Big Hoss: "I had thought that too, in the past. The problem is that if the moves start happening now, we're going to get left out of the AQ conferences, and likely for a long, long time. So we really may not have the luxury of building a winning tradition before trying to get in to a better, albeit more difficult conference."

Exacly right - Big Hoss.
No time to waste & you take opportunities when they come your way. We may be a cellar-dweller for awhile but who cares - that wont last long! Being in a bcs-BS cartel conference will be an IMMEDIATE shot in the arm for recruiting.

We'll be a competitor real quick - I mean QUICK!!!

[Nacho]

all i know is i was hoarse the next morning after davis made that great strip and td.
our d was looking pretty bad in the second half up until then.

[GiddyUp]

i thought it was a great turnout for a game against Utep coming off of a pretty bad loss. Nothing against Utep, but there is essentially no rivalry there, meaning no hate or emotion. Then, the game had no flow. Utep was obviously not a great team and we were playing poorly. One thing that the JJ era was supposed to bring was exciting football so even games like these would be fun. Not happening right now. The team looks hesitant and the QB switcheroo seems to be a big part of it.

Yes - the June era so far has been far from exciting. The delay between plays on offense doesn't help. Sure wish we did no huddle. It was a boring game IMO. the injury TO really was unfortunate. The turnout was pretty good thanks to Operation sellout.

[ponyte]

There is something one can't quite put their finger on when it comes to some of our fans. I sat with the honored letterman for much of the game. We just drove 80 yards to put up the go ahead TD (14-10) in the second quarter and the former players just sat there. These are guys that know how hard an 80 yard drive for a score is and they just sat there! I was stunned.

While standing on the sideline just before half, Hunt blocks a FG. How huge was that at the end of the half! And the lettermen seemed zoned out to it. I had a hard time getting a high five out of guys.

Something is wrong when the guys that know this game and know how hard things can be don’t get enthused. And I wish I knew how to change that.

[Nacho]

i did'nt think it was boring. i thought we were close to losing. i was very nervous about it the entire secong half.
their qbs had an amazing ability to get away from pressure.
in the old days utep would have gone 99 yards for a winning td. i hope our pass d improves because right now i miss sterling a lot.
i am very pleased with the win.

[StangEsq]

I can only speak for myself, but the fiasco in College Station, specifically (1) the SOS fluke plays and ridiculous turnovers and (2) the reality that we could be playing with a mediocre backup QB all year didn't bring a lot of excitement about the rest of the season. I was still fired up and ready to go at game time and even more so after the first drive, but from there we just played like an average CUSA team... the mediocrity in light of expectations is a serious buzz kill. This is a team that many/most people predicted to win our conference (and most thought we had the best defense in the conference along with one of the best offenses). Then we struggle to beat a team that barely beat STONY BROOK on their home field. I didn't even know Stony Brook had a football team (and I barely knew they had a basketball team)! For a team with such high hopes going into a very important season, these have been two extremely disappointing games, and I think the crowd's mood reflects that.

[Nacho]

maybe i'm watching a differnet game but i'm very pleased with jj.
he had some bad luck with drops but he is throwing to the open reciever.
i don't see anything wrong with him.

the great ones make it look easy
padron made it lood difficult.

[StangEsq]

maybe i'm watching a differnet game but i'm very pleased with jj.
he had some bad luck with drops but he is throwing to the open reciever.
i don't see anything wrong with him.

the great ones make it look easy padron made it lood difficult.

IMO the only shot we have to win our conference and get to where we need to be for real BCS consideration (i.e., Top 25 or close) is for Padron to be playing at a high level. I don't think McDermott has the talent to get us to that level. Padron seems to have regressed since his freshman year. Just my opinion, but I think he needs to see a sports psychologist.

[Comet]

I can only speak for myself, but the fiasco in College Station, specifically (1) the SOS fluke plays and ridiculous turnovers and (2) the reality that we could be playing with a mediocre backup QB all year didn't bring a lot of excitement about the rest of the season. I was still fired up and ready to go at game time and even more so after the first drive, but from there we just played like an average CUSA team... the mediocrity in light of expectations is a serious buzz kill. This is a team that many/most people predicted to win our conference (and most thought we had the best defense in the conference along with one of the best offenses). Then we struggle to beat a team that barely beat STONY BROOK on their home field. I didn't even know Stony Brook had a football team (and I barely knew they had a basketball team)! For a team with such high hopes going into a very important season, these have been two extremely disappointing games, and I think the crowd's mood reflects that.

This really is a good post and sums up my feelings well. I went into this season incredibly hyped, and somewhere in the 3rd quarter I had a huge buzzkill. The realization that we're going to have a hard time finishing .500 totally ruined my mood that night. I really wish JJ would have tossed Padron into the A&M game after the first half. As far as I can tell, we either go far with Padron, or we go nowhere with McDermott or a with a rattled Padron.

[SMUer]

This "what is wrong with our fans!?!" thread pops up every year, multiple times. For those new to PF.com, most of us have written an impassioned plea on here at some point so we understand. Let's stop hand-wringing on the Internet and do something about it.

We can't change who we schedule. We can't really change who is coming to our games. The problem is we each represent little islands of active fandom on the home-side amidst a sea of fans who refuse to cheer until it is absolutely critical (3rd down against UTEP clinching the Hawaii Bowl in 2009), no matter who we are playing (TCU, Tech, OSU, Baylor). What we should be talking about is how we can make fans who sit quietly during 3rd downs feel out of place, instead of the other way around. I know, I've been there. There are places in Ford where it is VERY uncomfortable to cheer. We need to band together and find ways to turn that attitude around.

[ponyboy]

The students deserve serious props for their enthusiasm. After the beating they've taken over the years on this forum, it cannot be said enough about what they're doing over there.

[Bergermeister]

The PA talking during Amazing Grace was annoying too. It's a very solemn song & him talking over it was obnoxious.

I thought the baton twirling during Amazing Grace was a little disrespectful.

Loved it. Baton Twirling goes with anything.

[Bergermeister]

This "what is wrong with our fans!?!" thread pops up every year, multiple times. For those new to PF.com, most of us have written an impassioned plea on here at some point so we understand. Let's stop hand-wringing on the Internet and do something about it.

Same s#!+, different year. I've been going since 1958. SMU has never had an enthusiastic crowd... even the pony express years when we relaxed in the confines of a (somewhat) new Texas Stadium. We don't sing, we don't yell. The best chance at getting people to participate and to "loosen" them up is to do a East Side vs. West Side yell competition - we've always been in school spirit purgatory. But I'm all in for a change.

[SMUer]

The students deserve serious props for their enthusiasm. After the beating they've taken over the years on this forum, it cannot be said enough about what they're doing over there.

Truly they do. I don't know what they are doing during AARO but they are getting them organized and into the game. Also, a much reduced halftime exodus. We (the alumni) really need to start echoing that enthusiasm while it's there.

[SMUer]

This "what is wrong with our fans!?!" thread pops up every year, multiple times. For those new to PF.com, most of us have written an impassioned plea on here at some point so we understand. Let's stop hand-wringing on the Internet and do something about it.

Same s#!+, different year. I've been going since 1958. SMU has never had an enthusiastic crowd... even the pony express years when we relaxed in the confines of a (somewhat) new Texas Stadium. We don't sing, we don't yell. The best chance at getting people to participate and to "loosen" them up is to do a East Side vs. West Side yell competition - we've always been in school spirit purgatory. But I'm all in for a change.

I think this is a great idea! For Northwestern St, RBA is going to give it a try! We are going to make "RED" and "BLUE" signs and send members over to the student side to try to initiate a "RED, BLUE" across stadium chant. I hope you guys will try to get that going in your section.