Editorial

[SMUPonyFan]

Read this. Typical SMU student. Facts aren't right. No loyalty. Etc.

May I suggest emailing her and telling her your opinion.

<A HREF="http://web2.htrigg.smu.edu/~dcwww2/HTMLPages/Spring02/02-05-02/comm3_020502.html" TARGET=_blank>http://web2.htrigg.smu.edu/~dcwww2/HTMLPages/Spring02/02-05-02/comm3_020502.html</A>

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Go Red, Go Blue, Go Mustangs, S M U

[Putt Choate fan]

This girl is an idiot.

She wants to put money where we are already successful. I don't think that she has ever heard the phrase, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

It's true that we should put more money into swimming, soccer, and track and field, but that doesn't mean that we should abandon football or basketball.

This is Texas, woman, football is king. We should put a lot of money into football and basketball and put a little more money in those sports that are already successful.

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I'm a tacklin' fool.

[Boston Pony]

Give her a break, her arguments are those of many of the Academics. Her thought is that a $ spent should go to academics not athletics. While she has a valid point, it misses a major issue within major colleges --'revenue' sports are major draws for student applications (which help for rating of colleges), alumni money and overall public reputation. If done right, athletics add to the college experience and can 'fund' themselves. The Commitment allows for a 5 year window that says, we will cover a part of expense until the 'ship is righted'.

Another point not brought up is that athletic scholarships are only a small percentage of the overall scholarships given at SMU. We have need based and merit based scholarships that go to over half of the students.

[Rambo]

Baloney (Boston) Pony

The article was factually wrong. She talked about the $20 million from the University. The school gives athletics close to $50 million a year anyway. It is not all new money. The $20 million is going to be raised by the Mustang Club.

Also she said the football teams wins per season is INCREASING. Could she be more wrong?!? I think not!

What about the engineering department getting a new building? Do they deserve it more than we deserve getting the best stuff? NO!!!!!!

This article should enrage athletic supporters at SMU.

[This message has been edited by Rambo (edited 02-06-2002).]

[Boston Pony]

Chill Rambo...

By getting excited, you play right into the hands of those who believe that athletic supporters are just jocks (smelly at that). This type of thought should be very familar to every SMU Maniac... It is sophomoric and can be easily answered through some logic.

Remember when you were young and a bit naive? You had an answer for everything. Someone needs to answer, however outrage at a young girl who questions is a bit unrealistic. SMU is full of kids, profs and alumni like this. It reminds me of the quote about most positions - 20% are for ya, 20% agin you and the battle is for the rest. We need to communicate that big time sports bring honor to the school or can if managed right. The best of a college can be the Saturday afternoons watching a game on campus. Alumni giving and potential students are positively influenced with a well known sports program. Having successful 'Olympic Sports' are great, however the sports reputation of a school is based on FB & BB. We are just as naive if we take an outraged stance, just like the girl who believes that spending money on sports doesn't bring a huge return on the investment.

[PK]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Rambo:
<B>Baloney (Boston) Pony

The article was factually wrong. She talked about the $20 million from the University. The school gives athletics close to $50 million a year anyway. It is not all new money. The $20 million is going to be raised by the Mustang Club.</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have not had a chance to read the article, but for accuracy's sake, the University's commitment is for $10 million a year over the next five years...hence the $50 million number. The $20 million you refer to is the total amount to be raised by the Athletic Department over the next five years of which $10 million is to be raised by the Mustang Club. There is also a goal for actual game revenues over the next five years, but I don't have that information in front of me right now....I think it is in the range of $2 million a year for football and obviously a smaller number for basketball.

How all of this compares with the article I don't know, but at least the facts are now clear....I hope.

[Mac]

I have a huge problem with her article only because she makes stupid arguments. The fact that she is crying about potholes in the commuter lot is a complete joke. Didn't SMU just spend millions of dollars on parking garages and parking lots??? It seems like they even repaved most of the roads along campus. Those parking garages are nicer and more ellaborate than some houses in south oak cliff. How can she actually bring up potholes as an argument? It baffles me.

Also, she [deleted] about improving the registration process so students don't have to worry about, "tramping back and forth between advisers and Perkins Administration Building ground floor." This is the most insane argument. SMU really isn't that big and there really aren't that many students so why is she complaining about walking a couple hundred yards to the registers office? Perkins can't be more than 200 yards, 300 tops, from the business school. It is even shorter from other areas of campus. I have a problem with her article because I think SMU is a great school but it lacks the athletic competitivenss that other big time schools have. We are academically sound so we need to focus on athletics in order to make us more well rounded. If I have time, I am planning on sending her an email explaining my point of view in a very tasteful manner.

[Rambo]

PK-
Here are the figures- straight from the book. I stand corrected.

The $20 million is to be raised over the next 5 years as well by the Mustang Club and Copeland ($2 million each) Another $13 million is to be raised by ticket sales over the 5 years

[SmooPower]

I dunno, spending $20 mil so players can stay in a hotel still sounds better than blowing $20 mil on noisy chairs.

[cswann]

Everyone please click on the article and then click on her name and you can send her an email and refute every lousy point she has.

[ponystudent]

If I ever run into her I will do my best to fufill my part of The Commitment. Secules and the ticket office will be busy fufilling her requests for season tickets to football, mens and womens basketball, mens and womens swimming and diving, mens and womens soccer, and she will be standing at the mile markers for cross country handing out water. Her parents will be the largest Mustang Club donors and she will be a student volunteer for the Mclub.

After all, she is just mad that her BMW got a scratch from a pot hole and she got gum on her Prada pants from a squeeky desk. I just hope an athlete put the gum under the desk.

[ponystudent]

<A HREF="http://web2.htrigg.smu.edu/~dcwww2/HTMLPages/Spring02/02-07-02/comm3_020702.html" TARGET=_blank>Clarifying 'the Commitment'</A>

Everyone should read this. This Garcia guy knows what he is talking about, unlike miss squeaky chairs.

[Boston Pony]

Thought his reply was really well presented. By addressing her non-sequitur argument, he laid out the facts about big time athletics. Again, I think the girl's article is positive because many at the school think her way and it needs to be addressed in an open forum. 100+ points to Andy Garcia!!

[SMUPonyFan]

That is Alan Garcia. He did a hell of a job and he works hard too, he is a marketing intern. He was best dressed last night, but couldn't award himself the honor.