SMU vs. Southern Methodist

[moanin'matty]

Ok. Now that we've been in the news alot, we need to make a push to get news outlets (mainly ESPN) to refer to us as SMU, not Southern Methodist. I think TCU did something similar in the past. I have zero idea how to go about this.

Count me as a fan of "Southern Methodist" but I'll go for either as long as we get a positive mention.

[ColoStang]

I started this thread, not out of dislike of the name "Southern Methodist", but as an attempt to standardize what we are referred to by the media. I like SMU, so thats my vote, when i think about where i went i think SMU, not Southern Methodist. To each his own.

[03Mustang]

Let's compromise: So. Meth.

Seems that you still might have some confusion there with Southern Miss.

[smustatesmen]

Lets be honest about things. Do we really believe that most of the people we've been referring to, that don't know who is SMU or Southern Methodist University, and where we're located, know in which cities, Stanford, Duke, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame or Northwestern are located.

If, it is important to you that everybody you meet, who has a education above the eighth grade, knows who, what, and where SMU is located, then, our getting back into a BCS conference, and the resulting revenue stream that it brings, should be one of the most important events in your life to date.

SMU will be able to continue to upgrade not just the two main revenue sports, but the overall athletic program, which can also boost our academic reputation to what it was like back in the mid-late 60's, 70's, and early-mid 80's. In '83, not only were we a national top 50 academic university, (there were no nationally recognized lists ranking the colleges academically back in the late 60's, but if you ask your parents where the top students went after high school, our name will be up there.) but we also were the top all-around athletic university in the nation. Do you think, that people throughout the country didn't know who, what, and where SMU/Southern Methodist University was at that time.

Have some patients with your school. During our lifetime, there will not only be peace, but you won't have to explain to most people the who, what, or where's of SMU or Southern Methodist University.

SMU or Southern Methodist...meh, it'll cure itself.

And yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

[lwjr]

Along these lines...after the aggy game in college station my sister went into McDonalds for a drink. Two aggie students (female) were in there and asked, "Where is SMU anyways?" So people don't know, even aggy

Most people outside of texas have never heard of college station, either.

People will know where college station is in a few years.

Oh, yea, college station. That is were SEC teams go to pad their victory totals

[BrianTinBigD]

We are not in the South and barely Methodist.

[johnangle]

I don't see a whole lot of difference overall. Winning will establish who we are either way. That said when I'm in an area where people are less likely to know what/where SMU is I typically say either "I go to SMU in Dallas" or "I go to Southern Methodist in Dallas, Texas." I got in a habit of the second this summer when I was working in London because they at least know Dallas.

I mostly avoid saying just SMU because people almost always immediately ask "what's that." They probably don't know it either way, but I avoid a question if don't just say SMU.

[Junior]

I vote for SMU.

It's a lot quicker than saying "I sure hope Southern Mehodist University is victorious over the United States Naval Academy in this week's football matchup."

[SMU_Alumni11]

We are not in the South and barely Methodist.

I believe Texas is the southern most state geographically. Also we still have connection with Methodist, as a majority of the student base is Protestant, and Methodist is the easiest denomination for Protestants to relate to.

Nevertheless You dont see ND, you do see Notre Dame, You see Berkley not UCB. The more profound academic schools prefer their full name, whereas most sports teams go with their acronyms because like most you like the quickness factor.

We shouldnt be ashamed nor try to remove our founding institutions. To make it simple though for sports related activities SMU, for academics and resumes: Southern Methodist University. Also anybody with a brain or a decent company knows SMU is not a Bible college but a prestigious diverse campus that happen to include a divinity school.

[smustatesmen]

I vote for SMU.

It's a lot quicker than saying "I sure hope Southern Mehodist University is victorious over the United States Naval Academy in this week's football matchup."

The second sounds mighty white of you.

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

There are huge numbers of kids in the DFW suburbs who don't know what/where SMU is until they start applying to college.

I'm guessing that you were one of them?

[Mestengo]

fan across the aisle from us at USM asked "where is your school"

That ain't all they yelled

[moanin'matty]

I vote for SMU.

It's a lot quicker than saying "I sure hope Southern Mehodist University is victorious over the United States Naval Academy in this week's football matchup."

The second sounds mighty white of you.

I'm a fan of the "mighty white". In fact, I'm mighty white myself.

[smupony94]

fan across the aisle from us at USM asked "where is your school"

Somewhere the Big East wants to be

[smusic 00]

http://smumustangs.cstv.com/ot/smu-licensing.html

Referring to athletics Southern Methodist University requests the school be mentioned as SMU, not Southern Methodist.

-SMU Athletics Licensing Page

Personally, I don't think it matters. I believe most people that are familiar with College Football know that SMU is Southern Methodist. Similarly, when some one says USC, most people think Southern California, not South Carolina. We are the only "SMU" in NCAA D1 FBS. I don't think we're at risk to Saint Mary's University or Singapore Management University.

For the lazy flock:

Official University Name
The name of the institution is Southern Methodist University. When referencing the athletic department, please always use SMU (e.g. SMU Athletic Department) instead of Southern Methodist.