Leaders have to come out from behind the glass

[Hoop Fan]

and i don't just mean Turner and Orsini. These guys are only visible on the Boulevard and it sets the tone that the Vard is more important than the game. They have to come out and walk the stadium once in awhile, if not sit in the west stands and be part of the atmosphere like at Moody. The other 1000 plus donors that sit behind the glass need to mix in to the west stand more too. They all might as well be at home watching on television and sending in their absentee donations. The net effect is the same, they add nothing to the game atmosphere or support the team or other fans. I don't know the solution but i do know it is a problem with the atmosphere at Ford. I swear the west side when we played at the Cotton Bowl had more energy and buzz because the you had another 1500 people sitting at or near the 50 yard line and also the heavy hitters were there and visibly setting a tone that the game was a 'place to be' socially.

[Eddie P]

Wow. It's their fault now.

[Junior]

what about the legends?

[Dairy Crampus]

Turner was there at the senior's recognition/presentation after the game with June. Where were you? The fan turnout was about zip. Mostly parents. The seniors this year are the ones that have given us three straight bowl games. Very, very pathetic support.

[SMU21TCU10]

Yeah I always wish all the people in the box sat outside and cheered where the team can hear them. Then again the times I have looked up there they seemed like the golf clapping types anyway

[SMU_Alumni11]

Turner was there at the senior's recognition/presentation after the game with June. Where were you? The fan turnout was about zip. Mostly parents. The seniors this year are the ones that have given us three straight bowl games. Very, very pathetic support.

Ok you cant blame the students, its thanksgiving and most of the student base is far far outside of the DFW area. Home games should never be scheduled on thanksgiving weekend. Also its not worth students to give up their weekend when the team completely dissipated and turned into zombies. Its best not to blame fans, not the best marketing.

[sacklunch]

SMU needs to make it a game worthwhile for students to come back early.

See for example: Florida vs. FSU - Clemson vs. South Carolina - USC vs UCLA - do you see my point?

[Charleston Pony]

SMU needs to make it a game worthwhile for students to come back early.

See for example: Florida vs. FSU - Clemson vs. South Carolina - USC vs UCLA - do you see my point?

As much as I like to complain about our lack of a rabid fan base, let's put this in perspective with your comparison

Fla vs FSU where both schools have more than 5 times the student population that SMU does; Clemson/Carolina where both schools have more than 3 times the undergrads that SMU does; not sure about USC/UCLA but you get the point

look at SMU vs TCU that draws 25-35k consistently. Relatively speaking, those teams you mention would have to build stadiums to accomodate 100k to 150k and pack those houses. Of course, they probably could for some of those rivalry games. Would Michigan vs Ohio State draw 180k?

[Topper]

Seats behind the glass raise an enormous amount of money for the Athletic Department. And these are people who donate lots of cash to other departments in the university. The seats next to me are owned by a man who has no interest in football but bought them as a favor to the football program. I sit behind the glass and can tell you that many of my neighbors up there are elderly or have medical issues that make sitting in the hot humid Dallas weather impossible. This is the stupidest post ever.

[ponyinNC]

agreed, let's not attack some of our biggest supporters please.

[NickSMU17]

You should really complain to SMU, for making non removable windows....

[smupony94]

You should really complain to SMU, for making non removable windows....

That's why Duke Blue Blood and I were booted from there

Drinking on the Underhill's tab and poor play made for unruly times.

[ponyinNC]

You should really complain to SMU, for making non removable windows....

That's why Duke Blue Blood and I were booted from there

Drinking on the Underhill's tab and poor play made for unruly times.

I'll have a steak sandwich...and a steak sandwich

[ponyboy]

Waiter: Si senior, beluga, but it is $80 a portion. Fletch: Well, then I'd better just take two portions of that

[Hoop Fan]

Seats behind the glass raise an enormous amount of money for the Athletic Department. And these are people who donate lots of cash to other departments in the university. The seats next to me are owned by a man who has no interest in football but bought them as a favor to the football program. I sit behind the glass and can tell you that many of my neighbors up there are elderly or have medical issues that make sitting in the hot humid Dallas weather impossible. This is the stupidest post ever.

Stupidiest post ever? Please, did i hit a sore spot? You feeling sort of guilty as a fan for sitting passively behind the glass? I know i would, sort of like watching a home game from my house on TV even though i live in Dallas. Look, the title of the thead might be a bit strong, but my post didn't blame anybody and i acknowledged the money raised and that I don't know the solution. But the observation is valid. Our game atmosphere is suffering and can't really afford to have 1,000 of our best fans invisible and silent behind the glass. Its not really very insulting or inflammatory of an observation is it? As for the elderly, if our fan base is that elderly that they have to sit in boxes, fine i give up and withdraw the observation but somehow i do see a lot of able bodied people up there. And Turner and Orsini do need to walk the stadium more. again, no offense.