Orsini on attendance

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

"In other words SMU fans suck"

Ha! Touché.

I will say. however, that berating and insulting (on this board, in the DMN, the DC, etc.) the SMU community has not proven to be an effective strategy for increasing attendance. Perhaps its time to try something more positive.

[One Trick Pony]

When I left the travel % dropped. 20% . They have a long way to go.

Yet you are still here.

not at games in person.

[SMUer]

I agree. Food trucks, carts, live music and a public eating area on the Boulevard are essential. Even better if it's located just outside the stadium i.e. Doak Plaza or in back of Meadows.

Fan groups like RBA can help Dallasites with no affinity to SMU join and instantly be a part of something connected with the school.

[The PonyGrad]

I agree. Food trucks, carts, live music and a public eating area on the Boulevard are essential. Even better if it's located just outside the stadium i.e. Doak Plaza or in back of Meadows.

Fan groups like RBA can help Dallasites with no affinity to SMU join and instantly be a part of something connected with the school.

Ding ding ding

[CalallenStang]

When I left the travel % dropped. 20% . They have a long way to go.

Yet you are still here.

not at games in person.

You will come back. You will miss the people.

[Digetydog]

Fortunately we have a large base in NYC. Raplh said 200-300 people showed up at the MC function 2 months ago

My family will be at all mens FB and bb games at UCONN and all Rutgers football games.

[One Trick Pony]

[quote="One Trick Pony"]When I left the travel % dropped. 20% . They have a long way to go.

Yet you are still here.

not at games in person.

You will come back. You will miss the people.[/quote]

Still a fan just dropped down a few notches. And I will never attend as an SMU fan while the current coach is in charge.

[CalallenStang]

Still a fan just dropped down a few notches. And I will never attend as an SMU fan while the current coach is in charge.

I understand that sentiment. You are good people.

[smupony94]

As much as I love giving you grief, I do miss you

[Digetydog]

There are a whole lot of reasons why SMU football and Bball attendance is so persistently bad. . .and its not because "SMU fans suck." Its going to take awhile to build interest in the larger community. But first and foremost, the university has to build interest within the university community (including alumni). For 25+ years, attendance at sporting events has simply not been a part of the SMU experience for the vast majority of students while at SMU. We have 40,000 alums in Dallas. . .how many of them attended more than a handful of games while they were on campus? I'm guessing probably not many. Its tough to expect alumni to do something they never did while students. Especially since getting older entails commitments on your time (marriage, kids, job, etc.) that you aren't burdened with as a student.

Interesting conversation I had with a Notre Dame grad a few weeks ago. I asked him if he attended lots of home football games while at ND and he responded that he went to every one. He then said, "you'd be hard-pressed to find a ND student who didn't attend every or almost every football game while they were there." Its an integral part of the culture there and one of the reasons why people choose ND.

Literally dozens of SMU graduating classes never had anything like that. Students have got to be "re-trained" to make attendance at football and basketball part of their SMU experience. That will take time, but its doable.

My sister went to ND during the Lou Holtz era. While visiting her, I went to one of their games. As far as I can tell, 100% of the students were at the game. In the student section, we were forced to stand sideways on a wooden bench (about 4x4) to allow people to crowd in.

In addition to pre-DP attendance issues (most of our big games were filled with fans of our opponents), the DP and the fall of the SWC were two brutal blows to attendance that will take time to solve. Because of the DP, my Soph and Junior years were football free. Had the SWC not folded, I think we could have recovered in time. Unfortunately, banishment to the WAC and CUSA meant playing teams that NOBODY cares about.

Growing up, my dad would take me to see SMU play at the Cotton Bowl or Texas Stadium 2-3 times per year. We would see Tech, the Horns, Baylor, Houston, etc. All of those schools are relevant to Dallas people. In contrast, UAB and Memphis would need to be national title contenders to interest non-Alums in Dallas. I am pretty sure my dad wouldn't have taken me to see UAB or Memphis when I was ten.

With the move to Big East, the attendance problems won't be solved but can be improved.

1) this may seem Odd, but I think the BB program is the key to building FB attendance. All the Big East teams are name BB teams that SMU can sell to Dallas area fans IF SMU can be competitive. If people get used to Rutgers, Uconn, Houston, etc as "name" schools on SMU's schedule, it will mean a lot to selling the football games.

2) While Tulsa is probably a fine school and they play pretty good FB, it might as well be Austin College to the Dallas area FB fan. Tulane, Rice, UAB, and Memphis are in the same boat. As I understand how the BE will work, BSU, SDSU, Houston and one other team (hopefully Louiseville) will be on our schedule every year. With the exception of SDSU, I think SMU's marketing dept (which it needs) can sell Dallas fans on those teams. Throw in a tough, but relevant non-conference schedule and a good SMU team should begin to attract fans.

[RGV Pony]

Would be good if we have a Big East opponent roll in ranked in the top ten. In the last, what, 5-7 years, Boise St, Rutgers, Louisville (when Petrino was there..prob closer to 7), USF to name a few have been top Ten. When we have a matchup like this, hang a huge banner from the building on central with SMU helmet & other team's helmet, with their ranking and leave it there a week.

"no one cares" about Big East teams is a popular refrain, but to say that presupposes that Dallas sports fans are ignorant. No one cares because SMU doesnt put them in a position to care.

[Digetydog]

Would be good if we have a Big East opponent roll in ranked in the top ten. In the last, what, 5-7 years, Boise St, Rutgers, Louisville (when Petrino was there..prob closer to 7), USF to name a few have been top Ten. When we have a matchup like this, hang a huge banner from the building on central with SMU helmet & other team's helmet, with their ranking and leave it there a week.

"no one cares" about Big East teams is a popular refrain, but to say that presupposes that Dallas sports fans are ignorant. No one cares because SMU doesnt put them in a position to care.

Better yet. Hang a huge SMU banner off one of those buildings next to Central Expressway that SMU now owns.

[RGV Pony]

You and i speak of the same building

[lwjr]

Would be good if we have a Big East opponent roll in ranked in the top ten. In the last, what, 5-7 years, Boise St, Rutgers, Louisville (when Petrino was there..prob closer to 7), USF to name a few have been top Ten. When we have a matchup like this, hang a huge banner from the building on central with SMU helmet & other team's helmet, with their ranking and leave it there a week.

"no one cares" about Big East teams is a popular refrain, but to say that presupposes that Dallas sports fans are ignorant. No one cares because SMU doesnt put them in a position to care.

Better yet. Hang a huge SMU banner off one of those buildings next to Central Expressway that SMU now owns.

Can't do that, might draw people's attention away from the TCU billboard that is always in that area.

[whitwiki]

I'm tired of people saying SMU fans suck. The few of you guys that stuck around for twenty years are some of the best fans in the country. The rest of the alumni had nothing to root for for 20 years. People don't go to every football game when you win one game a year.

Our alumni and students need some school spirit, and we need more fans as loyal as the oldtimers here.

Philly fans suck - booing their own team constantly....

There should have been a lot more booing coming from the smu students/alums/admin over the past 25 years. Maybe then something would have gotten changed sooner!

I'll take passionate fans that occasionally boo over the apathy I see at many SMU games. You keep your wine and cheese. I'll keep my beer and cheesesteaks.

Occasional boo is fine. Philly fans take it over the top.

My point is we don't have enough fans to say that they suck. And I'm not a cheese and wine person, I go horse at games.