www.mustanglockerroom.com

[PK]

Yeah, you are right 1982Express, I did make an assumption based upon your moniker that you were a student during the 80's, but I have made no attempt to identify you because it doesn't matter. I have not bashed anyone or thing in the past (except maybe Stallion) and as I said I have tried to be positive these last 15 years. You are just wrong about the traditonal logos not selling because they are old. You and the athletic department seem to be on the same wave length...if things aren't selling bring out something new. It works for pro sports I'm sure, but it won't for college football. If you want to sell more SMU material, then put a winning team on the field. That's the only thing that going to make a difference.

All statements to the contrary, the appearence is that the marketing department is trying to de-emphasise the traditional logos and marks and that IMHO is a big mistake. You are free to not agree, but the fact that many of us posting on this site are not happy about it does not make us bitter old men(women). Buy as much of the new look as you want...I'm not interested in it.

Diamond M is correct that the athletic department made a big mistake springing this on us unannounced with no education or chance to make our opinions known...well they are getting that input now.

[DiamondM]

I'll let others who participated in the alumni focus group I attended identify themselves if they choose, but I can say it was a broad cross section of alumni, from retirees to a recent football player to players from the 80s to a female athlete to little old me, a former Mustang Bandsman. I think there were maybe 10-15 in the group I was in -- trying to remember. They didn't tell us how we were selected, but I'm sure they wanted people who participate in SMU athletics and who are outspoken enough to give constructive criticism and not pull punches, but who at the same time aren't full of whiny DEstructive criticism. Believe me, there was plenty of criticism, but many of us (including myself, alas) acknowledge that we are no longer tuned in to the students and recent graduates.

I don't really have a problem with the new word mark. A little change in the font, conveying movement instead of monolith is fine (although I don't buy into the marketing profession as a whole and don't think the change really accomplishes anything or says anything different about the university than the tired block letters with no dimension). It's that dang horse that I don't like, but it apparently was received well by students and younger alumns.

[couch 'em]

I don't really have a problem with the new word mark. A little change in the font, conveying movement instead of monolith is fine (although I don't buy into the marketing profession as a whole and don't think the change really accomplishes anything or says anything different about the university than the tired block letters with no dimension). It's that dang horse that I don't like, but it apparently was received well by students and younger alumns.

I agree about the letters/horse, and I AM a current student. But then again, I guess I'm not tuned into to the average student either - I actually care about SMU and history and tradition. The average student will love this new logo, just like they loved the movement to replace Peruna with a large horse & rider.

[DiamondM]

I'll let others who participated in the alumni focus group I attended identify themselves if they choose, but I can say it was a broad cross section of alumni, from retirees to a recent football player to players from the 80s to a female athlete to little old me, a former Mustang Bandsman. I think there were maybe 10-15 in the group I was in -- trying to remember. They didn't tell us how we were selected, but I'm sure they wanted people who participate in SMU athletics and who are outspoken enough to give constructive criticism and not pull punches, but who at the same time aren't full of whiny DEstructive criticism. Believe me, there was plenty of criticism, but many of us (including myself, alas) acknowledge that we are no longer tuned in to the students and recent graduates.

I don't really have a problem with the new word mark. A little change in the font, conveying movement instead of monolith is fine (although I don't buy into the marketing profession as a whole and don't think the change really accomplishes anything or says anything different about the university than the tired block letters with no dimension). It's that dang horse that I don't like, but it apparently was received well by students and younger alumns.

[Pool Boy]

While I am with all of you on the horse logo, I just don't understand why you're all so upset about the new 'non-traditional' lettering. What the heck IS our traditional lettering? For the past couple of decades, we have used a very block, two-color, traditional-font "SMU". During the late 70's - early 80's, you hardly ever saw "SMU" - it was all "Mustang Mania". When you did see "SMU", it was usually plain block, single-color lettering (usually white on red). And back in the early 70's, much of the campus used the two-color, diamond-shaped "SMU" letters. I can't say what it was before that because I wasn't around here. So now they have decided to use a different font for marketing - so what? You can't tell me it's non-traditional because we don't HAVE any long-standing tradition on this point. But when they start messing with the Mustang logo...

[Bergermeister]

Gentlemen (and Ladies)... get a grip. This whole ordeal is just (exactly) like the football uniform deal. It's whichever way the wind blows. SMU traditions are "flash-in-the-pan" ideas of whoever occupies the administrative offices, coaches offices, and student senate offices at the time. I will be redundant in saying, "Nobody cares about tradition... " nobody cares about maintaining one or establishing one. It is just not important. If it was IMPORTANT, this thread would not exist. Can one imagine jackin' with the ND or the TEXAS block letters or the ATM or the UCLA script or the Michigan M ?(yeah, let's make it an "Old English" M). So, let's welcome a lame, computer-generated, equine facsimile and declare it the new "tradition-of-the-month" and hope like hell it generates big bucks... isn't that the point? As for me, I anticipate always being able to purchase a red shirt at Penneys with the hope that some freakin' focus group won't change the school colors. Whether the horse on the side of the helmet is white, red, blue, red-outlined-in-silver OR the helmet itself is red, white, navy or silver, I'LL BE THERE. I will join the Mustang Club (even if they do send out those little high-school looking window stickers), I will buy season tickets, I will attend the games, and I will be supportive of the team, the coaches, the Mustang Band, the cheerleaders and our 49+ chubby little mustang dancers in their hoochie costumes that clog the sidelines. We've been around since 1911 and still don't have anything to hang our hat on. And we never will. So, let's move on because all your bitchin' and complainin' is futile. NOBODY IN THE CARPETED OFFICES (genuinely) CARES! By the way... whatever happened to that great focus group tradition: the Mustang Maniac?

[1982Express]

Just so everyone knows, the classic SMU pony is still available. The new word marks are still available. I guess we should look at it as more options than we have had in the past.

quick side question: Does anyone know of an SMU event or party bus that will be happening for the A&M game this fall?

[1982Express]

MrMustang1965,

Feel free to doubt if you wish. And stand by your statement that you don't think I saw Doak play....but again you will be sadly mistaken. I was a freshman at Woodrow Wilson during Doak's senior year at SMU. I will let you do the math to figure out my age.

[Kaygd Animal]

Unlike the majority of you folks on this board, I have never attended nor do I have future plans to attend (though it would be a dream come true). I am quite new to these boards and actually pretty new (compared to the majority of you) as a fan of the team. I have always had a connection with the team (spiritual connection) until about two years ago when I first started playing NCAA Football 200x. I cared about having real names on my team so I manually input names for the Mustangs and that is how I came to know them more on a deeper level than just skimming the top as a fan. I began to research players and the history of the school and team. I never would have known that Don Meredith (even considering I'm a Dallas Cowboys fan) or Doak Walker attended SMU had it not been for need to have real names on my NCAA Football 2003 roster.

Before I came to know about the NCAA Football series by EA Sports, I was just a fan that skimmed the top. I never cared who was on the team or the tradition or history of the team. I only wanted to see the scoreboard and the season win-loss record. If they were winning I was happy. If they were losing, I was so-so. I was never spiritually attached to this team.

If you read my introduction, you found out that I really only liked the team because of the similarity between my favorite high school football team, the Grapevine Mustangs, and the SMU Mustangs. They both carried the same logo (obviously SMU had it first). I never even knew about the SMU Mustangs until around the mid-90's when I was just skimming through College logos and found out that SMU and Grapevine had the same one.

So was born the only way I recognized the SMU team, besides the blocked font for SMU. I am all for tradition as I feel that is the identity of the school. I personally like the new look. I actually like it less now that I see the similarities to other logos out there, but I still like it.

Comparing the new look to the old look, I like the old look better since I favor tradition over new look. However, I can definatly see the direction they are going with this new look. The new look Mustang has this feel of power, kind of like the horsepower found under the Ford Mustang (and to let you also know, I love the new look Ford Mustang). I am a huge proponent for the running game in football and this new look mustang seems to represent that best. I sense power, speed, and a step in the right direction.

I may not have been here before the Death Penalty was issued, but in my mind, when I see this logo, I picture the Mustangs take a step in the right direction. I would prefer they not get rid of the current running horse logo on the helmet, because honestly, the new logo would look like crap on a helmet as would the letters SMU.

With the way the team is shaping up, the Mustangs could be facing some winning seasons soon. From what I read, the MustangLockeroom will be offering the ability to choose whether you want the new look or the old look on the merchendise you buy. That is the perfect idea. Now, instead of just marketing to the fans of tradition, they are marketing to fans who want change. These fans will see the new look and it might cause them to fall in love with the team all over again (just guessing). They are marketing to the old traditionists as well as the new traditionists. I only see good things coming from this. Hopefully, the Lockeroom will have more to offer besides the generic crap they have out right now. And hopefully the lockeroom will have the option to choose which logo. I think the new logo looks great on a black or even the dark blue t-shirt.


---------------------------

Out of all of that rambling, I finally came up with a better way to say all of that.

The new look gives the team a fresh start. The running horse logo represents the Mustangs extremely well. In fact, it might be too well. Every football message board I've been on before this one only knows the Mustangs because of the Death Penalty. By throwing out a fresh new look, the team is essentially being given a fresh new start. By the looks of it, it appears that the SMU Marketing Department is say that SMU should not only be known by the Death Penalty.

[jtstang]

I have always had a connection with the team (spiritual connection) until about two years ago when I first started playing NCAA Football 200x. I cared about having real names on my team so I manually input names for the Mustangs and that is how I came to know them more on a deeper level than just skimming the top as a fan.

I'd like to hear more about this "spiritual connection" you had to SMU before you got your gameboy. Are you a member of some kind of cult?

[Kaygd Animal]

I have always had a connection with the team (spiritual connection) until about two years ago when I first started playing NCAA Football 200x. I cared about having real names on my team so I manually input names for the Mustangs and that is how I came to know them more on a deeper level than just skimming the top as a fan.

I'd like to hear more about this "spiritual connection" you had to SMU before you got your gameboy. Are you a member of some kind of cult?

Yes. Wanna join?



All you have to do is drink the red kool-aid and you are forever a Mustang Cult Member.

[that's great raplh]

[quote="giacfsp"][quote="SMUstang"][quote="KnuckleStang"][img]



this sucks and blows

[MrMustang1965]

MrMustang1965,

Feel free to doubt if you wish. And stand by your statement that you don't think I saw Doak play....but again you will be sadly mistaken. I was a freshman at Woodrow Wilson during Doak's senior year at SMU. I will let you do the math to figure out my age.

Well...IF you saw Doak play in person and you were a frosh at WWHS during Doak's senior year then you'd probably be in your early 70s.

And IF you saw Doak play, then you also saw my father on the sidelines handling Peruna and cheering on the Mustangs!

[NavyCrimson]

furthermore, it looks really tacky with that WHITE HOLE under the left leg

[Mustangs35SMU]

furthermore, it looks really tacky with that WHITE HOLE under the left leg

Good thing I wasnt the only one to see that