Men's swimming/diving: Won 16 of 17 conference championships

[skurtn]

I had no idea the men's swimming team was that good. I remember them having fantastic parties, and a few of the German guys I met, I heard, were really awesome.. but I didn't realize we were that good!

Here's an excerpt from tcu360.com

[mrydel]

And they do it with the worst facilities in the nation. We should be ashamed. If you did not realize, we used to dominate the SWC and were consistently in the top 10 in the nation. That was 45 years ago and the current natatorium was old then. It used to be the basketball arena before Moody.

People talk about how exciting Moody can get when full, or the excitement in a packed football stadium. Go to a dual swim meet between top competitors in a steamy facility and you will see real excitement. Most exciting sporting event I have ever witnessed was Michigan and SMU in our natatorium circa 1970. We need to upgrade and keep the tradition going.

[smusportspage]

AMEN!

[well travelled pony]

And they do it with the worst facilities in the nation. We should be ashamed. If you did not realize, we used to dominate the SWC and were consistently in the top 10 in the nation. That was 45 years ago and the current natatorium was old then. It used to be the basketball arena before Moody.

People talk about how exciting Moody can get when full, or the excitement in a packed football stadium. Go to a dual swim meet between top competitors in a steamy facility and you will see real excitement. Most exciting sporting event I have ever witnessed was Michigan and SMU in our natatorium circa 1970. We need to upgrade and keep the tradition going.

Back when I was at SMU, went to many meets. I knew a number of the team. It was always a blast, and yes, Perkins was a junkhole. SMU Swimming and Diving was a national powerhouse. How those programs have been treated is a joke. A travesty to those greats who have been at SMU. Turner should be shamed into restoring the programs.

Go Ponies!

[mustangxc]

Keep in mind our conference has consisted of 3 or 4 teams for much of that duration.

[Water Pony]

Our Conference Championships started in the fifties and when we won consecutive SWC Championship for more than 20 years, while never losing to Texas in Dual Meets for the same period.

Here was my post in "This is what happens ..." in the Football Board:

Depressing at the moment, but more disturbing long term.

Men's and Women's Soccer has eroded from their national rankings and expectations, but Swimming & Diving is even more problematic given our prominence starting in the Fifties through the Nineties. All-Americans, National Champions, Olympians and routine Top Ten Finishes in the NCAAs for our Men and Women Swimmers and Divers are rapidly becoming a only memory.

This season, we lose Duals Meets by Men at TCU and Women at Rice is evidence that our two programs, like soccer, are in death spirals. Given our dated (obsolete) Natatorium, how is it possible to recruit, train and compete in the state of Texas, much less nationally, our historic role in college sports? The prospects for a new Natatorium are dimmer than at any time in the last twenty years. Statements that a replacement is a priority are empty rhetoric without foundation or substance.

I feel for Soccer, as well, but with the right coaches you can imagine a recovery. For Swimming & Diving, the future is probably non-existent. Yes, I am on the ledge.

[skurtn]

I felt like I read somewhere, that there was going to be an update to the swimming facilities. Am I on crack?

And they do it with the worst facilities in the nation. We should be ashamed. If you did not realize,

I graduated in '01 and never heard much about the swimming competitions on campus. Heck, I even worked for The Daily Campus for a little while and rarely saw much about it.

Keep in mind our conference has consisted of 3 or 4 teams for much of that duration.

While I understand the point of the remark, it's still very very impressive. That shows consistency, and an overall measure of success over the long-term.

[Water Pony]

I felt like I read somewhere, that there was going to be an update to the swimming facilities. Am I on crack?

And they do it with the worst facilities in the nation. We should be ashamed. If you did not realize,

I graduated in '01 and never heard much about the swimming competitions on campus. Heck, I even worked for The Daily Campus for a little while and rarely saw much about it.

Keep in mind our conference has consisted of 3 or 4 teams for much of that duration.

While I understand the point of the remark, it's still very very impressive. That shows consistency, and an overall measure of success over the long-term.

There was a time when the Swimming Program on campus was highly visible and respected. Someone referenced a Dual Meet against U. of Michigan that they attended. 2k students and fans watched that meet and, on occasion, other similar events.

People were excited for the SMU Swim Team and it was understood that the Hilltop was hosting World Class Olympic class athletes. The fact that the sport is now invisible is not surprising. It is similar to students preferring the fun of the Boulevard vs. attending FB games at Ford.

[Charleston Pony]

Red Barr built a program that could compete with anyone and consistently turned out Olympians. Really a shame we've abandoned this program

[mrydel]

Jerry Hienrich (sorry about the spelling) R.I.P. would have probably been on a Wheaties box except for his teammate in the Olympics by the name of Mark Spitz.

[EastStang]

My freshman year we had a duel meet against USC. USC was loaded with Olympians. We beat them on the final relay. The Natatorium was packed and the place went nuts. The 1940's Natatorium clearly needs an upgrade. Hart convene the Circle.

[Water Pony]

Jerry Hienrich (sorry about the spelling) R.I.P. would have probably been on a Wheaties box except for his teammate in the Olympics by the name of Mark Spitz.

Thanks mrydel. The correct spelling is Jerry Heidenreich. BTW, I help recruit him my senior year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Heidenreich

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... CDQQ9QEwAw