Poll -How Will You Respond?

[ponyinNC]

Recruiting ranking for this year any way you slice it will be in the range of #95 to #100. That looks pretty bare to me.

I understand the Peruna/Stallion argument - which is that we already have a smaller fanbase than just about anyone else in the G5, and we are hurting ourselves by not attending/supporting/donating to the program. I get that - it is a logical argument.

However, at the end of the day, we (as fans) are consumers of a product. That product is SMU football in this case. Many of us don't think logically when it comes to this product, because we have an enormous emotional connection to it - through years of fandom, through memories, because it represents our alma mater, etc etc.

That emotional connection blurs the reality however. The reality is that this product stinks. And it doesn't appear that this product will imporve at all in 2014. And it appears that the makers of this product do not care about improving it. In fact, it appears they enjoy making this product worse. The makers of this product think that we (the consumers) will continue to auto renew our account, year in and year out, with no improvement in the product or designs to make changes. That is unacceptable.

I don't live in Dallas. I usually attend 1or2 home games a year, and road games if they are close. My support will not make or break the program. I know that. Bergermeister continually reminds me of that fact. But I am the biggest fan of SMU that I know personally. Likely the biggest fan in my 2 states (NC and SC). And I cannot justify my time, money, energy or support of a product that, quite frankly, fails to provide anything in return but frustration. I cannot take another year of June Jones as the coach, the lack of desire to recruit or build a program. And I understand that $ may have been a factor, but that excuse just isn't good enough.

[SMU Section F]

I'll still be at every home game and any driveable away game.

The only thing I adjust based on the team's performance is how much time I spend worrying about or talking about the team. This'll be a 3-4 hour a week team next year...

[ghost]

The best thing would be for the Dallas area, with the SMU fans leading the way, gain momentum from the basketball program success and for people to fill ford and a stronger SMU nation demand changes. As of now support is so sparse that the admin is terrified that it will backtrack even worse. They would rather keep what they have and maybe win 6 games and go to a goal occasionally. They aspire to be average.

[leopold]

SMU fans who expect for a group of about 15 alumni to float this program and get us to a higher level while boycotting the program will kill any chance for us to compete at a higher level. The Circle of Champions invested in SMU in the hopes of stimulating SMU fans and jump starting SMU's BCS hopes. Who failed worse? The Circle of Champions or SMU's entitled fanbase? By any logical financial analysis of this program the enormous financial investment in SMU Football over the last 15 years (among the highest of all non-BCS schools) makes very little sense unless revenues are substantially increased through significantly higher ticket revenue. This ball game is just about over if we don't increase the fanbase whether we win or lose. All you are doing is making a chronic 50 year problem worse and reinforcing the undesireability of the SMU job to prospective coaches

Bingo.

We already tried the 'abondon ship' policy - it got us nowhere but the WAC. The school and it's major boosters finally start making an effort to compete and then they make one bad decision and everyone wants to say "to hell with it?"

You have a problem with the program then fine - e-mail the AD, the President, JJ, the assistants, the CoC whatever but walking away is just quitting and gets us nowhere.

[ponyinNC]

Just a quick point - I have emailed the AD, the President, JJ, and one CofC member (the only one I know). That member is pretty much out as well if I understand him correctly.

The only response I received from anyone at SMU was from Rick Hart (which I appreciated) - and that response just said that the extension was granted and that I could have a meeting with him next time I was in town. Again, I appreciate that access (which would be unheard of at most universities!), but I do not understand the extension, the lack of accountability, the waste of another year with JJ at the wheel, the non-recruiting philosophy --- all told, just the acceptance of mediocrity.

I tend to agree with Section F above - I will probably fall back into the trap of watching games, getting on PF, renewing my rivals/scout sub, trying to care -- but my effort, energy and time will be much less than ever before.

Does that really matter to anyone but me and my family? Probably not. But you've taken a die-hard fan, who tries to get anyone and everyone to be an SMU fan, and you've made him NOT CARE. That, in and of itself, is amazingly tragic.

[SMU Section F]

Does that really matter to anyone but me and my family? Probably not. But you've taken a die-hard fan, who tries to get anyone and everyone to be an SMU fan, and you've made him NOT CARE. That, in and of itself, is amazingly tragic.

Bingo.

I still have a modicum of faith in the long-term, but these next few years could reach new lows as far as my interest in the football program goes.

[mustangbill67]

SMU fans who expect for a group of about 15 alumni to float this program and get us to a higher level while boycotting the program will kill any chance for us to compete at a higher level. The Circle of Champions invested in SMU in the hopes of stimulating SMU fans and jump starting SMU's BCS hopes. Who failed worse? The Circle of Champions or SMU's entitled fanbase? By any logical financial analysis of this program the enormous financial investment in SMU Football over the last 15 years (among the highest of all non-BCS schools) makes very little sense unless revenues are substantially increased through significantly higher ticket revenue. This ball game is just about over if we don't increase the fanbase whether we win or lose. All you are doing is making a chronic 50 year problem worse and reinforcing the undesireability of the SMU job to prospective coaches

I actually agree. I will buy my tickets and make my donation and hope the best is yet to come. Hell, been doing that for over 40 years. Maybe hit the jackpot one year.

[SMUer]

We are the opposite of entitled fans...we have been throwing money at half-ass and mediocrity for 25 years. Who's entitled now? SMU needs to figure out how to do more with what they've got. Actually culture some fans instead of rely-ing on the same ones to re-up ad infinitum.

[JoeKidd]

When can we anticipate your resignation from Ponyfans to take effect?

I agree since Red is quitting everything else, might as well quit PF while he's at it. This place would be a little less depressing at least.

As for me I am going to double down on my season tickets so I can make sure that everyone seated around me actually came to the game to stand-up, get rowdy, have fun and cheer on the 'Stangs-no matter who the coach is.

[Charleston Pony]

We are the opposite of entitled fans...we have been throwing money at half-ass and mediocrity for 25 years. Who's entitled now? SMU needs to figure out how to do more with what they've got. Actually culture some fans instead of rely-ing on the same ones to re-up ad infinium.

he's not talking about our fans (the ones on this board and those who actually support the program by attending games). That's a reference to the majority of our students and alumni who haven't shown any interest since we were a top 10 program and competing in the SWC. As a whole, the SMU community is an "entitled" bunch

[mrydel]

If mrydel enrolls and plays I will upgrade everything I do.

I have tried. I should still have one year of eligibility. However so far the restraining order keeps me at least 8 rows away from the field.

[Bergermeister]

ad infinium.

Vocabulary word of the day. Outstanding.

[CoxMustangFan]

SMU fans who expect for a group of about 15 alumni to float this program and get us to a higher level while boycotting the program will kill any chance for us to compete at a higher level. The Circle of Champions invested in SMU in the hopes of stimulating SMU fans and jump starting SMU's BCS hopes. Who failed worse? The Circle of Champions or SMU's entitled fanbase? By any logical financial analysis of this program the enormous financial investment in SMU Football over the last 15 years (among the highest of all non-BCS schools) makes very little sense unless revenues are substantially increased through significantly higher ticket revenue. This ball game is just about over if we don't increase the fanbase whether we win or lose. All you are doing is making a chronic 50 year problem worse and reinforcing the undesireability of the SMU job to prospective coaches

Good post Stallion. I know I was originally on the fence, but I'll be back next year. I'll just have to drink more.