The Students Don't Get It

[mustang_of_smu]

If any of you read some of my previous posts, I'm sorry. I think I went a little far. But anyway next post. I'm in a somewhat better mood now.

Being a student I noticed that not too many students really know how to watch a college football game. I noticed that many criticized the fans of SMU for this. I was just as disgusted, however I don't think it was their fault and I think we should try to help. Here is my proposal:

1) Students did not stand at critical points in the game. Why don't we have a ponyfans.com representative go and tell them each time it is time to cheer.

2)When players on either team would go down many did not know they needed to put up the pony ears. This is important and I think we should once again have a pf.com representative or even a security guard make sure that many or most of the students put them up.

3)Many SMU fans left the game early when the game became tied. I don't know how to prevent this. This was a critical point. We needed noise to be made. Maybe with instruction to cheer many would get back into the game and not leave.

4)This team lacks size, confidence and an offensive line that has a lot to do with size.

Confidence can be fixed by cheering at critical points. Size and O-line we will have to live with for a while. In the early part of TCU's stretch of magnificient play (the last 6 years) size was not a factor. Speed was used. Just a note. Sorry, it's not really relevant to this matter.

Having unprepared fans is a big problem. We must stop this somehow.

Any other ideas???

[huntnfish]

stop worrying about the fans or students- winning will cure it, and only winning

[me@smu]

Huntnfish is partially right. Got to give the students a reason to stick around to watch.

If I had to give it a try...couple of suggestions:

1) Open the Boulevard after the game also...allow for late night tailgating to give the students something else to stick around for.

2) Considering how "greek" the campus is, get the councils to hold competitions or some jazz in the fourth quarter. Amazing how long we argued about wearing ties to the boulevard and proper etiquette at the boulevard with no mention of how to act at the games!

3) Stupid stuff to get the freshman. Bring out the mustang maniacs shirts now and give them to the freshman...get the crowd in the same color and it will look bigger. Honestly freshman are looking for stuff to do...here is a great way to get out and meet the campus!

Oh by the way, notice no mention of the alumni base...accept the fact that we have lost most of the alumni at the moment and stop worrying about getting more local interaction. When the students come and start filling it up then as they graduate they will continue to come. Pretty much comes down to College is looking for a party...alumni for a winner...we can't give a winner just yet...so lets turn it into a party.

[abezontar]

We could fix the problem if the Park Cities (or the NCAA I dont' remember who doesn't allow it) would allow us to sell cheap beer in the stadium.

[mrydel]

We could fix the problem if the Park Cities (or the NCAA I dont' remember who doesn't allow it) would allow us to sell cheap beer in the stadium.

I would imagine that would work with expensive beer.

[me@smu]

Actually that is a question I was wondering on saturday? Why can't SMU extend the wet title to game also and not just the boulevard

[MrMustang1965]

Actually that is a question I was wondering on saturday? Why can't SMU extend the wet title to game also and not just the boulevard

Yeah, let's all just get drunker n' hell...it will relieve the pain of watching another losing season.

[BrianTinBigD]

We could fix the problem if the Park Cities (or the NCAA I dont' remember who doesn't allow it) would allow us to sell cheap beer in the stadium.

No ID's and cheap beer. That alone will get the stadium full even if we play Arkansas State.

[Billy Joe]

A new AD and head football coach with proven winning experience as a head coach would help too.

[abezontar]

yeah, but the beer can solve our problem immediately and probably generate some revenue in the process; spending millions on a new coach and AD wouldn't

[Diamond Girl]

How about a little reverse thinking: Instead of the students waiting for a winning football team before they start showing up and participating, the students start showing up and getting vocal resulting in the team getting more confidence because they think somebody cares. As long as the stadium is almost empty every week, the team doesn't believe anyone is interested, so it doesn't matter how they do. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy, and this needs to change.

[abezontar]

It is much more difficult to convince a large group of people to invest a considerable amount of time to watch a product that doesn't perform, just becuase they are supposed to do it than it is to buy a good AD, coach and team, and put a quality product on the field for which the students could then have some pride by association.

I was a diehard fan as an undergrad, didn't miss a game, and I still chide people who belittle the team and don't go to or brag about missing the games. I have to say though it is getting much harder to warrant the investment of that much of a Saturday when I am continually disappointed and embarrassed by my team. My time would be better spent studying or at least taking a break and spending time with my wife and friends, and then missing the game and hitting the books again. I know the undergrads aren't hitting the books, but why put so much effort into something that is so disappointing? Is there a reason other than that they should because it is what they are supposed to do as students?

[Diamond Girl]

Waaa. More complaining about the AD and coach. Get over it. Bennet's contract was extended last year, so he'll be around for 3 years. I don't know about Copeland; I don't keep up with him. And a considerable amount of time? The ones who invest their time into going to the games are the alums with kids they've been carpooling around all day prior to going to the games. I have no sympathy for students losing a few hours of partying time to attend a home football game. Every other college in this country has its students at the games regardless of how good or bad a team it has.

[jtstang]

As long as the stadium is almost empty every week, the team doesn't believe anyone is interested....

Sorry, but that horse done left the barn.

[SWC2010]

We could fix the problem if the Park Cities (or the NCAA I dont' remember who doesn't allow it) would allow us to sell cheap beer in the stadium.

I would imagine that would work with expensive beer.

Your 1-liners today are better than usual, Mrydel!