Montana State announcing SMU added to 2013 schedule

[East Coast Mustang]

Well if SMU students and alumni feel that way then SMU will be headed to dustheap of College Football History. Nobody gives a [deleted] about SMU's excuses

What was TCU's attendance like when they were first getting it started ten years ago or so? I'm not trying to make a point, I'm curious. Did they have the same problem we did?

Our fans will show up when we play interesting opponents...Baylor, A&M, Tech, etc. I'd love to see us try and get Vanderbilt or Ole Miss in here to Ford as well. I think that would be awesome, and I think they'd like to get some exposure (and what they might consider an "easy win") in the Metroplex for recruiting.

[Stallion]

I've posted the numbers many times-they've always had at a minimum 25%-40 larger base attendance even back then. I think in Franchione's first year they started at about 25,000. Only difference is that their home team attendance has grown over the years-I'm not convinced there is more than 1,000 more SMU fans today than there was in 2008. There is actually less season ticket sales today than in 2000.

[East Coast Mustang]

I've posted the numbers many times-they've always had at a minimum 25%-40 larger base attendance even back then. I think in Franchione's first year they started at about 25,000. Only difference is that their home team attendance has grown over the years-I'm not convinced there is more than 1,000 more SMU fans today than there was in 2008. There is actually less season ticket sales today than in 2000.

My question is, why is that? Lack of entertainment competition in Ft Worth? Do you think it has to do with a lot of our students coming from outside Texas and having their own allegiances before coming to SMU (SEC teams, USC, whatever)? I think TCU draws a lot more of their student body from in-state

[East Coast Mustang]

I can understand why their attendance grew- if we were a top 25 team and playing for a BCS berth I think we'd be selling out Ford too. It just hasnt happened yet. Junesus will lead us there though

[Stallion]

I was a little low-TCU averaged 27,181 in Franchione's first year. Here's is a general summary of TCU attendance growth since Franchione in 1998:

In 1998, figures compiled by the NCAA show an average TCU attendance of 27,181 and a rank of No. 71. By 2000, it was 32,634 (74 percent of stadium capacity, No. 65 in rank). And in 2010, it was 42,466 (nearly 96 percent of capacity and more than a quarter-million fans, and No. 56 in rank among the 120 teams in the Bowl Subdivision category). That same year, Baylor drew 80 percent capacity and SMU 73 percent. Texas at 100.5 percent ranked No. 5 nationally and Texas A&M at 99.37 percent ranked No. 11.

[Stallion]

TCU was 6-5 during the regular season when they had 27,181 in 1998. The next year TCU was 7-4 during the regular season so the BS that June has to win big before we can increase our attendance doesn't hold water. You guys can come up with every excuse in the book. The only fact that matters is SMU alumni, students and friends don't support the program. I can count on one hand the number of alumni from my era that routinely go to SMU Football games. If you substract our opponents and June's Bus Brigade SMU has about 15,000 fans. TCU has more 2 1/2 times more season ticket holders

[Peruna88]

Waco paper had an article on the game today and it said that the 2014 stadium opener vs SMU is still on, but that our AD is scrambling to find a 12th game on short notice. AD didn't sound thrilled about it getting cancelled, but a 3rd non con home game should bring some cash.

Well, we know North Dakota State is looking for a game. . .

[Mustangsabu]

TCU was 6-5 during the regular season when they had 27,181 in 1998. The next year TCU was 7-4 during the regular season so the BS that June has to win big before we can increase our attendance doesn't hold water. You guys can come up with every excuse in the book. The only fact that matters is SMU alumni, students and friends don't support the program. I can count on one hand the number of alumni from my era that routinely go to SMU Football games. If you substract our opponents and June's Bus Brigade SMU has about 15,000 fans. TCU has more 2 1/2 times more season ticket holders

I rarely agree with Stallion but the truth is he is right. TCU has the backing of alumni and the city of Fort Worth. Dallas doesn't care about SMU....

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[PK]

TCU was 6-5 during the regular season when they had 27,181 in 1998. The next year TCU was 7-4 during the regular season so the BS that June has to win big before we can increase our attendance doesn't hold water. You guys can come up with every excuse in the book. The only fact that matters is SMU alumni, students and friends don't support the program. I can count on one hand the number of alumni from my era that routinely go to SMU Football games. If you substract our opponents and June's Bus Brigade SMU has about 15,000 fans. TCU has more 2 1/2 times more season ticket holders

I rarely agree with Stallion but the truth is he is right. TCU has the backing of alumni and the city of Fort Worth. Dallas doesn't care about SMU....

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...Nor, evidently does our alumni. Sad.

[JoeKidd]

It all starts with student body and alumni participation. Just think if everyone on this board bought 4 season tickets and then got themselves or other people in their seats for every game and 70% of all students on campus attended. That would give us a starting point of around 15,000.

Just like in politics you gotta motivate your base before you can get the other undecided's participating.

[RGV Pony]

It all starts with student body and alumni participation. Just think if everyone on this board bought 4 season tickets and then got themselves or other people in their seats for every game and 70% of all students on campus attended. That would give us a starting point of around 15,000.

Just like in politics you gotta motivate your base before you can get the other undecided's participating.

There are maybe 30 regular posters on this board with gusts up to maybe 50 and most have between 2 and 10 season tix

[lwjr]

TCU was 6-5 during the regular season when they had 27,181 in 1998. The next year TCU was 7-4 during the regular season so the BS that June has to win big before we can increase our attendance doesn't hold water. You guys can come up with every excuse in the book. The only fact that matters is SMU alumni, students and friends don't support the program. I can count on one hand the number of alumni from my era that routinely go to SMU Football games. If you substract our opponents and June's Bus Brigade SMU has about 15,000 fans. TCU has more 2 1/2 times more season ticket holders

SMU has never, for as long as I have been following SMU, made a concerted effort to reach out to the Dallas Metro area and promote SMU athletics. The only exception was during the Ross Potts/Brad Thomas Days but they were giving away tickets but they were marketing the SMU brand.
When it comes to the lecture series and other non athletic events, SMU seems to have no problem marketing those type of events. I have friends, who are not SMU donors, alumni, etc.. attend these type of events and will tell you when the next one is and what it is about or who is speaking. These same friends are also sports fans but they could not tell you when the next SMU football or basketball game is..
In all honestly, I don't think SMU really cares to market the football or basketball team cause they think it might "ruin" their reputation as a highly regarded academic school. If anything IMO, there is apart of the problem in regards to the turned up nose, a bunch of snobs reputation SMU suffers from.

[RGV Pony]

Well, they covered dart buses and had other signage when we moved from ownby to the Cotton Bowl

[lwjr]

Well, they covered dart buses and had other signage when we moved from ownby to the Cotton Bowl

I stand corrected.

[ponyboy]

Death to the country club mentality. We need to invite ALL of Dallas.