No BLVD for 10/31 -- They don't get it

[ponyup10]

...which is right off a major highway

Although you wouldn't know it since there's only one sign indicating SMU's location from the north and one sign indicating SMU's location from the south on Hwy. 75 (Central Expressway).

But you would hope someone rushing from work for the game would know that and not need a sign to point them in the right direction

[ponyup10]

...which is right off a major highway

Although you wouldn't know it since there's only one sign indicating SMU's location from the north and one sign indicating SMU's location from the south on Hwy. 75 (Central Expressway).

But you would hope someone rushing from work for the game would know that and not need a sign to point them in the right direction

[Hoofbeat83]

...which is right off a major highway

Although you wouldn't know it since there's only one sign indicating SMU's location from the north and one sign indicating SMU's location from the south on Hwy. 75 (Central Expressway).

uh oh, be prepared for a new thread that moans about the lack of coverage from texas dept. of highways...

[Peruna2001]

I'm hoping we have a pretty strong turnout. I think students will turn out just to be on tv. I'm leaving work early, so the earliest I can even be on the Boo-levard is 3:30. I think families will come out. I encouraged some of my friends with kids to come out. I told them that there would be plenty of trick-or-treating available at the tailgating, and they could go over to some of the HP houses to get some really good candy.

I've already talked several Aggies, Longhorns, Bears, and others into coming out for the tailgating and the game. They never want to come to our games normally because there are "better" games going on.

[regis]

you can join the rest of SMU's fair weather fans who care more about making an "appearance" on the Blvd than watching SMU compete on the gridiron

If only 14,000 showed up for Marshall, I don't expect 10,000 to come out for UAB

First, I'll appologize for the misleading hangover induced subject line and subsequent rant.

Second, my group is and has been the first or one of the first on the boulevard everyweek since 9.2.2000. So, I think I know what I'm talking about.

Third, what makes the boulevard great is the tents, the grills, the satellite dishes, etc. With the time restrictions, there's no way the everyone's going to bring their full set up or they'd be spending the whole time setting up/taking down.

Fourth, the way they announced it is stupid. The football schedule came out in April. The first thing I thought was how cool it would be to spend Halloween day on the Boulevard. I scheduled one of my precious vacation days for 10/31 so I could spend the entire day, like I do ALL game days. If they were going to impose restrictions, announce it when you release the schedule or when you send out the parking/tickets. Don't do it two weeks prior and with a flyer on my car.

Fifth, I guess I'm just disappointed that SMU, finally with some momentum in the football program, seems to be going out of thier way to miss the golden marketing opportunity of a Nationally Televised Game.

That's all I was trying to say. GO MUSTANGS!

[Mustang_Matt]

I'm not sure I understand the uproar. The Blvd. usually opens four hours before the game. This one opens three hours before. It's one hour! What's the big deal?

On a typical game day, the Boulevard is "open" when the first tailgaters arrive. We are often among the first fans there, and are fully set up -- grill, tv and all -- by 9am at the lastest. Game days are all-day experiences for us.

And therein lies the issue: For those of us who spend the day at SMU, it is difficult to justify packing and setting up the whole kit-and-kaboodle (four tents, 20 chairs, grill, tv/satellite, etc.), as we will spend as much time setting up and taking down as we do enjoying the Bouelvard.

We will be in the stadium supporting the team at kickoff, no doubt. But this new, suddenly- and rudely-announced policy will cut into the game-day experience. And, sadly, an empty Boulevard will reflect poorly on the University.

[thesportsfan]

Just to let alumni know that want a large turnout from students, all classes on the 31 are being held. I have a class from 5:00 to 6:50 and have been told that we will loose points if we miss class for the game. Of course I do not care about the points and will be at the game no matter what the school does to try and prevent it. Many of my friends have a scheduled test on the 31st and will have to miss the first half of the game. What kind of administration punishes students for attending or schedules tests during their schools first nationally televised game in 20 years? I want the stadium to be packed and am encouraging every student to attend, but many students will be in class and can not afford to miss. I personally think it is ridiculous.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

I will sacrifice a weekend game for national attention anytime, as long as we win. ESPN needs to get plenty of shots of the "talent" on the BLVD to help us with our recruiting. I think the sororities should do their part and put together a mock pig run....Those were the days.

HANG ON...I graduated in '01 and the pig run was still going on, at least to some degree...I don't think the frats were allowed to throw food at them my last couple of years there, but has the pig run been done away with completley??

[Peruna2001]

Are they going to actually discourage people from tailgating before the 3:30pm mark? I was thinking that if my Thanksgiving vacation request gets turned down, I might just take the day off for tailgating. I figured that 3:30 is just the official start of the tailgate. Are they going to say that you can't set up a spot that you've paid to have before 3:30?

[jtstang]

[Fourth, the way they announced it is stupid. The football schedule came out in April. The first thing I thought was how cool it would be to spend Halloween day on the Boulevard. I scheduled one of my precious vacation days for 10/31 so I could spend the entire day, like I do ALL game days. If they were going to impose restrictions, announce it when you release the schedule or when you send out the parking/tickets. Don't do it two weeks prior and with a flyer on my car.

The flyer, although a particularly crappy way of handling things, is how you know you are really dealing with SMU.

[regis]

Are they going to actually discourage people from tailgating before the 3:30pm mark? I was thinking that if my Thanksgiving vacation request gets turned down, I might just take the day off for tailgating. I figured that 3:30 is just the official start of the tailgate. Are they going to say that you can't set up a spot that you've paid to have before 3:30?

YES! Hence this entire thread.

To summarize the flyer: 10/31 is a school day. SMU is in business to be a school, not a football host. The boulevard IS NOT open until 3:30. Don't come until then.

[Stallion]

I think this is SMU's way of saying "This is a neighborhood-this ain't no residential district" -Richard Pryor

[SMU Football Blog]

I hereby declare October 31st a snow day. Classes cancelled.

[Peruna2001]

My question was basically asking if they are going to remove you if you do set up early. If enough people are setting up at 10am, what are they going to do to stop you? They certainly aren't going to kick you off campus. That wouldn't be good publicity.

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

If enough people are setting up at 10am, what are they going to do to stop you? They certainly aren't going to kick you off campus. That wouldn't be good publicity.

Remember...this is SMU we're talking about here.