PonyFans.com

Anyone that posts on Ponyfans need only to go to the Special Delivery spot. They have signs up that describe it as the official Blvd stop for Ponyfans or something similar. I went to my first Blvd not knowing anyone personally on Ponyfans and it was my only connection after being away from the school for many years and living out of state. I was welcomed, fed and now they cannot get rid of me even though I also participate in the BUS Stop, next door.

I realize the apprehension that someone may have in walking into a situation that is new, not knowing anyone, but that is very common in all aspects of life. People just need to get out and go. Now I do agree that the invitation to come to the Blvd and the game may need to be better worded for the masses, and better exposed. But there is no better place to go and meet fans and participate in game day of college football.

joeybradford wrote:I know a friend of mine feels too uncomfortable to socialize in the blvd with anyone she doesn't know already. She has plenty of money but feels uncomfortable as a Native American. People are quite often communicating in ways that are racial slurs to her race (like saying redskins or tomahawk chops at sporting events). She goes to games with other women in her family from teens to, at one time, over 90 but hasn't even gone to the blvd for 15 or 20 years.
You might hear them speaking a dying native language at the football games.

I haven't been blvding since '93 but it doesn't have anything to do with money or class just usually a tight schedule where I usually get in and get out.

Not this gimmick again. I need to smoke'em peace pipe or find some firewater to get through these posts.

After reading a lot of responses on this forum I thought I would throw my .02 in. For the last couple of years I have visited the 'vard. I have to agree that the people at many of the 'tents' are not overly inviting. The first year I visited the Special Delivery tent. I chatted with a person there about his SMU collection. We had a great conversation and I felt very welcome. The same experience at the 'Bus stop'. I enjoy chatting with George and always make it a point to visit his location. Even wearing SMU gear many of the people do not speak or make you feel welcome to enter their 'domain'. I was not looking for free food or drink. I was actually more interested in meeting other SMU people- especially those who post here on ponyfans so I could know who is who.
Make sense? One idea might be to have name tags with both the persons name and his/her pf handle.
I would suggest that those with blvd spots please try and be engaging with people. You and the 'vard are often the first impression that a person will have of the SMU football experience. You all are special and represent the 'pony nation' - show a little hospitality and make guests of the 'vard feel welcome and want to return to SMU. JMHO.

GO PONIES!!!

#shameless plug

Feeling lost on the Boulevard? Feel weird mooching beer off fraternity guys 20 years younger than you? Didn't go to SMU? Feel underdressed? Don't know a soul?...ever or anymore...

Join Red and Blue Army! You'll get a scarf, you'll see others with scarfs-instant commonality and a reason to say hello. Red and Blue Army will have a tent, stop by, hang out or just use it as a stopping point as you continue to cruise down the Boulevard. Student membership is $30.00 but is meant for anyone with their own season tickets or are buying first-time or a la carte. Immediatw affiliation with SMU football, the only requirement is to be loud for SMU.

Name tags, fire water, O my goodness. Bunch of [deleted] just get out there and have fun.

This is not a new topic - SMU reaching beyond the Park Cities. Some of us have been complaining about this for decades.

Try finding an SMU poster in a window more than a mile from campus. 1st and 10 is about as far as you can go.

SMU has cultivated an elitist image that works for it on some levels and works against it on many others.

It's not just an athletics thing, the school itself doesn't reach out to Dallas and the surrounding suburbs. Oh, it might do a charity project or two, but there's no sustaining connection. SMU also seems to recruit out-of-state students much more agressively than in-town students. I know from personal experience TCU recruited a relative's daughter much more agressively than SMU did, and she was a double-legacy.

The campus is just so insulated from the rest of Dallas, in every way, that it's easy for even people who just work there to fall into the comfortable trap of the Park Cities Bubble. The Park Cities is one of the few places where SMU's name has some value. When most of your active alumni also live in the Park Cities, you're not hearing a lot of diverse voices.

There's no easy solution other than to aggressively market beyond the Park Cities. And since we don't have an athletics marketing staff, the problem will persist. We may eventually win enough to attract the average Dallasite, but with the Big 12 so prominent in this market, you're going to have to put together some undefeated and one-loss seasons like TCU did to get anyone to notice.

As for the Boulevard, you can't expect everyone to hand out free hugs and beer to every person that walks by. For the most part, even the fancy tents are full of friendly folk. On the other hand, I can understand feeling a little insecure if you wander unattached into the Boulevard. Guess what? It's a party. All parties are like that. If you don't know anyone at a party, you're going to feel a little ostracized. It's not something I lose sleep over.

I do like the idea of having a concession stand or two for unattached visitors. It seems a little odd to go to that expense when there's so much free food and drink already available, but maybe a student group could sell sandwiches and drinks as a fundraiser. There also needs to be a designated picnic area for people who just want to sit on a blanket and soak up the atmosphere - without having to pay for it. It would be a great place for opponent's fans to feel welcome on the Boulevard, the ones who often show up expecting a traditional tailgate.

But other than that, I really wouldn't mess with the Boulevard. It's wildly successful even with all the rules and tent fees. We have no problem getting people to the Boulevard, as someone said, it's getting people in the stadium that's the issue.

03Mustang wrote:

joeybradford wrote:I know a friend of mine feels too uncomfortable to socialize in the blvd with anyone she doesn't know already. She has plenty of money but feels uncomfortable as a Native American. People are quite often communicating in ways that are racial slurs to her race (like saying redskins or tomahawk chops at sporting events). She goes to games with other women in her family from teens to, at one time, over 90 but hasn't even gone to the blvd for 15 or 20 years.
You might hear them speaking a dying native language at the football games.

I haven't been blvding since '93 but it doesn't have anything to do with money or class just usually a tight schedule where I usually get in and get out.

Most confusing post ever, or just the least funny?

Those 'vards of 15 or 20 years ago must have been hellacious because I don't even remember them. And I was in school in 1993 too.

smudubs wrote:Finally, I doubt the majority of the fans on the boulevard would welcome JG's family as they walked up with the giant picture of JG and T. Reed. I talked to them at the Rice game and they were wonderful folks. I will do an experiment at the UTEP game. I will walk to random tents where I know no one and report how welcoming they are on PF.

Awesome idea! Can wait to see the results.

just make a public and visitor area, problem solved. Block off the parking lots off McFarlin.

This has sparked some healthy discussion IMO.

I just want to hug everyone and give them all of ny beer man

One Trick Pony wrote:I just want to hug everyone and give them all of ny beer man

Beer hell, I want good scotch and gourmet meals.

GO PONIES!!!

On an aside- I agree with your comment about the 'firewater'. Sadly, this nation has become too worried about being PC. It used to be that you could poke fun at things and not worry about affronting people. e.g. the old Frito ads with the Frito Bandito. Sad state that people take things so personally.

Yeah well its all pretty funny to us green eyed white boys. Feels a little different when you're on the other end of it..

One Trick Pony wrote:Yeah well its all pretty funny to us green eyed whit'e boys. Feels a little different when you're on the other end of it..

Well, yes, I am light haired (now very gray and green eyed. Here in Peru I am often called 'gringo' and people try and charge me higher prices for things. So, I am on the other end. Do I take offense? sometimes, but it really depends on the situation. Orientals take exception to the old Charlie Chan movies. They weren't meant to be offensive but humorous.
As I mentioned too many people are too sensitive about their heritage or ethnicity. IMO they should be proud of it. Sorry for the little rant but that is one of my 'hot spots'.

GO PONIES!!!

redpony wrote:

One Trick Pony wrote:Yeah well its all pretty funny to us green eyed whit'e boys. Feels a little different when you're on the other end of it..

Well, yes, I am light haired (now very gray and green eyed. Here in Peru I am often called 'gringo' and people try and charge me higher prices for things. So, I am on the other end. Do I take offense? sometimes, but it really depends on the situation. Orientals take exception to the old Charlie Chan movies. They weren't meant to be offensive but humorous.
As I mentioned too many people are too sensitive about their heritage or ethnicity. IMO they should be proud of it. Sorry for the little rant but that is one of my 'hot spots'.

GO PONIES!!!

I didn't know that rugs expressed their feelings! I know that Asians often get upset by being referred to as "orientals." No offense to you Red because I know what you are getting at. I often agree that we have taken political correctness too far, but some need to be aware of how others can view the comments they make as racist. I've read on this board that we should "exploit mexicans" and get a raper on campus to appeal to the "urban community". Now the oriental comment.

Personal, I don't pretend to be politically correct and make fun of everyone so please don't take this as a slam on any poster. The difference in many cases is that I know what I say is offensive and just don't care.