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not worried

I had friends in San Diego, DC & Charlotte blowing up my phone. SMU student body comes from all over, and ends up all over. I don't have one person in my close circle of alums, that ended up in Dallas. For a private to sell tickets to Dallas, you better be Top 20ish & playing a legit schedule. All we can do is keep winning, recruit better caliber athletes etc

If we survive the road, our next home game should be the first game we play ranked in the stadium. Should be interesting to see if attendance improves. But again we are making improvements in all aspects of the game, one step at a time. Did I mention we could be playing a home game while ranked in the top 25? Enjoy the good things.

Do NOT let the athletics department off the hook for the attendance problem. At the same time, I also don't want to hear that it was the fault of Dallas area alumni that our attendance was not better. Our attendance has suffered in the past because of a poor product on the field. Now that SMU has something to be proud about, they don't want to spend one penny to advertise it to the masses. SMU can not depend on word of mouth or the Operation Sell Out program to fill our stadium. We need to start some marketing efforts around town and I am certain that it will pay dividends in the future.

MustangSTATS wrote:If we survive the road, our next home game should be the first game we play ranked in the stadium. Should be interesting to see if attendance improves. But again we are making improvements in all aspects of the game, one step at a time. Did I mention we could be playing a home game while ranked in the top 25? Enjoy the good things.

we have a good chance at Tulsa, but USM is gonna be tough, real tough. they are athletic and have a very good experienced QB.

I'll chime in on the spread out alums issue.
Chatted w/friends today in Denver, Seattle, NYC.
SMU is the reason they are successful where they are, and most make it to at least one game a year. But we need to cultivate the local non-affiliated fan base to regularly fill the stadium.
I think going BCS will help, but it's just merely one step in getting the attendance issue addressed.

Hilltop wrote:Do NOT let the athletics department off the hook for the attendance problem. At the same time, I also don't want to hear that it was the fault of Dallas area alumni that our attendance was not better. Our attendance has suffered in the past because of a poor product on the field. Now that SMU has something to be proud about, they don't want to spend one penny to advertise it to the masses. SMU can not depend on word of mouth or the Operation Sell Out program to fill our stadium. We need to start some marketing efforts around town and I am certain that it will pay dividends in the future.

Amen

Hilltop wrote:Do NOT let the athletics department off the hook for the attendance problem. At the same time, I also don't want to hear that it was the fault of Dallas area alumni that our attendance was not better. Our attendance has suffered in the past because of a poor product on the field. Now that SMU has something to be proud about, they don't want to spend one penny to advertise it to the masses. SMU can not depend on word of mouth or the Operation Sell Out program to fill our stadium. We need to start some marketing efforts around town and I am certain that it will pay dividends in the future.

Uh, did you notice that we were included in discussions on ESPN and local articles in Boston and New York newspapers, among others? That doesn't just happen, especially coming off a bye week. Public relations have been focused on SMU2BCS, and they're doing a damn good job at it. I'll take an AQ conference over whatever gains you think you'll get through local Dallas advertising. The way they're doing it is smart and will pay off much more.

Don't get me wrong, I'd like for them to increase it locally, but I'd much rather they continue what they are doing for now. It will pay much bigger dividends.

SMU2bcs wasnt spearheaded by SMU.

You're correct. Not that specific campaign, but the concept. Turner said it publicly prior to that website being circulated. I think it was already designed, but not circulated until Turner spoke on it.

Constantly whining about attendance is not going to help us build back up. 25 years of terrible football is a HUGE hole to climb out of. As many have mentioned above, a few years ago this game drew 15K at best. Drawing 23K is a big improvement in just a few years. However, as many posters have mentioned, we have a long way to go. I for one, try to think about what little part I can do to try to boost our numbers. Being a 2005 Grad and a 2009 law grad, most of my classmates are very apathetic to football and many don't go to games. Beginning with last year, I decided to make sure I drug out a new person to each game. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Everyone has had a good time and vowed to go to more SMU games. Did these people go out and buy season tickets for this year? No. Going from a fan that doesn't care to a completely devoted one does not happen over night. However, these people will on average atleast attend 2 games this year and will watch on tv. Some have also invited their friends and family to the games they have come out to this year. Again, nothing huge, but its small baby steps that will have a snow ball effect in time. As "hardcore" fans we need to be patient and be out there making an effort to help the cause instead of complaining. If we relentlessy spread the word as a group, results will come.

CoxMustangFan wrote:

malachi896 wrote:Constantly whining about attendance is not going to help us build back up. 25 years of terrible football is a HUGE hole to climb out of. As many have mentioned above, a few years ago this game drew 15K at best. Drawing 23K is a big improvement in just a few years. However, as many posters have mentioned, we have a long way to go. I for one, try to think about what little part I can do to try to boost our numbers. Being a 2005 Grad and a 2009 law grad, most of my classmates are very apathetic to football and many don't go to games. Beginning with last year, I decided to make sure I drug out a new person to each game. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Everyone has had a good time and vowed to go to more SMU games. Did these people go out and buy season tickets for this year? No. Going from a fan that doesn't care to a completely devoted one does not happen over night. However, these people will on average atleast attend 2 games this year and will watch on tv. Some have also invited their friends and family to the games they have come out to this year. Again, nothing huge, but its small baby steps that will have a snow ball effect in time. As "hardcore" fans we need to be patient and be out there making an effort to help the cause instead of complaining. If we relentlessy spread the word as a group, results will come.

Invite a buddy. Why didn't I think of that. I think it's time for me to take a vacation from Ponyfans...

Not saying that this is a new idea. I just think after 25 years of really bad football many of us have unrealistic expectations on how fast attendance will return. Just saying its better to stay positive and try to do as much as each of us can individually and as a group instead of constatly complaining about how support sucks.

looked VERY WEAK on TV.......

A couple Parkie couples told me that Cattle Baron's Ball (pre-parties) conflicted with the game.

A national ranking and known commodity at QB made a big difference for UH and I think that will provide an "it factor" for SMU as well. Congrats on 5-1. It's nice to beat the shoo-in Big East member. Good luck next week at 5-1 USM.

ontheedgeofmyseat wrote:looked VERY WEAK on TV.......

I believe that is mostly because the cameras face the visitor side. The home side looked very full from my vantage point though.