Something very disturbing...

[2ndandlong]

Your the problem you tuned into the game

How am I the problem? I live in Kansas City... tuning into the game is how I can help support this team/program. I've also purchased SMU items such as Hoodies and helmets... I get stopped all the time by people here, where the Tigers, Jayhawks and Wildcats are the teams and get asked... why SMU???

When I tell them about the 25 years of suffering and how the team is starting to get back to being relevant... they actually walk away wanting the Mustangs to do well.

you're right. i have been so blinded. this should happen overnight. steady growth in ticket sales and attendance over the last few years isn't enough. now that we're 5-1, we've practically accomplished everything that we've set out to. everyone in Texas should be lining up to go to an SMU game.

why look at how TCU did it through steady focused growth driven by success on the field?

rabble, rabble, rabble, rabble.

Oh, so now you want to point to TCU as the model for how things are done? To me, that's a load of [Gary Patterson]!

Who says you have to follow anyone's footprints? Be bold and create your own. Make this team a team that others will be envious of and want to model their programs after.

There are other ways of doing it. JJ has this team on the right track. Getting support by the fans will only help. And cynical fans who want to ramble on about how other school's have done it is not helping. It's time for you, and everyone else, to step things up. Orsini did it when he hired June. June has done it by getting this team to two bowl games back-to-back and now, at 5-1, they have a chance to go even further and win the C-USA Championship.

It's [Gary Patterson] remarks like yours that do nothing of any good for this program. Either wake up or go cheer for TCU since they seem to be your model of how things should be done. Jesus Christ man... I'm trying to point out to you that SMU is on the brink of something really good and really big. And standing on that brink there is a chance to either move forward or fall back into the abyss. Why does it have to take 10 years? Why can't it happen sooner? The team is winning and needs support. Find ways to make it happen. Is it really that difficult?

Rabble, rabble, rabble

[larskjenstad]

Spoke to an SMU student at the game on why student section was pathetic, she said LOTS of parties last nite, most students wanted to sleep in and not fight the sun. I have many friends that follow SMU in print (DMN ??....LOL)and radio in the Dallas area, they know what is happening with recent SMU success and are inquisitive, and I offer my thoughts about attending Ford in person and what a great experience it is, but get the same excuse that "I will watch on TV for now", there are other games than I can channel surf, the BLVD was busy today with big crowd but didnt transition to BLVD putting buts i seats. Keep winning for now and hopefully that will happen, but need SMU to start spending $$ and market this team. NO RE- ENTRY poliCY sucks, most every other stadium I have ben too alows re-entry with a ticket scan. Ease up SMU gate nazi's, make it it easier o the casual fan than wants to take a walk at half-time and come back in to enjoy second half. There were 600 Chik-Fa-Ley sandwiches left over after the game because of poor attendance...come on casual fan go see an exciting product at a great venue (Ford).

[Treadway21]

Let's settle down, everyone. Attendance is a problem. But we haven't been good for very long. UCF did not draw; Rangers playing; and we had a bye week. We need improvement, but we just got to keep winning and doing the little things to get attendance up. Let's not snipe amongst the loyal long time fans. We all want the best for the team. As frustrating as it is for us die hard fans, winning back the casual fans will take some work and success on the field.

[PonyLove]

Spoke to an SMU student at the game on why student section was pathetic, she said LOTS of parties last nite, most students wanted to sleep in and not fight the sun.

We need higher quality students..speaking for the not-quite-yet-blue-hair crowd, most of us are able to work all week, party on Friday night and still make it to the game on Saturday...geez

[JasonB]

As SMU establishes itself as a winning football team, more and more people will show up. Students, Alumni, and others just interested in football. But it takes time to bring people out.

As a comparison, TCU was not a good football program until 1997. They had decent years in 98 and 99 (7-5, 8-4), then have won consistently since then.

Their average attendance did not break 30K until 2003.

I can't find old data, but in 97 they had a 23K average.

27 in 98
27 in 99
30 in 2000, when they had a 10 win season with LT
then back to 27, then back up to thirty when they started winning big and it has been over 30 since.

SMU had miserable attendance for an even longer period of time than TCU. We were stuck around 17K forever, and just last year got up to 23K with a 7-5, 6-6 season.

Based on that history, I don't think we can expect to get to a 30K average until we are a top 25 team. Even in 99, when TCU first broke into the top 25, they only had a 27K average.

IF SMU breaks into the top 25 this season, I think we will see some higher attended games. But we don't get to 30 unless the opposition is upgraded or we have several very good seasons in a row (like 10 win seasons).

[2ndandlong]

As SMU establishes itself as a winning football team, more and more people will show up. Students, Alumni, and others just interested in football. But it takes time to bring people out.

As a comparison, TCU was not a good football program until 1997. They had decent years in 98 and 99 (7-5, 8-4), then have won consistently since then.

Their average attendance did not break 30K until 2003.

I can't find old data, but in 97 they had a 23K average.

27 in 98
27 in 99
30 in 2000, when they had a 10 win season with LT
then back to 27, then back up to thirty when they started winning big and it has been over 30 since.

SMU had miserable attendance for an even longer period of time than TCU. We were stuck around 17K forever, and just last year got up to 23K with a 7-5, 6-6 season.

Based on that history, I don't think we can expect to get to a 30K average until we are a top 25 team. Even in 99, when TCU first broke into the top 25, they only had a 27K average.

IF SMU breaks into the top 25 this season, I think we will see some higher attended games. But we don't get to 30 unless the opposition is upgraded or we have several very good seasons in a row (like 10 win seasons).

Yup

[Treadway21]

Jason, Very good info. I think you are right on your thoughts.

[MustangSTATS]

Thanks for bringing in some actual data Jason.

Clearly, 30k+ is not a over night transformation. With a move to the Big East we will have a better chance to get there faster than it took TCU, but it is still an uphill climb when DFW has plenty of other ways for people to spend their entertainment dollars. We also need to find some way to create a way for non-alumni fans to see the BLVD as a place of inclusion as it is a key part of the SMU experience. Keep people there and happy/included and we can start to grow local fans that buy into the SMU experience beyond looking to see a top 25 game, so we can have more fans during the high points and more importantly the low points.

[GiddyUp]

It's kind of a head scratcher that UTEP game was much better attendance, even Northwestern State due to Parents Weekend. Navy will be good. This and Rice will be the worst.

I don't think June said anything out of the ordinary in terms of attendance in PC. - 25 years of losing, same stuff he always says. Keep winning. Maybe we'll get a few UT fans b/c they are terrible right now and not worth watching at all.

[JesuitPony]

I could not make it back to Dallas for the game, but sent my brother, who had not been to a game at Ford. He texted me midway through the game and said that he would be back as often as possible. Cheap tickets, great gameday atmosphere and a free drink from the folks at the Trader Vic's tent (not to mention the great scenery), sold him on the SMU experience.

If SMU continues to win, people will show up.

[SMU2007]

people are getting on the bandwagon. it'll translate to butts in the seats soon...

[Comet]

I've talked about this ad nauseum and most people know where I stand on this. However, we are but a few years removed from a couple of 1-11 seasons and a winless season. People, that takes time to recover from. Trying to bring in the lost generation is only possible through year after year of successful bowl games. We've gone to two straight, if after 3-5 more bowls we're having this issue, then it's time to panic. But for now, we've seen steady increases in attendance and I'm sure that today's game was an aberration rather than the rule.

[Dr Death]

Dr death, I appreciate your enthusiasm but you look like an [deleted] trying to call out 2ndandlong who has been busting his [deleted] for operation sellout. Did you contribute to that cause?

I'm not trying to call anyone out, I am trying to point out that the first thing that must change for a team like SMU is the attitude. I'm sure JJ told the team the same thing when he took over. But when I come on this board, which is primarily die-hard Pony fans, I see the same excuses. It's either this or it's that... life is full of successful stories of people or organizations or teams that refused to accept excuses and instead changed things for the better.

I saw what JJ did at Hawaii. He took a team that was on the brink of being dissolved completely to being in a BCS bowl game in 9 years and he did it w/ zero recruiting ability. $50,000 a year... that's what he had to work w/ for recruiting. And I saw how the higher-ups at Hawaii took him for granted and eventually... he split.

Since he's been gone they've had one good year... last season... and this w/ end they lost to San Jose State. Read that again. San Jose State!

SMU has it easier because of location and also past history. Yet it's just excuses and more excuses. Believe it or not, fans have power. Fans can make a difference. Take a friend to a game. Then maybe he brings someone to the next game. And on and on. You have a team that is winning and playing an exciting brand of football. If I would have come on this board when JJ was hired and posted that in the next 3+ seasons your team would go to two bowl games, win one of those, play for the conference championship and in year four would be 5-1 w/ a win over a hated rival who was a Top 25 ranked team, most of you would have thought I was nuts. Heck, ALL of you would have thought that.

But that's what has happened. And it can get even better. But they need support. That's all I am trying to say. I don't doubt the people here, you guys post on an SMU board... you obviously must be big fans. But come on man... at some point the excuses have to stop and the attitude has to change.

If June adopted that same attitude and made excuses... this team would still be mired in the 1-11 seasons. You expect more from the coach... why is it so hard to expect more from the fans? Find a way... that's all I am saying.

[Ponymon]

What we really need to do is bring some of the Boulevard atmosphere into the stadium. Start selling beer!

[SMUer]

I think we need to start showing a little "aloha" from the stands, and fast. June looked relaxed and even happy after TCU, but before that he has looked at times like he was counting his contract days. I'm sure he isn't seeing the same enthusiasm and excitement he saw at Hawaii and some days he has got to be thinking WTF.