Dear Steve, take your letter and stuff it!

[RGV Pony]

MidlandMustang wrote:
I will put this plain and simple and it will be the only thing I have to say about this - you don't f_ _ k with tradition.


so why did we move from the house that Doak built to Texas Stadium? And why did we move from the Cotton Bowl to Ford?

Apples and oranges my friend.

alright, so kindly list the "tradtions" which would be congruent to the present debate. Fun to pick and choose what traditions are relevant and which are not.

[Treadway21]

Playing at a venue does not qualify as a tradition.

[RGV Pony]

Playing at a venue does not qualify as a tradition.

tell that to USC. And UCLA. And Michigan. Any Red Sox fans around? How 'bout Cubs? Notre Dame?

[PK]

so why did we move from the house that Doak built to Texas Stadium? And why did we move from the Cotton Bowl to Ford?

When Doak "built" the Cotton Bowl, SMU was the only game in town. Later when we got pro teams here, they became the major tenents of the Cotton Bowl which was not owned by SMU. I'm just guessing here, but after Texas Stadium was built and the Cowboys moved there I think the Cotton Bowl began to be neglected and not very well maintained, so since SMU did not own the stadium, we opted to move our games to the new facilities at Texas Stadium. After the DP the decision was made to play our games on campus at the old Ownby stadium after some minimal upgrading. It was small and the larger SWC schools insisted that we move to a larger venue...hence the relatively less expensive Cotton Bowl again became our game day locale. Once we were no longer in the SWC, our small attendances were swallowed up in the Cotton Bowl and again the old bowl was not being maintained very well so the decision was made that it would be better to have a smaller capacity facility on campus and we were able to get some generous alums to foot the bill. So here we are.

[HB Pony Dad]

Playing at a venue does not qualify as a tradition.

tell that to USC. And UCLA. And Michigan. Any Red Sox fans around? How 'bout Cubs? Notre Dame?

UCLA DOES NOT QUALIFY!

They ran to the Rose Bowl when the Raiders moved to LA in 1982!

When both USC and UCLA played their Home Games in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum they were playing in a historical landmark which not only hosted Two Olympic Games, but World Series, and Super Bowls!


FUCLA!

[Treadway21]

I should rephrase, us playing at a venue does not qualify as a tradition. If we had played the same place, such as owenby or the cotton bowl for 77 years straight it would qualify as a tradition, but as PK pointed out, we have moved around a lot it the years we have played football. I would only point out that while we have played in 4 venues in our football history, we have only had one mascot during that same time.

[Mexmustang]

Guess what it's just like the M Band playing Peruna (the fight song) over and over and over again. It will never go awayayaayayayayy..echo echo echo...... [/quote]
Wasn't there a new rule by the conference or NCAA concerning this? If I recall it had to do with organized music during the "hudle" of either team. I still think we could modify the cadence, create a gap in the music and restart as the play develops. On the TV replay the other night they played the fight song after we made each first down...when we make a series of them it began to sound like the "old days". Maybe someone knows the facts.

[OC Mustang]

I have to admit that I have watched this thread and others bemused by the fact that GSP gets so animated about this...moreso than other stuff, really, even though he's a passionate guy.

He's bent my ear about it plenty, and I don't necessarily disagree, but I have an opinion about it: this is a headfake (See Randy Pausch/Last Lecture). And if the board is any indication, it is a helluva good one. So, insomuch as Coach Jones is behind this exercise, he's trying to do something very simple: change the losing culture...change the losing mindset. If [deleted]-ing around with a Shetland Pony and a Mustang helps do that by incensing or inspiring Mustang Nation, then so be it.

I view this much like the Boulevard and that [deleted]-ed up Noid thing they had a few years ago. The Boulevard stuck...it morphed a little...but it stuck. The Noid? Um...not no, but hell no.

The how's and why's are obvious, as is the reason for both...headfake.

This ain't new, and I've said it before (albeit, this is the best of my versions). Headfakes aside, only one thing matters right now: wins. Despite the win vs. ECU, the urgent (wins) is still the enemy of the important (sustaining a winning program/culture). And if you accomplish the former, it makes the latter a helluva lot easier.

@ General GSP...when we beat Navy, you can have your wall-eyed fit about the big horse vs. the Shetland Pony. We will be 4-2 with some road momentum, and all of this becomes a lot more tolerable. Until then, focus on win...THAT is how to kill the "losing culture"; focus on the win.

The Shetland Pony, just like the Mustang Band (vs. that ridiculous "PonyUp!" band), can take care of itself right now.

Beat Navy. Period. Good luck, guys!

[Pony Soup]

you guys are absurd. all of you.

[couch 'em]

Wasn't there a new rule by the conference or NCAA concerning this? If I recall it had to do with organized music during the "hudle" of either team.

This has come up a few times on here. If I'm not mistaken, the rule is written to the effect of "you can't interfere with hearing the snap count". I believe you can play during the huddle, and during the play. During the snap itself would be OK unless someone complains..... and then the team would receive a penalty on the band's behalf.

[Stallion]

yea MexMustang you are right on top of things aren't you? Its only been a rule for DECADES that the band has to stop music when the snap count starts.

[az1]

Wasn't there a new rule by the conference or NCAA concerning this? If I recall it had to do with organized music during the "hudle" of either team.

This has come up a few times on here. If I'm not mistaken, the rule is written to the effect of "you can't interfere with hearing the snap count". I believe you can play during the huddle, and during the play. During the snap itself would be OK unless someone complains..... and then the team would receive a penalty on the band's behalf.

I think you are right Couchem, it is on the snap count. At least that is what I have noticed during the games.

[Mexmustang]

If that is the case seems like we could retain about 90% of the old refrain. Just cut a portion of the "soft count" or "drum cadence", wouldn't that work? Maybe our current band and director have just not been exposed to it previously. If I recall we only played it when we were offense, never when the other team had possession, what would we due, call a flag on our own band? Seems like we must have something wrong in our understanding of the rule. Then again we've gotten so worried about the rules over the past twenty years, we probably just quit playing it to avoid conflict.

AZI, I haven't heard the constant refrain, soft between every play, growing very loud and picking up speed as the play developed, until we either scored or were forced to punt, for probably 15-20 years.

[couch 'em]

If that is the case seems like we could retain about 90% of the old refrain. Just cut a portion of the "soft count" or "drum cadence", wouldn't that work? Maybe our current band and director have just not been exposed to it previously.

This was done in my time, 01-04, on rare occasion. Other schools have done this, but the key people at SMU are not going to risk a penalty. Can you imagine what the fallout would be if the band got 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct and killed an important drive?

[Stallion]

SMU's band got a penalty by playing during snap count as early as 1986 in a key 4th Q drive against Texas A&M in Texas Stadium-in one of the greatest losses in SMU History. SMU finally lost 38-35 as Kevin Murray lead Aggies on last second TD drive. Lead changed hands about 4 times in 4th Q. That's what 23 years ago.