Hardline calling out SMU students

[gostangs]

i was just pointing out it is even smaller then you said - but yes we agree.

we HAVE to get Dallas behind us - and we will have to earn that over time by winning, and then acting like we appreciate it when non SMU connected Dallas folks come to the game. Everyone can help by talking it up, and also being a great host when they do come. If someone is on the Blvd but not coming to the game - dont make a joke out of it - tell them they are missing out and you hope to see them in the stadium - because it is FUN.

[Pony in SA]

Posted this before, but when Copeland and Cavan and the powers to be came down here to event at Sonterra country club years ago with initial plans for Ford and soliciting money from some of us they had the average attendance numbers even in our glory "pony express" days. Average attendance was only around 30,000 and that is why initial stadium went with 32,500. They had an option "B" when it was built for 40,000 plus that we were shown but they went with 32,500 because historically that is best we drew. They had expansion plans then they showed us if we had 32,500 or thereabouts for awhile they would then do the expansion. They even asked us if willing to contribute to that expansion if needed.

Yes some games in late 1970s and the early 1980s had more that 32,500, but overall our average attendance even thru those years was only about 30,000 or so. To think now with worse product on field in worse conference we would draw more is ridiculous.

[Stallion]

according to both SMU and TCU sites SMU has about 40,000 more living alumni than TCU. For most of our lives SMU had a significantly bigger enrollment. Who says graduate students don't go to games. Next excuse

Another little factoid-if- and its a big if-SMU had 18,000 for A&M and if 3,000 were students. That leaves 15,000. BUT probably only a fraction were actually SMU alumni. Alumni buy tickets for wifes, sons, daughters, neighbors and friends. Faculty and Staff buy tickets. Some of the biggest posters on this board are sons of faculty and staff-some didn't even go to SMU. Friends and player family members buy tickets. College Football fans and their family buy tickets. If SMU has sold 10,000(probably less) Season Tickets then I estimate less than 3,000 were actually SMU alumni. SMU fans aren't BCS worthy -the only way we stay in the game is to outperform larger institutions in individual ticket buying support like TCU.

[ObeyMyDog]

Stallion, I say graduate students don't go to games because I am one (went to SMU undergrad) and I know they don't. It's not an excuse, it's a fact. They don't go because they came from other schools and we don't play anyone, oh and we don't win. Undergraduate is the only relevant #.

Edit: I'm tired of reading threads on this topic so I had to post again. Students don't go to games because 1) we don't play anyone relevant, and when we do we get our asses kicked, which nobody wants to watch. 2) we don't win our crap conference nobody cares about, or at least actually get to the championship game besides once somehow 3) because of 1 and 2 above its much more fun to go drink with girls who spent 2 hours getting ready that morning. This is the way it is for most students at SMU, I know because I was there just a few years ago. End of story.

[Stallion]

Sounds like you were part of the problem-part of the uniquely SMU problem. I went to grad school and most of my friends went to multiple games a year. Look only about 25% of SMU undergradutes on average go to SMU games as it is so most SMU undergraduates damn sure don't go either. Watch the stream of undergraduates leaving the Boulvard heading North and East at gametime

[GiddyUp]

we could go back 10-15 yrs and the same thread exists.

[ObeyMyDog]

I have been to every game I've been in town for as long as I can remember, so drop the blaming crap, you're comparing a different era as well. Right now nobody goes, why should they? I'm not talking about the few SMU students who go to SMU grad schools, I am talking about most of the grad students that come from different schools. It's not apathy, it's because there is nothing to see.

How could you argue tailgating and the going out with friends is not going to be more fun that watching a poor product get smacked around? Unless you are an undergrad, no way in hell you go.

[GiddyUp]

Stallion, I say graduate students don't go to games because I am one (went to SMU undergrad) and I know they don't. It's not an excuse, it's a fact. They don't go because they came from other schools and we don't play anyone, oh and we don't win. Undergraduate is the only relevant #.

Edit: I'm tired of reading threads on this topic so I had to post again. Students don't go to games because 1) we don't play anyone relevant, and when we do we get our asses kicked, which nobody wants to watch. 2) we don't win our crap conference nobody cares about, or at least actually get to the championship game besides once somehow 3) because of 1 and 2 above its much more fun to go drink with girls who spent 2 hours getting ready that morning. This is the way it is for most students at SMU, I know because I was there just a few years ago. End of story.

Are they even aware of the games, just wondering if the word gets out or they are even marketed to?

[ObeyMyDog]

Word gets out, emails are sent. Everyone knows but nobody goes.

[gostangs]

SMU does not have more living undergraduate alumni then TCU. I dont think the frogs are dying off faster then SMU people - and they are a bigger school (slightly) from an undergrad standpoint.

It is a fact that grad school students generally do not support their grad school team, they support their undergrad team. Thats the way it is at every school in the country.

This is not that hard a concept to grasp little stallion dude. Our students turn out at the same or better percentage then just about any school in the state. Would be nice if they stayed longer, but when we start really winning then they will. The attendence issue is about getting Dallas to embrace our team. If you want to go incorrectly be grumpy about our students, then fine.

[GiddyUp]

Word gets out, emails are sent. Everyone knows but nobody goes.

I wouldn't exactly call A&M or Baylor "nobody".

It's a culture problem.

[ObeyMyDog]

I was saying grad students don't go to any of the games, and won't regardless of who we play unless its their alma mater or some team they hate and would love to see lose (which is hardly ever more than one game a year bc we play in the wonderful CUSA). We have a winning problem against reputable competition, which has led to a culture problem.

I'm done now but all I'm saying is grad students should hardly be considered likely to show until we string together some legit winning years. I wish it wasn't the case but it is.

[Oliver]

We need to do more to get in to the heads of high schoolers in Dallas..

If it were me, I'd give away all of the adidas stuff, snap back hats, track tops, hoodies, bball shorts, etc....all the good stuff that isnt Nike branded now, and give it to kids at South Oak Cliff, Kimball, Skyline, Pinkston, etc.

build brand awareness with this generation, get people wearing our stuff, kids that would take really good gear because they maybe couldn't afford it otherwise, and suddenly you have people wearing SMU stuff in Dallas....also builds brand awareness in schools we SHOULD be recruiting the [deleted] out of

[Charleston Pony]

people on this board aren't the problem; we are just the exception to the norm at SMU. How many of your fellow students/alumni don't go and haven't gone to SMU games since they arrived at SMU? It's just not a big part of the culture and may never be. That's why SMU is not BCS and most likely never will be.

[smubrooks]

Winning cures all, plain and simple.

Just go out and WIN.