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we definitely need to lighten up on the ooc schedule. it makes us look as desperate as unt.

Billy Joe wrote:one of the big problems with playing a real difficult non-conference schedule other than losses is that we lose our fan base. if we were 3-1 going into Rutgers instead of 1-3 then it would have been a much bigger turnout. hard to get real excited about the direction of the program when the schedule does not set us up for wins. next year's non-conference schedule is way too difficult also so no bowl game next year either.

There has to be a 99.9% chance that A&M buys out our game at Ford.

I thought the whole problem started when we were 3-1 after TCU game a few years ago and only 11,000 showed up for UCF which made June pout? Obviously, a winning record over patsys doesn't help the problem-at all.-it doesn't because nobody gives a [deleted] about those teams. In the eyes of most Metroplex sports fans SMU=NTSU=non-BCS=minor league. Do you give a [deleted] or even know when NTSU beats a non-BCS team? The only way SMU is going to get any respect is to beat teams Metroplex fans care about. TCU consistently did that-SMU one time in a land far away beat TCU in a fairy tale victory-and got the spotlite then and only then

Stallion wrote:I thought the whole problem started when we were 3-1 after TCU game a few years ago and only 11,000 showed up for UCF which made June pout? Obviously, a winning record over patsys doesn't help the problem-at all.-it doesn't because nobody gives a [deleted] about those teams

We were 4-1 in 2011 after TCU. Our other wins were UTEP (Home), Northwestern State (Home), and Memphis (Road) with the loss at A&M to open the season. The schedule was favorable that year because two of our first four opponents were winnable conference games. Nevertheless, as Stallion pointed out, it did nothing to help attendance in the UCF game.

That being said, I think the majority of us can agree that scheduling a murderer's row of a non conference schedule this year - three teams that either started the season or are currently ranked in the top 25 plus a top 5 FCS team - is not conducive to building confidence in our more casual fan base. Imagine if we had played Baylor - we would likely be 0-4 and they would have hung at least 60 on us.

TCU scheduled OOC as smartly as anyone during their rise to prominence in the 2000s - a mix of mediocre BCS conference teams (Stanford and Vanderbilt were nothing like they are today), Army and Navy, plus the occasional game against a Big 12 team. They were blown out by Tech in Lubbock in 2004 and also lost to UT in Austin in 2007. Perhaps their most impressive victories were against Tech in 2006 and over the RGIII led Baylor team in 2009. THIS is how we need to schedule OOC.

Problem is that we can't beat Army or Navy...........

If we cannot win 6 games within our conference we do not need to go to a bowl game. We are not the SEC.

PonySnob wrote:Problem is that we can't beat Army or Navy...........

I would give us a far greater chance of beating Army or Navy this year than Tech, A&M, TCU, or Baylor.

mrydel wrote:If we cannot win 6 games within our conference we do not need to go to a bowl game. We are not the SEC.

Agree 100%

mrydel wrote:If we cannot win 6 games within our conference we do not need to go to a bowl game. We are not the SEC.

This. Or even win 5 games in conference plus your 1 gimme. It's a pretty low bar to get rewarded.

we just need to win 5 of the remaining 7.

Went to the Rutgers game. I hadn't been to SMU or Dallas in 10+ years. A few thoughts:

1. Campus and stadium are beautiful. Prettier than ever. I got all nostalgic.
2. Pitifully small crowd at the game. The BLVD was cool (my first time), but it certainly wasn't rocking.
3. I watched from the Stadium Club. Very genteel but sterile experience. Total isolation from the crowd noise and action on the field (what little there was).
4. I was with some non-SMU people, and I was embarassed by the fan non-turnout and by SMU play for 3 1/2 quarters. Depressing. We left and went to Milo's.
5. Milo's was packed with well-buzzed SMU students (and some parents). Got there for the 4th quarter comeback. The energy at Milo's was just incredible. It was what I had wanted to experience at the stadium but didn't. Made the whole trip up from Houston worth the effort.

One big, broad conclusion: Somehow capture the lightening at Milo's, and get it at the BLVD and into Ford. Is that even possible in the Park Cities? I note I bought a beer at the Alum tent and couldn't walk the BLVD with it, and at the Stadium Club, I couldn't take a drink into the restroom (some alleged TABC rule) with me. Seriously? It is not like SMU fans will ever be couch-burners (WV) or anything. Loosen up, Ponies. Or, the fans will go where than can have fun. And, isn't fun the point of attending a college football game?

I guess the stimulation of a very good football team could be a good substitute for the stimulation of beer. But, beer seems more easily achievable, at this point.

Stallion wrote:I thought the whole problem started when we were 3-1 after TCU game a few years ago and only 11,000 showed up for UCF which made June pout? Obviously, a winning record over patsys doesn't help the problem-at all.-it doesn't because nobody gives a [deleted] about those teams. In the eyes of most Metroplex sports fans SMU=NTSU=non-BCS=minor league. Do you give a [deleted] or even know when NTSU beats a non-BCS team? The only way SMU is going to get any respect is to beat teams Metroplex fans care about. TCU consistently did that-SMU one time in a land far away beat TCU in a fairy tale victory-and got the spotlite then and only then

I agree with Stallion here...Dallas only cares about the big programs...and how we play against them. I would argue that losing to them is acceptable in rebuilding our program...if we played fun exciting football.

The casual fan is less impressed with a record than watching a good game. To that end...the loss to Rutgers was net positive. The 4th quarter and overtime was the most exciting SMU football I have seen in a long time. And the networks agreed. ESPN didn't cut away...2 point conversion was play of the day and the lead for local sports shows. That's very good for our program even though we lost.

The big problem is we played garbage football through 3 qtrs and fans had left.

My conclusion is we just need to play that kind of football...be exciting to watch...and our win - loss record and even who we play will become secondary to the advancement of our program.

dbone wrote:I agree with Stallion here...Dallas only cares about the big programs...and how we play against them. I would argue that losing to them is acceptable in rebuilding our program...if we played fun exciting football.

The casual fan is less impressed with a record than watching a good game. To that end...the loss to Rutgers was net positive. The 4th quarter and overtime was the most exciting SMU football I have seen in a long time. And the networks agreed. ESPN didn't cut away...2 point conversion was play of the day and the lead for local sports shows. That's very good for our program even though we lost.

The big problem is we played garbage football through 3 qtrs and fans had left.

My conclusion is we just need to play that kind of football...be exciting to watch...and our win - loss record and even who we play will become secondary to the advancement of our program.

I agree. The big part of the excitement of JJ coming here was that our offense was going to be exciting and fun to watch. Unfortunately that has been a rare experience. It may go back to the philosophy of playing to not lose rather than being agressive and playing to win. We seem to take the play to win attitude in the bowl games, but for the regular season games we are in the play to not lose mode.

PK wrote:

dbone wrote:I agree with Stallion here...Dallas only cares about the big programs...and how we play against them. I would argue that losing to them is acceptable in rebuilding our program...if we played fun exciting football.

The casual fan is less impressed with a record than watching a good game. To that end...the loss to Rutgers was net positive. The 4th quarter and overtime was the most exciting SMU football I have seen in a long time. And the networks agreed. ESPN didn't cut away...2 point conversion was play of the day and the lead for local sports shows. That's very good for our program even though we lost.

The big problem is we played garbage football through 3 qtrs and fans had left.

My conclusion is we just need to play that kind of football...be exciting to watch...and our win - loss record and even who we play will become secondary to the advancement of our program.

I agree. The big part of the excitement of JJ coming here was that our offense was going to be exciting and fun to watch. Unfortunately that has been a rare experience. It may go back to the philosophy of playing to not lose rather than being agressive and playing to win. We seem to take the play to win attitude in the bowl games, but for the regular season games we are in the play to not lose mode.

I'll "third" this and it relates back to the "It's how we lose" thread a couple weeks ago. Given the entertainment value of the comeback, this game was not a spirit-killer. It is more like the 35-27 loss in Lubbock three years ago; decent performance, a lot of heart. Every other P5 loss since Lubbock has been more of the "we don't look like we belong on the field with these guys" variety.

P.S. I've been called a non-fan too.

P.P.S. I think that 1984 SMU-TCU score was 26-17, and it was indeed a great crowd.

Stallion wrote:The REAL Mustang Fans who stayed were outstanding late in the 4th and on every damn play in overtime. 4,000 REAL Mustang fans made a helluva lot of noise. Shaking my head at the rest of you that didn't bother to show up or left at halftime. There's a lot of quit in our fanbase

I quit. Watched as I ate my 20 hot BW3 wings...mmm

The key to building our fan base is "FUN" and "EXCITEMENT". Fans need to feel like they are about to have fun. I actually like that we play lots of P5 teams in our schedule, it does help make us a better team. But we have to be competitive and make the game and the experience of watching it in the Ford, the highlight of the day for the people that come watch our games. It can be done and we can make SMU into the Metroplex most important College Football program and among the top in the State of Texas