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ericdickerson4life wrote:Your Bed Bath & Beyond sells alcohol?

Rubbing alcohol - scotch

You can't tell the difference

PonyPlayer4 wrote:I'll have to pick one up on my next drive from SA to Dallas

One at Loop 360 and 183. I should go in and buy a bunch

The player is right and the student is right: The students need to go and stay for the whole game, and there needs to be traditions for the fans during the game. I went to all the games right after the DP 20+ years ago and said the same thing then. Nothing has changed. The problem with "traditions" is that they need to be somewhat organic. You can't just decide "okay, we've come up with a tradition we're going to start it today" then go out and try to get the fans to do it. The fans have to want to do it and enjoy doing it. The Boulevard is the closest thing we've got to a tradition, but it's a "game day" tradition, not an "in game" tradition in the stadium.

This problem goes beyond football though. I think our entire school is lacking in traditions that tie our student body together. Part of the problem is that most of that kind of activity is taken up in the greek system which constitutes the majority of our student body. Unfortunately, the rest of the student body is left out and that dividing line between greek and non-greek is a big one.

Other schools have very healthly greek systems, but the entire student body takes part in a number of other traditions together that still make for a common experience. SMU just does not have that. Maybe it never did. I don't know. I just know that when I was there, it was devoid of many traditions and I thought it hurt the school as a whole. It absolutely hurts our athletic programs, particularly when there's nothing in the games to engage the fans and the students.

If SMU could fix that problem, it could fix the attendance problem regardless of what the team did on the field.

FWIW: UNT closes down their version of the boulevard 30 minutes before kick off. People have to either go to the game or leave.

I'm not sure if this applies to just students or everyone...but their stadium was pretty full.

planoponyfan wrote:You can't just decide "okay, we've come up with a tradition we're going to start it today" then go out and try to get the fans to do it.

Yes you can. We've got 1/5th of the stadium doing the Red! Blue! chant for three games in a row...it takes effort, it takes persistence and it takes a "damned-if-I-don't-try" attitude. I think we should emulate the successful traditions in other stadiums and keep doing them until they stick. Yell Red! Blue! long enough, nobody will know it was a tradition started by some guy (Zach) back in 2011. Red! Blue! = Texas! Fight!

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SMUer wrote:

planoponyfan wrote:You can't just decide "okay, we've come up with a tradition we're going to start it today" then go out and try to get the fans to do it.

Yes you can. We've got 1/5th of the stadium doing the Red! Blue! chant for three games in a row...it takes effort, it takes persistence and it takes a "damned-if-I-don't-try" attitude. I think we should emulate the successful traditions in other stadiums and keep doing them until they stick. Yell Red! Blue! long enough, nobody will know it was a tradition started by some guy (Zach) back in 2011. Red! Blue! = Texas! Fight!

Could any of the students heard the alum side chanting back? It sounded pretty weak.

IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME SOMEONE SAID SOMETHING BESIDES PONYFANS

To the students:

Ok, how about this: be in bleachers 20 minutes prior to kickoff, have every one sing Varsity and National Anthem at the top of their lungs. I doubt any school in the nation could boast that they get this done, and it would be epic.

Also, every kickoff, hold ponyears up and yell "OOooohhh" and then "Kick Em, Stangs!" when the ball is kicked. All 6500 of you yelling this would be awesome, thanks.

At the end of every 2nd down, when we are defense, Jump around and yell at the top of your lungs until 3rd down is over.

When band plays Pony Battle Cry, sing the words and wave ponyears to the beat. In fact, do this when they play Peruna as well.

After game, sing Varsity with everyone as the team gathers in front of the band. Celebrate with your classmates and head out to the bars to continue the partying!

There ya go, that's a whole game load of stuff for you to do. I didn't necessarily rip any of this off any other school, so it can be SMU's "thing". That's all we needed, right? Ok, get it done, I'll be watching on Saturday to make sure you enjoy your new traditions.

Last night they were yelling "Arkansas State"....."Red Wolves". Back and forth. They had about 15,000. I heard in on air, and it was ok but way too wordy. I have heard the Red/Blue at the last 2 games. Sounds good. Was much better the game prior to UCF because the crowd was better. They had trouble getting it started once when the cheerleaders went to Section 102. No reflection on them but they did not know what was being done.

I think next time, if we have a decent crowd, during a break the cheerleader on the west side should go out on the field at about the 50 and raise the sign. The red blue army will get it going and the whole west side can join in with them. The east side cheerleader can be in front of the students and band. Just a thought.

mrydel wrote:Last night they were yelling "Arkansas State"....."Red Wolves". Back and forth. They had about 15,000. I heard in on air, and it was ok but way too wordy. I have heard the Red/Blue at the last 2 games. Sounds good. Was much better the game prior to UCF because the crowd was better. They had trouble getting it started once when the cheerleaders went to Section 102. No reflection on them but they did not know what was being done.

I think next time, if we have a decent crowd, during a break the cheerleader on the west side should go out on the field at about the 50 and raise the sign. The red blue army will get it going and the whole west side can join in with them. The east side cheerleader can be in front of the students and band. Just a thought.

great idea.

photopony wrote:Quickest solution to getting more students inside will be serving alcohol.

Just bring your own............that's a college tradition!

mrydel wrote:I think next time, if we have a decent crowd, during a break the cheerleader on the west side should go out on the field at about the 50 and raise the sign. The red blue army will get it going and the whole west side can join in with them. The east side cheerleader can be in front of the students and band.

If I can every get a hold of someone representing the cheer team, DONE.

PonyPlayer4 wrote:Could any of the students heard the alum side chanting back? It sounded pretty weak.

It was pretty weak all-around because of the terrible attendance. We are working on better coordinating this with the Mustang11/Cheerleaders, but three games in a row...almost tradition.

Look there are tons of ways of getting students into the stands, but bottom line if they have to be bribed to be there, it will never take. They already get tickets as part of their student fees. They already get ample chance to party before and after the game. Heck, you could have buck naked female cheerleaders and still people would rather go sailing or play golf on Saturdays.