NEW TURF, NEW TEAM, SAME FANS

[MustangMatt]

I was very disappointed in the fans tonight.

First, it was great that over 32,000 people showed up, that is great. I cannot tell you how pumped up the team was to see that.

But...
Why was the stadium half empty (or close) after halftime? I think the students are at major fault, but the alumni and other fans are right behind. There was a big chunk of student seats that never filled up, which is uncalled for.

These players bust their butts every day, year around, and this is the respect they get? Not to mention the group of generous donors that supplied SMU with the top of the line facility.

Students...these players are your friends, you see them every day in class, you talk to them. They give their all to represent you in athletics, and the only way to pay them back is to come out to the game and support them from beginning to end, and you all failed.

There are no more excuses. We are not in the run down Cotton Bowl, that's a pain to get to, we are a great football team, and we proved that by dominating a Big 12 team. What can you all ask for, nothing, there is no reason you should not have been there for the whole game, it was not a blow out.

I have heard students talking that it is New turf, same team. Well, we proved tonight, that it is:

New Turf, New Team, same fans.

PS: this is not meant for the loyal fans that were there to see the celebration after the game. All you early leaving fans, you missed history, no excuses. What more could you ask for?

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GO PONIES!

[Boston Pony]

Not being there I can't defend anyone, however it was 107+. My guess is that the game was out of hand, it was hot and we don't have very loyal fans (in general). Lets see how it is when the game is close and the weather is better.

[Guest]

It was fairly sad, being in the student section, at the end of the 2nd quarter when some girl behind me claimed that it had been "the longest fifteen minutes" of her life. I think in time the students will come to appreciate the new stadium and SMU football in general, but those negative attitudes about the program still exist on campus - which is a shame. Being in the student section, I couldn't see an empty section anywhere . . . but I did see plenty of empty seats around the rest of the stadium, especially at the beginning of the 4th quarter.

One factor that had might played into it was the heat - I know many people that had been tailgating since 10am, and were very hot. Some concession stands ran out of water and perhaps people had to go looking elsewhere. I myself was physically drained after the first half but still managed to do my fair share of yelling in the second.

[MustangMom]

I agree MustangMatt. I was so surprised that so many fans left the game early, especially the students. You won't see U.T. students doing that ( or students from tons of other schools). They come early, stay late and are loud.

Yes, it was hot for the fans, but it was twice at hot for the players. SMU students come on - show some respect and some support for the team. The spirit of the crowd definately affects the team. The players showed that they are a new team with new spirit - will the fans and the students match this???

I think that the tradition has been gone so long it will take effort to get it back. I was pleased with large crowd for tailgates before and the stands were almost full. The sororities and fraternaties did have signs up and I think did try - but total commitment was not there.

I felt bad for the team that at the end of the game, when they really had a chance to look up in the stands, the student section was not full. This team played their hearts out!

My respect for those who stayed. You are true red and blue Mustang fans.

[graypony]

Do not be so disheartened! Minimize all you want about the heat. The fans have not spent the last 4 weeks getting aclimatized to it like the players have. Also, not all of the fans are 20 years old. Many of the older fans we saw leave around the middle of the 3rd quarter. They had been in the heat since around 3 pm.
And the kids! What a great place to bring a family! We counted just under 50 kids who had to be 9 years or younger in the bottom 15 rows of section 103. After being in the heat for 5 or so hours tailgating and game watching, they and their parents were exhausted. 31-10 going into the 4th was all the encouragement they needed. They will be back. If what we saw of the Mustangs last night is what we can expect for the rest of the season, they will be back in force.
It was a great afternoon and night. Do not be discouraged. Do not underestimate the toll of 106 degree weather on people who are not used to it. They were there supporting the Mustangs at 3 pm.
When the Mustangs are in the hunt for a conference title in November, Ford will be a rocking place!

[kangaroo]

Dallas tends to have crowds that leave early - perhaps the Stars being an exception. I agree we have to change the perception and enjoy the fun of being able to count down the clock. I was also a little surprised that people didn't hang around on the boulevard longer after the game - spend a few minutes savoring the victory before heading for home.

[ole jim]

We stayed to the end. It was heartwarming to see the excitement of the players, the coaching staff, and the fans that stayed. It was great!

Maybe the powers to be should move the games to 8PM during daylight savings time. It is hot when the sun goes down, but it is more bearable (especially the East Side seats).

[Jason]

Okay, I have to comment on something here... the comment about UT students and fans staying till the end is absolutely ludicrous. That was a campaign slogan 2 years ago because the problem was so bad here....

But I was dissappointed that there were so many quiet people. It seemed like people were too embarrassed to scream and yell. But stomping their feet didnt make em stick out so they did that at the end of the game. A suggestion- when the cheerleaders start the S-M-U or Lets go mustangs chants, have it played over the speakers so it sounds like a lot of people are doing it so that people will start screaming... just a thought...

[SMUBob]

I drove up from Houston for the weekend and was very proud of the University for bringing the game back to campus and for creating a gameday environment, the desert-like weather notwithstanding. Tailgating was fun and will be even more fantastic and so will the game atmosphere if we keep on winning while the weather turns a bit more fall-like.

No, the atmosphere wasn't like South Bend or Baton Rouge or Lincoln, Nebraska, but of course it will never be like that. I came with my non-SMU wife and my two boys, and we stayed until around 5 minutes to go in the game. After almost 7 hours in that heat, we needed to get the kid-O's to bed. Hope we didn't ruin your evening by doing so.

I was a student during the Pony Express glory days, and back then with a perennial top ten program, we griped about the lousy attendance and the blase fan support. Hey, SMU grads just aren't the Winnebago types, we all know that.

Let's look at the glass as being half full and not half empty. Last night was great. And if the Cowboys are really as bad as they looked today, well, maybe Ford Stadium will be where the best football in town is played.

Think positive. Let's enjoy the victories, there will be many, many more with that great on-campus facility (and the great new offensive coordinator.....let's give him a raise right NOW) Go Ponies.

[MustangMom]

SMU Bob, I did not mean to imply that I was not happy at all or the glass was half empty. I am proud of the SMU fans for selling out the stadium. I am so pleased that so many attended the pre-game festivites on the Boulevard! It was unbearably hot and the fans came. I guess I was just surprised that the noise level was not what I am accustomed to at a college football game.

It has been a long while since SMU has had a winning tradition. And, that is not because there has been lack of effort on the teams part. It is extrememly hard to come back from the death penalty. But, Saturday at the new Ford stadium - everything came together.

I do not fault any fan leaving who had small children who were exhausted. I do not fault SMU's more mature fans who had enough of the heat. But, more students could have stayed - especially to savor this first incredible win! Maybe with more wins under their belt - a winning season, the fans will want to stay for the entire game.

But, they did come - so I aplaud them. And the students and other fans who stayed gave the team a great show of support.

And, yes a few years ago Mac Brown at UT did start the come early, stay late slogan. And it worked. He realized that fan support means so very much to a football team!

[SMUBob]

Mustang Mom:

No doubt the fans need to make more noise while they're in there. I think the band and the new PA system also need to get in synch, so that while the band is recovering from their halftime performance, the PA system kicks in to bring the crowd back into it for the third quarter. Crowd intensity can be manufactured with great sound and the jumbotron, a la the NBA. They should work on that aspect of things.

As for the students leaving early, well... I'm sure lots of students had mentally moved on from a victory on the field to their dates and their postgame parties. Nature being what it is, that shouldn't have been too surprising.

If the students leave a close game early, you'll have a reason to be upset. I would imagine that the team would understand that dates to the first game of the season are important things.

Beat UTEP!

[MustangMom]

SMU Bob,

I agree with you that the students felt they had a win, the scoring and excitement slowed a bit in the second half and that the students moved on to their dates. I guess way back when I was in college (at a Big Eight School) all my fraternity dates were just big football fans. We stayed until the end and helped the team celebrate the victories and cheered them even in defeat. And, beleive me we knew how to party too (but we did it before and after the game).

I still give credit where credit is due, they came in force for the game. I was so happy to see that. This was a big change. I am so glad football is back on campus where it belongs. Thanks to all the donors, especially Mr. Ford and Mr. Loyd.

[smudad]

The Public Address announcement in the 3rd Quarter about the buses running until an hour after the end of the game is a formal, open invitation for folks to get an early start to what they may perceive as limited transportation. Hopefully, in the future they won't have to make an announcement - certainly not that early.

[SMUPonyFan]

Yes it was hot, but if students and fans used common sense and not drink for 6 hours before the game, maybe they could show their support a little better. This does not include elderly and youth.

I think 9-2-2000 was a learning experience for everyone. Hopefully, on 9-23-2000, the Ponies will provide another fun game, the crowds will stay, and the weather will be cooler. Then, there will be nothing to complain about.

I think it is great that SMU students and fans acted very orderly and under control on 9-2-2000. The privilage of drinking on campus could have been abused, lets keep under control and keep the Boulevard tradition going!

[ponytalk]

I am glad this has allready been address before now, but last night, WAS PATHETIC!

I think there was about 500 students at the game, COUNTING THE BAND.

They said attendance was 26,000, does that include the population of the Park Cites?

At half time I think there were about 12,000 people left. Why is our fan support so shi_ty. I mean, we WERE undeafeted in our brand new top of the line stadium. I mean who is this team playing for, themselves? They should be playing for the fans and the pride of the school, but instead there are few fans, and those don't seem to care too much about the pride of the school. So, these players are playing for themselves.