Interesting Item on Ebay.com

[MrMustang1965]

The 1963 football program of SMU v. Michigan State. (Item # 2725208938) SMU legend/lore has it that this is the game where Lee Iacocca spoke to the Mustangs following their defeat at the hands of the Spartans. He told the Mustangs that a new car would be built by Ford that would be named Mustang, in honor of the way SMU played that day at the hands of a superior opponent.

Update: Thanks for the 'catch', Jettison. I was almost asleep when I posted this at 1 a.m. I should know better that MSU is the Spartans and UofM is the Wolverines! Aaargh! Please see my post below for another 'correction' and 'clarification' of the legend. Thanks again, Jettison.

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"Winning ain't everything...but it's a lot more fun than the alternative!" S.M.U. SPIRIT: IT STARTS NOW!

[This message has been edited by MrMustang1965 (edited 05-01-2003).]

[jettison]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by MrMustang1965:
<B>The 1963 football program of SMU v. Michigan State. (Item # 2725208938) SMU legend/lore has it that this is the game where Lee Iacocca spoke to the Mustangs following their defeat at the hands of the Wolverines. He told the Mustangs that a new car would be built by Ford that would be named Mustang, in honor of the way SMU played that day at the hands of a superior opponent.

</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Seeing that Michigan State likes to call themselves the Spartans... I'd hate for someone to buy the program thinking it was such an historic day for SMU and the automotive industry, if in fact that historic decision actually followed an SMU/University of Michigan game.

I've heard this story before, but I'm from the 70s and never did well in history. Is this the same game, yet just a misplaced mascot?

Also... hi.

[MrMustang1965]

My bad. (Hey, it was 1 a.m. when I typed it up and posted it...sorry.) Here's 'the legend' story, directly from <A HREF="http://www.smumustangs.com" TARGET=_blank>www.smumustangs.com</A> Web site under the link of 'traditions': When Ford Motor Company was preparing to introduce the sports car that would gain fame as the Mustang, it was considering other names such as Cougar, Bronco, Cheetah and Colt. During the 1963 football season, SMU took an undersized but quick team to Ann Arbor to play a massive Michigan Wolverine squad. Michigan gained the early advantage, but had to fight off the feisty Ponies for a 27-16 win. Rumor has it that after the game, Ford's Lee Iacocca entered the SMU locker room and addressed the disappointed Mustangs. "Today," Iacocca said, "after watching the SMU Mustangs play with such flair, we reached a decision. We will call our new car the Mustang. Because it will be light, like your team. It will be quick, like your team. And it will be sporty, like your team." Ford's new car supposedly had its name, and, as they say, the rest is history.

So, SMU played both the Spartans and the Wolverines that season! Wow!

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"Winning ain't everything...but it's a lot more fun than the alternative!" S.M.U. SPIRIT: IT STARTS NOW!