The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

SMUs Tyreek Smith dunks as the Mustangs run up the scoreboard against Memphis in Moody Coliseum.
SMU finds new head coach for men’s basketball
Brian Richardson, Contributor • March 28, 2024
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Coach Jones calls for first-game ‘full house’

Fans+show+support+for+the+Mustangs+head+coach+during+a+game+last+season.+The+largest+crowd+at+Ford+Stadium+totaled+34%2C689+in+2004+against+Texas+Tech.+STUART+PALLEY%2FThe+Daily+Campus
Casey Lee
Fans show support for the Mustang’s head coach during a game last season. The largest crowd at Ford Stadium totaled 34,689 in 2004 against Texas Tech. STUART PALLEY/The Daily Campus

Fans show support for the Mustang’s head coach during a game last season. The largest crowd at Ford Stadium totaled 34,689 in 2004 against Texas Tech. STUART PALLEY/The Daily Campus (Casey Lee)

At the Mustangs’ first home game of the 2008 season, 30 percent of the 32,000 chairs in Ford Stadium sat empty. Call it having the home-field advantage, or call it skill, but the victory over Texas State was the Mustang’s first, and only, win of the season.

Students, alumni and neighboring SMU fans continued to trickle through the gates of the stadium into November, but stadium attendance rarely exceeded 19,000, with the exception of the TCU game.

It seems that no fans equals no wins for the Mustangs, something the coaching staff and athletic department is working to change.

Now with one year under his belt, head coach June Jones has plans of not only making history by leading the team to its first bowl game since the “death penalty” in 1987, but also selling out Ford Stadium in the season opener against Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 5.

“We will sell out this first game,” Jones said in a press conference earlier this month. “I’m really excited for our kids to come through that tunnel and see it sold out. It’s going to be a really powerful thing.”

The largest crowd to enter Ford Stadium totaled 34,689 in 2004. However, the home field advantage worked more for the Red Raiders, defeating the Mustangs 27-13.

“We’re going to beat that number for this upcoming home opener,” said SMU alum Bob Beaudine. “When you’re around someone like coach Jones and Steve Orsini, SMU Director of Athletics, the whole culture totally changes.”

“Sellout 2009” consists of a team of 18 businessmen from the Dallas area, including Beaudine, Paul Loyd, Carl Sewell and former Dallas Cowboy Roger Staubach, all whom have agreed to sell 1,000 tickets each at $10 a pop.

Do the math, and SMU racks up $180,000 and fills 18,000 seats. Tickets that are not sold will be distributed to non-profit organizations and youth programs. None of the tickets given to these organizations will be free.

“We have two goals for this campaign,” Beaudine said. “First, we want to sell out Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Secondly, we want to exceed the stadium record set back in 2004.”

But with the combined efforts of the 18 men involved, that still leaves 14,000 seats unoccupied.

Season ticket sales doubled in Jones’ first season on the Hilltop, and according to Orsini in a previous interview, they are at the same level they were at this time last year.

“I think great days are ahead for SMU football and their fans, especially the ones who have been with the program through think and thin,” said SMU alum and trustee Paul Loyd.

With approximately 2,500 season ticket sales combined with the other 18,000 tickets, the efforts of selling out Ford Stadium and filling the remaining 13,500 seats rests heavily with the student body and surrounding community.

“It’s true today that winning programs bring fans, but fans help football programs win so we have to meld the two,” Beaudine said.

Jones believes playing in front of a packed crowd will help prepare the team for future wins and a winning season.

“Winning at home is something you have to be able to do,” Jones said. “You have to maintain your home-field advantage to move to the next level. Putting kids in these situations are the ways you get better.”

In addition to selling out the stadium, Rudy Galvan will sing the national anthem and “Boulevard.” There will also be plenty of activities on the Boulevard before the 7 p.m. kick off.

“You’ve got to get out there right now and get your tickets because it’s going to be a sellout,” Beaudine said. “We’re going to sellout.”

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