From Peruna to the Mustang Band to Boulevarding, SMU is packed
full with long-standing traditions that form the campus into a united
force in the sporting world.

The first ever Peruna was bought by Cy Barcus, SMU’s band director in the 1920s. Today, we are on our ninth Peruna mascot.

Traditionally, Peruna changes clothes with the band. If the Mustang Band is wearing blue jackets, he will wear a blue blanket too. He stands in the Mustang end-zone and runs the field when we score.

“As our mascot, Peruna represents us as a university,” Don Hokpins, Mustang Band director said. “Although Peruna is small, he is feisty and brings a cool spirit to the SMU community.”

The most known tradition on the SMU campus is Boulevarding. Tents are pitched, cold beer is served and music booms out in front of Dallas Hall. Boulevarding is a newer tradition for the 102-year-old school, just starting when Ford Stadium was built in 2000.

“The best part about home football games is the atmosphere around the boulevard,” Beau Barnes, a senior defensive end, said. “Any recognition from the fans is appreciated.”

Another tradition SMU holds are the parades down to the stadiums. The band, cheerleaders, pom squad, Peruna and the mascot of Peruna walk down to the stadium through the boulevard 45 minutes before kickoff. People are encouraged to drop what they are doing and walk down with the group to the cheer the team to victory.

The Mustang Band is the center-fold of SMU spirit. Out of all the Division I colleges in Texas, SMU’s band is the only one that marches in old style, lifting their knees high.

“We are a smaller band compared to some of the larger schools we face so we choose to do something that helps us stand out,” Hopkins said. “We want to be ourselves.”

No color guard, flutes or clarinets are represented in this brass, sax and drum band that traditionally plays at full capacity.

Chants that are most popular at the game include the go chant, call of the horses and the fight song. But the students’ favorite song is a drum cadence called “Beans.” Everyone claps with the band throughout the song.

This Friday, the Mustang band will support the “white-out” by wearing white pants and white shirts with a blue or candy-striped jacket. Traditionally, the band changes clothes at half-time. During which, an alumni group fills in for them in the stands.

The SMU Mustangs kick-off the home-opener against Texas Tech 7 p.m. Friday.