Tony Eckert and other members of the 2005 SMU football team hold the Iron Skillet over their heads during the post game celebration of SMU’s win over No. 22 ranked TCU. (Christina Parrish)
Exposure could be just the thing that SMU needs.
Last season the Mustangs got a taste of playing before a national audience with an ESPN2 broadcast of the Halloween game against UAB, but this year they look for more.
When the schedule was released, SMU was already set with two games being aired on ESPN. The season opener on Labor Day against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Sept. 3 and the Nov. 4 match-up against reigning Conference USA champions, the Houston Cougars, will both be televised.
It has just been announced that CSTV will pick up the Sept. 22 game against the TCU Horned Frogs where the Mustangs will look to defend the Iron Skillet.
The most the general public outside of Highland Park, University Park and Dallas knows about SMU football is that the team was given the death penalty in 1987 and it hasn’t been good since.
But following one of the best seasons since the team came back in 1989, and just missing the first bowl bid in that time span, SMU football needs to get its name out there.
A strong showing on the field, and in the stands, in a season opener against a major Big 12 Conference team could go a long way.
The basketball team got national exposure, mostly on CSTV, and brought SMU national attention. That, along with the hiring of head coach Matt Doherty, has helped the Mustangs bring in a top 25 recruiting class.
The football team will get the major game at home, and it won’t necessarily take a win to get attention.
It’s all about exposure. SMU can’t expect to get a recruit to become a Mustang if he has never heard of the school.
And no, a game on CSTV is not as impressive or as widespread as ESPN, but it is still a televised game. The problem with CSTV is that it is not a channel found in basic cable packages or even some extended packages.
But the positive that comes out of any televised game is film to be used by SportsCenter in a rivalry game.
But at the end of the day, a team that didn’t win any of 12 games three years ago is getting a chance to showcase how far it has come. Just missing a bowl game, having a shot at playing for a conference championship late in the season and many contributing starters coming back could prove for a good showing on television.
But at the end of the day, people need to go to home games. This just gives people a chance to watch two road games from the comfort of their own home.
Jerad Romo (right, No. 13) is chased down by TCU defenders Ranorris Ray (left) and Chris Hayes (center) during the Battle for the Iron Skillet on Sept. 10, 2005. (Christina Parrish)
