Just as much fun was had off the field as freshmen entertained the crowd with the “Freshman Dance.” (John Schreiber)
Saturday’s alumni game honoring former SMU soccer player Jordan Mann was a huge success. The light atmosphere mixed with fun-filled bongo playing and singing from the current players culminated in a great game that everyone in the stands enjoyed.
Before the game started, men’s head soccer coach Schellas Hyndman gave a genuinely touching speech regarding Mann as both a person and a player. Even though Hyndman had to give the speech without a microphone due to a malfunction with the public address system, everyone in the stands who did not have an intimate relationship with Mann learned that he was truly a great human being.
Hyndman described Mann as having both “passion and presence” on and off the field. Mann showed this passion to Hyndman by “never taking a game for granted,” whether it was a game in the preseason or a game in the final four. His presence showed itself to Hyndman when in his first season at SMU, Mann was “part of a team with a lot of difficulties in 2005” and helped the team reach the final four with both “talent and leadership.”
At the closing of his speech, Hyndman stated how “proud [he was] that SMU will forever remember the legacy of Jordan Mann.” The speech was emotional for everyone in attendance, but Mann’s 30-plus family members, friends and girlfriend were able to keep their composure throughout the entire event as well as anyone dealing with a tragedy of this magnitude.
Many former players, some from as long as 30 years ago, participated in the game. Westcott field was split in half where the recent graduates played on the west field and the older alumni played on the east field. Almost every player imaginable participated including Mynor Gonzalez, Chase Wileman and Matt Wideman from the 2006 squad that topped the NSCAA poll for the majority of the season.
There were many great goals throughout the evening, unless you were trying to score on Matt Wideman. Wideman was in midseason form, considering he made the Real Salt Lake roster, and did not allow much in the way of goals all night.
One of the main attractions was the SMU soccer players banging bongos, singing and chanting for nearly the entire game. The players made a ton of noise throught the entire game, successfully generating interest and setting the tone for the event. Other attendees of the game included athletic director Steve Orsini, most of the women’s soccer team and women’s soccer coach Brent Erwin.
The alumni game got the SMU soccer season underway and will be a continued way to honor former Mustang Jordan Mann who passed away at his Kansas home just after graduation in May.
The Mustangs will kick off the regular season on Friday against St. Louis University.
An alumnus kicks a goal past the goalkeeper during Saturday evening’s Jordan Mann Alumni Game at Westcott Field. (John Schreiber)
