SMU Senior Associate Athletic Director Woody Norris hopes that that Moody Coliseum will be rocking with Mustang Rocks. Mustang Rocks is a singing competition that will take place during men’s basketball’s remaining home games. The winner will be chosen at the final home game on March 8, 2003 and will receive prizes worth $20,000.
“The program is designed to give SMU some incremental exposure, increase attendance, and give fans fun and excitement,” Norris said.
Thursday’s auditions brought singing talent from SMU students, but half of the singers were from the Dallas community, Norris said. Auditions are being held Friday from 10 a.m.-noon and Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-noon.
A variety of talent and music will help convince sophomore business major Rich Molpus to come watch the competition.
“It wouldn’t hurt to have someone like Simon from “American Idol” to liven it up a little bit either,” Molpus said.
Thirty-one contestants will be chosen to compete. From those 31, four will be randomly selected to perform at the game on Jan. 30. Singing order will also be randomly selected at each game.
Each performance will last 60 seconds, and the contestant will choose his song and whether or not to use musical accompaniment. Two contestants will perform before tip-off and the other two during half-time. A panel of judges will then select a winner. The winner of this game will go on to face three new contestants at the following game.
The last remaining contestant will proceed to the finals. The three previous winners will be asked to return and compete as well.
The prizes should give the program credibility as well as make the competition worthwhile, Norris said. The winner will receive a year’s supply of Kroger groceries. Year’s supplies of both Sprite and McDonald’s Value Meals are also up for grabs. Other prizes include a cruise and a suite at the American Airlines Center.
“I could use some of those prizes,” sophomore advertising major Jessica Hubble said. “But I guess that would require me learning how to sing.”
