Ropers host first annual date auction
No they weren’t runway models, but they sure worked the catwalk.
Mustang Ropers auctioned off 13 SMU football players Tuesday at the first annual Date-A-Playa Auction. Girls came dressed to impress to bid for the current football players. As the girls walked into the room they were given red and blue pony paddles to bid with. Many swarmed to the front of the room to get the best seats in the house.
Wesley Medlock, the night’s master of ceremonies, started off by thanking the Ropers for the time and effort they put into the auction.
“I thought I was quick with the tongue but the girls kept putting up their paddles and went from $5 increments to $10,” Medlock said. “If it wasn’t for the SMU strength and conditioning program, I would have been winded.”
Music played and the girls screamed as the guys came out to strut their stuff. Running back Keylon Kincade started the bidding. The auction ended with the highest bid, $200, going to quarterback Richard Bartel.
Between each round of bidding, the Ropers raffled off SMU visors, sweatshirts and gift certificates to Paciugo and Studio Movie Grill. The raffle tickets were sold for a dollar each.
The Mustang Ropers is a chartered organization that serves as an ambassador of the football team. During recruitment the girls volunteer their time to host recruits and their families during SMU football home game weekends in the fall.
“We came up with the idea to have an auction as a way to get the girls more involved with the football program in the spring,” Mustang Roper executive board member Farrar Johnson said.
Travis Hunt, No. 23 on the SMU football team, brought the ladies to their feet. He had girls from all sides of the room bidding on him and finally was sold for $140. The Ropers took in more than $800 during their first try at the Date-A-Playa auction.
“The boys went for more than we expected, and we hope this will give our organization a solid ground to start from and to be bigger next year,” SMU Roper Aureyelle Stewart said.
Each player that was auctioned off came with a dinner package at Houston’s, Mi Cocina and Papadeaux. In the end, emcee Medlock brought in $85 in a last-minute surprise auction of himself.
