Another year, another Family Weekend for upperclassmen.

For freshman, however, this is the first opportunity for parents to take a look what the college experience is like.

And SMU makes it easy for families to stay busy.

First, learn to love the theme for this year – Boot Scootin’ SMU. If you don’t, you’ll be nauseated by the end of today. So embrace your inner cowboy or cowgirl and let’s get going.

The coolest part of the weekend is today – when students can take their parents to class with them. It’s like a parent-teacher conference on steroids. From the students’ view it’s a chance for mom and dad to see what their classes are like and to show off how much they pay attention in class (and maybe take notes, too).

For the parents it’s a chance to see if they are getting their $40,000 worth in the classroom. Ed Board is sure professors will put their best faces on too.

The Family Luncheon today is also an Ed Board favorite. You will definitely get your money’s worth no matter what they are serving. Last year’s “Family Fiesta” resulted in a tasty Mexican food plate, so we eagerly anticipate what will be on this year’s menu.

The final non-football related item is Friday’s Talent Show. We like it because it’s a chance for everyone in the SMU community to strut their stuff – Greek or non-Greek. We wonder which act will have everyone buzzing this year…

As for the football team – the main feature of the weekend -Ed Board is slightly concerned.

We went to the football kick-off pep rally yesterday, and it was not pretty. Maybe 50 people were in the stands of Ford Stadium. The band, cheerleaders and drill team easily outnumbered everyone else.

We hope this isn’t a preview of Saturday’s game, because Ed Board will get pretty lonely if we’re sitting alone in the stands.

So, suck it up everyone – parents included.

It’s too early to give up, and if you have, check out the awesome SMU traditions at the game.

Peruna is one of the most unique mascots in college football -and definitely the fiestiest. Look for him on the sidelines and running across the field when SMU scores (which will hopefully happen).

Enjoy the sounds of the Mustang Band, whose jazz music will make you dance in the stands and whose energy brings life to the stadium.

Check out the pom squad, which won nationals last year; and the cheerleaders, who have a rich history and spread out in the stadium to fire up the crowd.

But most of all, enjoy the time with your family. If you do, everything else should fall into place.