This is the most nervous and excited I have been since I got into college. I love college football. This season my love of college football and my love for SMU have come to fruition. I am excited, and you should be too. We have a huge season ahead of us, and potential that I have not seen since I walked onto this campus. This year we put the Death Penalty behind us and begin a new chapter in SMU football.
Last March I found myself surfing the schedules on ESPN for college football games this coming season (yes, I do start that early). Then I saw it–an opportunity that this campus has not had during my career here.
We play UAB Oct. 31 on ESPN2 at home. We also happen to have the most talented and seasoned team since Phil Bennett arrived. This is our opportunity as a school to show our spirit.
This is our chance, as a school, to make up for last year. If you were here last year, you know what I’m talking about. I’m talking about our horrible showing at Homecoming. I am not talking about the performance by the players. I am referring to the student organizations, all of them, and anyone else who either did not show up or only showed up for the halftime show. That was the low point. I felt worse at that game than I did after we went 0-12 my freshman year. I got mad, too.
However, that does not have to be so this year. This is a year of opportunity. This is our chance as a school to make it all up. The team has a very good chance, if they stay focused and play hard, to be good (if not great). The student body has a chance as well. We have a shot to make it up to these guys for all the work they put in. So get excited. I know I am. I already have my big D and my picket fence. I have already warned my professors that I have to take a religious holiday on Oct. 31. I am almost ready to go.
Almost. I still have a lot of work to do. I need to practice, and so do you. There are at least four games that we can easily attend-UNT in Denton, and Sam Houston State, Arkansas State and Marshall at home. There are three things to do to get ready at these games:
1. Show up
2. Make noise (except on offense)
3. Wear red and blue. ONLY red and blue.
I know it is an SMU tradition to wear red and blue on Fridays. I want to start a new tradition. I want us to wear red and blue not just on Fridays, but more importantly, on GAMEDAYS. Now I understand that people are members of student organizations and that they are proud of it. Nevertheless, football games are where you show that you are proud of your school. If we look unified in the stands, they will feel unified on the field. If we look like a mosh pit of small groups, they will feel abandoned.
I do not want to sound like I am picking on certain parts of the student body. That is not my point. My point is that we need to come together. We need to stand as one behind our team. Hell, I know I have work to do.
Many of my friends have only ever seen me with my Notre Dame hat. This year I want to change that at the stadium. I am going to go out and get myself an SMU hat to wear to the games. I promise, when you see me with my big D and my big Fence, I’ll have an SMU hat on this year.
If we can do this, we as a student body can take the next step. We can learn from past mistakes. We can move closer to where we should be. If the student body can take the next step, I am sure the team will follow.
I am ready for us to take that next step. I am excited. Are you?
Bill Meehan is a senior computer science and mathematics major. He can be reached at [email protected].