The annual Lettermen’s Reunion BBQ, hosted by the SMU Lettermen’s Association, is set to honor two of the most well-known teams to play for SMU on Sept. 4.
The two teams to be honored are the 1989 SMU football team and the 1999 women’s basketball team, both of which have a very special place in SMU athletics history.
“The Lettermen’s Board chooses teams that were pivotal in SMU history,” said Kara Maiella, the lettermen’s association coordinator. “All teams made an impact in SMU sports.”
The 1989 football team reestablished football at SMU following a two-year hiatus after the 1987 Death Penalty. Their claim to fame was their dramatic comeback victory over Connecticut in their second game, 31-30, dubbed the ‘Miracle on Mockingbird.’ The Mustangs scored 17 points over the final five minutes in the last quarter to win their first game, something experts predicted could take up to five years to achieve.
The 1999 women’s basketball team defeated then-No. 4 Colorado State to claim the Western Athletic Conference and the first conference championship in school history. Two members of the team were named to the All-WAC first-team: Karlin Kennedy and Claudia Brassard. Kennedy also earned All-Defensive team honors and was the MVP of the tournament. The team went on to the NCAA tournament and made it to the second round before falling to Georgia. It was only the second time in school history that the team had advanced to the second round.
side from honoring the two teams, the Lettermen’s Association will also honor its two Honorary Letter Awards, which go to non-athletes that have been faithful supporters of SMU athletics. This year, the awards will go to Paul Layne and Richard Ware; the former was a SMU cheerleader who has not missed a game, home or away, in 37 years, and the latter is a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and SMU Trustee.
“The Honorary Letter Awards go to recipients who have been above and beyond the average SMU fan,” Maiella said. “They have really earned the honor. This is one of the highest honors that the SMU Lettermen’s Board can bestow. In the past, team physicians, trainers and donors have also received the award.”
The reunion dinner will start at 7 p.m. The two teams will be honored at 8 p.m., as well as during halftime on Saturday at the home opener against Stephen F. Austin State University. There will also be a special game day celebration in the Hall of Champions on Saturday for the teams.
