It’s not often that a simple symbol comes to represent so much about an institution. But the running Mustang logo has become a part of the SMU fabric – just as much as the Hilltop.
Unfortunately, the Athletic Department has decided replace the recognizable Mustang with a new version that looks like Peruna on steroids.
There’s a reason Congress held investigations into steroid usage – the results aren’t pretty.
And neither is this new animal.
Maybe Ed Board should have known something funny was going on last month when the 2005 football posters were released and there was no Mustang on it. Instead, the state of Texas was used as the main logo.
Things got worse on July 1, when the Athletic Department debuted the new online store, MustangLockerroom.com. It featured the new logo, with the snarling Mustang that looked like it was conceived from a month-long focus group of arena football executives.
All items on the new site feature the logo, and according to the department, the move to Conference USA was the perfect time to announced the changes.
Let Ed Board be very clear, this is unacceptable.
SMU has so few traditions that have survived over the years; it makes no sense to get rid of something that is so identified with the school.
This is a desperate move to make the school look more “cool” so more merchandise will sell. Except we’re not sure who would want to buy anything with this logo on it.
Normally Ed Board ignores the lame ideas that come out of the department. We still have a hazy memory of that large red dot from a few years ago. Unfortunately we get a feeling that the department has more invested in this new logo than the $100 in craft supplies it spent on the Maniac.
So that’s why we’re trying to do the department a favor.
All money that they are spending on the launch of this new Mustang should be spent on something that would actually improve SMU Athletics. Give tickets away to a youth group for one of the football games later in the season when we will need the attendance. Buy some more equipment so our athletes will be stronger and faster. Put the money away in an account so Moody Coliseum can be renovated sometime before Ed Board hits 30.
Bottom line, do something to improve the results on the field instead of messing with things like the symbol of the school.
If this new Mustang was meant to scare and intimidate our opponents, all it has done so far is scare those who care about the school’s traditions.