As basketball tips off, Mustang fans are preparing for theseason with a pumped up spirit group cheering from courtsideseats.
The Mustang Maniacs, started by SMU’s Sports Marketingdepartment in 1998 to prepare for the 1999-2000 season, aims to getstudents more involved at men and women’s basketballgames.
The group, which changed its name from the Moody Maniacs in1999, is now going into its fifth season and has more than 300members.
“The games are crazy. People paint their faces, yell atthe other team fans and intimidate the opposing players. TheMustang Maniac section looks like a sea of red,” marketingassistant Whitney Cahoy said.
Cahoy, who recently took over the organization, spent four daysin front of the Hughes-Trigg Student Center signing students up tobe Maniac members.
The group is open to all students for a one-time sign-up fee of$5.
Membership includes a seat behind the team benches at all homegames, a red T-shirt and an official membership card. Members alsoreceive weekly Maniac e-mail updates.
To get into the Maniac section at the games, students mustpresent their membership card and wear the red T-shirts that weredonated by the Dallas Morning News and Plucker’s.
Along with great seats to the games, the Maniac membership cardsallow students access to events throughout the year.
“Almost all of our events are hosted byPlucker’s,” Cahoy said. “They do a reallywonderful job.”
Recently, Plucker’s hosted an event to approximately 150SMU fans and the men and women’s basketball teams.
“I’m really looking forward to this season. I thinkwe can win 18-20 games and the WAC tournament,” seniorMustang Maniac Tyler Parr said.
Students can become official Mustang Maniacs by visitingCahoy’s office in Moody Coliseum or by calling her at (214)768-1216.