SMU Mustangs 2024 Tickets

Southern Methodist Mustangs
"In 1935, SMU had a magnificent season. The Mustangs completely dominated their opponents. They shut out eight of their 12 regular season opponents, including conference rivals Texas, Rice, Baylor, and Texas A&M. They were one of the most talented teams in school history. The 1935 Mustangs secured their place in football immortality by being crowned National Champions."The SMU Mustangs is the name of the athletic teams representing Southern Methodist University. The Mustangs participate in the NCAA's Division I as a member of Conference USA. In 2005, SMU accepted an invitation to the Western Division of Conference USA, and left the Western Athletic Conference. From 1918 to 1996, the Mustangs were a member of the Southwest Conference, until it formally disbanded.

In 1987, SMU became the first school in collegiate athletic history to receive the NCAA's "Death Penalty", or having a sports program terminated for a determined amount of time. SMU's football program was terminated for the 1987 season because the University was allegedly making approximately $61,000 in booster payments, through a slush-fund created by the SMU Board of Governors. SMU was eligible for the "death penalty" because they were being charged while already on probation for previous offenses. In "A Payroll to Meet" by David Whitford, it is revealed that the "Death Penalty" was a result of the university administration's refusal to stop paying players already receiving payment. Since many players were poor, boosters would pay for rent or other bills for the parents of the athletes, and several key boosters and administration officials felt it would be unethical to cut off payments. When the sanctions were handed down, SMU had only three players - all seniors about to graduate - receiving payments.

During the 2006 season, the SMU men's soccer program was ranked No. 1 in the nation for four consecutive weeks. The team sat atop the four national polls with a record of 13-0-2 in the Adidas/NSCA poll, SoccerTimes.com poll, Soccer America Magazine poll, and the CollegeSoccerNews.com poll. Concurrently, the SMU women's soccer program cracked the top 25, at No. 22 in the Adidas/NSCA poll and No. 19 in the SoccerTimes.com poll. On November 6, 2006, the SMU men's soccer team finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in the nation. Additionally, SMU won the C-USA title game, beating Kentucky 2-0 in Tulsa. This C-USA championship win is the sixth conference title for SMU since 1997.

1915 June, Ray Morrison became the school's football, baseball, basketball and track coach, as well as a math instructor. Morrison came to be known as the "father of the forward pass" because of his use of the pass on first and second downs instead of as a last resort. First year of varsity football, team was nicknamed "The Parsons" primarily of theological students. In 1950, after playing alongside Doak Walker the previous two seasons, Kyle Rote was given his chance to be the featured back in 1950. Rote, who led the Southwest Conference with 777 yards rushing in 1949, was named an All-American following the 1950 season.

In 1951, Quarterback Fred Benners led the Mustangs to perhaps their greatest win of the decade. On April 11, 1990, Forrest Gregg assumed the role of athletic director, while announcing that he would relinquish his coaching duties following the 1990 season. Lisa Cole becomes SMU's first women's soccer All-American. She leads the Mustangs to their first NCAA Tournament appearance that season. Women's track & field scored first team points at NCAA Championships in third year of program. JoAnn Hacker becomes first female track & field athlete to be named All-American.

In 1991, Diving coach Jim Stillson named NCAA Women's Coach of the Year; he also won the award again in 1995. Women's swimming coach Steve Collins named NCAA Women's Swimming Coach of the Year ? again in 1996.In 1999, the women's diving team wins the 1999 U.S. Diving Indoor National Championship. SMU sophomore Jeryl Sasser becomes the second sophomore in Western Athletic Conference history to earn the league's men's basketball Player of the Year Award. One of the nation's finest all-around players, Sasser was the first SMU player in history to lead the team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. The SMU women's basketball team wins its first conference title after winning the 1999 Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship in Las Vegas.

The Mustangs advance to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the past six seasons under Coach Rhonda Rompola. SMU great Eric Dickerson was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 1999. He became the fifth Mustang to earn Pro Football Hall of Fame status. Women's rowing becomes SMU's newest sport. Head coach Kerry O'Keefe was hired to run the program, which will feature more than 60 student-athletes on its roster. Former SMU golfer Payne Stewart wins his second U.S. Open Championship.

Former SMU soccer player Tom Presthus became the first Mustang to be named to the MLS All-Star Team. Women's swimmer Martina Moravcova, one of the most decorated swimmers in NCAA history, receives 1998-99 Honda Award for women's swimming and diving. Moravcova ended her four-year career at SMU a 25-time All-American and 14-time NCAA Champion, including 10 individual titles that were the most in the modern era, a time when swimmers were not restricted to only three events at the NCAA's each year. She won 26 conference title out of a possible 28 as a collegian. She became the first individual in WAC history to win both the 100 free and 200 IM three years in a row. Women's swimming becomes first team to sweep all 21 events at WAC Championships.