Fall 2017 In this issue
2017 Lettermen’s Fall Reunion Celebrates Family, Friends, Old teammates and Athletic Trainers
2017 Fall Reunion Recap
The 2017 Fall Reunion weekend took place on September 22-23 this year. The Lettermen’s Association President’s Corner welcomed back many of our alums to the Hilltop as we In Memoriam recognized current and past SMU Natatorium Grand athletic trainers and this year’s Opening honorary recipient, Coach Jim Stillson, former SMU head Ponies in the Press diving coach of 33 years. Following the traditional outdoor Upcoming dates and dinner at Ford Stadium on events Friday evening, Letterwinners tailgated on the Boulevard and celebrated a win against Arkansas State University. For more great photos of the Reunion weekend, visit us online.
As we wrap up the calendar year, get ready for another exciting season of SMU sports in the Winter and Spring! Visit smumustangs.com for up-to-date schedule information for all fall sports.
Did you know? The SMU Lettermen’s Association is on Facebook! Follow us here to stay in touch!
President’s Corner Fellow Letterwinners, This is truly a great time to be a Mustang! With the continued enhancement of our facilities, including the grand opening of the BarrMcMillion Natatorium, we have many reasons to be proud to call SMU our own. As the holiday season approaches and we near the end of the Fall 2017 semester, it’s important to reflect upon some great moments in SMU Athletics that have occurred. Men’s Soccer made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament . Volleyball saw another post-season run making it to the first-round of the NIVC against Texas Tech. Football ended the regular season with a 7-5 record and is bowl eligible for the first time since 2012. These are just a few examples of some of the great accomplishments in SMU Athletics this past Fall.
However, to take full advantage of all that membership has to offer, you must activate your membership each year. We sincerely hope that you’ll consider reactivating your membership in 2018, and continue to support our Association and take advantage of the opportunities that Lettermen’s provides to reconnect with your former teammates and this elite group of men and women. As an active member of the Lettermen’s Association, you can recapture proud moments of your past and further develop relationships when you return to campus for a reunion or special event. We wish you a Happy Holidays, and look forward to seeing you back on campus in the New Year. Pony Up!
As a former athlete at SMU, you’re a part of an elite group of former students who have had the privilege of wearing the Mustang logo on the field of play. Because of your commitment and accomplishments within your sport, you’ve earned the right to be a “member” of the SMU Lettermen’s Association.
Greg Gardner Football, ‘89-’91
Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium Center Grand Opening SMU dedicated the Barr-McMillion Natatorium, on Friday, November 3rd during Homecoming Weekend. As SMU’s newest athletics facility, the 42,000 square foot state-of-the-art aquatics center, houses modern facilities and an increased training space which serves as the new home of SMU Swimming and Diving. The natatorium features an Olympic-size 50-meter, 8-lane indoor pool, a 10-meter diving tower with four springboards, a moveable bulkhead to maximize programming, men’s and women’s varsity team locker rooms, seating for 800 spectators, and a spacious lobby. It is expected to be a helpful benefit in recruiting future Mustangs and will satisfy a very long wait for swimming and diving alums, who have long hoped for a new facility for the program. With the natatorium finally completed, the Mustangs are looking forward to hosting future meets this spring as well as the 2018 American Conference Championships this February. Go Mustangs!
In Memoriam
Join the Lettermen’s Association in offering our sympathies to the friends and families of the following Mustangs who have passed away:
Donald Rutherford Brown (J anuary 1926—July 2017) played varsity basketball for SMU as a freshman. He was medically evacuated during World War II before returning to SMU. Brown later graduated with a BBA and a MBA from Cox School of Business.
Ramom Melo (1992—September 2017) finished 3rd in the 50 Free at the American Athletic Conference Championship as a senior in 2014. Melo was also part of the Conference USA title-winning 200 medley and 200 free relays as a junior.
Franklin Ratcliff (March 1944—October 2017) graduating from SMU Ratcliff studied business, Ratcliff played tight end for the Mustangs, and was a proud member and President of Phi Delta Theta.
Richard White (1946—October 2017) was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and earned his Juris Doctor degree from SMU law school. He was on the staff of the Law Journal before graduating at the top of his class all whole on scholarship as a coach of the SMU freshman football team.
Ned Duncan (1936—October 2017) before transferring to SMU for his junior and senior seasons, Duncan played guard at Kilgore college where he won a national title in 1956. He also played against Wilt Chamberlain in the NCAA tournament , while at SMU in the late 1950’s and played on two Southwest Conference Championship teams. In 2008 Duncan was inducted into the NCAA Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
George McMillion (1932—November 2017) Known to most on the Hilltop as “Coach Mac,” legendary SMU swimming coach was the head coach of the SMU men’s swimming team from 1971-88 after a standout career as a student-athlete and 14 years as an assistant coach. His impact on the SMU swimming program helped inspire the construction of the new aquatics center, the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium, and led to his name being attached to the facility.
Isabelle Nashmi—Earned American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll 8/28; Selected to the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team Claire Oates—Named to All-American Athletic ConferWomen’s Golf ence First Team Brigitte Dunne—Runner-up at Trinity Forest Invitational Haley Thompson—Selected to CoSIDA Academic All11/13 District 7 First Team Team—Dedication of the Payne Stewart SMU Golf Allie Thornton—Earned All-American Athletic ConferTraining Center 10/13 ence Second Team Team—Earn 2016-2017 Team Academic Awards; Men’s Soccer Earned American Athletic Conference Team Fair Play Jordan Cano—Named to American Athletic Conference Award Preseason Team; Named American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week 9/18; Named American Men’s Swimming and Diving Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week Jonathan Gomez—invited to compete at FINA World 10/23; Named American Athletic Conference Defensive Championships; Earned American Athletic Conference Player of the Week 11/6; American Athletic Conference Weekly Award 10/31; Named American Athletic ConferDefensive Player of the Year; Selected for American ence Swimmers of the Week 11/7 Athletic Conference First Team; Selected to CoSIDA Bryce-Klein—Earned American Athletic Conference Academic All-District 7 First-Team Weekly Award 10/31 Mauro Cichero—Named to American Athletic ConferBartosz Krzyaniak—Named American Athletic Conference Preseason Team; Earns Preseason Top Drawer ence Swimmer of the Week 11/21 Soccer Best XI Honor; Named American Athletic ConTeam—Dedication of the Robson & Lindley Aquatics ference Offensive Player of the Week 8/28; Named Center 11/5 SMU Tournament Most outstanding Player 9/4; Named 2017 Senior CLASS Award Candidate; Named to Ameri- Women’s Swimming and Diving can Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll 10/9; Ameri- Isabella Arcila, Nathalie Lindborg, Rachel Nicol , and can Athletic Conference Midfielder of the Year; Selected Felicity Passon— invited to compete at FINA World for American Athletic Conference First-Team; Named Championships MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist Matea Samardzic—placed 14th at U.S. Open SwimTalen Maples—Earned American Athletic Conference ming Championships; Matea Samardzic—Named All-Rookie Team American Athletic Conference Swimmer of the Week Garrett McLaughlin—Named to American Athletic 10/10; American Athletic Conference Swimmer of the Conference Preseason Team; Named American Athletic Week 10/17; American Athletic Conference Swimmer of Conference Offensive Player of the Week 9/4; Earned the Week 11/7 American Athletics Conference Weekly Honors 9/18; Team—Dedication of the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Earned American Athletics Conference Weekly Honor Center 11/5 Roll 10/23; Named American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week 11/6; Selected for American Volleyball Athletic Conference First Team Brittany Adams—Named American Athletic ConferMichael Nelson—Named to American Athletic Confer- ence Offensive Player of the Week 10/30; Named to the ence Preseason Team; Earned American Athletics All-American Athletic Conference Second Team Conference Weekly Honors 9/18; Named American Katie Hegarty—Named to American Athletic ConferAthletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Week 10/16; ence All-Preseason team; Named to the All-American Named American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Athletic Conference First Team Week 10/23; Named American Athletic Conference Meryn Kennedy—Named American Athletic ConferGoalkeeper of the Week 11/6; American Athletic Confer- ence Defensive Player of the Week 10/2 ence Goalkeeper of the Year; Selected for American Lauren Mills—Named American Athletic Conference Athletic Conference First Team Offensive Player of the Week 9/11; Named American Philip Ponder—Selected to CoSIDA Academic AllAthletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week 9/25; District 7 First-Team Named to the All-American Athletic Conference First Jared Rice— Named American Athletic Conference Team Defensive Player of the Week 10/2; Named to American Kendall Patterson—Named to American Athletic ConAthletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll 10/9; Selected ference All-Preseason Team; Named to All-American for American Athletic Conference Second Team Athletic Conference Second Team DJ Williams Jr—Selected to American Athletic Confer- Montana Watts—Named to American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll 10/2; ence Weekly Honor Roll 9/11; Named American Athletic Kevin Hudson (head coach) and staff—Earned Conference Defensive Player of the Week 11/6; Coaching Staff of the Year honors Team—Earn 2016-2017 Team Academic Awards; Won American Athletic Conference Regular-Season Title; Won American Athletic Conference Championship; Team advanced to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship Third Round
Celebrate the achievements of SMU student-athletes this quarter! Men’s Basketball Shake Milton— Selected the American Preseason Player of the Year; Named to Bob Cousy watch list, Lute Olson Award preseason watch list , Citizen Naismith Trophy watch list, Wooden Award preseason top 50; American Athletic Conference Player of the Week 11/13; Ethan Chargois– Named the American Rookie of the Week 11/13 Women’s Basketball Alicia Froling—Named to AAC Preseason AllConference Team 10/16 Cross Country Charlotte-Tara Murphy– Named American Athletic Conference athlete of the week 9/26 Hannah Miller– Claims American Athletic Conference Individual Title 10/28; Set school record for fastest 6k time at NCAA South Central Regional 11/10; Qualified for NCAA Championship; Named American Athletic Conference Women’s Runner of the Year Team– Ranked fifth in USTFCCCA Preseason Regional Poll ; Ranked third in USTFCCCA Regional Poll 9/11; Equestrian Ashley Mauney—Selected to compete at AQHA Collegiate Horsemanship Challenge Alexandra Murphy—Named September UEC Equitation Over Fences Rider of the Month 10/11 Team– Crowned Masterson’s Farm Invitational Champion; Earns highest rank in program history , #2, by the National Collegiate Equestrian Association Football Evan Brown—Athlon All-AAC Preseason First Team; Rimington Trophy Watch List; Outland Trophy Watch List; Campbell Trophy Semifinalist Ben Hicks— Selected for Midseason Manning Award Watch List Will Hopkins— Named College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Justin Lawler— Named to Ted Hendricks Award Final Watch List ; Named American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week 10/2; Trey Quinn—Named to Biletnikoff Award Watch List , Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist , Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist; Named American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week 10/23; Courtland Sutton— Named to Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List ; Earned CBS Sports Preseason First-Team All-American; Named to AP All-America Team; American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week 9/11; Josh Williams—Named College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Jordan Wyatt—Named American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week 9/4; Named Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week 9/5; Joe Craddock (offensive coordinator)—Nominated for 2017 Broyles Award 11/8
Men’s Golf Women’s Soccer Team- Dedication of the Payne Stewart SMU Golf Train- Hannah Allred—Selected to American Athletic Confering Center 10/13 ence All-Rookie Team Catie Brown—Named American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Week 8/28
Mark your Calendar for Remaining 2017 Events!
December: 2nd:
Men’s Basketball vs USC, Moody Coliseum, 9 pm
3rd:
Women’s Basketball vs Cal State Bakersfield, Moody Coliseum, 2 pm
13th:
Men’s Basketball vs New Orleans, Moody Coliseum, 7 pm
18th:
Men’s Basketball vs Boise State, Moody Coliseum, 8 pm
19th:
Men’s Basketball vs CAL POLY, Moody Coliseum, 7 pm
20th:
Women’s Basketball vs Loyola Marymount, Moody Coliseum, 1 pm
22nd:
Women’s Basketball vs McNeese, Moody Coliseum, 1 pm
27th:
Men’s Basketball vs UCF, Moody Coliseum, 8 pm
30th:
Women’s Basketball vs Houston, Moody Coliseum, 2 pm
31st:
Men’s Basketball vs USF, Moody Coliseum, 7 pm
Click below to join the waitlist for Men’s Basketball season tickets or call 214-SMU-GAME!
Contact us at (214) 768-4000 or
[email protected] with your suggestions, comments, and questions!