Whether Fans Load Up on Award Voting Will Show Whether SMU Ready for Power Four Status

Nothing says ready to run with the big boys than stuffing awards ballot boxes, but will Mustangs fans show up for Preston Stone's Davey O'Brien vote?

DALLAS – It looks like the first opportunity for the SMU football fan base to prove it's worthy of Power Four status has finally arrived. 

One of the hallmarks of a true major program is how hard the fan base is willing to come out to support one of its own. The first opportunity for Mustang supporters to show it's actually a Pony Express and not one of a tiny merry-go-round of ponies that used to be outside the grocery store in the '80s has arrived.

If fans turn out and pack social media with votes to advance Stone and thrust a member of the Mustangs into the national spotlight, it will be a huge statement to the ACC and the rest of college football that there's more to SMU athletics than big donors. It will signify there's a true college sports fan base that's been quietly waiting for its opportunity to be heard on the big stage.

However, if Mustang supporters don't turn out, it will leave the SEC and Big 12 fan bases that surround SMU with the same impression the AP Top 25 voters have concluded – not much to see here. It's not the 20th century anymore. It also hampers Rhett Lashlee on the recruiting trail because coaches can point to deserving players not getting award recognition because there's not an engaged enough fan base to make it happen.

The Mustangs haven't been relevant for nearly half a decade in college football. It takes little things to put a team back on the map after spending decades on the back of proverbial milk cartons.

Players popping up on awards lists helps. Fans going out of their way to make a huge showing like SMU has the chance to do today draws buzz. It can't just be the football team blowing out schools no one watches by half a hundred every week. 

Here's the first opportunity for the Mustang faithful to prove they're for real. They have until 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 to make a statement. Then the staff at allPonies.com will check back in and see how the Ponies' base stacked up and determine whether this is a group that's truly ready for the spotlight that is going to be on it next fall.

Time to get in the game and VOTE! #PonyUpDallas-like your QB’s photo on @daveyobrien official accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The QBs leading the fan vote will receive bonus Selection Committee votes as we decide our National Quarterback of the Year! #DaveyQBs pic.twitter.com/3HXOawoWjV

— Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award (@daveyobrien) October 31, 2023

PONY EXPRESS:

ACC RELEASING NEXT SEVEN SCHEDULES GIVE MUSTANGS PICTURE OF FOOTBALL FUTURE

SMU BLUGEONS TULSA, YET FANS DEMAND EVEN MORE BLOOD

PONIES GET STRONG FINISH TO CLOSE OUT TULSA IN BIG WIN

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