Lashlee Proposes Idea for Saturday That Could Be Big Hit

Reverse Boulevard might be special thing SMU Mustangs need to distinguish themselves from other athletic programs

DALLAS - A few weeks ago, the need for something special SMU can point toward that is equivalent to some of the experiences at other schools like The Grove at Ole Miss, "Jump Around" at Wisconsin or "Rocky Top" at Tennessee was addressed on this site.

While it's unclear if Mustangs' head football coach Rhett Lashlee read that, he may have offered up the solution nonetheless. One of the bigger traditions at games is shutting down Bishop Boulevard, allowing people to set up tents and televisions in a typical tailgating style found across most of college football. However, Lashlee suggested a wrinkle he hopes will start with this Saturday's home game against Tulsa.

"One of the best things we do is we Boulevard," Lashlee said during his weekly radio show. "I don't get to, but y'all get to. So, like, that's our thing. When we play at 11, it is what is. And, so, throw some steak and eggs on, get out there and have a good time, but let's create like a Reverse Boulevard."

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If there was doubt as to whether he was serious, Lashlee went so far as to solidify the branding of the event and provide a basic set of instructions.

"What I mean by that is let's get to the game at 10:30, let's kick some tail and then let's go Boulevard all afternoon and night," Lashlee said. "We can actually call that the Reverse Boulevard."

As the energy from the crowd in the Ozona Grill and Bar picked up while the idea resonated around the room, Lashlee got caught up in the moment and offered to take things up a notch to make the idea feel even more special. 

"It's just a thought," Lashlee said. "And maybe someone's already thought of it. I don't know. Hey, I'll come Boulevard with you after a win. That'd be awesome if I'm allowed to. I don't know how the rules work and all that."

Creating such an event helps in two ways. The first is being able to have recruits pass through after a win. Energy levels are always high and the atmosphere is a bit more electric. Before the game is simply ramping up. Afterward, following a win, is an all-out party. Think of the energy at Auburn when everyone rushes out to roll the tree at Toomer's Corner. That's the sort of thing that sticks with recruits.

It's the perfect way to pair up with another special event already planned for Saturday. The basketball team is setting up a court on the Dallas Hall Lawn where at 10 a.m. a series of basketball contests will take place and people can get autographs. 

If fans can interact with the basketball team up close and personal, then have Lashlee and maybe a few football players wander through afterward at the Reverse Boulevard, that sets up to be the kind of day that not only impresses recruits, it's memorable for young fans who will form the foundation of the next 50 years of athletic support in Dallas. 

It only takes one of those types of memories where a kid can say he got to meet a player or coach in the midst of an atmosphere that will feel to that child like a carnival or festival to lock a young man or woman in for life. That's important for this program because the fan base has to expand a great deal over the next 20 years to increase the Mustangs' ability to compete.

The second things this does is creates a reason for fans to stick around in the stadium until the end of the game. That means people aren't ducking out early to beat the traffic. If as many people are there when the back-ups hit the field as there were when the first team started things off in a blow-out, that resonates with recruits. 

It also increases name recognition and raises the odds some of the guys working their way up can land an NIL deal. If people who have a business willing to invest in an athlete become more familiar with a player because they stuck around to Reverse Boulevard, that greatly increases the odds those people might be willing to work with him.

It's a win-win all around for Lashlee and the SMU fans. Of course, that's the catch. The Mustangs have to win. However, something in his voice Wednesday night indicates Lashlee is perfectly fine with being tasked to hold up that end of the bargain.

SMU and Tulsa kick off at 11 a.m. at Ford Stadium Saturday. Those who can't make it out to see first-hand whether the Reverse Boulevard idea pans out can watch from home on ESPNU or listen in the DFW area on The Ticket 96.7 FM and 1310 AM.

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