Summer 2016

In this issue

2016 Hall of Fame Class Inducted

Save the Date for 2016 Reunion Weekend

In Memoriam

Ponies in the Press

Women’s Basketball Hires New Head Coach

FREE FOOTBALL TICKETS!

Upcoming dates and events

Fall is just around the corner! Get ready for another exciting

season of SMU sports.

Visit smumustangs.com for up-to-date schedule

information for all fall sports.

SMU Lettermen’s Association Inducts 6

Mustangs into the 2016 Hall of Fame

SMU and SMU Athletics, in conjunction with the

SMU Lettermen’s Association, conducted the 2016

Hall of Fame on Friday, May 6th in Moody

Coliseum. This was the first year that the ceremony

was held in Moody in order to bring inductees and

other attendees back to campus. Six Mustangs were

inducted into the 2016 class, including: Amy Benz,

Scot Donie, Reggie Dupard,

Janet Ely, Daniel

Hernandez, and the late

Henry “Choc” Sanders.

Amy Benz, one of the top

women’s golfers in SMU

history, played at SMU from

1981-83. Benz was an

All-American, and the winner

of the AIAW National

Championship as a

sophomore. She was the 1982

NCAA individual national

champion and was awarded All-America honors in

both 1982 and 1983. Benz was also a member of the

1982 U.S. Curtis Cup team. Benz would go on to

have a very successful career on the LPGA Tour

totaling 13 top-10 finishes.

Scott Donie ranks as one of the most successful and

accomplished divers ever to compete for SMU.

Donie competed for the Mustangs from 1987-90,

and he was an 11-time SWC Diving Champion and

three-time NCAA Champion. Donie earned

All-America honors in 1987-89. His success did not

stop at SMU, as Donie was a member of the U.S.

National Diving team from 1985-96. He is a

two-time Olympian, winning the silver medal in the

10 -meter platform in 1992 while competing for the

United States.

Reggie Dupard is one of the greats in SMU Football

history. As a powerhouse running back from

1982-85, Dupard helped the Mustangs clinch both

an SWC Championship and a National

Championship in 1982, a 1984 NCAA

Co-Championship and an Aloha Bowl win against

Notre Dame in 1984. He earned All-Conference

honors from 1982-1985, and was named an

All-American in 1985. Dupard is one of only two

players in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards

in three consecutive seasons, and is still the school's

third-leading rusher. After being drafted in the first

round by the New England Patriots in 1986, Dupard

played five years in the league for the Patriots and

the Redskins.

Janet Ely was a diver for the Mustangs from 1978-

80. In 1979, Ely won the AIAW Championship on

both the 1 and 3 meter events, and earned

All-America honors. She became the first female

from SMU to represent the United States at the 1972

Olympic Games in München, taking fourth in both

the springboard and platform

events. Following her tenure

at SMU, Ely had an

impressive career which in-

cluded both championships

and world records. She took

gold in the 10m platform at

the World Championships,

competed in the 1976

Olympics in Montreal in

platform, and won the World

Diving Championships in

1978. Ely is one of SMU’s

most decorated divers to date.

Daniel Hernandez produced one of the most

impressive careers in the history of the Men’s Soccer

program at SMU. During his time on the Hilltop,

Hernandez twice earned All-America accolades and

was named. Conference Player of the Year in 1996

and 1997. After leading the Mustangs to a Western

Athletic Conference title in 1997, Hernandez was

named a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist. Hernandez

was selected in the second round of the 1998 MLS

Draft by the Los Angeles Galaxy and was a member

of the United States Men’s National Team. He also

played in the Mexican Primera Division from 2003-

2005. In 2009, Hernandez signed with MLS’s FC

Dallas, where he helped the team to a 2010 Western

Conference Championship.

Henry “Choc” Sanders was a household name

during the early seasons of SMU Football. Sanders

played guard for the Mustangs from 1928-29, and

was the first First-Team All-American from SMU in

school history, earning the honor in 1928. Sanders

was also named to the 1928 and 1929

All-Conference teams, and was an integral part of

the Mustangs’ 1929 undefeated season.

The inductees’ plaques can be found at the Moody

Coliseum Hall of Fame Display.

Congratulations to the class of 2016 Hall of Fame

inductees!

Did you know? The SMU Lettermen’s Association is on Facebook!

Follow us here to stay in touch!

President’s Corner

Mustangs, we’ve said goodbye to another spring season and congratulated our

most recent graduating class of student-athletes, and now we look ahead to

what promises to be another exciting fall for SMU Athletics. The beginning of the

fall sports season will be upon us before we know it, and things are starting to

get busy once more here on the Hilltop. The season ahead promises to be an

exciting one, as many of our outstanding teams seek success again in 2016-17.

We hope you’ll stay tuned as our fall sports begin their quests for a conference

title, including reigning AAC Champions Women’s Volleyball and Men’s Soccer.

We’ve continued our offering of two complimentary football season tickets to

benefit all dues-paying members of the Lettermen’s Association. As former

student-athletes ourselves, we know the hard work and dedication you have put

into to this University and SMU Athletics. With the renewal of your annual

membership, the two complimentary season tickets will be added to your

account automatically, unless you choose to decline them. I encourage you to

take advantage of this promotion before the July 15th deadline. If you have not

yet renewed your membership for 2016, you can join online, or you can call the

Lettermen’s Association at 214-768-4000 to renew. This football season features

a competitive and exciting home game schedule, including six home games

starting on September 17th as the Mustangs take on Liberty at Ford Stadium,

and a Friday night contest against rival TCU on September 23rd for Family

Weekend. Don’t miss out on #PonyUpTEMPO football this fall!

I also want to remind you to save the date for our Fall Reunion Weekend, on

Oct. 21-22. As always, the reunion promises to be a fun weekend of seeing old

friends, making new ones, and enjoying some SMU Football. We are planning

some exciting new events, so make your plans to be there and keep an eye on

your e-mail for more details coming soon.

We look forward to seeing you at a football game, a volleyball match, or a

tailgate this fall. It’s an exciting time to be a Mustang. Pony Up!

Greg Gardner Football, ‘89-’91

In Memoriam Join the Lettermen’s Association in offering our sympathies to the friends and families of the following Mustangs who have passed

away:

Clyde Butler (Feb. 1927—March 2016) - Butler, a WWII veteran, was a track & field letterman at SMU. He received his BS

and MS in Civil Engineering during his time on the Hilltop.

Bill Crisler (March 1932—June 2016) - Crisler received a four year football scholarship to SMU in 1951. He was a starting

half-back on the football team, and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Crisler graduated in 1954 with a

business degree.

Chuck Curtis (July 1935—May 2016) - Coach Curtis was a football offensive coordinator for the Mustangs in 1965 under

Head Coach Hayden Fry, and helped recruit Mustang legends such as Jerry LeVias.

J.T. Davis (Nov. 1936—June 2016) - Davis attended SMU in the fall of 1955 on a football scholarship. He played with NFL

Greats Don Meredith and Forest Gregg, during his time at SMU, and was coached under NFL Great Hank Stram when Stram

was an SMU assistant coach. Davis graduated from SMU in 1960.

James Gatewood (Dec. 1971—June 2016) - Gatewood, a Men’s Basketball SMU lettermen from 1990-94, was a part of the

1993 SWC title team that made the NCAA Tournament. He was also named team MVP as a senior.

Guy Marcus (March 1938—April 2016) - Marcus was on the SMU swimming & diving team that won 4 Southwest

Conference Championships between 1957 and 1960. He was also a member of the KA fraternity. He graduated with both a

BBA and MBA from SMU.

Don Presley (Sept. 1935—April 2016) - Presley played baseball at SMU, graduating in 1959. While at SMU, he was a

member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He was an All Southwest Conference pitcher, played two summers for the

Alpine Cowboys semi-pro team in Alpine, Texas, and was drafted by the Boston Red Sox organization where he played for

four years. After Don's baseball career, he was hired by his alma mater, Highland Park HS to coach.

George M. Underwood Jr. (Jan. 1920—May 2016) - Underwood, a golf letterman, earned his degree in Psychology at SMU

in 1941. He served as an officer during WWII, and is responsible for a large amount of real estate development in North

Dallas.

Three New Members Added to the Lettermen’s Association Board The Lettermen’s Association is pleased to welcome three former Mustangs to the Lettermen’s Association Board: Warrie Birdwell (Football), Jessica Gardner (Women’s Swimming), and Ignacio Hirigoyen (Men’s Soccer).

Warrie Birdwell played Football for the Mustangs from 1999-2001, where he started at defensive tackle under coach Phil Bennett. Warrie graduated from SMU with a BA in Finance. He currently resides in Dallas, and is a Commercial Banking Manager at Origin Banking. Warrie is also on the Make-A-Wish

Dallas Regional Council. He enjoys spending time with his three daughters, golfing, and hunting. Jessica Gardner received her BA in English Literature and Sociology from the Dedman School. During her time at SMU, Jessica was on the Women’s Swimming & Diving team. Following her

graduation, Jessica worked at Highland Park United Methodist Church before making the move to Midland where she currently resides. She is a Capital Campaign Manager at the Midland Humane Coalition, and a member of the Junior League of Midland. Ignacio Hirigoyen is an All-American SMU Tennis player. Ignacio played tennis from 1996-1999, and received All-American awards in singles for the Mustangs in 1997 and 1999. He currently resides in Dallas, and is an attorney at Andrews Kurth LLP. Ignacio is also a member of the Hispanic Dallas Bar Association. He enjoys playing golf, and of course tennis, in his spare time. We invite you to help the Lettermen’s Association welcome these new board members. A full roster of board members and officers is available on our website. Any member interested in future board service is invited to contact a current board member for a nomination.

Rowing Savannah Moody—Accepted to U.S. Selection Camp and will participate Aug. 21-28 Equestrian Nora Gray—NCEA All-American Honors HM Equitation Over Fences, United Equestrian Conference Freshman of the Year in both Equitation Over Fences and Equitation on the Flat, Set Single Season Wins Record Schaefer Raposa—NCEA All-American Honors 1st Team Equitation Over Fences, United Equestrian Conference Honors Equitation Over Fences Rider of the Year, Set Most Outstanding Performer Record, Holds the Most Career Wins in SMU History Madison Steed—Freshman of the Year in Reining Sylvia de Toledo—NCEA All-American Honors HM in Equitation Over Fences and Equitation on the Flat Men’s Basketball Markus Kennedy—AAC Sixth Man of the Year Shake Milton—AAC All-Rookie Team Ben Moore— NABC All-District 25 Second Team Nic Moore—AAC Player of the Year, All-AAC 1st Team, USBWA All-District VII, NABC All-District 25 1st Team, Bob Cousy Award Finalist, Wooden Award Late Season Top 20, Naismith Trophy Midseason Watch List, Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch List, AP All-American Honorable Mention, Miami Heat NBA Summer League Semi Ojeleye—Nominated for All-State NABC Good Works Team Men’s Swimming & Diving Bryce Klein—Competes in 3 meter consolation final at NCAA Championships (3/25), AAC Weekly Honors (1/12) (2/2), Set school record on 1 Meter (1/30), AAC Diver of the Year, Competed at U.S. Diving Trials on 3 meter and 3 meter synchro (6/22), CSCAA Scholar All-America First Team (6/22) Bartosz Krzyzaniak—AAC Weekly Honors (2/9), CSCAA Scholar All-America Honorable Mention (6/22) Parker Meinecke—CSCAA Scholar All-America Honorable Mention (6/22) Daniel Pitts—AAC Weekly Honors (2/9) Stefan Popov— CSCAA Scholar All-America Honorable Mention (6/22) Lucas Schenke—AAC Weekly Honors (2/2), CSCAA Scholar All-America Honor-able Mention (6/22) Christian Scherubl— CSCAA Scholar All-America Honorable Mention (6/22) Sam Straughan – AAC Swimmer of the Year, CSCAA Scholar All-America Hon-orable Mention (6/22) Team—Swimming and Diving earn CSCAA Scholar-All America status (1/27), Swimming and Diving earn CSCAA Scholar-All America status (6/15), Mustangs finish 2nd at AAC Championships (2/20) Men’s Tennis Samm Butler—AAC Player of the Week (3/1) Hunter Johnson—AAC Player of the Week (3/29), All-AAC Honors in Doubles and Singles Yates Johnson—All-AAC Honors in Doubles Nate Lammons—AAC Player of the Week (3/15), ITA Most Improved Player of Texas Region Team—Reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championship Women’s Basketball McKenzie Adams—AAC Newcomer of the Year Alicia Froling—All-AAC Team

Women’s Golf Jenny Haglund—American Athletic Conference selection, Named Golfweek Midseason All-Conference Team, Named AAC Golfer of the week Lindsey McCurdy— American Athletic Conference selection, Named to Golfweek Midseason All-Conference Team, Named AAC Golfer of the Week Brigitte Dunne – AAC Freshman of the Year, American Athletic Conference selection Team—Mustangs win Clover Cup (3/13) Women’s Swimming & Diving Anna Cheesbrough—CSCAA Scholar All-America Honorable Mention (6/22) Vicky Cunningham —CSCAA Scholar All-America Honorable Mention (6/22) Marne Erasmus—All-American Honors in 100m Butterfly (3/18), Competed at NCAA Championship (3/18), AAC Weekly Honors (1/12) Maddie Hoch —CSCAA Scholar All-America Honorable Mention (6/22) Lauren Lamb—AAC Weekly Honors (1/12) (2/9) Tara-Lynn Nicholas—Competed at NCAA Championship (3/18) Hannah Rogers—AAC Weekly Honors (2/9) Madeline Wainman—AAC Diver of the Week (10/6) Team— Swimming and Diving earns CSCAA Scholar All-America status (1/27), Swimming and Diving earn CSCAA Scholar-All America status (6/15), Mustangs win second consecutive American Athletic Conference Championship (2/20) Women’s Tennis Vaszilisza Bulgakova—All-AAC Team Hristina Dishkova—All-AAC Team Women’s Volleyball Avery Acker—SMU Presidential Award of Excellence, 2015-16 American Athletic Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Katie Hegarty— USA Volleyball Collegiate National Team roster Morgan Heise— USA Volleyball Collegiate National Team roster Janelle Giordano — USA Volleyball Collegiate National Team roster

Celebrate the achievements of

SMU student-athletes this quarter!

Women’s Basketball Hires New Head Coach, Travis Mays

Travis Mays has been named the Head Women’s Basketball.

Mays arrives on the Hilltop after 14 years as an assistant coach,

where he served under three Hall of Fame coaches, and 11 years

of playing professionally.

Mays comes to SMU following four seasons as Associate Head

Coach at Texas, where he made his mark on the program as a

dynamic guard from 1986-90, and where he served a previous

three-year stint as an assistant coach for the women's basketball

program from 2004-07. He returned to UT in 2012 as Associate

Head Coach. His duties at Texas included recruiting, preparing

opponent scouting reports, instructing guards on the court and

public speaking at various community service and campus events.

Mays comes to the Hilltop with much enthusiasm, and is showing

his ability to recruit top talent to SMU early in his tenure.

Mays begins his first season as head coach Nov. 11 as the

Mustangs start the 2016-17 campaign in Moody Coliseum.

Welcome Coach Travis Mays to the Mustang Family!

Mark your Calendar for Upcoming Events this Fall!

July:

16th: Chad Morris Football Ladies Clinic, 9:00am, Ford Stadium 23rd: SMU Football Blessing of the Ball, 3:30pm, Big Game Factory, Dallas, TX

August:

16th: Football Kickoff Luncheon, 12:00 pm, Hilton Anatole, Dallas, TX 20th: SMU Football Scrimmage, Ford Stadium, Time TBA

September:

3rd: SMU @ UNT, 6:00pm, Apogee Stadium, Denton, TX Mustang Club/Alumni Association tailgate, 4:00 pm—5:30 pm, Location TBA 10th: SMU @ Baylor, 2:30pm, McLane Stadium, Waco, TX Mustang Club/Alumni Association tailgate, 12:30pm pm—2:00 pm, Location TBA 17th: SMU vs Liberty, 6:00pm, Ford Stadium 23rd: SMU vs TCU, 7:00pm, Ford Stadium SMU Family Weekend

October:

1st: SMU @ Temple, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA, Time TBA 7th: SMU @ Tulsa, 7:00pm, Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium, Tulsa, OK 21st: Lettermen’s Reunion, Ford Stadium, Time TBA 22nd: SMU vs Houston, Ford Stadium, Time TBA Letterwinners tailgate, Location and Time TBA 29th SMU @ Tulane, Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, LA, Time TBA Mustang Club/Alumni Association tailgate, Time TBA, Location TBA

Contact us at (214) 768-4000 or lettermen@smu.edu with your suggestions, comments, and questions!

It’s that time again! Be sure to activate your 2016 Lettermen’s Membership to continue receiving great benefits from the Lettermen’s Association!

Now is the time to activate your membership for 2016 and become eligible

for two complimentary season football tickets, courtesy of SMU Athletics!

Join the Lettermen's Association and watch the Ponies all season long as

they take on crosstown rival TCU, conference foes Houston, USF,

Memphis, and Navy, and open the season against Liberty!

To take advantage of this great benefit and others, including invitations to

exclusive events throughout the year, priority points, access to Lettermen's

apparel, you must activate your membership by July 15th. The Lettermen's

Association offers several membership levels. Click the button below or

call 214-768-4000 to activate!