“Boulevard” a growing tradition at SMU football games
DALLAS — It’s September and football season is upon us. Before every home game this year as in the past 22 seasons, while new Head Coach Rhett Lashlee prepares the SMU football team to take the field at Ford Stadium, the day’s series of events have already begun. Before a Peruna-themed march of glory into the game, the day starts with the biggest social event of the weekend that includes entertainment, a feeding frenzy, networking, school spirit, and unmatched camaraderie. When you consider elite tailgates, you probably think of LSU, Alabama, Wisconsin, and Ole Miss. SMU likely doesn’t make the list for most…that is until they’ve been there. The Boulevard is without a doubt one of the best tailgating scenes in all of college football.
But don’t call it a tailgate party. At SMU we don’t just tailgate, we “Boulevard”.
For most people, a boulevard is a broad city street, often tree-lined and landscaped. For SMU students, teachers, alumni, fans of SMU Football, and Park Cities residents, the definition of “boulevard” is completely different. As a noun it is the location of the huge pre-game gathering place on the beautiful oak tree-lined Bishop Boulevard for SMU home football games. As a verb, Kevin Knox, Assistant Dean of External Relations & Executive Director of the Cox Alumni Association at the Cox School of Business, defines “to Boulevard” as “participating in 23 years of SMU tradition that’s only getting bigger and better”.
Kevin is spot on. Boulevarding has been an SMU tradition since 2000 when Ford Stadium opened for SMU’s first home game of the season against the University of Kansas. The idea for the Boulevard is not new. The inspiration came from “The Grove” at Ole Miss, but SMU has truly made it their own. Thousands of fans are spread out from the beginning of Bishop Boulevard at Mockingbird Lane all the way to Dallas Hall. The Boulevard event engages the entire campus.
As a result of Boulevarding, some enjoy the games more now than they did as a student as it instills pride in their alma mater, and they love seeing and feeling the Mustang Spirit on game day. David Henry, SMU alum (1984) and CEO of Status Jet, puts it like this, “The Boulevard is the best thing about the whole SMU football experience. I have a lot of friends that come just for the Boulevard. I love to bring family, friends, and clients…it’s a lot of fun.” David’s company, Status Jet, is the official private jet company for SMU sports. When I asked what the Boulevard means to him as a sponsor, he said, “It’s really good. It’s a fantastic opportunity to network and the perfect atmosphere to bring a client. We’ll often pick a game on the schedule and do an event on gameday.”
With a new coach, a very competitive team, and arguably the best pre-game party, we look forward to seeing the thousands of students, alumni, fans and family from across the country come to part take in one of SMU’s greatest traditions. The festivities begin around four hours before kickoff…see you on the Boulevard!
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.
