Kickin’ It

SMU football’s Kickoff Luncheon a hit

DALLAS - Over 500 SMU fans gathered last Tuesday in support of Mustang football at the third annual Kickoff Luncheon, held this year at the Hilton Anatole near downtown.

From left, Don McIlhenny, Pat Summerall, Lance McIlhenny and Lott McIlhenny were honored guests at SMU's third annual Kickoff Luncheon in Dallas.

Legendary sports broadcaster Pat Summerall and SMU’s “first family” of football, Don, Lance and Lott McIlhenny, headlined the sold out event.

The occasion was a hit with senior offensive tackle Kenard Burley. “It’s one of the greatest things that we have,” he said, adding it’s great to know someone “has our back.”

“As long as we have everybody else in it,” he said, “we’re gonna [succeed.]. That’s all we need, a little bit of extra support.”

SMU head coach Phil Bennett said the day was significant. “I think it sets the tone that, hey, this season’s important, that we’ve got good support,” he said. “One of the things about being a football player, when you get out and get to feel proud about what you do, it’s always a good time.”

School president R. Gerald Turner and AD Steve Orsini were on hand at the head table and each gave brief remarks before the meal. Sneak peaks at upcoming television ads and a slickly-produced highlight reel from last season preceded Bennett’s remarks.

“The thing that I like about this football team is I think we’re developing a chemistry that is championship chemistry.” Bennett told the crowd. “We’re a team that’s unselfish. We have guys who know what their role is.”

“I like the fact, also, that we have guys who are committed to SMU,” he said to loud applause.

“We are Dallas’ Division I program. Bring your cousins, bring your aunts, bring your friends. Let’s make this an exciting season. We’re gonna do our part. You do yours. And let’s Pony Up.”

11 Letters

Summerall, as moderator, followed with a McIlhenny family interview.

The McIlhennys combined for 11 football letters at SMU. Don led the team in rushing in 1955 and was six-year pro. Lott earned four letters as a fullback beginning in ’79, a year before Lance showed up to become the winningest quarterback in Southwest Conference history.

“Just coming down the tunnel and realizing you had an opportunity to be national champs that year was something you never forget as a player,” he said.

‘Integrate Yourself’

Summerall asked what message they had for this year’s team.

Justin Willis (16) "raises the roof" as players are introduced to the audience.

Said Don, “I think it’s very, very important that you guys … integrate yourself into the student body. It’s so much fun to be a part of the student body. I don’t think you want to go through school and have people think of you as a guy whose face was all covered with a facemask and had a number on his chest.”

“Spread yourself around,” he said. “Learn who’s in the band.”

“I met lifelong friends … that we spend time with now. It behooves you guys to give that a chance.”

He also encouraged players to listen to their professors. “Pay attention to them and continue this great record we have of getting your degrees.”

From Lott: “Work hard and have a great time. You’re gonna win a lot of ball games.” He added, “Get an education. You’ll need it.”

Lance focused on the opener with Texas Tech. “I was at Lubbock last year,” he said, “and that was a bad day. I’m really, really looking forward to September 3 rd, because I think [our] guys, if they want to crank it up … I mean, it’s 11 against 11, while we’re playing.”

“And our guys can play, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Summerall concluded, “I think sometimes we lose sight of the tradition that is SMU football.” He told of his first year at the University of Arkansas. “Part of the freshman indoctrination speech that they gave to us was that the Mustangs are coming to Fayetteville this year,” he said. “They’re led by a guy named Doak Walker and … they’ve got a sophomore coming up that they claim is better that Doak Walker.”

That was Kyle Rote, Summerall’s eventual teammate on the New York Giants. “What an outstanding human being he was,” Summerall said, adding he and two others on that team named sons after Rote.

To this year’s SMU squad he said, “The tradition here is such that you guys have got a lot to live up to.”

Afterward, senior wideout Zack Sledge agreed, saying “I think we owe it to them.”

Quotables

• Summerall, afterward, on what a big-time, winning SMU football program would mean for Dallas today: “I think they’d fill every stadium in the area - not just Ford Stadium, [but] the new Cowboys stadium, Texas Stadium, whatever.”
• Bennett, before the event, on his friendship with Longhorns coach Mack Brown: “The thing I love about Mack [is] he hasn’t always been at a Texas. He’s been at a Tulane. He’s been at an Appalachian State. He’s had some tough jobs. When he went to North Carolina, it was a tough job.”

“One of the things he’s always pointed out to me was … ‘Enjoy the journey. Enjoy what you’re doing.’ And he’s right. I appreciate that. That’s why I think he’s so successful at Texas.”

It was a full house at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.

SMU Football - Did you know?

*Running back Cedrick Dorsey said if the highlight reel soundtrack had been Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” he’d have reprised his famous dance from last year’s UAB game.

*Rich Phillips, the voice of SMU football on KTCK 1310AM/104.1 FM, was Master of Ceremonies.

*Don McIlhenny presented SMU with a large medallion from now-razed Ownby Stadium. The “M”-inscribed piece, one of several entry markers at Ownby, will be mounted in Ford Stadium as a tie to the past. Ownby stood for 72 years on the site of present-day Ford Stadium.

*NFL Hall of Famer Roger Staubach spoke at the inaugural Kickoff Luncheon in 2005. Hall of Famer Forrest Gregg was last year’s speaker.