Craig James, Jerry LeVias Recruited to Help SMU Raise $3 Mil For Mustang Band Complex

For a split second in the second quarter, SMU was this close to tying up A&M, 20-20. Backup QB J.J. McDermott, subbed in after Kyle Padron tossed two picks in four pass attempts, had a man open with nothing but open field in front of him. But the pass sailed...

By Robert Wilonsky

September 5, 2011

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18855504",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17105533",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105532",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105535",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

For a split second in the second quarter, SMU was this close to tying up A&M, 20-20. Backup QB J.J. McDermott, subbed in after Kyle Padron tossed two picks in four pass attempts, had a man open with nothing but open field in front of him. But the pass sailed wide left, and in a blink it was 33-14; then, 46-14, game over. Hey, but at least the Mustang Band was solid. Always has been, always will be, even when the football team isn't exactly playing up to its -- or Mayor Mike's -- Big 12 aspirations.

Problem is, the band's facilities are sub-par -- so much so that the Hilltop has enlisted the likes of Craig James, Jerry LeVias and other notable alums to raise $3 million for an 11,000-square-foot facility the university hopes to build as part of that Residential Commons complex next to the Gerald J. Ford, which the school hopes to open in 2014. The plea, complete with great old photos and footage, is above.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Dallas Observer has been defined as the free, independent voice of Dallas — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.