MovieChat Forums > Necessary Roughness (1991) Discussion > Connection to SMU?

Connection to SMU?

posted 14 years ago by metalrox_2000
11 replies | jump to latest

Okay, after watching ESPN's 30 for 30, Phoney Express, I began to think.

Southern Methodist Unniversity was busted twice (Once while on probation) for voilations of NCAA sanctions. SMU is a school in Texas. Texas State, the fictional team in Necessary Roughness, is penalized for sanctions for violating NCAA rules.

SMU got the "Death Penalty" in 1986, after years of being conference and near national champions. SMU had major issues, with paying football players, buying cars/houses, etc.... The Death Penalty led to the schools football program being suspended for the 1986 season, and the school was stripped of all football scholarships. The team took off the 1987 season, and returned in 1988. That year, SMU famously was blown out by the Houston Cougers 95-21 in a game.

The SMU team was made up of junior college transfers, and walk ons. I wonder how much of Texas State was created based on what happened with SMU, only replace a corrupt governor with a corrupt school dean.

Thoughts, anyone?

I leave Symbols to the Symbol minded

[–] DD-931 14 years ago

Yes, there is a definite connection.

[–] HarveyManfredSinJohn 10 years ago

I don't know if you still post here, but can anyone tell me, is SMU's reputation as a rich kids' school accurate? I know it has been jokingly referred to as 'Southern Millionaire's University' before.

Can anyone tell me a bit about what they know of the college's reputation in general, particularly during the 1980s?

Thanks in advance.

[–] Doc80 10 years ago

Because it's a private Christian university you can pretty much guarantee it costs A LOT to go there. My stepmom went to Hope College in Holland, Michigan, another private Christian school and the tuition when she went there was like 35K a year.

[–] HarveyManfredSinJohn 10 years ago

Thanks for the answer. 

Is it true that the college therefore has a large Christian intake, and relatively less non-Christian students compared to other colleges?

[–] Doc80 10 years ago

Well, considering most of the country considers themselves as Christian, I'd say that's a safe bet. That being said, it isn't a requirement to attend the school.

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary series profiled the SMU football scandal in one of its productions, "Pony Exce$$", purposely spelled with dollar signs.

[–] Rockhound6165 9 years ago

I just got done watching that and it was brilliantly done. And to answer the question, it's obvious that this movie was inspired by that. I mean, the fictional school is in Texas, got the "death penalty" for paying players, etc. The deal with SMU is that they were doing what other schools were doing, they were just stupid about it. After getting caught, they needed to tone it down but they just kept on doing it anyway.

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