SMU's $350 million gamble

In Frank Beaudine's estimation, Copeland is about a year ahead of schedule in the rebuilding process. He's raised support and money, awareness and respect. One of the first things Copeland did when he came to SMU was heighten the level of expectations for everyone involved. "The program had been down for so long, and there were so many negatives," he says. "We had to realize that we could be good again." More important, everyone had to believe that tough admissions standards and on-field success are not mutually exclusive.

Understandably, Copeland does not dwell on the death penalty. He barely acknowledges it. Those who were involved are no longer at SMU. And the kids that are being recruited today were only 6 or 7 years old when it happened. Instead, Copeland treats his program as one that is rebuilding, regardless of the reason. And he is convinced that SMU has what it takes to be successful again.

With Copeland in place and with the program picking up steam, Ford slowly came to a realization. New leadership was not enough. To truly succeed, SMU needed new workout facilities, new athletic offices, and a new stadium.

"Having substandard facilities," argues Ford, "makes it hard to recruit. If you can't recruit, you can't win. If you don't win, people don't come. If people don't come, the program loses more money."

The strategic plan called for a "thorough review of the best long-term solution for a permanent home for Mustang football." Currently, home games are played at the Cotton Bowl, a venue that is steeped in tradition but is showing its age. SMU's contract to play there expires in 1999, and a new lease would require expensive renovations. But even if the 68,000-seat stadium in Fair Park were in better condition and closer to home, SMU football at the Cotton Bowl is too ambitious. Maybe for a state school, but not a small, private university like SMU.

On the other hand, Ownby Stadium, the alternative on-campus site, does not meet the NCAA minimum seating requirement of 30,000 for Division I-A programs. Projections for renovations of Ownby, including additions of north and east stands, totaled more than $40 million. The board was considering what the best course of action would be when someone suggested that they look into building a new stadium. A timely Sports Illustrated article described Princeton's construction of a 30,000-seat stadium for $45 million. If they could do it, why not SMU? Turner still felt that a renovation would do, but acknowledged that a new stadium would be great if someone would pay for it. Estimates for a 32,000-seat stadium on campus were about $53 million.

"I knew only two or three people that would be interested in making up the difference [between renovating the old stadium and building a new one]," says Turner. "The first two said no. If Mr. Ford said no, we would be renovating Ownby."

But Mr. Ford said yes. He originally had indicated that he would donate $5 million, the same amount pledged by Lamar and Norma Hunt and Ray and Nancy Hunt. Ford felt that $5 million was a reasonable payback for the things that SMU had provided him in his life. But Turner told Ford that the number of $5 million prospects was quickly running out. The stadium would not get built any time soon if they were forced to nickel-and-dime the rest of the contributions. Ford, businessman, problem solver, and SMU alum, decided to donate $20 million to the program he had rebuilt and to the stadium that, as a result, will bear his name.