“Untold Stories” are the Roo Tales yet to be written for a second book after the first book is finished and published. Hope you enjoy these untold story previews.
Here’s one:
The city of Dallas had big dreams for SMU, but the Mustangs just couldn’t get past the Roos.
Founded in 1911, Dallas immediately began pushing for its new hometown university to compete in the Southwest Conference. The Mustangs struggled to do so for over a decade, and even found it difficult to defeat its TIAA neighbor to the north in Sherman. For three straight years thru 1922, Austin College defeated SMU on the gridiron. The first loss, a 42-0 shutout in 1920, was the most embarrassing.
The Mustangs, however, were determined to right the ship in 1923. They had a brand new stadium, the Ownby Oval, and Austin College would be the season opener in the new facility.
Just as before, SMU struggled. With just a minute remaining in the game, the score was tied 3-3 and AC was punting in its own territory. But in the blink of an eye, years of frustration faded away. SMU blocked the kick, recovered in the end zone, and won 10-3. After finally vanquishing Austin College, SMU never looked back and began playing inspired ball:
A shutout of North Texas
A shutout of Texas A&M
A shutout of TCU
A shutout of Baylor
A shutout of Oklahoma State
Other than Austin College, only the Arkansas Razorbacks were able to put points on the board against the 1923 Mustangs. SMU finished the season 9-0 and won its first SWC title. The school was on its way to a national championship in the 1930s and the Doak Walker era in the 1940s. Heisman winner Doak Walker was the son of an Austin College Kangaroo.
Eventually, SMU left the Ownby Oval for the Cotton Bowl and Texas Stadium. The 1987 NCAA Death Penalty, however, returned the program back to campus. The Ownby Oval field was reclaimed, and around it was constructed Gerald Ford Stadium. It’s the home of SMU football today. The first points ever scored on the Gerald Ford Stadium field were courtesy of a small D3 school in Sherman, TX.
The Roo ties with SMU run deep, and 1923 is yet another example. It’s another great “untold story.”
