THE MUSTANG CLUB
Founded in 1935, the Mustang Club is SMU’s official athletic fundraising organization. Its purpose is to provide the financial structure for SMU student-athletes to strive for excellence in the classroom and the competitive arenas. Academic support, recruiting, facility improvements and enhanced operational expenses are all key components of a successful athletic department. The Mustang Club maximizes the potential of SMU Athletics by providing for each of these critical needs.

One of the areas of impact supported by Mustang Club is the Center for the Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA), a priority initiative of the Athletic Department’s goal of achieving Top 25 status in everything it does. The ADSA is devoted to fostering the complete student-athlete experience. Enhanced program operations for each of our 17 sports to reach Top 25 status is another Mustang Club priority.

Donors to the Mustang Club are not limited to former students or alumni of SMU. Everyone is welcome to donate to the Mustang Club. The Mustang Club is an organization of friends of SMU, and each donor plays a vital role in the overall development of our 17-sport athletic program. Donors enjoy benefits such as seating and parking priority, access to the Mustang Club tent on the Boulevard and basketball halftime receptions in Moody Coliseum. Mustang Club contributions currently support the development of more than 400 student-athletes at SMU. The donation year runs from June 1 to May 31.

SMU MOVES TO THE BIG EAST
In December 2011 SMU accepted an invitation to join the BIG EAST Conference in all sports. Each of our sports will benefit from competing in the BIG EAST. Increased quality in competition, a heightened and expanded recruiting base, and national media exposure for SMU are among the initial benefits.

Specifically for football, the BIG EAST is an automatic qualifier (AQ) to the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), meaning the league champion is assured a berth in one of the five BCS bowl games on an annual basis. Those bowls include the Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl and the BCS National Championship game.

Both men's and women's basketball will be entering one of the nation's most tradition-rich and competitive conferences. With our $40 million Moody Coliseum renovation, a Dallas-Fort Worth area rich with talent, and an expanded national recruiting footprint, we expect a positive transition into our new conference home.

It will take a true team effort as we transition into our rightful place alongside the top universities and athletic programs in the nation. Without increasing our private support and growing our season ticket base, we will not have a reasonable chance to compete in the BIG EAST.

THE MORGAN CAMPAIGN FUND DRIVE
In light of SMU’s move to the BIG EAST, the 2012 Morgan Campaign is more important than ever. The Morgan Campaign Fund Drive is named for Coach Herman “Sleepy” Morgan, SMU freshman football coach and head football recruiter in the 1950s and 1960s. Football great Don Meredith was among his recruits. After his retirement, Morgan became a volunteer for the Mustang Club and was its top fundraiser until his passing in 1993. He was famous for his personal approach and handwritten notes, encouraging members to donate and “help put hay in the barn” for his Mustangs. In 1994, the Mustang Club Board of Directors voted to change the name of the Mustang Club Annual Fund Drive to the Morgan Campaign.

The Morgan Campaign is a volunteer-driven effort organized to raise funds for SMU Athletics. This year, volunteers are working on the fund drive under the leadership of Shawn Fullam. The campaign will run from the beginning of February through the end of May 2012.

The 2012 Morgan Campaign will focus its efforts on:
- Growing Mustang Club through strategic communication strategies with new prospects.
- Supporting the National Mustang Club Initiative with an emphasis of “philanthropic support of SMU student-athletes” vs. “benefits of membership.”

MORGAN CAMPAIGN GOALS
I. $2.5 million cash (by 5/31/12)
Through many new donors as possible, supporting National Mustang Club (NMC) efforts and assisting in renewals of existing Mustang Club donors later in the drive.

II. 3,000 Mustang Club donors (just over 2,600 in 2011)
The Morgan Campaign is one of the most important efforts in the SMU Athletics fiscal year. Our continued success hinges on a successful Morgan Campaign.

During the 2010-2011 campaign, over $2.3 million was raised for the Mustang Club.

Our goals for this year are ambitious, but achievable through teamwork and diligence. Your help in reaching our goals will allow SMU Athletics to move forward and close the financial gap on our competition!

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR MUSTANG STAMPEDE!