Peruna becomes first mascot in Player's Club
The Player's Club

Guy Bellaver

This week The Player's Club takes a small detour off path of outstanding athletes. The Player's Club will induct Peruna, the symbol of pride and passion at SMU. Peruna can be found in the stands or walking the sidelines at many of SMU's athletic competitions. He might be dancing at mid-court or fighting another mascot in the end zone. He might be running the field with the cheerleaders or giving a high five to one of the Mustangs. Always with a smile on his face, Peruna puts forth his best effort to energize the crowd.

However, today we look past the big head, the size 24 shoes and the fuzzy hands. Past the big red shirt, bright white teeth and the stocky shoulders. Instead we look into what Peruna represents and symbolizes for this university.

Every time you sleep in to "recover" from the night before, Peruna goes to the game and cheers for you. Every time you are "forced" by your peers to start your weekend on Tuesday at 5 p.m., Peruna picks up the slack. Every time you leave a game at halftime because the Mustangs may be "temporarily" losing, Peruna fights until the final whistle. Every game you don't attend because it isn't the "cool" thing to do, Peruna still marches on.

Yet does Peruna look down upon your actions? Never! Does Peruna look down on the fair- weather fan that jumps on the bandwagon of a winning team? Never! Does Peruna drop his head when you show up to a game in your Penn State T-shirt or your OU hat or your Nebraska sweatshirt? Never! Does Peruna decide to not show up because he thinks only of himself and what he would rather do with his time? Never!

Did you ever stop and think the only reason Peruna doesn't voice his disapproval is because he doesn't talk?

Well maybe mommy and daddy never put their feet down to lay out the laws. Maybe up until now the world has revolved around all of your needs and wants. So to properly honor Peruna and what he stands for, I'm going to have to draw a line in the dirt.

It is time to step out of the shadows of others and think for yourself. Don't ask your friends if they want to go to the game. Tell them you are going to the game and ask them if they would like to come with. Mommy and daddy are no longer here to hand everything to you on a silver platter.

National titles don't just grow out of the ground and blossom overnight. Time for you to come out of your shell, grow up and live your own life.

I realize some of you like to watch sports as much as you like to watch paint dry. I realize some of you came here to hit the books like a hammer to a nail. I realize that some of you have a social schedule that allows just enough time for you to breathe. I realize that some of you have roots at other universities before enrolling at SMU. I realize that SMU is full of more cliques than your average high school. What I'm unable to realize is why the student body is unable to unite and generate a brilliant atmosphere in each of the athletic forums.

By all means please continue to live your lives. Make the most of your four or even five years at SMU. Join a club, get a job, tutor in your spare time. Try out for a team, join a house, make new friends, ask a person on a date. Party, recover, party harder, practice good health, learn and love. Always give compliments and take any kind of criticism sent in your direction. Cross lines, step into new worlds, take risks, and generate strong ideals and values. Put in the extra effort, impact someone's life in a positive manner, create chances, talk, and listen. Sing out loud, dance for no reason, work harder than you did last time, and don't sell yourself short.

Last but not least, make a true effort to get to a game. Give Peruna and all of the student athletes the respect that they are due. If you take nothing from what I say, attempt to remember this: Every 60 seconds spent worrying about tomorrow or dwelling on yesterday is a minute wasted living today.

E-mail your questions or comments to Ringwood27@hotmail.com.