College football is unique for a number of reasons, chief among them the pageantry and pride shown for programs by alumni and fans alike. No amount of pageantry would be complete without the role of mascots.
There are over 134 different teams in FBS, with as many varied and different backgrounds as there are teams. Uniquely, SMU is the only school represented by the Mustang at the Division I level. How did the SMU Mustangs mascot come to be, and in what ways does the history help tell the story that the moniker now represents?
Who (or What) is the SMU Mustang Mascot?
A private research institution founded in 1911, SMU holds the distinction of being sanctioned as a private institution but with public backing as the local Dallas Chamber of Commerce lobbied extensively to see the school opened in the area.
Like so many others, the SMU collegiate adventure began without an official mascot. In 1917, the Mustang was first adopted as the official mascot of the school. The motivation behind the selection came from a group of female students on the campus who were impressed by the wild mustangs that still roamed in areas of Texas at that time.
The students saw the Mustang as a symbol of the spirit of the Southwest; untamed, spirited, and resilient.
The school motto, of “The truth will make you free,” happens to accompany the same spirit embodied by the mascot and is also featured prominently across campus along with the mascot.
SMU debuted a live mascot in 1932, a Shetland pony by the name of Peruna. The name has been given to every successive mascot since and was named after the popular patent medicine at the time. The medicine was said to “put a kick in your step” and contained anywhere from 18-28% alcohol, according to various sources.
Peruna has been present at every single SMU home football game save one since being introduced, and has successively been a black Shetland pony since the beginning. Currently Peruna X is tasked with continuing the tradition that has lasted over a century.
What Does SMU Stand For?
The school itself, though established with the backing of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, is steeped in spiritual teachings from its inception. SMU stands for Southern Methodist University, and is stated to be “nonsectarian in its teachings and commits themselves to values of academic freedom and open inquiry.”
The school still holds its initial founding close to its heart. It has an Office of Chaplain and Religious Life, as well as campus ministries, Wednesday worship, and other facets that serve its more than 11,000 student population.
Why Is SMU the Mustangs?
As was the case with many universities, the desire for a costume version of the mascot began to take shape in the early 1950s. At the time, it was a simple horse head worn over a person’s torso. Through the years, the mascot evolved into a full-body costume designed to resemble an actual Mustang.
The entire mascot team at SMU consists of the costumed human version of Peruna, the live animal Peruna, and a group of Peruna handlers. Peruna was selected the #10 Best College Mascot by America’s Best and Top Ten in 2009. The live mascot lives off campus at a secret location as of 1993.
The Mustangs mascot has become synonymous with SMU in a variety of ways, including the “Pony Ears” hand sign made during games and the “Pony Up” cheer/motto. Peruna even has a yearly birthday celebration in the spring called PerunaPalooza which features games, rides, activities and free food for students.
To say the Mustang symbol has become ingrained in SMU culture might be putting it mildly. While the athletic teams are known as the Mustangs, the symbol also appears on official university seals, logos, and merchandise. The image of the galloping Mustang has been a constant at athletic events and around campus for decades.
One of the most recognized and impressive variations is the “Mustang Band” formation. During halftime shows, the SMU marching band forms the shape of a galloping Mustang on the field, a tradition that dates back to 1925 and continues to be a crowd-pleaser even today.
The Mustang continues to be a source of pride and unity for SMU students, fans, and alumni, representing the same unbridled spirit and energy that made the selection possible in the beginning. Pony Up!
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