This nicely preserved Southern Methodist University helmet belonged to kicker Tom Lisle. Entering his fourth year at the Mustang helm, Head Coach Ron Meyer had provided some of the pizzazz he had seen and learned while coaching at Nevada Las Vegas. "Pony Mania" created excitement but to this point, the won-lost record was but fair. 1979 promised more as frosh recruits included the top running backs in the state, Eric Dickerson and Craig James. 1978 QB Mike Ford had led the nation in total offense and WR Emanuel Tolbert was the number two receiver in the land. It would take the team another year to mature and truly turn the program around as the Ponies finished an improved but still disappointing 5-6. Lisle played behind primary kicker Eddie Garcia, wearing number 5. The memorial sticker for number 89 was worn by every SMU player for '79, noting the death of linebacker Don Pettaway who drowned prior to the start of the season. By 1981 the Pony Express backfield and the rest of the SMU squad had secured the first of four consecutive ten or eleven win seasons.