David Miller, the billionaire oil tycoon and former SMU basketball participant who has performed a major position within the Ponies’ return to prominence as a serious donor and the college’s board of trustees chair, couldn’t convey himself to look at the wildly common “Pony Extra” 30 for 30 documentary when it was initially launched.
It was most likely seven or eight years after its 2010 premiere that Miller watched the movie, which dove deep into the “demise penalty” this system obtained for flouting recruiting guidelines by repeatedly compensating gamers at a time when it wasn’t allowed by NCAA guidelines.
“It made me nauseated,” Miller stated.
However now there’s a brand new story to inform on the Hilltop, one which Miller had a major hand in. “Thunder On: Resurgence of the SMU Mustangs” is a sequel that tells the story of the college’s and soccer program’s rise from the ashes, together with the college’s transfer to the ACC and berth within the 2024 School Soccer Playoff. The hour-long documentary, produced by Texas Crew Productions along with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, premieres at 3 p.m. (ET) on Sept. 21 on ESPN.
“Thunder On,” directed by Chip Rives of Texas Crew, touches on SMU’s wealthy athletic historical past and the devastating impression of the demise penalty, however focuses on how SMU climbed again to varsity sports activities relevance, all whereas the NCAA panorama quickly modified to permit colleges to compensate gamers and recruits in a fashion that received the soccer program punished almost 40 years in the past.
“We needed it to be a forward-facing have a look at this faculty and this program within the aftermath of the demise penalty,” Rives stated. “And we seemed on the irony of what killed this program within the Nineteen Eighties is just not solely serving to to make it related once more, however making it elite once more.”
A number of acquainted faces are featured within the movie, together with former “Pony Categorical” operating backs Eric Dickerson and Craig James, in addition to a number of different former SMU gamers and coaches, distinguished donors and alumni like Miller. Present head coach Rhett Lashlee and quarterback Kevin Jennings are additionally included.
Rives, a Peabody Award, NAACP Award and eight-time Emmy Award winner who directed “Phi Slama Jama” 30 for 30 and in addition labored on “Brian and the Boz,” stated the fast-paced manufacturing started in March and took six months to finish.
There are a number of inflection factors in SMU’s winding journey for the reason that demise penalty. The varsity, together with Houston, Rice and TCU, was not included within the formation of the unique Large 12 after the Southwest Convention dissolved within the mid-Nineteen Nineties. SMU traversed by the WAC, Convention USA and the American Athletic Convention earlier than nabbing its ACC invitation.
This system snapped a 25-year bowl drought in 2009 and received 10 video games in 2019 below Sonny Dykes. Lashlee took over in 2022 and final season captured the college’s first convention championship since 1984.
Thunder On.
An all-new documentary recounting the resurgence of the Mustangs will premiere on ESPN on September 21 at 2 pm CT. pic.twitter.com/Cqieabbjc8
— SMU Soccer (@SMUFB) September 10, 2025
Miller stated SMU has invested over $250 million in athletic services within the final 10 years. The varsity additionally upgraded teaching salaries and recruiting budgets, and has been aggressive in identify, picture and likeness compensation for gamers, which has helped Lashlee construct aggressive rosters. Miller additionally spearheaded the fundraising efforts that helped safe SMU’s take care of the ACC, as the college agreed to forego 9 years’ value of Tier 1 media rights distributions from the convention.
“We raised $100 million in every week,” Miller stated. “There have been six or seven individuals who made $10-plus million pledges to that.”
Rives stated the movie is “a narrative of sports activities and enterprise” and is completely different from the unique 30 for 30. “If you wish to see the scandals and every part else, go watch Pony Extra — it’s nice,” he stated. “If you wish to see the present state of SMU, watch our movie.”
Miller is happy with how far SMU has come, however is aware of the Ponies merely getting again to an influence convention is only the start.
“We would like the world to grasp that we’re completely dedicated to success on the highest degree in intercollegiate athletics,” he stated. “I’m not predicting (extra convention realignment), nevertheless it’s a chance. And when that point comes, we need to make it possible for we keep on this membership.”
(Photograph: Sam Hodde / Getty Photos)
