Bring back baseball?

[mrydel]

It’s probably been discussed and I missed it. And not sure what board is the proper one to put it under since baseball isn’t currently a sport, but with ACC membership now, and aside from the SEC, ACC baseball is pretty top notch, is fielding a baseball team again for the first time in decades on the docket?

Let's start with men's track - surely our track is in compliance. And to balance out, add women's tumbling.

Don’t we have a women’s gymnastics team? Or are you talking about just somersaults down a hill?

[dalpony]

It’s probably been discussed and I missed it. And not sure what board is the proper one to put it under since baseball isn’t currently a sport, but with ACC membership now, and aside from the SEC, ACC baseball is pretty top notch, is fielding a baseball team again for the first time in decades on the docket?

Let's start with men's track - surely our track is in compliance. And to balance out, add women's tumbling.

The problem about bringing men’s track back I was told was that it counts for three men’s sports (outdoor track, indoor track and cross country) which means you would need 3 additional women’s sports

[ProfessorPony]

I think from a competitive standpoint considering how long it would take to compete with such powerhouses as Miami and such plus the financial aspects that would take away from ensuring the football team is good every season, I don't foresee this happening anytime soon, if at all.

Shame, as I love baseball, but looking at it realistically, I just don't think it is feasible.

[PonyTime]

Equestrian was a great add for a school like SMU. And we are now dominating.

Is Croquet a NCAA D1 sport?

[Manorwood]

Pickleball?

[gostangs]

Pickleball?

SMU alum Tom Dundon owns the national pro league so maybe you are on to something there....

[Bergermeister]

I think from a competitive standpoint considering how long it would take to compete with such powerhouses as Miami and such plus the financial aspects that would take away from ensuring the football team is good every season, I don't foresee this happening anytime soon, if at all.

Shame, as I love baseball, but looking at it realistically, I just don't think it is feasible.

Curious to know how TCU pulls off having Men's Track & Field and Baseball. I realize they don't have Men's Soccer anymore but what are the trade-offs in their situation? I think SMU is content to continue to short-change the fan.

[gostangs]

I think from a competitive standpoint considering how long it would take to compete with such powerhouses as Miami and such plus the financial aspects that would take away from ensuring the football team is good every season, I don't foresee this happening anytime soon, if at all.

Shame, as I love baseball, but looking at it realistically, I just don't think it is feasible.

Curious to know how TCU pulls off having Men's Track & Field and Baseball. I realize they don't have Men's Soccer anymore but what are the trade-offs in their situation? I think SMU is content to continue to short-change the fan.

You can do math i assume? We have been at 6 M in TV revenue - up from about 4. They have been at 30M for a long time. Its not that difficult to figure out - We are lucky we had donors that allowed us to hang in there that long just providing the basics.

[Delaware Cavalier]

Given the prominence of lacrosse, men and women, in the ACC, I would be thrilled if we added this sport. And, we would become the first Division 1 school in Texas to have it.

BTW. It is a fantastic spectator sport.

The ACC is very strong in both men's and women's lacrosse. Clemson and Pitt were the latest to add women's teams; there will be 13 teams competing in 2025 as Florida State is adding a team, plus Cal and Stanford bring in their established teams that competed in an Eastern conference. On the men's side, there are 5 teams Virginia, Notre Dame (2x defending NCAA champ), Duke, Syracuse, and UNC. While there is an ACC championship, the teams play for at-large NCAA bids because a conference must have at least 6 teams to get an autobid. Now here's where SMU comes in. A men's team would give the ACC 6 teams and an autobid. Texas has produced some excellent players recently. Virginia has had a 3-time All American defenseman, an attackman, andf a faceoff specialist all from Highland Park; another starting defenseman and a freshman recruited attackman both from Dallas Episcopal, and a starting goalie from Woodlands. So there is local Texas talent to use as a base. Of note, 3 of the 4 grass fileds used for men's D-1 lacrosse are in the ACC, as Virginia, UNC, and Duke play in their soccer stadiums.

[Delaware Cavalier]

Given the prominence of lacrosse, men and women, in the ACC, I would be thrilled if we added this sport. And, we would become the first Division 1 school in Texas to have it.

BTW. It os a fantastic spectator sport.

Could possibly be a recruiting advantage although I don't know how big lacrosse might be for high schoolers in Texas

Virginia has had 3 players from Highland Park, 2 from Dallas Episcopal, and 1 from Woodlands since 2021. One of the defensemen from Highland Park was a 3x All American.

[Water Pony]

Thanks for posting, Delaware Cavalier, the background and encouragement for lacrosse, which I enjoy. BTW, my son played SMU LAX, which is a very good club sport and competes nationally.

Although the idea of restoring Baseball here has great appeal, especially in the ACC which is a power baseball conference, the opportunity to launch a D1 Lacrosse program here, the first in Texas, would be fantastic.

Since we committed to the ACC with its academic excellence and East Coast identity, including the prominent role of lacrosse in its psyche, our association with this possible varsity sports would elevate our university reputation us across the board.

[EastStang]

Remember if we add a men's sport we have to add 1.5 women's sports. So, if we have men's lacrosse, we'd need to add women's lacrosse and some other sport like beach volleyball (which in my view should be added anyway).

[Ikus]

Our alums are underwriting years of forfeited TV money, and paying for tons of new expenses (additional coaches, stadium upgrades, video boards, etc.) SMU isn't adding any sports, men or women, for a long time.