SMU to the Big 12? (link)

[JasonB]

It has never made sense. The reason they don't want to add teams is that the lower tier 7 currently in the 10 would be forced to revenue share with the new teams. SMU and Houston don't bring enough audience to warrent that split, and the decrease in revenue is not offset by a championship game. So it makes sense financially for them to keep it a 10 team league.

Also, Utah leaving the MWC hurts it more than adding Boise helps from a BCS perspective. As good as TCU and Boise will be next year, I don't think they will get a BCS bid.

Personally, I think that SMU should stay put until the next round of reallignment. We will be in a better position by that time, and CUSA provides local competition. Moving to the MWC will add disinterest and hurt recruiting (unless it becomes BCS< but again with the Utah move I don't see that happening).

[Samurai Stang]

Personally, I think that SMU should stay put until the next round of reallignment. We will be in a better position by that time, and CUSA provides local competition. Moving to the MWC will add disinterest and hurt recruiting (unless it becomes BCS< but again with the Utah move I don't see that happening).

If SMU has the opportunity to join the MWC it should take it. Expansion was halted for the time being, but rest assured that the same conferences will consider the same candidates in the future. This means that the Big 12's existence is only a temporary reality, as the SEC and Pac-10 will eventually take the best the conference has to offer. This means that SMU is not a candidate for expansion by any existing BCS conference. Assuming that we will fare any better against the same competition in the future is not logical. Under no scenario will SMU ever be more desirable than A&M, Oklahoma, or any other large, successful state school.

The MWC may gain BCS status. This will certainly occur if the MWC has a stronger profile than the Big East, which it is capable of achieving. Additionally, it would end all lawsuits regarding the BCS, while also providing a token success story that "it can be done." Furthermore, if the MWC attains BCS status, this would only increase SMU's profile in the unforseen event that it is ever offered elsewhere. Even the weakest BCS conference is greater than CUSA. The MWC is SMU's best chance, both for today and the future.

As for recruiting, notice how TCU is not suffering. Not that it would matter, as in joining the MWC, SMU would have local competition in TCU and potentially even Houston. I tire of our local rivalry with East Carolina.

[EastStang]

I disagree Samurai for these reasons. (1) taking Utah by the PAC-10 was not done in a vacuum. They knew that removing Utah's points from BCS calculation of the MWC would tank their chances for AQ status. It will be especially true if they win the MWC this year and Boise doesn't win the WAC. TCU needs to beat them this year for there to be any chance. (2) The money is equal. No increase in revenues. (3) Lousier bowl options. (4) Fan access. We play 5 games in the western division of CUSA. Only three in the east and two of them (Memphis and So. Mississippi are closer than UTEP). Yes, we have to make a trip to East Carolina 1 time every four years and a trip to Marshall, UCF and UAB on time each every four years. By going to the MWC, we trade that for 1 or 2 games nearby (assuming that SMU and TCU are in the same division) for games in Laramie, Boise, Las Vegas, San Diego, Albequerque, possibly Reno, Provo, Ft. Collins and Colorado Springs. We also trade all sea level games for games at high altitude. (5) Games in Mtn and Pac. time zone in lieu of eastern and central time zones. A night game ends out there at 11-12 p.m. eastern time. So, the eastern press will not see our exploits. This is a huge punishment in the polls.

[ponyscott]

I disagree Samurai for these reasons. (1) taking Utah by the PAC-10 was not done in a vacuum. They knew that removing Utah's points from BCS calculation of the MWC would tank their chances for AQ status. It will be especially true if they win the MWC this year and Boise doesn't win the WAC. TCU needs to beat them this year for there to be any chance. (2) The money is equal. No increase in revenues. (3) Lousier bowl options. (4) Fan access. We play 5 games in the western division of CUSA. Only three in the east and two of them (Memphis and So. Mississippi are closer than UTEP). Yes, we have to make a trip to East Carolina 1 time every four years and a trip to Marshall, UCF and UAB on time each every four years. By going to the MWC, we trade that for 1 or 2 games nearby (assuming that SMU and TCU are in the same division) for games in Laramie, Boise, Las Vegas, San Diego, Albequerque, possibly Reno, Provo, Ft. Collins and Colorado Springs. We also trade all sea level games for games at high altitude. (5) Games in Mtn and Pac. time zone in lieu of eastern and central time zones. A night game ends out there at 11-12 p.m. eastern time. So, the eastern press will not see our exploits. This is a huge punishment in the polls.

Good points EastSang and I agree with the western vs. eastern time zone prolems with voters and exposure, as much as I hate to admit it. There will be future movement and merging of conferences and bigger conferences coming and we will be in a much better position as time goes on.

[ponyte]

If If If we have a chance to move either to the MWC or Big XII -2, we take it. If nothing more than increase TV exposure (i.e. recruiting) and more money from TV is all we get, then we have made an improvement.

Both options have their downsides. But both offer two immediate things that will help us when the next round of realignment hits, exposure on a more national scale and money.

[gostangs]

Much as I hate to admit it - and I will admit to being wrong on this a few years ago - our best shot is MWC and then hoping they become BCS. Waiting for a Big 12, SEC or Pac invite is waiting for something that cannot happen unless we double our school size which will not happen.

[ponyboy]

And if any of those big conferences want us, they'll pick us just as easily from the MWC as from CUSA. I say you make the move to the conference that gives you the most national exposure, yes, but that has to be balanced against travel costs and loss of regional rivals. And don't forget that we'll play TCU every year whether we're in the same conference or not.

I don't know the answer to all of this. On a purely selfish level I'd love to get back to my former adopted hometowns of Fort Collins and Colorado Springs. Heck, as an obsessed fly fisherman, I'll take any chance to go west and mix trout and football.

[Hoop Fan]

even without BCS assurance, you have to join the MWC if asked. They have a chance at BCS, CUSA has no chance. You can alway come back and join UNT, Rice and Tulsa later if it doesnt work out. thats the funny part about the arguement that TCU somehow made a mistake going west. The hell they did. First of all they are kicking tail. Second of all, they can always come back and join CUSA on a moments notice. As if we or anyone else would turn them away.

[Stallion]

plus if we go so will Houston to be replaced by someone like MTSU or NTSU-you don't want to be in the CUSA when the music stops.

[ponyinNC]

plus if we go so will Houston to be replaced by someone like MTSU or NTSU-you don't want to be in the CUSA when the music stops.

Stallion makes the most important point here...sometimes you have to make a preemptive move. When realignment comes again, some C-USA schools will be poached, most likely Memphis, ECU, and/or UCF, and possibly Houston. When C-USA has to backfill, where do you think they look? Sunbelt. NTSU, troy, MTSU, Ark St. That's the conference you end up in if you do not leave C-USA early enough.

MWC is a no-brainer here folks, even with the loss of Utah. My worry is that they take UH to replace Utes and leave it at that.

[couch 'em]

Nobody is trying to get IN to CUSA.

Many schools are trying to get IN to MWC.

That tells you all you need to know about where we should try to be.

[ponyinNC]

"I think Couchem is right."
--PonyinNC

you can add that to your signature

[Mexmustang]

All I have dreamed about for twenty years is SMU getting into the Big 12, but now that UT has so discredited itself and shamed every other member, I am not so sure. Bad day when your dreams come up empty.