Another cut at conference realignment

[ponyboy]

sMu gets back into a big conference pronto or we're p****ng into the wind.

If TCU and Houston join the Big Boys and we are left behind, it is all over for SMU athletics, period.

What if we were invited to take TCU's slot in an otherwise intact WAC?

[East Coast Mustang]

Living in Big Ten Country, this would be the right pecking order, although Syracuse may have more appeal academically (and this is important to them).

Yea, on second thought Syracuse might go ahead of Pitt. PSU already gives the Big Ten the PA market, and Syracuse helps them in New York and, more specifically and importantly, NYC. UConn has been mentioned as well, but I think the next team in will be from a state that is contiguous with the current states represented. I don't think ND will take the bait because they still have their massive deal with NBC and their nationwide following. Mizzou, on the other hand, I think will jump at the chance. My money's on them to start the realignment tsunami, if the Pac-10 doesn't kick it off first. Big 12 may be doing a lot of scrambling in the next year or so, regardless.

[PoconoPony]

But does Villanova want to go FBS? And do they have the $$$ to upgrade their stadium? I agree they would make a logical choice.

One must remember that Villanova is a small private college that has many of the same problems faced by SMU. Big metro area, tons of other colleges nearby, competing with 5 pro sports teams for $$$$$$, considerable anamosity with the town of Villanova over everything including facilities, traffic, totally restricted student residential housing...etc. Villanova simply does not have the resources or interest of becoming an FSB program. Others have mentioned that UConn did make the jump in football. Situation was much different as it is a relatively large school who upgraded their facilities with tax payer $$$$$s. In addition, UConn sports is the only thing happening in the entire state other than ESPN in Bristol. They have a large alumni, little competion for sports $$$ in state and are the sports focus for a large region of the country with only distant Boston College and Syracuse as big time programs in all of New England and NY.