Texas A&M Officially Out.....

[PonyKai]

Maybe enough people, or wealthy enough people, just screamed over and over "You will do serious, tangible, harm to the school for a very long time if you don't get off your rear end and go all in on helping this special interest group within the University- athletics- get to the top tier. You can always endow more scholarships or faculty posts 10 years from now. There won't be some massive external force screwing with your ability to improve the school"

Maybe he listened?

[GRGB]

Awww, I see. Makes sense. Damn lawyers.

So who's the 14th and when do we hear them announced?

I dony by that line. Didn't stop pac10 or big10 2 years ago

[Clubs]

Maybe enough people, or wealthy enough people, just screamed over and over "You will do serious, tangible, harm to the school for a very long time if you don't get off your rear end and go all in on helping this special interest group within the University- athletics- get to the top tier. You can always endow more scholarships or faculty posts 10 years from now. There won't be some massive external force screwing with your ability to improve the school"

Maybe he listened?

I tend to agree with this. They see the situation imploding upon the A&M move and don't want to be responsible for not getting their school "in" when all the big changes do occur. At least now they can say they tried.

[MustangSTATS]

I have to go with if Turner is openly and publicly promoting SMU to be in the Big 12, things must be looking serious. They have a link to his interview with DMN on the main page. Being more than half way through a serious campaign fund you have to wonder what would prompt them to risk progress with something that could be a distraction and a potential failure. Also, failing to make it into the Big 12 near the end of his career after making a public push for it, would be something everyone would remember even with all of the improvements he help make happen. My guess is that this is a sign that some serious donors/alumni are wanting SMU to be in the Big 12. Love or hate Turner, he brings in donors. Now lets just hope the Big 12 is still there if and when we get in.

[SMU 46]

I'd like to believe the notion that surely RG wouldn't comment publicly unless there was a very good chance, but look at history folks. RG is the guy who tied us to Rice and Tulane in the first place. He missed the bus on the original CUSA (when TCU went and before Louiville and Cincy left), and then the MWC. He moved at a glacial pace in making changes to admissions process etc. What about his history with realignment and athletics issues give you the least bit of indication that he is actually 'out in front' on this? Put me in the camp that thinks the comments by RG and SO were to appease alums and to actually try to elicit some support from the City of Dallas. its a good angle, to appeal to civic pride and economic impact of visitors, we should have been emphasizing it years ago. I think its a bit late to be effective now that A&M is out the door and the decisions are already in motion.

I understand the history... which makes me even more encouraged (relatively speaking) as Turner is now doing things counter to it. In reality, most if not all of the credit goes to the work Orsini has put in. In 5 years he has helped change a lot of the issues SMU has burdened itself with over the past two decades. I know for fact that SO has been in front of conference realignment longer than you think... I'm not sure about RT, but I can't imagine SO wasting his time if he knew he couldnt deliver.

[Hoop Fan]

I hope to be very wrong, but think about this too: If Turner and SO wanted to leak out something, why would they need to meet with the entire DMN editorial board to do that? Why wouldn't they just go to Kate or Whitmire with it? The reason to me is they are campaigning locally for support, not telegraphing something. The other clue is the emphasis Turner made regarding the positive economic impact to Dallas of SMU being in the BCS. Begging the Dallas city council for support wouldn't be necessary if they thought an invite was done or even likely. I'm not saying it was the wrong move to put our name out there and ask for support, even if it does lead to some disappointment. I hate to say it but what if TCU was on the cusp of getting in the Big 12 and Turner knew it? You don't think that would lead to some preemptive CYA public statements by Turner to make a last second push and show publicly that he at least tried? Maybe the alumni pressure hasn't started yet, but you don't think its gonna blow up big-time if TCU gets invited without us? Think about it. Sorry to be a downer, i just think some of the confidence i am seeing on here about our position and Turners comments are misplaced.

[smupony94]

Chip Brown just went on Rivals Radio and said that Memphis and Louisville are on the top of the Big XII's list now that ND, Ark, and BYU are noncommittal.

[NickSMU17]

Agree...This is a dog and pony show...

I expect Big 12 to invite BYu and stop for a bit...

[Hoop Fan]

Chip Brown just went on Rivals Radio and said that Memphis and Louisville are on the top of the Big XII's list now that ND, Ark, and BYU are noncommittal.

This makes sense for one big reason: Memphis and Louisville are in the heart of SEC country and while hardly a splash, this move would strike back at the SEC. Memphis seems like a poor choice though.

[ponydawg]

I dunno, memphis brings hoops, fedex money, and maybe the liberty bowl.
But would Louisville leave hoops in big east? Wonder if it is a package only deal?

Also, that puts big 12 at 11. Do they take one more?

[Hoop Fan]

I dunno, memphis brings hoops, fedex money, and maybe the liberty bowl.
But would Louisville leave hoops in big east? Wonder if it is a package only deal?

Also, that puts big 12 at 11. Do they take one more?

of course they do, BYU, or maybe even Cincy, Pitt or TCU. Once Louiville commits, the Big East football conference is in serious jeopardy and all of those schools are begging for B12.

[Samurai Stang]

Chip Brown just went on Rivals Radio and said that Memphis and Louisville are on the top of the Big XII's list now that ND, Ark, and BYU are noncommittal.

This makes sense for one big reason: Memphis and Louisville are in the heart of SEC country and while hardly a splash, this move would strike back at the SEC. Memphis seems like a poor choice though.

There is no purpose in a conference having 11 members. It would force the conference into divisions, which would punish the northern schools by replacing annual games against Texas for games against Memphis.

Additionally, 11 is an unlikely choice because it stops short of the 12 teams needed to have a championship game. There is nothing about either school that is so attractive as to drastically change the conference.

Louisville on its own is a believable suggestion, but that Memphis is included alongside them makes me believe this rumor is a false one.

[03Mustang]

Summary of Chip Brown interview from Memphis board...about what I expected. If you asked me a month ago who the top teams to replace A&M would be I would have said BYU, Air Force, and maybe Louisville.

Memphis is weak in football but would be a great basketball fit. Interesting comments overall.

http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=5 ... pid6756599

Just ignore the idiotic inclusion of Tulane in the poster's list....

[RednBlue11]

the ticker this morning on ESPN read that A&M was denying the letter, to a point and that the big 12 has reached out to ND but has been rebuffed, lightly.

[Mexmustang]

My two cents, Memphis basketball recruiting methods and academic standards (athletes and students) would immediately disqualify them from any major conference.