Big 12

[EastStang]

I tend to agree with Pocono on this one. ACC or PAC 12, those are the types of schools we mesh with. Schools that place some premium on academics and appreciate hoops and football. However FSU, VT and GT don't want anymore doormats. They want teams that will help their RPI, not sink it. However, Clemson would probably support us due to HCCM (when before they probably would not). NCS, UVA, UNC, Duke, Wake, U, Syracuse, BC, Pitt, UL would all like another winable game. Adding us would help open up Texas to their recruiting map. They might want to add a school like UH to give them entre to Dallas and Houston markets. This would be a a declaration of war against the Big XII which would probably try and snatch, VT, Clemson and FSU.

[Charleston Pony]

I suppose if the Dallas Cowboys belong in the NFC East, SMU could manage to "belong" in the ACC but we'd better field top 25 bball and football programs and pack our venues on gameday before expecting any interest

[Water Pony]

I agree that we fit better with ACC, due to the combination of academics, football, basketball and non-revenue sports.

However, can we fill Ford Stadium? The distances are too great from the East Coast to expect very many ACC fans to travel to Dallas and Houston. Absence that, we would be the right fit for them and gain them access to Texas market along with a UH.

[Pony Boss]

I agree that we fit better with ACC, due to the combination of academics, football, basketball and non-revenue sports.

However, can we fill Ford Stadium? The distances are too great from the East Coast to expect very many ACC fans to travel to Dallas and Houston. Absence that, we would be the right fit for them and gain them access to Texas market along with a UH.

Filling out the stadium should be the least of our worries. SMU has not won anything of merit since the "good ole days". Let's get there first before worrying about that.

As far as conference fit, if the Pac 12 did not care about the fact we are a religious (in name) school, we would mesh perfectly with them. The Big 12 does not make sense for us at all: we do not get access to new markets, we look bad if we lose to our old rivals etc, and they don't add a new market/make more money with us in there. The Pac gives us exposure we need out in the west coast and gives them exposure in Texas, access to recruiting grounds and allows them to provide games to a central time zone. ACC same story as Pac. Big Ten, Big 12 no real gain for none of the parties involved.

[PonySnob]

I agree that we fit better with ACC, due to the combination of academics, football, basketball and non-revenue sports.

However, can we fill Ford Stadium? The distances are too great from the East Coast to expect very many ACC fans to travel to Dallas and Houston. Absence that, we would be the right fit for them and gain them access to Texas market along with a UH.

Also easier to have the games on the East Coast instead of the late night West Coast games in football and basketball.


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[Treadway21]

Schools must earn their opportunities with wins which generate butts in the seats on game day. SMU has done neither with any consistency. Why some on this board think we can waltz into the big 12 just by existing is fantasy.

Absolutely wrong - Rutgers and Maryland.

Lots goes into realignment. No one on this board has ever said we will Walz into any P5 so please drop the strawman. As for the Big 12 we see what the TV exec s and the East Coast thinks of the conference - snubbed for the playoff.


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[fifty]

And tulane.

[PonyKai]

And, to a lesser extent, SMU and UH to the Big East (at the time). While we were bowling and Houston is/has been a solid program for some time, have to believe the schools were picked because of 1) profile, 2) location, and 3) resources. USM has been winning a lot of football games for a long time, and their phone isn't ringing much (although they cratered under Ellis Johnson- badly)

A closer look probably shows UH was a shoe-in on the merits; they had Sumlin with Keenum and put up some very nice numbers.

[sbsmith]

Schools must earn their opportunities with wins which generate butts in the seats on game day. SMU has done neither with any consistency. Why some on this board think we can waltz into the big 12 just by existing is fantasy.

We don't need to win because every conference wants the Dallas market, butts in seats can wait.

[RGV Pony]

Heard it straight from a network TV exec Dallas alone isn't gonna cut it

[sbsmith]

Heard it straight from a network TV exec Dallas alone isn't gonna cut it

Exactly

[Treadway21]

Heard it straight from a network TV exec Dallas alone isn't gonna cut it

Exactly

But it is a start - which is where we are at.

The SMU Plan:

Phase 1: Get basketball on the way. Drop deadweight FB coach. Hire a high FB intensity coach. Connect with Dallas High Schools. Recruit.

Phase 2: ?

Phase 3: P5


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[sbsmith]

But it is a start - which is where we are at.

The SMU Plan:

Phase 1: Get basketball on the way. Drop deadweight FB coach. Hire a high FB intensity coach. Connect with Dallas High Schools. Recruit.

Phase 2: ?

Phase 3: P5

Phase 2: Fill Ford every game, expand to at least 40K then fill the new capacity every game.

Phase 3: P5 prospects move from laughable to far less laughable

[ghost]

My opinion is that SMU should have a plan and then be the best they can be. Don't look at what the "joneses" are doing. By being the best you can be what more can you ask for? If that is not good enough to others, so be it and be happy where you are. TCU did it with the Mountain West Conference and looky here.....they made themselves attractive to another conference just by being as good as they could be in the MWC. SMU needs to add baseball though. Surely they can afford 12 scholarships and with the talent in this area and so many of those kids play select baseball which means those parents would be used to footing some of the college costs to watch their sons play. It is not about competing on the field, it is about generating revenue for yourself and your conference affiliation. Everyone knows that is football.

[EastStang]

Part of it obviously is cable systems. Like the B1G has its own network. Adding SMU and UH or Rice, would put the B1G as a must carry in Dallas and Houston TV networks. Also, if the Big XII chooses to add say Cincy that would be considered an act of war by the B1G by invading Ohio. As these conferences create their own networks, Dallas and Houston (#4 and #8 in TV sets) becomes something worth adding. Just adding those two markets adds $4 Million to the B1G pocket book every month. That's $48 Million per year. The Big XII already has those markets as does the SEC. But if the P12, B1G, or ACC want network growth into Texas, SMU and UH/Rice are candidates.