SMU, TCU likely a package deal for big conferences

[EastStang]

Let's be clear, we are not in the driver's seat in this one. We are at the street corner watching the accident happen. Hopefully, it won't come careening at us.

[peruna81]

agreed with EastStang...we are on the outside looking in. TCU has absolutely NO motivation to assist SMU into MWC or anywhere else for that matter...we are still made to pay for the sins of administrations past that looked at D-1 athletics as anathema to the 'college experience.' TCU (and others) are much better prepared and positioned to promote themselves for new alignment.

UT/A&M have no incentive to support a move back to a south version of the SWC in the Big 12...this is about money/tv/exposure, and they will play the exact same way they did the last time re-shuffling went on...with their own interests at heart. No 'loyalty' to old SWC foes then, none should be expected now.

The SEC already has presence in the DFW area, and in the metro Houston area as well...the continued emergence of full-time media(think ESPN/Fox SW/Sunshine Network/Brighthouse gains in market) from the time of the demise of the SWC (mid '90s) to now ensures that kids that are potential recruits have far more information/exposure to places and schools that were formerly viewed with a degree of skepticism or irrelevance.

SMU will be fortunate to not be on the outside looking in again, no matter what we do regarding 'handshakes'...my hope is a step up the food chain of college football better than the current CUSA.

[PonyKai]

agreed with EastStang...we are on the outside looking in. TCU has absolutely NO motivation to assist SMU into MWC or anywhere else for that matter...we are still made to pay for the sins of administrations past that looked at D-1 athletics as anathema to the 'college experience.' TCU (and others) are much better prepared and positioned to promote themselves for new alignment.

UT/A&M have no incentive to support a move back to a south version of the SWC in the Big 12...this is about money/tv/exposure, and they will play the exact same way they did the last time re-shuffling went on...with their own interests at heart. No 'loyalty' to old SWC foes then, none should be expected now.

The SEC already has presence in the DFW area, and in the metro Houston area as well...the continued emergence of full-time media(think ESPN/Fox SW/Sunshine Network/Brighthouse gains in market) from the time of the demise of the SWC (mid '90s) to now ensures that kids that are potential recruits have far more information/exposure to places and schools that were formerly viewed with a degree of skepticism or irrelevance.

SMU will be fortunate to not be on the outside looking in again, no matter what we do regarding 'handshakes'...my hope is a step up the food chain of college football better than the current CUSA.

What presence does the SEC have in Dallas and Houston? Arkansas alums? Transplanted UF, Alabama, and Tennessee alums? It's got a huge TV deal with CBS and large state schools with impressive followings, but as it currently stands how large a presence does it really have in Houston or Dallas?

[peruna81]

the 24 hour sports news cycle and now 12-month season of college football news/blogs/recruiting has changed the landscape since SMU moved out of the SWC. Pair that with transplant/transient culture that has moved many SEC folks in DFW/Houston area for employment and you have a legitimate argument for more than just 'presence'. Metro Houston has always had a growing LSU fan base...such that one of the local kid here in Navasota was able to skip a campus visit, and talk with coaches/players via text/video ( at the appropriate period, NCAA ) of 3 SEC schools. Folks in our community have a LARGE contingent of SEC backers, excluding the bandwagon jumpers who are now Alabama fans.

Media accessability has borne a 'newer' generation of fans, obviously not all alums, that have a very real affilliation with the SEC because of success and winning. Mississippi's local attendance at the Cotton Bowl...Razorbacks inking the deal with A&M for a 10 year match at JerryWorld, the 'Southwest Classic'...

[EastStang]

With SEC having transplanted alums in DFW, having games in DFW makes a lot of sense. Why not add a school from DFW to allow those alums to see their school up close and personal and when recruits mamas ask, "when can I go see my baby play?" The answer would be we're playing at SMU, TCU, Rice, UH, next season and two seasons after that.

[mustangbill67]

Based on SO's comments at a recent MC function, I believe he is somewhat confident that SMU will land on its feet. The bigger the boom the better for our options. We do have our media market going for us, we are in the middle of a rich recruiting area, I understand we are ranked somewhere in the high sixties academics wise and in the last published rankings of overall athletic program income, which covered the 2007-2008 year, as I recall we were around 70th just behind Memphis in Conference USA. It seems to me that with a firm committment to enlarge our stadium. update our basketball facility and pershaps add some more sports both male and female, we might have a good bargaining position.

[westexSMU]

In the case of either SMU or UH, it is not about "buying" our way into a conference, it is about SMU having the ability and commitment to financially improve our already impressive "small" facilities when needed. State funds or not, UH can't get it done now. Both teams bring some media market and recruiting market, but SMU has financial advantages. The more this whole thing blows up, the better I like our chances.