DMN: SMU makes public its desire to join Big 12

[Tigerman550]

Mizzou fan here. I've always hoped to see the Mustangs come back as a good program, and you guys are certainly on the right track with June Jones. He was the right spark you needed to get everything started (sort of like Pinkel with Missouri).

Let me just say that I'm part of the crowd that would definitely welcome SMU to the Big 12. And quite honestly, I think the move could really help get your AD back on the map. More exposure and money coming in would only do you guys good, and in time I think we could have another force in the conference athletically. Even though you're another Texas school, I really do think the Big 12 is the best fit for Missouri in the long run. It's a great cultural, geographic, and competitive fit. I think the same goes for SMU.

A lot of people keep saying that your stadium is way too small (which is true at the moment), but who is to say upgrades wont be made? You guys pack the house for big name opponents, and you'd get those in the Big 12. Also, just think about the hype and excitement a move to a BCS conference would bring to the campus and alumni base.

Overall, I think it would make sense, but it all depends on what happens with A&M and the SEC... If the conference stays together, I'd love to see you guys come aboard. I also think it would be funny to see Dan Beebe bring in the program he helped destroy.

[redpony]

I suspect that we would travel a lot better to a Waco, Austin or Norman than we would a Birmingham or Marshall.

GO PONIES!!!

[ponyinNC]

We're gonna need a bigger boat...

[JasonB]

Winning is the key here. As a previous poster said, chasing alumni will bump season tickets by maybe 2-3K. By winning and becoming the college football team of Dallas, that is how we will fill the stadium. TCU and SMU attendance numbers will always be cyclical depending on the success of the football program

Honestly, I know a lot has been made about the 4x16 scenario, but I think that would leave out several pretty good programs - KU, K State for example. I think a 5th conference will develop that includes the leftovers from the Big 12 after it gets eaten alive and the better schools in conference USA. I wouldn't mind being a part of that conference and have a good opportunity to be competitive year in and year out.

[WordUpBU]

Just curious if TCU sold out their games that were not with high profile opponents. Also, I don't think it would look to good for us if when we do play high profile teams if over half the sellout crowd were from the visiting team IMO. I would think the Big 12 would want more home crowd attendance, not that it could not happen.

no, they have attendance problems too.

We can draw around 40K now with little to no help from opposing fans. We averaged over 42K last year and no one other than Baylor brought any fans with them. At this point, if TCU had a Big 12 schedule, I think we could avg 55K+. Of course it took a decade of winning BIG to get to this point.

55k is pretty generous. I would say upper 40s for you guys IF you can keep up the wins. Also don't AFA & BYU travel well?

[03Mustang]

People are going to come out of the woodwork in DFW much more than they do in Waco. Waco and DFW don't compare when it comes to visiting team travel.

[SmooBoy]

While it's nice to have our OWN fans, players react to seeing fans in the stands instead of metal bleachers. Because of that increased exposure, much better recruting in a BCS conf (captain obvious, I know). A regular home sched of Baylor, OSU, TTU, and the like will fill Ford with many visiting fans, but you get back some of the SMU fans that left with the who-in-the-hell-are-these-schools WAC days.

[smuuth]

I don't know about the travel bit...at tech a couple of years ago only had maybe a hundred pony fans! It is a shame that people/fans can't be like those in the Big 10 and perhaps the SEC who support their teams and appreciate the gameday experience what with the pageantry and tailgating. Winning is just a bonus! SMU's beautiful campus and visiting under the shade of the many oaks with the alumni band playing sure beats sitting in front of the tv or being part of the drunken hordes at tt and ut. And this coming from a guy who didn't attend SMU!

[ponyinNC]

Aside from Texas/OU weekend, and the occasional big game at Jerry World, when do Dallas residents get to see good college football with teams they know and grew up with? I know in the grand scheme of realignment, that what the fans want doesn't really matter. But DALLAS should be pushing this move, especially with the Big 12 offices located in Las Colinas.

Bottom line, good for Dallas economically and every resident, politician, and college football fan should be for this move.

[NickSMU17]

Thats where you push the talk...economic benefits for Dallas....

DFW, LUV, ect. Get the corporations involved, hotels, airlines, ect.

[One Trick Pony]

What happened to the DFW smack talk? I didn’t even get a chance to see the response.

[couch 'em]

I also think it would be funny to see Dan Beebe bring in the program he helped destroy.

Didn't even think about that! That ahole owes us!

[SMU89]

im worried about the Cowboys.

Watching the preseason games, there are a lot of empty seats...attendance is down....no way they fill it up.

[One Trick Pony]

im worried about the Cowboys.

Watching the preseason games, there are a lot of empty seats...attendance is down....no way they fill it up.

Need to buy a billboard. And donate to Big brothers

[PK]

I am sure the Big 12 would also look at what we do attendance wise when we are not playing high profile teams. It would not look good to see vast amounts of empty seats on TV when the camera goes around when we play UCF or UTEP at home We must be able to at some point get better crowds on our own. Looks like we are headed in the right direction with everyone on the same page.

all the big 12 needs to do is look at our attendance when we have played big12 teams. in basketball & football. sellout crowds or damn close in all of those.

we would immediately need to expand and could probably fill 42000 every week w/ not only our alums who would come out to see us playing bigger caliber teams, but the 'visiting' local alums too. there are tons of OU/OSU/TT/UT/BU/etc. alums living here. our weakest attended games would be Iowa St and Kansas, and those would probably still be over 30k

We need to be lobbying those schools that don't get many chances to play in Dallas to support our efforts to join the big 12 so that they can play here every other year or so depending on the divisional alignments.