What conference are we moving to?

[sbsmith]

Given the disparity between us and Mizzou in terms of TV markets, an 8k variance in attendance is not insurmountable IMO.

It's more than 8K because you have to subtract all the potential fans from the SEC bump. We'd have to make up that with our own fans to get to 50K before we'd be considered. Not to mention that there's not much of a disparity between our market and the markets Missouri has (KC and STL) and those were new markets for the SEC. The SEC already has DFW.

[PonyKris89]

If SMU is lighting it up with 10 win seasons, and some quality wins and drawing in the mid 20K range(butts in seats), then I can
definitely see some P5 interest in SMU. 30K and above would be seriously big interest. The P5 know that the attendance will be stronger once SMU is added to the P5.
But we gotta kick start this.

[Charleston Pony]

for what it's worth, FTHP was sold on joining the Big XII. It is strange that he/she hasn't weighed in on this one

[SMU2007]

Is that supposed to come from the Dallas football enthusiast with no connection to SMU? Again, don't see it. I love football, but if I got relocated to Birmingham and the the same scenario above was applied to UAB, I would have not interest going to watch UAB play Flordia Atlantic. And that's especially true if there are good college football games on TV that day which is regularly the case.

Exactly why we might as well quit if we aren't going to make a p5 conference anytime soon. There's no prayer of every drawing fans in with that kind of game. Against Baylor, tech, tcu, Texas, ou- sure, even when those programs are in down years. But no one, not even a bigger than average college football fan, is going to watch us play a directional school without direct national implications

[STLStang]

The SEC does not want SMU. Have you all ever watched an SEC football game? Its like they're playing a different sport.

[ponyboy]

couch em, are you still gonna keep rolling with the dissatisfaction lemur?

Only until I actually log in on a PC to change it

hate lemming

[couch 'em]

couch em, are you still gonna keep rolling with the dissatisfaction lemur?

Only until I actually log in on a PC to change it

hate lemming

First off, I am never a hate lemming. I generate fresh hate and am a natural hate leader.

[SoCal_Pony]

Given the disparity between us and Mizzou in terms of TV markets, an 8k variance in attendance is not insurmountable IMO.

It's more than 8K because you have to subtract all the potential fans from the SEC bump. We'd have to make up that with our own fans to get to 50K before we'd be considered. Not to mention that there's not much of a disparity between our market and the markets Missouri has (KC and STL) and those were new markets for the SEC. The SEC already has DFW.

My point SB is this.

If CM was told tonight that he is now the HC of SEC-bound SMU but we don't receive SEC $$$$, I strongly suspect that 4 years max from now, we could produce a high enough quality product to sell-out Ford (SRO= 35k fans) without much problem, mainly because what everyone is alluding to. Selling a marketable product such as Arkansas or LSU or A&M or Alabama vs ECU or Marshall or Tulane or whomever our conference mates were/are.

I hope everyone would agree with this.

Now tell SMU, here is $50M per year, get that attendance average to 55k. You know what, I think we could do it.

Also, for some perspective, the St Louis market is between Sacramento and Portland, not that impressive. Dallas and Houston (city I consider more Aggie than Dallas) is 5th and 10th respectively. And I do not think any school in Texas controls the 'Texas market', although UT and only UT would be in the discussion.

One final note. This same argument could be applied for other conferences, but let me focus on the ACC. Over half the teams average less than 50,000 fans. The bottom 5 average 33k fans. Give us ACC $$$ and their opponents and I think we can sell out an expanded Ford @ 42k.

Once again, if SMU was told, either a) receive ACC $$$ and average 42k or b) you never get P5 membership which leads to eventually shutting down your program.....something tells me we could get to 42k.

[ponyboy]

hate lemming

First off, I am never a hate lemming. I generate fresh hate and am a natural hate leader.

[sbsmith]

Any program can increase attendance with big time programs on the schedule, we're not special in that regard. Why couldn't NTSU use this same argument which basically boils down to "we don't care about our program right now but we promise we will when you let us into your conference". You really expect any P5 conference to buy that? That's simply not how expansion works. You want to get to 35K or 42K or whatever then you do it on your own steam no matter the opponents and then a conference might want you.



As for STL, it may not be as highly ranked as Dallas but Missouri matters there, they also matter in KC in a way that SMU will never matter in Dallas. Take a look at the SECs last four additions, all big state schools in new markets with great fan support and they all had it before they entered the conference.

[Pony81]

The reason why NTSU isn't a good fit for a P5 is because they don't have the endowment nor the academic rep of SMU.
A P5 conference wants to know : 1) Is the team committed 2) do they have the long term financial fire power and commitment to use it 3) do they have a media market we can exploit with our cable package 4) will they bring a good, positive image to the league.

SMU is a yes on all but #1. Now we will see. If CM can make this team respectable then I can see each P5 league having a reason to take us on:
Big 12: geography
ACC: size and academic fit+ Texas recruiting
Big 10: Texas recruiting
Pac 12: no reason. Not going to happen.

I still think the ACC and Big 10 are the more likely candidates.

[PonyKris89]

I am happy our big money contributors show that they believe it can be done.
Clearly we wouldn't have a prayer with some of you negative Nancies running
The show.

[Stallion]

Yeah its tricky

I'm not saying we should be satisfied with the AAC, but we have to find a way to be content with competing with an AAC Football schedule and support OUR TEAM against schools we have little in common with. That's the success that was really quite amazing with TCU's rise.

Season attendance of 30,000 playing a WAC schedule

35-40,000 playing a MWC schedule

That's a tall mountain to climb-but our road is going to have to go through the AAC first

[gostangs]

i would say on Pac 12 - they don't have any other choices closer, and they could use a new geography. THey aren't going to add BYU - and we are the only one that could pass the school snob test they seem to apply (even though they have several terrible schools in their conference).

Not saying it is likely, but the reasons for us to be in the Pac 12 aren't any worse than the others you list, other than the Big 12.

[sbsmith]

I still think the ACC and Big 10 are the more likely candidates.

We're not AAU so the Big 10 is off limits. The ACC is only possible if they get raided otherwise they won't stretch their footprint this far unless they can get a big fish like Texas.