fall back plan
Posted: Mon May 19, 2003 1:31 pmSomething tells me SMU will never catch a break in the realignment game. Hope I am wrong, but what about this as disaster planning: If the MWC expands and if there are only 3 spots open in CUSA (quite possible if BE goes to 9 all sports for now), I could see CUSA taking Tulsa because of hoops, Marshall and somebody like Central Florida or even La Tech. Obviously that leaves us with a problem and not enough decent teams to make a new SWC. Sunbelt football will most likely die from new D-1 requirements. At that point, I go independent in football. Look to play other independents in October like Army, Navy,Rice and UNT home and home and play at Notre Dame any and every year they want a home game with no return obligation. Attendance and finances would be better than in the WAC and certainly couldnt be worse. For basketball, create all-sports league looking something like this: SMU, Rice, Utep, New Mexico State, North Texas, Western Kentucky, La Lafayette and La Tech. Not great by any stretch, but not a bad little basketball league. This league would never have any upside for football, but independence with a few 'alliance' partners could improve the football schedule over what we have now. If TCU would agree to a November game every year, we could play a schedule that goes something like: Sept: Baylor, OK State, Texas Tech, Kansas. October: Navy, Army, Rice, North Texas, Utep. November: TCU. That leaves us two games to find. Not insurmountable, could even play a Grambling .