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Here's a little constructive musing. There is little below that many of you would not be in agreement with, but I believe this argument is worth repeating. Hope you'll enjoy the thoughts and details below.

I've heard all sorts of reasons why SMU could be nationally competitive once again in football, and some reasons from some people why they believe it can't be. I have to assert that SMU can be very competitive nationally, if it wants to be.

Things going for SMU from a football program perspective:
-Very good school
-Beautiful campus and facilities
-Located in an interesting environment: good feel to University Park, next to major city
-Located in the state of Texas, a hotbed of high school football talent.

Things that MIGHT be challenging for SMU:
-Conference USA affiliation (versus a BCS conference)
-Funding (versus deeper pockets at larger and/or state schools)
-Academic standards
-Competing local entertainment products in Dallas (e.g., Cowboys, Mavs, etc.)

The above might not be a collectively exhaustive list, but you get the idea. I believe, as I know many of you do as well, that SMU absolutely has much more to offer prospective student athletes than do many schools currently with far stronger programs. Allow me to take a shot at addressing why the challenges listed above should not preclude SMU from being very competitive:

-Conference USA affiliation: Sure Conference USA ultimately caps the success at SMU, while still affiliated with the conference. But, should SMU run the table within the conference and play well out-of-conference, it could get into BCS bowls as has been accomplished by Boise State and Utah. The conference gets pretty good publicity for a non-BCS confernce.
-Funding: Funding is really only an issue when you're building a program up. Very successful programs are net positive in terms of cash flow. Furthermore, Baylor, Wake Forest, and Boston College, all are private, religiously affiliated schools, with student enrollments comparable in size to SMU's student enrollment, and they've managed far more success than SMU (Baylor from an affiliation with BCS, certainly limited on-field success).
-Academic standards: see Wake Forest, Boston College, Notre Dame, Michigan, etc., etc. etc. It would seem that SMU has adjusted its student athlete standards to be competitive from an admissions standpoint.
-Competing local entertainment products: Easy argument here. Let's compare SMU and Dallas with Boston College and Boston. In Dallas, SMU can draw from a city population of roughly 1.2 million, and competes with the Cowboys, Rangers, Mavericks, and Stars. In Boston, Boston College can draw from a city population of roughly 600K, and competes with the Patriots (hmm, their good, right?), Red Sox (I wonder if people in Boston follow them?), Celtics (does starting the season 11-1 garner interest?), and the Bruins.

SMU can be competitive. It involves a choice, commitment, and then, of course, winning.

One more thing.

It only costs $20 to go to an SMU game, while going to a Cowboys game at the new stadium will cost you $1,250.00.

Cowboys moving to Arlington and increased price should be a positive for SMU.

I would also add the Bush library as a positive as it will bring more national attention to SMU.

SMU89 wrote:Cowboys moving to Arlington and increased price should be a positive for SMU.

I would also add the Bush library as a positive as it will bring more national attention to SMU.

You're joking about the library, right?

I think the library will make a big difference. Just think of the people visiting from all over the country on a fall Saturday who may decide to go to a game (if they can get tickets).

DanFreibergerForHeisman wrote:I think the library will make a big difference. Just think of the people visiting from all over the country on a fall Saturday who may decide to go to a game (if they can get tickets).

I thought the guy was saying it was going to help recruiting etc.... Don't think the library will help immediately after Dubbya leaves office but in 2019 who knows?

Yeah IF they can get tickets. I long for the day when we can get Ford 75% full without resorting to former SWC opponents.

Agreed the Bush Presidential Library is a big plus for SMU!

Insane_Pony_Posse wrote:Agreed the Bush Presidential Library is a big plus for SMU!

i read somewhere that it will bring in somwhere around $500 mil to SMU. i dont care if it was the Michael Vick Library. $500 Mil is still a LOT of money

SMU89 wrote:Cowboys moving to Arlington and increased price should be a positive for SMU.

I would also add the Bush library as a positive as it will bring more national attention to SMU.

Neither of these will affect SMU football. Wins inside & outside of Ford stadium by SMU will determine attendance. People don't decide between going to the Cowboys game and SMU. It just doesn't happen.

thefamousguy wrote:Neither of these will affect SMU football. Wins inside & outside of Ford stadium by SMU will determine attendance. People don't decide between going to the Cowboys game and SMU. It just doesn't happen.

couldn't have said it any better. being a cowboys fan is like a religion with such a great following for the past 50 years.

Neither of these will affect SMU football. Wins inside & outside of Ford stadium by SMU will determine attendance. People don't decide between going to the Cowboys game and SMU. It just doesn't happen.[/quote]

That is the point. Just as people in Boston don't likely decide between going to Boston College games or going to Patriot, Red Sox, or Celtics games. Yet, Boston College averages 40K+ per game. So again, IF SMU wins, people will come. Having the Cowboys around does not preclude people from following SMU, just as it didn't in the 80s.

I've always maintained that being next to not one but two major airports has to be a positive, in some way. Not sure how to quantify, but it has to be helpful in recruiting, travel costs, and fund-raising efforts, when compared to someplace like, say El Paso or Stillwater.

I can't see how the Bush Library is a win for anyone. Will there even be any books? After all, I'm pretty sure he can't even read.

Of course SMU can be competitive-if you'd like I'll send you my 42 point Stallion's Model to Competitive Division 1A Football