Expansion look

[AtillatheCoog]

OK guys...lets start with the Big east. What are the chances of Syracuse, Pitt, BC and West va. all staying put??? My guess is slim to none. Keep in mind that the only reason the ACC did not take BC and Syracuse was the mess created over Va. Tech. Would you be suprised if the ACC went back for one or both of them next spring? I would not be suprised. Those four schools will exit a stripped down BE if they can.
The MWC.....they won't come to Texas. All those rumors sprang off one piece of speculative journalism.
CUSA is in a very strong position because of its strong southern core of teams. If two teams were lost they are simply replaced by SMU, Tulsa, La Tech and Rice and if that happens the league is as strong or stronger than it is now in football. If it retains either UC or UL in basketball it is in good shape with the addition of Tulsa and SMU.
It seems to me the WAC is going to get popped if anything happens at all. Robbed in the west by the MWC and in Texas by CUSA.

[bhop]

Its good (and nostalgic) to have a UH supporter make an appearence on this board. I actually talked to a Rice grad about football yesterday. Little things like that make me miss the SWC.

Anyway, I will probably take a lot of crap for this. . .but I would hate to move to a new conference and leave Rice behind. Rice is a great school, plays waaaaay above its size (student population) in football, and fields a damn good baseball team as well. If SMU is destined to go to a new conference, I hope its CUSA with Rice. Then we'd have at least a partial reunion of the SWC. I guess we'll just have to see.

For that matter, I'd like to see SMU, Rice, and Tulsa stick together. But I know that it might not be practical.

[EastStang]

My sentiments exactly. We've played Rice for what 84 years in a row now. I'd hate to see that relationship end. I've come to like Tulsa for its basketball.

[AtillatheCoog]

Bhop....most of us feel the same way. Who knows what the future of college football holds for all of us. I think there is a reasonable chance that events could put the four of us together at some point in the near future. Many of us would like to see more southwest teams in CUSA and with this commish I think it could happen. he has already stated that CUSA being so far flung presents problems. I think it just depends on how many we need. We will need at least two to make 12 even if nobody leaves. SMU and Marshall would seem to have the inside track but you never know. I keep hearing Tulsa as well.

[KnuckleStang]

I, too, would like to stay with Rice. Two schools linked by 80-some-odd years of history, and we also have a lot in common. They're just an excellent school.

[Water Pony]

Ensuring Rice is in our conference future important to us and them. I aspire to their academic reputation and "college athletics" should showcase the college part, which they are an excellent example.

My other point is what would Conference USA gain by adding Marshall? If UofL and UC left, Marshall would be an outlier geographically to a revised Conf. USA. More importantly, what about their BB, academics, non-revenue sports, accessiblity, natural rivalries, etc. Their appeal is in FB and that should not be the only reason.

[This message has been edited by Water Pony (edited 08-06-2003).]

[Sam I Am]

Here's to Rice's Honor. It's nice to see SMU show some loyalty to a team that has less support at times than we have. If we were strictly selfish like some of our former SWC associates, then we would cut and run regardless of who got hurt. Besides Kenny Hatfield does things the right way and is a proven winner in the big time. He sets a good example, and so have we academically. We may be a bottom ten school in football, but our graduation rate and admisison standards have earned us some respect. If Stanford can do it with class, so can we.

[Water Pony]

Other private examples beyond Stanford:

- Notre Dame
- U. of Miami
- TCU
- Boston College
- Tulane
- Wake Forest
- BYU

plus, inconsistent Northwestern, Baylor, etc. as well as Duke and Vanderbilt at the bottom. Can't remember if Syracuse is private. Maybe Pitt too.

[This message has been edited by Water Pony (edited 08-06-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Water Pony (edited 08-06-2003).]

[Stallion]

Rice could have really helped itself by doing something about the mess that is Autry Court. They are the ONLY school in Texas that has not made significant upgrades in its major sports facilities-that could come back to haunt them especially if the choice is between Rice and Tulsa.

[No Cal Pony]

WaterPony, are you kidding? nd and miami? Yes, miami may win, but wouldn't want to be like thug u. Plus, SMU would need to come up with some super athlete friendly majors. nd may be a fine school, but don't think they are totally clean. Undre the touchdown jesus, a lot of little shenanagins occur. Just not too long ago, remember, a female "booster" was sleeping with players and stealing monies from the company she worked for and using it to help fund players.

Let's just let SMU be like SMU.

Go Ponies!

[bhop]

Wow. I expected to take tons of crap for expressing my pro-Rice sentiments. I'm glad to see there are many other SMU folks who feel the same way.

It gave me IMMENSE pleasure to watch Rice win the national championship in baseball, particularly because they beat UT. I was pleased for several reasons:

(1) Rice is in our conference
(2) Rice is a fellow jilted SWC school (instant credibility in my mind)
(3) Rice puts academics first
(4) and the intangible "You just gotta respect Rice." Can't explain it, but that's how I feel.

Here's hoping we stick together, and become reunited with TCU and UH.

[This message has been edited by bhop (edited 08-07-2003).]