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There was one very notable thing said at the press conference, and one very notable thing that was not said. Turner clearly and repeatedly said we were joined at the hip with Tulsa and Rice in this process. He also thanked Tulane and Scott Cowen. He did not mention TCU at all I don't think. Conclusion: TCU is gone and our insistence on Rice probably had a hand in driving them away. Not a very good move if you ask me, but we'll see.

Good point. Why would we insist on an all or nothing with Rice and Tulsa? We could always schedule those teams in a non-conference game. It appears that we were afraid of getting left out. I am confused. Can someone clarify this? Thank you.

He did mention ion closing that C-USA may still have some changes coming. NO reference of Tarrant county university.

By the way.. I still think Army and NAvy are going to be affiliate members of C-USA and if TCU leaves. I say don't schedule them any more. No team to play close to home Ouch on Recruiting.

If they are smart and want the best chance to get into BCS conference.... Stay in the conference that is the arrow pointing at the BCS heart. Tulanes Cowan in front of congress is pretty strong and if BCS wants to stop the pressure where are they going to go. To Tulane and Cowan. SEE

Can't really clarify anything, but it sure would make sense if we were afraid of being left out. It's amazing to me we got this invite in the first place. Sounds like we WERE a package deal, and I have to commend them for that, I'm just thankful we're not in the WAC anymore.

I also noticed the omission of TCU references. Sounds to me like they're gone.

I also want to pat James on the back for publicly supporting his school, and helping out, something certain other members of the Pony Express (who will remain nameless) have not done. His public involvement can only help. I've never had any problem with his statements on the non-BCS schools anyway.

...if that's true then we may very well have written our own obituary. I'm telling you that if the private schools don't wake up and COMPETE the Conference of Low Expectations(SMU, Rice, Tulsa, Tulane, Army, Navy, maybe Temple) is just around the corner where they will all die a quick, expensive miserable death. This is exactly what I feared most and now you have confirmed it. Look at the difference in the missions of the schools in this conference-it will split along those lines in the not too distant future.

Why would our insistence on Rice drive TCU away? Maybe it was Rice's insistence on us. There are a lot of conspiracy theorists on this board. TCU is simply pi$$ed that they have done what they can to improve and we haven't but they end up in the same conference. I still think cooler heads will prevail at TCU when they realize how little MWC brings them and the risk it still carries for all but the old WAC founders and leavers. TCU can get to a CUSA Championship game each year with only the weak west in their way and should get a decent payday from that game and a bowl of some kind. In MWC there is no championship game and they get to spend lots of money to travel to empty stadiums. Maybe the'll re read their reasons for leaving WAC. If TCU goes, it will be solely becuase the ego gets in the way. They do have something going to give them an ego but they can't force their way into the BCS so they are stuck with no better overall options than CUSA. BTW- There are many that say that BU will get removed from the BIG 12. CSU is the most likely candidate and there goes the est MWC football program (maybe BYU) but either way poor ole TCU is loeft holding another bag.

:hmm: One other odd mention:

President Turner mentioned that they had to impose on Program Council to use Hughes-Trigg because PC had something planned there this afternoon.

1.) Who cares what PC had going on?! This effects the whole university, whether they realize or not.

2.) Why not do this at Ford, in Heritage Hall, or the steps of Dallas Hall? Let's show off that campus/stadium when we have the chance, not just a banner behind them.

But I'm excited regardless of what the toads do. GO LOO-UH-VULL!!!!

TCU was mentioned to the extent that Turner said we would be in a division with four (other?) private schools. He also mentioned that other changes may happen (i.e. TCU to MWC, though he did not say it.)

OldPony, two things: Turner also said something along the lines that we lead the process to bring Rice and Tulsa along. Just cuz Rice is 2-6 at the moment doesn't make them any more of the leader of this bunch. Also, SMU, Hawaii and Nevada were widely reported as the only 3 schools who vetoed the WACs binding agreement. Tulsa and Rice must have been for it, until Turner got them involved in CUSA. What is obvious is that Turner and Scott Cowen at Tulane are closely connected. Unlike Stallion, I like a partnership with Tulane, but must admit I am concerned with this reliance on Rice and the private group. This is D-1, not the Ivy or private league.

FW-
You been outside today? Cold and rainy.

I have no problem with Tulane either. Originally, I had hoped to join a conference of TCU, SMU, Memphis, Southern Miss, Tulane, Houston, and whatever schools left over from the Big East. Since the ACC took more than expected, so did the Big East from CUSA. When CUSA decided to go to 12 I was really kinda surprised. I think to this day that TCU might be willing to consider a CUSA with 2 less private schools and 9 instead of 12 members. This would be a pretty strong 9 team conference TCU, Marshall, Tulane, Southern Miss, Houston, Memphis, UAB, East Carolina and SMU. Quite frankly I don't see how CUSA got the votes to add the 3 private schools in the first place when the other option is more attractive. Perhaps there was a deadlock with all proposed schools and this was an alternative that keep CUSA alive.

Stallion, that post helps a lot to explain your thoughts but I do not think that bringing the group of three to C-USA is intended to create a conference of low expectations but rather one of regional and traditional rivals.

In addition, it can not hurt the bottom line to have a championship game.

MD-

It was one of my options. And it could relieve the thought that it is blazingly hot here all the time.

My point was not so much the venue itself, but the priorities and setting of the announcement. It was about athletics, and we do have a nice big, beautiful football stadium. If we're all honest, that what it's all about: football. Not to demean other sports at SMU.

I just thought the mention of the Program Council thing was odd.

I agree. Way too much red tape to cut through around the school. Sometimes their priorities baffle me. From top to bottom, athletics to academics.

SMU's Bennett: Ignore Frogs if they jump
03:32 PM CST on Wednesday, November 5, 2003

By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News


UNIVERSITY PARK - SMU football coach Phil Bennett said Wednesday he no longer wants to play rival TCU if the Horned Frogs leave Conference USA for the Mountain West Conference.

Bennett made the comments after Wednesday's celebration at SMU's Hughes-Trigg Student Center, when SMU formally announced its intentions to leave the Western Athletic Conference for C-USA.

SMU is obligated to play TCU each year through 2005. The series picks up again in 2007 and runs through 2010, according to future non-conference schedules listed in TCU's media guide. The Dallas Morning News reported Monday that TCU is weighing an anticipated offer from the Mountain West, according to a high-ranking TCU official.

"I've been a TCU fan," said Bennett, an assistant coach at TCU in 1997. "If they choose to leave [C-USA], I wouldn't want to play them again – in any sport, obviously in football."

The statement came as a surprise to SMU athletic director Jim Copeland, who would said he would like TCU to remain in C-USA.

SMU president Gerald Turner has had conversations with TCU officials this week encouraging TCU to stay in C-USA.

TCU officials were not immediately available for comment.