What should SMU do regarding realignment?

[planoponyfan]

I am not a fan of all these possible conference changes. I see this PAC 10 effort as another attempt to screw smaller schools out of money. I suspect if the PAC 10 becomes a PAC 16, we'll ultimately wind up seeing most of the former BCS conferences consolidate into 4 or 5 conferences with 16 or so teams each. You can bet the likes of SMU, TCU and Baylor will be on the outside of any such arrangement.

There's a part of me that thinks these schools that always seem to be on out the outside should get together to fight. Another thought is that SMU should do something ($$$) to get on the inside.
Maybe the best solution is to sit tight with the CUSA and see what happens.

So my question to the masses: what do you think should SMU do.. and why.

[PonyKai]

We have cash, that's not the problem. It's a long list of other things that's the problem. Whatever SMU does it's going to be reactionary to other schools' and conference's moves. The administration can just be completely on top of and aware of what potentially could happen, and be ready to exert whatever influence it can when the time comes.

[Mexmustang]

Get the administration's commitment, the board and the large donors to agree to make the financial commitment to join a major conference, get our politics in order and stay off the phones in case someone calls...

[Texafornian]

I don't think the major expansion will happen this year or even within the next five years. A few teams will move around, the MWC will get AQ status, and most conferences will breathe sighs of relief.

What SMU football needs to do for the next few years is what we did last season: win 7-8+ games and dominate in whatever bowl games we get into. June Jones needs to continue to build upon last year's momentum and ensure that our program is turned around for a long time. A few C-USA titles and doubling or tripling the average attendance at Ford wouldn't hurt either. We need to show the MWC/Big XII/new SWC/etc. that we are a good fit.

What SMU staff members need to do is corral alumni support, advertise SMU in Dallas, and do whatever it takes to at least get the MWC seriously interested in us.

[EastStang]

Okay, my eastern bias is showing. First, I want us to be in whatever AQ conference takes us. But, I really don't see the MWC becoming an AQ conference unless (1) the BE folds, and (2) the Big XII explodes leaving KU, KSU, ISU out there on an island and they join the MWC. The question is whether they would want to join a mountain centric conference for an AQ or whether they would want to focus on a more SW conference alignment (and basically stay as an AQ conference). Let's say that KU, KSU, ISU were to come to SMU,TCU, Rice, UH, and Baylor and say, let's form a new SWC. You have markets in Dallas, Houston, and Kansas City with good coverage. Travel would not be bad. Obviously, AFA, UTEP, USM, Memphis, Tulane, and Tulsa might be other teams to consider if you wanted to move to 12. All central time zone teams. Lastly, if two members of the BCS (the BE and the Big XII) go out of existence, there will be some sort of new agreement formed. The key will be to have a few teams that were formerly part of the old agreement in your conference.

[SMUstang]

We will probably know within a month. But personally I think that ND will join the B10 and Utah and CU will join the P10 and that will basically be it. The MWC will probably lose UU and BYU and therefore will not be an AQ conference. SMU should continue to win at least 8 games per season and win their bowl games and keep improving their product and attendance.

[birddogger]

Maybe being a bit naive here, but I'm beginning to think there will be no realignment this year. It's too sudden and too many have-not schools (and their alums in the respective state and federal legislatures) will cry foul, and question the NCAA and the BCS (and even raise the threat of legal action). Instead, I'm thinking that this realignment rumor-mill will galvanize many to opt-in to a playoff format, which at least gives smaller schools and conferences the hope that they can play for big bucks, and should benefit the larger conferences and schools as well.

We need to delay, delay, and delay some more on realignment, and I don't think I'm alone in my thinking. SMU needs to have 2-3 good years under its belt before it has a snowball's chance of landing in a favorable conference alignment. At present, we'll be lumped in with Rice, Tulane and Tulsa, which may make us proud academically, but isn't the right company for athletics.

Best to all.

[Charleston Pony]

prepare to play as competitive a season as we can in CUSA...we aren't going to be invited to do anything as part of any realignments that may take place this year

[PoconoPony]

Basketball is part of any formula and we are not even close on that element.

[GoRedGoBlue]

hope and change?

[NickSMU17]

Seems to be working for USA....

[mrydel]

I have no idea what will happen, and hope for the best, but I do not see where our FB team, BB team, stadium size, lack of baseball, track or any other sport makes a difference. Arkansas got a check for $17,000,000 for this past season for their share of the SEC split and they were mediocre at best. Give SMU $17,000,000 and we could begin to improve a lot of things.

The key is committment, and what in the way of new revenue can you bring to the table. Sadly, our committment just started about 2 or 3 years ago, but it is there. New revenue? Well the opportunity for each opponent to play in Dallas every other year at worst could be enticing.

If we are going to be a player in this process, regardless of Big 12, CUSA, MWC, etc, we need to be selling committment for the future and whatever benefits we could offer when we get put on the BCS payroll. South Florida, I believe it was, got into a BCS conference after fielding a FB team for 5 years, but they had total committment to building the right kind of program. Past wins and losses should not matter, and in some cases, with the expanding conferences it could be that they might appreciate a "lesser talented" conference foe at least for a while. I know Arkansas is happier to have Vanderbilt on their schedule than Florida.

Back room meetings are making the decisions. My question is are we in the back room and do we have enough to buy into the game?

[CalallenStang]

If we are going to be a player in this process, regardless of Big 12, CUSA, MWC, etc, we need to be selling committment for the future and whatever benefits we could offer when we get put on the BCS payroll.

Precisely.

[SMU89]

We need to work / sell all of the following:
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Financial Commitment
Political Leverage
Dallas

[mustangbill67]

SO mentioned the possible reallignment at a MC meeting back in May and that he as well as the administration were on top of the situation. He seemed optimistic of our chances to move up. As an aside, I wonder if Jerry Jones would like to have both SMU and TCU in a BCS conference since his stadium sits between the two schools where possible big games could be held that Ford or AC could not handle. His wife, Gene Jones is a member of the SMU Board of Trustees. Just an idle thought.