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Posted: **Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:23 pm**

Orsini released a statement about the realignment today:
http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges ... ortunities

Let's consider a couple of things here.
Orsini is pretty good at playing things close to the vest. (look at the way the June Jones hiring went down)

If SMU is really commited to being top 25 in athletics, they can't stay left out of one of the big super conferences that are being created.

Several people have pointed out that the SEC is being awfully quiet in all this. That's about to change. A&M is apparently so intrigued by an offer from the SEC that they're considering going there regardless of what UT does.

If you're the SEC and you want to expand into Texas, adding A&M is a good start, but it's probably not the only move you would want to make. Would A&M really want to be in a conference where their nearest rivals were Arkansas and LSU? I would think TCU, UH and SMU might sweeten the deal and give the SEC a pretty strong foothold here even if the expanded PAC 10 has UT and Tech.

I know all this is just wishful thinking on my part. We're probably stuck in whatever is left of the CUSA. Maybe it will add some of the former Big XII schools or maybe we'll go to an expanded MWC. Who knows.

I have faith in Orsini to get us the best deal possible - if possible. I expect the worst, but wouldn't be surprised to see us wind up improving our situation either.

Posted: **Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:32 pm**

SMU to the SEC. Now i've heard everything

Posted: **Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:33 pm**

planoponyfan wrote:I would think TCU, UH and SMU might sweeten the deal and give the SEC a pretty strong foothold here even if the expanded PAC 10 has UT and Tech.

One could argue that two schools in Texas might be beneficial, but three seems unlikely. Additionally, if A&M is taken by the SEC, its proximity to Houston is such that UH would not be considered a realistic candidate.

Posted: **Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:37 pm**

Well, there go any possible doubts that I may have had about Orsini trying to get us onto a better stage.

Posted: **Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:45 pm**

Texafornian wrote:Well, there go any possible doubts that I may have had about Orsini trying to get us onto a better stage.

Dreaming and doing are two different things.

Posted: **Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:51 pm**

Samurai Stang wrote:
Texafornian wrote:Well, there go any possible doubts that I may have had about Orsini trying to get us onto a better stage.

Dreaming and doing are two different things.

Notice I said trying; I truly believe he's trying to get the best for us. Whether he delivers is another story.

Posted: **Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:52 pm**

We would have to work hard to prove to a conference like SEC that we bring more positives than TCU.

Posted: **Fri Jun 11, 2010 12:24 am**

SMU is certainly in a lot better shape today than in the early 1990s when the Big 12 was being formed. Anyone familiar with SMU today understands the commitment to winning at the highest level is at SMU.

Posted: **Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:26 am**

couch 'em wrote:We would have to work hard to prove to a conference like SEC that we bring more positives than TCU.

I do not think we are headed to the SEC, but if the possibility arose, I suspect we could get the necessary funding to enclose the shoe, build a new natatorium, state-of-the-art baseball facility and a complete renovation of Moody within 90 days. Truth be told, probably within 1 hour if need be.

Can TCU make that claim, I don't think so. Even if they could, there is one thing no other school in Texas can do besides us.

Place us in the SEC, and we can compete head-to-head against UT for Texas recruits.

SMU-NYC > TCU-NJ

Posted: **Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:46 am**

SoCal_Pony wrote:
couch 'em wrote:We would have to work hard to prove to a conference like SEC that we bring more positives than TCU.

I do not think we are headed to the SEC, but if the possibility arose, I suspect we could get the necessary funding to enclose the shoe, build a new natatorium, state-of-the-art baseball facility and a complete renovation of Moody within 90 days. Truth be told, probably within 1 hour if need be.

Place us in the SEC, and we can compete head-to-head against UT for Texas recruits.

SMU-NYC > TCU-NJ

Be still my beating heart!

Posted: **Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:08 am**

SoCal_Pony wrote:there is one thing no other school in Texas can do besides us. Place us in the SEC, and we can compete head-to-head against UT for Texas recruits. SMU-NYC > TCU-NJ

whoa.....saying something like that on an SMU fan board
is going to really, really [deleted] off some regulars on here!

Posted: **Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:23 am**

Orsini has been around the block a time or two. I am sure is is much more aware of opportunities then most. While we were checking out planes' flight plans, Orsini was working on multiple deals. Do we get a shot at the SEC, Big X+1 of Big XII-1 or maybe the Pac X+2? Don't know. What if Orsini works out a deal to be in the Big East? Would that be the worse thing to happen? ND might be locked out of the Big X+1 so jumping on to th Big East and pulling SMU in might be one possibility. Imagine a conference with East coast, Midwest and Texas tv market.

From the quote, I would think Orsini has worked out several possibilities. Some more realistic than others. But I believe he is one top of it.

Posted: **Fri Jun 11, 2010 7:48 am**

That's really my point here. Orsini is signaling that he's not just sitting on the sidelines. He's doing *something* about this realignment. He's figuring out what we could do to improve our situation.
I don't know what that is and I'm not sure anyone knows what that is just yet. I suspect he's put out feelers to several conferences that would make sense. (SEC, MWC, Big 12 would top my list)
I think he's giving some of these conferences options and making it clear we're not just going to stay parked in CUSA if someone better might want us. He may also be working with the CUSA to try to make it a better conference. Who knows.

This whole situation is so fluid anything is possible.

Posted: **Fri Jun 11, 2010 7:50 am**

I think he's also signalling to would be conference suitors that we're willing to throw Tulane, Rice and Tulsa under the bus if we have to.

Posted: **Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:22 am**

SoCal_Pony wrote:
couch 'em wrote:We would have to work hard to prove to a conference like SEC that we bring more positives than TCU.

I do not think we are headed to the SEC, but if the possibility arose, I suspect we could get the necessary funding to enclose the shoe, build a new natatorium, state-of-the-art baseball facility and a complete renovation of Moody within 90 days. Truth be told, probably within 1 hour if need be.

Can TCU make that claim, I don't think so. Even if they could, there is one thing no other school in Texas can do besides us.

Place us in the SEC, and we can compete head-to-head against UT for Texas recruits.

SMU-NYC > TCU-NJ

I agree.

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Re: Orsini statement makes me wonder....

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Re: Orsini statement makes me wonder....