DMN: SMU makes public its desire to join Big 12

by **GiddyUp** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 12:53 am

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/colleg ... erence.ece

And yes, Turner is quoted as saying so....Now buy those season tickets folks!
Surely it can be expanded to more than 40K, I know we've discussed in another thread. (enclosing bowl and add 2nd deck)

by **Mexmustang** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 3:37 am

While this may be a yawner to many people, I see it as very imortant. Having Turner and Orsini on the same page in a very public forum is great news for the university.

by **2ndandlong** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 5:57 am

You'll note that since Operation Sellout tickets are $10/piece they will count in the NCAA ticket sales numbers (not a coincidence). PM me if you're interested in donating.
#shamelessplug

by **that's great raplh** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 7:27 am

Go ponies.

by **One Trick Pony** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 7:28 am

Mustangs

by **PonyKai** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 7:35 am

While I droned on about the importance of SMU staying out of the press on this, I agree with Mex...having Turner quoted and publicly on the same page as SO and JJ is a good thing.

by **BUS** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 7:51 am

Shout from the mountain tops. SMU and Dallas will grow stronger with this change.
23K last year... after bowl games. I am taken back by that. :wink:

by **Water Pony** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:00 am

The case for Big 12 is better than one might imagine, despite our 20+ years journey through the wilderness. Here in Chicago, Northwestern is running an ad campaign, "Northwestern: Chicago's Big Ten Team".

Chicago is home to the alumni of every Big Ten schools with Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Purdue and Wisconsin especially represented. Even ND claims Chicago, but NW is attractive for every visiting fan from the Big Ten. Downtown hotels are full when OSU and Michigan show up.

USC and Stanford claim big city attention and SMU is the best private with a strong, tradition based football team between the coasts. Committing to expanding Ford, already a high quality facility, is an important card to offer. Scoring 30-35K consistently would be much easier with Big 12 membership with an ability to go over 40K. Cotton Bowl is always available for UT or big out-of-conference games (think ND).

Any and all Big 12 fans would love to spend a weekend in Dallas every year. With Moody being rennovated, the Hilltop will be a magnet for the Big 12 in its biggest metropolitan market.

by **SMU 86** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:11 am

I am sure the Big 12 would also look at what we do attendance wise when we are not playing high profile teams. It would not look good to see vast amounts of empty seats on TV when the camera goes around when we play UCF or UTEP at home We must be able to at some point get better crowds on our own. Looks like we are headed in the right direction with everyone on the same page.

by **EastStang** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:38 am

We have long had a relationship with TT, UT and Baylor over the years. OSU scheduled us for recruiting purposes to keep up with OU. OU and UT in my view would be against it, because it would allow other Big XII schools annual visits to Dallas and allow another BCS team in their midst. But the other schools, would probably like being able to visit Dallas regularly for recruiting. I also agree that our wagon needs to be hitched to becoming Dallas' team. Maryland has tried mightily to become DC's team with limited success. Georgetown in hoops has done very well at becoming DC's hoops team (lots of inner city kids with "G" hats on), although Maryland and now George Mason has muted that to some degree. But the pro-market with the Cowboys makes that less of a big deal and the already loyal, Aggies, Raiders, Whorns, Bears, Sooners in Dallas, make us less attractive in that light. I think showing blips in restaurant and hotel spending on the dates when KU, OSU, Baylor and TT came to SMU might be a good selling point to the Dallas business community.

by **RGV Pony** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:45 am

maybe this would inspire RGT to unlock some funds to go toward marketing

by **ReedFrawg** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:47 am

GiddyUp wrote:http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/smu-mustangs/20110825-smu-makes-public-its-desire-to-join-big-12-or-another-bcs-conference.ece

And yes, Turner is quoted as saying so....Now buy those season tickets folks!
Surely it can be expanded to more than 40K, I know we've discussed in another thread. (enclosing bowl and add 2nd deck)

Honestly I just can't imagine the Big12 inviting a school that struggles to draw 20K fans (regardless of the conference). Especially a school with marginal/poor hoops and no baseball program. It may not be what you want to hear but that's what it looks like to an outsider. I do agree its good idea to make this public.

by **Mitch McConnell** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:53 am

Words are one thing. Wins will determine the future of SMU athletics. It must start in 2011 with the football program producing a defining season followed by the basketball team finding a way to get to postseason.

Actions speak louder than words.

by **reddevil** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:56 am

ReedFrawg wrote:
GiddyUp wrote:http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/smu-mustangs/20110825-smu-makes-public-its-desire-to-join-big-12-or-another-bcs-conference.ece

And yes, Turner is quoted as saying so....Now buy those season tickets folks!
Surely it can be expanded to more than 40K, I know we've discussed in another thread. (enclosing bowl and add 2nd deck)

Honestly I just can't imagine the Big12 inviting a school that struggles to draw 20K fans (regardless of the conference). Especially a school with marginal/poor hoops and no baseball program. It may not be what you want to hear but that's what it looks like to an outsider. I do agree its good idea to make this public.

While there is certainly some truth to what you are saying, keep in mind that the next step will not be a proactive move by the Big12 to find the perfect fit, it will be a reactionary move to "stop the bleeding" so to speak. All of the schools being brought up have their drawbacks, which is what makes SMU's case, while admittedly unlikely, at least plausible.

by **abezontar** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:58 am

ReedFrawg wrote:
GiddyUp wrote:http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/smu-mustangs/20110825-smu-makes-public-its-desire-to-join-big-12-or-another-bcs-conference.ece

And yes, Turner is quoted as saying so....Now buy those season tickets folks!
Surely it can be expanded to more than 40K, I know we've discussed in another thread. (enclosing bowl and add 2nd deck)

Honestly I just can't imagine the Big12 inviting a school that struggles to draw 20K fans (regardless of the conference). Especially a school with marginal/poor hoops and no baseball program. It may not be what you want to hear but that's what it looks like to an outsider. I do agree its good idea to make this public.

I doubt very seriously that baseball will be any consideration in conference alignment discussions.