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Some of the older old-timers may know more of the details than I, but I recall reading that SMU fought very hard to get Texas Tech into the SWC back when TTU was essentially a glorified JC. There was a good bit of commercial pressure placed on the merchants (Neiman Marcus primarily) by the TTU oil rich crowd to get behind this effort. I think there were not so subtle threats that the wives could fly elsewhere to shop if Dallas and SMU didn't get behind them. Maybe we could call in some markers with them to the extent that it would help us move up in the world.

The problem with your theory is that Texas Tech is currently too busy lubing their collective poop-chute for their honeymoney with the Whorns to Pac-12 land.

Go Ponies~

girl asked me if it was ok to wear her Texas Tech shirt to the boulevard saturday since it was read...

My reply... "as long as you don't mind people throwing change in your beer cup"

ponytailgater wrote:girl asked me if it was ok to wear her Texas Tech shirt to the boulevard saturday since it was read...

My reply... "as long as you don't mind people throwing change in your beer cup"

please tell me it wasn't an SMU student

ponytailgater wrote:girl asked me if it was ok to wear her Texas Tech shirt to the boulevard saturday since it was read...

My reply... "as long as you don't mind people throwing change in your beer cup"

Probably wouldnt take long to make enough to walk down the street and buy and SMU shirt.

West Coast Johnny wrote:The problem with your theory is that Texas Tech is currently too busy lubing their collective poop-chute for their honeymoney with the Whorns to Pac-12 land.

well, that and the fact that Tech joined the SWC in 1958. little late to call that one in i think.

Topper - I think you're right. I do remember something like that because there was quite a bit of opposition in them joining at that time.

smu was a key player in getting uofh into the swc also.
we are too nice for our own good sometimes.

If my memory serves SMU fought hard to keep TT out of the SWC.

From the TTU "Traditions" web page:

NEIMAN-MARCUS
The Dallas-based department store drew the wrath of Texas Tech fans after the school's attempt to join the Southwest Conference was denied in 1952. Red Raider fans were so angry that many cut up their Neiman-Marcus charge cards and mailed them to the store. Legend has it that Stanley Marcus got involved and helped sway SMU's vote toward Tech's favor.

I agree with rich59. SMU did not want another big state school with lots of resources recruiting in state offering a chance to play in the SWC. Having Oklahma with a recruiting presence in West Texas was bad enough. I'm pretty sure that was in the Dallas newspapers at the time.

I have no opinion about what Mr. Marcus did, one way or the other.

TCU must have been the primary obstacle to Tech getting into the SWC. Note that 4 or 5 years after Tech got in and really tapped into that W. Texas recruiting base the Frogs had developed, TCU went downhill rapidly. They stayed at the bottom of the heap for two decades and didn't start dominating us again until after the DP at which point the Frogs were getting many, if not most, of the N. Texas players that were the old base of our recruiting. Things go in cycles.