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Ok, so I think there's maybe a 1% chance we get a Big 12 invite, but it couldnt hurt for us to all contact Governor Abbott's office and tell him to support SMU as a Big 12 expansion candidate, just as he has done with UH.

Here's the link: https://gov.texas.gov/contact/

Done. When we get in you can thank me

Done as well. With mtrout and Ponytime's emails, I think that we have to be up to 2% chance by now.

Wrote a nice note asking for any assistance helping SMU into the Big 12.

we're in...up to 2.5%...

We prefer to do things the old fashioned way - buying off politicians.

It worked for Tech and Baylor!

CargoGunki wrote:Maybe SMU should try earning a P5 invite on the field and in the stands.

Or by sending Christmas cards.

East Coast Mustang wrote:Ok, so I think there's maybe a 1% chance we get a Big 12 invite, but it couldnt hurt for us to all contact Governor Abbott's office and tell him to support SMU as a Big 12 expansion candidate, just as he has done with UH.

Here's the link: https://gov.texas.gov/contact/

I'm sure you also signed the change.org petition to tell the critics to give better reviews to D.C. comics movies.

PonyKai wrote:

CargoGunki wrote:Maybe SMU should try earning a P5 invite on the field and in the stands.

Or by sending Christmas cards.

And calling Big 12 presidents just to say Hi and that if they're in town to let you know...

I'd love to see SMU get into the Big 12 or any major conference, but looking at the numbers and projections, I think the Big 12 is all but doomed. As cable licensing dynamics, the current Big 12 is not looking all the good. I have doubts that Texas and OU will stick around without a sweetheart deal, and once they are gone, what's left just isn't very viable as a major conference, or even really on par with the AAC in terms of numbers and markets.

From a strictly cable and licensing fee perspective, the best bet for expansion and ability to survive post a Texas/OU escape would be at add BYU, Memphis, Houston and SMU and here's why:

1) No football team of the remaining group moves the needle.
2) BYU has scheduling issues and some distance issues, but it is in Utah and has a national and international following. They are the team with the best history and track record.
3) Memphis has FedEx backing, has decent basketball and can provide something of a travel partner for WVU. The market isn't huge and Memphis doesn't really own it, but it has more positives than the other contenders and better geographic location for a Midwestern brand, but you could swap for Cincinnati (see below).
4) Houston and SMU may not own the Houston and Dallas Markets, but they pretty much close to the door to other big competitors, unless the Big10/ACC/SEC/PAC12 want UNT or Rice. Locking down these markets is critical. Texas A&M and the SEC are already hurting the B12, and as I may have mentioned before, if any other big player moves into those markets, the B12's value slips behind the AAC.
5) With this map and the two big markets locked down, the B12 markets heavily on it's Midwestern tough image and market. That's it's best chance of holding on to Texas/OU long term, and probably their best shot at being relevant in case of a Texit.

Cincinnati would make a better travel partner for WVU, but doesn't really bring a significantly better market or sponsor than Memphis, basketball is about the same. You could swap it for Memphis, but in dollars I think the Memphis market makes more sense but one or the other gets you to roughly the same place. Both makes little brand sense.

UCONN absolutely deserves to be in a major conference. However the B12 doesn't work. It doesn't travel partner well, doesn't really bring the NY or New England market in any effective way and dilutes the brand values.

UCF/USF get you into the Florida market, but again represents a brand dilution with little history, academics or brand penetration. If you are going to leave DFW/Houston open, this would be the smart money and a concession/admission to 2nd tier status by the end of the decade.

Tulane has New Orleans, history and academics, but... it's Tulane. The New Orleans market doesn't move the needle ad-wise, and Tulane is a program that makes SMU look athletically focused and competent. basically a half-step up from Rice.

From an ad perspective, now you have a B12 with an identity, two solid top markets and if there is a Texit, it will have a chance to become strong in those critical markets, has BYU's national appeal and a chance to step ahead of the AAC as the best of the rest.

Done. I found it curious that the governor only mentioned U of H at the time.

I sent the 3 main points of this DMN article below along with the link

http://beta.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/08/15/3-reasons-smu-joining-big-12-help-dallas?_ga=1.251764617.1217909424.1449423067

Others might want to do the same. Kind of like forming a lottery ticket pool.

Done.