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University Community Rallies Around SMU’s ACC Invitation
Sep 18

DALLAS (SMU) – In just seven days, SMU has raised $100 million to support the Mustangs' transition to the Atlantic Coast Conference, University officials announced today.

"This is an unprecedented financial commitment from a core group of donors who have understood from the beginning that moving to the ACC will be transformational for our University on both athletic and academic levels," said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. "While there is still much work to be done, the ability to rally this kind of support in just one short week demonstrates that SMU and Dallas recognize the excellence of this opportunity and are stepping up to support it."

The generous early commitments from a group of thirty donors that includes trustees and key donors – alumni and non-alumni alike – will enable SMU to align and compete with an elite group of national institutions with powerhouse athletic programs, benefitting both SMU Athletics and the entire University community.

"When we announced on September 1 that SMU would be joining the ACC, I was highly confident that we would be able to cover the cost of the transition into what is one of the top three collegiate athletic conferences in the country," said David B. Miller, chair of the SMU Board of Trustees. "To be able to raise this level of support in such a short period of time is astounding. It is an incredible start in our campaign to position SMU to compete for championships. I cannot express how grateful I am for the visionary leadership it demonstrates."

The move to the new conference is also creating additional impact. Mustang fans have responded enthusiastically to the planned move, with men's basketball season ticket sales jumping 30% in the last week and hundreds of new football season tickets being sold as well.

Notably, the move has immediately raised SMU's profile, with media coverage of the move generating more than $163 million in advertising value in the first three days. In that same small window, SMU also experienced a 103% increase in visitors to its undergraduate admissions homepage.

"SMU is entering an exciting new era, made possible in large part by this small core group of donors," said SMU Director of Athletics Rick Hart. "The news has energized not just our fanbase, but the Dallas community. Every metric we have has jumped in the last week, and we look forward to continuing that momentum both this year and next year as we begin ACC play."

All Mustangs are invited to join in the excitement. Fans can buy season tickets now by calling 214-SMU-GAME or by logging on to http://www.SMUMustangs.com. Those interested in premium seating may now make ticket deposits for the new Weber End Zone Complex for the 2024 SMU Football season. While suites are already sold out, four types of tickets are still available, including loge boxes, tabletop seats, club seats and patio plaza tickets. This complex will be a game-changing addition to Gerald J. Ford Stadium and provide a luxury game experience for patrons in this exclusive area.

Fans wishing to donate can support the Mustang Club, the Weber End Zone Complex or give directly to the SMU/ACC Power Conference Campaign.

Further dismisses the question marks about giving up media rights for 7-9 years. The waterfall from just the announcement illuminates the potential and overall hunger for big-time CFB on the Hilltop.

Pony Up!

Wow, that's impressive. What stood out to me (aside from the $100mm!) is that one can already see the immediate tangible impact that joining the ACC brings to SMU. Higher visibility, higher interest in the school which will translate into higher applicants and lower applicant rates, all increasing the reputation and selectivity. These are real tangible impacts. For all those envious naysayers, this is why SMU did this. Good time to be a Mustang at SMU.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qrriKcwvlY

LOL

GT View
https://gtswarm.com/threads/conference- ... 1/page-204

syracuse view
https://syracusefan.com/threads/acc-pac ... 2/page-310

clemson
https://www.tigernet.com/clemson-forum/ ... tstart=180

Tony Kornheiser and Pablo Torre weigh in on Pardon the Interruption — three-minute piece starting at about the 7:00 mark. I don't agree with everything they said, but they are respected national mouthpieces and they think SMU can compete nationally.

indianmustang wrote:syracuse view
https://syracusefan.com/threads/acc-pac ... 2/page-310

Interesting take from the Syracuse board:

"It may be a joke to say that FSU and Clemson voted against SMU because they were afraid of having competition for the conference championship. But then again, it may not be."

PonyPride wrote:

indianmustang wrote:syracuse view
https://syracusefan.com/threads/acc-pac ... 2/page-310

Interesting take from the Syracuse board:

"It may be a joke to say that FSU and Clemson voted against SMU because they were afraid of having competition for the conference championship. But then again, it may not be."

The old timers will remember this was a big part of why Texas doesn't want to schedule SMU again. The whorns couldn't stomach losing to little 'ole SMU the way they did during the Pony Express era so I don't doubt for a minute the folks at Clemson, FSU & UNC are a little concerned about SMU coming in and increasing the payroll. As my old Aggie buddy told me "we had to turn you guys in because you were paying your 3rd stringers too much"

I liked the comment on the Clemson link that made it sound like every SMU grad is a bazillionaire and that the poor little ACC teams won't be able to match our financial firepower. Are they really able to keep a straight face while suggesting that Duke, Carolina, Wake, Clemson, Virginia, Syracuse (still weird to think of it as an ACC school), Georgia Tech, FSU, etc., don't have their own versions of David Miller and Gerald Ford ... and more of them?

Hoss wrote:I liked the comment on the Clemson link that made it sound like every SMU grad is a bazillionaire and that the poor little ACC teams won't be able to match our financial firepower. Are they really able to keep a straight face while suggesting that Duke, Carolina, Wake, Clemson, Virginia, Syracuse (still weird to think of it as an ACC school), Georgia Tech, FSU, etc., don't have their own versions of David Miller and Gerald Ford ... and more of them?

Having bazillionaires and having bazillionaires who care about football--and further, understand that the school needs them to support football in a big way--are very, very different things. Melinda French Gates is not going to give big to Duke football.

Dukie wrote:

Hoss wrote:I liked the comment on the Clemson link that made it sound like every SMU grad is a bazillionaire and that the poor little ACC teams won't be able to match our financial firepower. Are they really able to keep a straight face while suggesting that Duke, Carolina, Wake, Clemson, Virginia, Syracuse (still weird to think of it as an ACC school), Georgia Tech, FSU, etc., don't have their own versions of David Miller and Gerald Ford ... and more of them?

Having bazillionaires and having bazillionaires who care about football--and further, understand that the school needs them to support football in a big way--are very, very different things. Melinda French Gates is not going to give big to Duke football.

This

I read an article recently (it was either during the Pac12 or ACC hubbub) that reported billionaires per school. They only school in Texas with as many bilionaries as SMU was UT (we had the same number, but I'm pretty certain they underreported SMU). So while every school has BMDs, SMU is certainly blessed with an overabundance of super-successful alumni -- especially on a per capita basis.