Mountain West is not a step up

[LakeHighlandsPony]

[quote="Metropolis777"]
Yes, we moved because we didn't want to be in the same conference as SMU.

Atleast Metro speaks the truth. He is the first one who admits the reason for leaving. I think Gary did a great job of getting his team past losing to the Ponies. I looked at the rankings and saw that all of the MWC schools that were supposed to lead you to the promised land like Utah don't have a winning record. I can't imagine wanting to be in a conference that you cannot travel to an away game by car. I could have made the same point even if I was a Red Raider.

[jtstang]

Yes, we moved because we didn't want to be in the same conference as SMU. We also didn't want to be in the same conference as Houston, Rice, or Tulane either.

I don't blame y'all. As you well know, nothing good can come from playing SMU for TCU. You win, and you beat a terrible team, which get you no points. You lose, and, well, you know what happens. There is really no upside for the frogs. You really should consider dropping the series altogether, or at least until SMU makes some kind of progress.

[SoCal_Pony]

As you well know, nothing good can come from playing SMU for TCU.

That is non-sense JT and you know it. Both schools need the attendance boast this game creates.

[carolina stang]

Frog fan seems to forget that things go in cycles. Yes, TCU had had a string of good years. Yes, they are having a great year in a marginal conference. Who would have thought in 1997 or 1982 that their program would reach these heights? Still, things can turn around quickly. I remember thinking when we had to join the WAC that at least we would be an upper tier program. WRONG. If TCU ultimately has a bad year or two, let's see how bright their decision was? And remember-no matter how wonderful your darling Frog football program is you still lost to SMU.

I'll still take our history (death penalty and all) over yours any day.

[Stallion]

things do run in cycles but they have a solid argument that a lot more MWC teams have solid support and attendance in comparison to the CUSA Magnolia Division.

[NORMLFROG]

You guys are truly pathetic. You've had every opportunity to get it right. Let's see here...you get a brand new stadium and one of the best pre-game scenes around. You refuse to capitalize. You upset the Frogs. You refuse to capitalize. Instead? You go back to the tired argument of how bad a move it was for us to part ways. We're 6-1, top 25 and not playing in front of 12k on a weekly basis. In your heart of hearts you all know that you would rather play in front of more people than 12k. Look, I know the MWC isn't the be all/end all of college football...neither was C-USA when we move there from the WAC. However, the difference between TCU and SMU is that we make attempts to get better while you do not. Will the move work out in the long run? WHo knows? But it's sure better than DOING NOTHING and settling for playing in front of 12k every week.

I wish things were different. But we played the hand that was dealt to us and you played the hand that was dealt to you. Don't get mad, just get better.

Peace out to BUS, FWDAD and PROFESSOR X-

NORMLFROG

[Pony_Fan]

This is a stupid thread.

TCU is a good fball team, MWC is fine (better fball than C-USA), the win was a fluke and SMU stinks right now. Period.

[jtstang]

As you well know, nothing good can come from playing SMU for TCU.

That is non-sense JT and you know it. Both schools need the attendance boast this game creates.

I was talking in regard to TCU's rankings, reputation, etc., which is important to a team with accomplishments like TCU. And I stand by that assessment. Beating SMU gets them nothing, and losing to SMU gets them a bad rap.

SMU needs the attendence boost for sure, because TCU fans will travel. Last time I went to Amon Carter for a game seems like SMU brought less than 1000. Not sure that affects TCU one bit.

[SoCal_Pony]

NORMLFROG,

I agree 100%

[Frog2003]

Think of it this way...

TCU's administration has created a program that has had multiple Top 25 football teams, multiple bowl games, and has between 30,000 and 40,000 fans for most home games. They also have high quality baseball and women's basketball, and the men's team was in the quarters of the NIT last year. This same administration thought the MWC was a good idea.

SMU's administration has created a football environment where losing is either accepted, or the fans simply have (or are on the verge) of giving up completely. There's no baseball program, even though the sport of college baseball is growing by leaps and bounds, especially in this part of the country. And neither basketball program has been something to write home about in quite a while either. This same administration thought the new CUSA was a good idea.

Still want to argue that SMU was smart and TCU wasn't?

[LakeHighlandsPony]

You really don't want to get into overall athletic accomplishment. Check the Sears Cup standings over the last 5 years. Do you remember when we rolled of 14 or so straight wins against you?? We were not trying to separate conferences from you?!
P.S Your football team ain't that good-we beat you!
What airline did you take to Laramie??

[LakeHighlandsPony]

I promise my last post on this- I think everyone thought the best thing for the schools that did not go to the Big 12 was to create a conference that had regional rivalries. No one knows better than us that fans don't get to excited when the San Jose or Nevada Wolf Pack roll in. You know in your hearts the frogs would rather kick the crap out of Rice, Houston and SMU than UNLV and Wyoming. As far as attendance, it was not long ago during Pat Sullivans tenure that a gun could have gone off in Amon Carter and no one would have gotten hurt. You guys are fair weather fans too.. I have seen it.

[Frog2003]

You really don't want to get into overall athletic accomplishment. Check the Sears Cup standings over the last 5 years. Do you remember when we rolled of 14 or so straight wins against you?? We were not trying to separate conferences from you?!
P.S Your football team ain't that good-we beat you!
What airline did you take to Laramie??

You're delusional if you think anyone truly cares about any sports other than Football, Baseball and Basketball. I'll give SMU credit for soccer, they have a great program.

Besides, my post was meant more as a joke. CUSA is a much better fit for SMU than the WAC was. But it was no longer a good fit for TCU. SMU thinks that the ticket to success is to have a regional conference, and reduce costs. Thats fine if thats the way they want to go. Definitely the lower risk way to go, but its hard to see CUSA as ever being a BCS conference. That doesn't mean SMU can't succeed though. CUSA is going to constantly be on the defensive to ensure that no one else leaves, which is a very real possibility.

TCU decided that the better way to go was to go to a conference who wasn't in the process of recovering from a serious gut shot, and who has teams with way above average support compared to the other non-BCS conferences. The only downside is the distance, but thats the risk inherent in the decision. Bigger possible downside, bigger possible upside. Neither is necessary the wrong choice, but each school was in a completely different situation, with a completely different set of criteria for making a decision.

[mustang_of_smu]

Guys, I'm going to have to agree with the frogs on this one. All that matters in college athletics these days is fans (however sad that may be). We don't have a chance and have done nothing other than get some old rivals at Ford to diminish this problem. The C-USA west has major attendance problems as a whole (except for UTEP). This has to get better. It's more important than winning. Long-term winning (2-3 years would help tremendously) is the only remedy for this problem. It was exciting to see that many Dallasites were interested in SMU football after the UAB game. We need to get a big win and follow it up with a couple more. I know many people who would have bought tickets to see SMU contend for a C-USA title this year (not win, just have a chance to win). These are people who just follow whoever wins. That is how successful programs do it. You get 10,000 students and alums and a bunch of sorry fans that just go for winning teams. Sorry for the change in topics, but ideas need to be tossed around about how we could go about getting many new long-term fans.

[mustang_of_smu]

Guys, I'm going to have to agree with the frogs on this one. All that matters in college athletics these days is fans (however sad that may be). We don't have a chance and have done nothing other than get some old rivals at Ford to diminish this problem. The C-USA west has major attendance problems as a whole (except for UTEP). This has to get better. It's more important than winning. Long-term winning (2-3 years would help tremendously) is the only remedy for this problem. It was exciting to see that many Dallasites were interested in SMU football after the UAB game. We need to get a big win and follow it up with a couple more. I know many people who would have bought tickets to see SMU contend for a C-USA title this year (not win, just have a chance to win). These are people who just follow whoever wins. That is how successful programs do it. You get 10,000 students and alums and a bunch of sorry fans that just go for winning teams. Sorry for the change in topics, but ideas need to be tossed around about how we could go about getting many new long-term fans.