Baylor game gone?

[Stallion]

and both TCU this year and SMU last year played weak nonconference home games because they were playing in high school gyms for games that attracted about 800 people so that neither school was in a position to pay large visiting guarantees

[PonySnob]

I honestly can't imagine us trying to buy out of Baylor again. Like others have said we better enjoy these traditional rivalry games while we can b/c there is a day coming very soon where the reality is we might never play them again. Now I can understand if Baylor is trying to buy out of the game given what happened to them this year but no way SMU is trying to buy out of it. If Baylor wants out of the game we better hold their feet to the fire for every last cent b/c whoever we replace them with on the schedule won't bring a faction of the fans they will to Ford. We need Baylor and UNT to float us for the conference attendance dip.

UNT had announced attendance of 22K when we played them in Denton this year - and that was being pretty generous. Attendance at UNT games in Dallas since the Death Penalty haven't been much better but it is higher than many of our home conference games have been the last few years.


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[StallionsModelT]

I honestly can't imagine us trying to buy out of Baylor again. Like others have said we better enjoy these traditional rivalry games while we can b/c there is a day coming very soon where the reality is we might never play them again. Now I can understand if Baylor is trying to buy out of the game given what happened to them this year but no way SMU is trying to buy out of it. If Baylor wants out of the game we better hold their feet to the fire for every last cent b/c whoever we replace them with on the schedule won't bring a faction of the fans they will to Ford. We need Baylor and UNT to float us for the conference attendance dip.

UNT had announced attendance of 22K when we played them in Denton this year - and that was being pretty generous. Attendance at UNT games in Dallas since the Death Penalty haven't been much better but it is higher than many of our home conference games have been the last few years.


It was an 11AM kickoff and I would bet they have more alumni willing to go to a game at SMU than they do in that dumpster fire that is Denton. Hopefully we can get a later kickoff time. 11AM kicks are the death knell for attendance in all of college football.

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[ojaipony]

People didn't start filling Moody because we beat the sub-200 RPI schools.
They filled Moody because we started beating Top 25 teams once we got to Moody.
Don't kid yourself. That's what it will take to start filling Ford.

Perfect storm rare but has happened in SMU history (beating ranked @Texas on national TV in 1981?) then beating ranked UConn to open Moody last year in bball - watershed moments . . . and then we KEPT beating tough teams. Football has a great opportunity to do that against Baylor this coming year but I don't think we have the horses yet. (LB had some quality transfers come in that practiced with some seniors in his system and Myer had a few recruiting classes in by then). Who do we play big at home early in, say, 2-3 seasons from now? Maybe a much higher expectations run this coming year, followed by another strong year, then maybe we could see it 3rd year in Morris's tenure (after 2 strong recruiting classes). Who knows.

[Nacho]

going 0-4 does nothing but destroy team morale.
we need some marshall ooc scheduling for awhile.
chad needs to build this team up for a few seasons then bring in some good teams.

[CA Mustang]

So, what do you think is better? The unknown of TCU being undefeated and ranked? Or TSU 2-9 or whatever they are with two good wins?

Considering TSU has played at Auburn, Baylor, EWU, Florida, Gonzaga, Indiana, SMU and Tennessee (in addition to the games they've won), I'd consider them to be battle-tested. So yes, I'd pick them to beat TCU (especially on a neutral court).

Marshall didn't play ANYONE this year. But they still had media talking about them and recruit awareness because of their undefeated record.

1. When the media talked about them, the comments were universally about how they had a weak schedule. Is that good publicity in your view?
2. I'll let those who follow recruiting more closely comment as to whether it is making a difference or not.

[footballdad]

If history is any indication, win or lose, we all know how this plays out.

Play the Texas big boys and get a 3/4 to full turnout because the visiting fans take over our stadium. Play our conference opponents or anyone else and get a half empty stadium for whatever reasons you'd like to argue.

[ReedFrawg]

I'd rather be ranked and have people wondering if we are any good than winless and removing all doubt before conference play....

[footballdad]

I'd rather be ranked and have people wondering if we are any good than winless and removing all doubt before conference play....

Probably why you're on the cusp of the Final 4 and we're......uh......not (even in the P5).

[JasonB]

I'd rather be ranked and have people wondering if we are any good than winless and removing all doubt before conference play....

Thank you, a dose of reality.

Why play two P-5 teams non conference in football? If we are at the point where we need non-conference credit for rankings, then sure. Until then, rack up the wins and play one good team.

Sure they are doubting Marshall, but bad publicity is better than no publicity. Being talked about at all is better than being left out of the conversation.

[vielsiehorsepower]

I'd rather be ranked and have people wondering if we are any good than winless and removing all doubt before conference play....

Thank you, a dose of reality.

Why play two P-5 teams non conference in football? If we are at the point where we need non-conference credit for rankings, then sure. Until then, rack up the wins and play one good team.

Sure they are doubting Marshall, but bad publicity is better than no publicity. Being talked about at all is better than being left out of the conversation.

Aren't Baylor, TCU and ATM the measuring stick? Close the gap between them and that will speak volumes in recruiting. Stay within 10 of Aggy or Baylor and I promise that will do wonders for recruiting. People want to see competitive games against big programs. Who cares if you get blasted the first year or so when you're supposed to suck? This schedule is a great opportunity but instead you want to take the JJ route and use it as a crutch

[footballdad]

I'd rather be ranked and have people wondering if we are any good than winless and removing all doubt before conference play....

Thank you, a dose of reality.

Why play two P-5 teams non conference in football? If we are at the point where we need non-conference credit for rankings, then sure. Until then, rack up the wins and play one good team.

Sure they are doubting Marshall, but bad publicity is better than no publicity. Being talked about at all is better than being left out of the conversation.

Aren't Baylor, TCU and ATM the measuring stick? Close the gap between them and that will speak volumes in recruiting. Stay within 10 of Aggy or Baylor and I promise that will do wonders for recruiting. People want to see competitive games against big programs. Who cares if you get blasted the first year or so when you're supposed to suck? This schedule is a great opportunity but instead you want to take the JJ route and use it as a crutch

"Who cares if you get blasted the first year or so.."

How about those same recruits you so desperately need in that first year or so? Doesn't getting blown out by 40+ do just the opposite of "wonders" for recruiting?

Suspect Morris doesn't think much of your Baylor, TCU, A&M non-conference measuring stick. More like TCU, UNT and whatever Morris & Hart decide. Like it or not, these coaches really value the extra practice time that comes along with ANY bowl game these days as well. Ask Patterson about that one.

It's not about excuses or crutches or being scared or any other hyperbole you can throw around. It's about building a program with a realistic plan.

[PonySnob]

I'd rather be ranked and have people wondering if we are any good than winless and removing all doubt before conference play....

Thank you, a dose of reality.

Why play two P-5 teams non conference in football? If we are at the point where we need non-conference credit for rankings, then sure. Until then, rack up the wins and play one good team.

Sure they are doubting Marshall, but bad publicity is better than no publicity. Being talked about at all is better than being left out of the conversation.

The only part of the conversation there was that had anything to do with Marshall, was how weak their schedule was.

[CalallenStang]

Follow the TCU model


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[SMU Football Blog]

Follow the TCU model


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I agree, but it depends on what you think the TCU model is. This year, TCU had 3 nonconference games: Samford, SMU and Minnesota. Much was made of the Minnesota game, but I see a middle of the road big 10 team that has been below average more often than not.

To hear some, we shouldn't schedule Samford. Well, TCU did. TCU will again. TCU has scheduled plenty of I-AA games over the years.