New Big 12 Thread

[bsturman]

Where the hell are the stories on the SMU Power players???

[Pony81]

If the Trammel article is correct - and the expansion bit is nothing but a shakedown of ESPN and Fox then SMU's chances have improved. UH has the ability to beat OU and Texas while dragging down the status / academic profile of the Big 12. UT regents hate UH - they see it as a two bit commuter school that will take the academic at risk players- a la Boise State - and beat them on the field. That's what UH did in the SWC days and UT hasn't forgotten it. I think Trammel is correct - UT and OU see the Big 12 as their private play thing and will work together to get what they want.

SMU will win 2 out of10 football games against UT and OU, can play in front of big Dallas alum groups, bring academic credibility, and be a low cost venue for non revenue sports ( busing the volleyball team to Dallas is much cheaper for UT and OU than flying them to Cincy). So, we represent a very good value proposition if in fact this is simply a money grab until the GOR expires in 2025.

[redpony]

Where the hell are the stories on the SMU Power players???

Shhhh! don't bother them. RGT is giving them lessons on feeding crickets.

[Stallion]

On the other hand all 33 SMU Fans that have bothered to buy tickets to the Baylor game should march on Waco to prove how much we deserve to be in the Big 12

Lock-Arms!!!

In the final analysis the SMU students, alumni and friends in the community haven't sufficiently supported the program in 60 years for us to be included among the P5

[redpony]

In the final analysis the SMU students, alumni and friends in the community haven't sufficiently supported the program in 60 years for us to be included among the P5

Nor have RGT and the admin made an effort to see that our sports programs were sufficiently successful to earn the support of the Dallas fans and alums.
Very simply put- people will not support losing teams playing schools that have or generate no local interest.

[peruna81]

If the Trammel article is correct - and the expansion bit is nothing but a shakedown of ESPN and Fox then SMU's chances have improved. UH has the ability to beat OU and Texas while dragging down the status / academic profile of the Big 12. UT regents hate UH - they see it as a two bit commuter school that will take the academic at risk players- a la Boise State - and beat them on the field. That's what UH did in the SWC days and UT hasn't forgotten it. I think Trammel is correct - UT and OU see the Big 12 as their private play thing and will work together to get what they want.

SMU will win 2 out of10 football games against UT and OU, can play in front of big Dallas alum groups, bring academic credibility, and be a low cost venue for non revenue sports ( busing the volleyball team to Dallas is much cheaper for UT and OU than flying them to Cincy). So, we represent a very good value proposition if in fact this is simply a money grab until the GOR expires in 2025.

While I would hope that the powers that be in the Big 12 would take the long view you have suggested, I am under no illusion that this in fact will be the case. The Big 12 has both an identity crisis as well as a financial crisis looming. With no palatable network, they feel that there is a hemorrhage of money to other venues. Couple that with the image of Baylor and the potential financial fallout from that bit of stain, they are looking for an immediate source of revenue. Does UH provide that? Probably not as much as the perception, but certainly more than SMU.
Long term, SMU would be a fit in the Big 12 or PAC 12 or ACC...but we aren't dealing with a long-term view here, anymore than there was a long-term view with the breakup of the old SWC. Everything happens because of money, and although we have a boatload, those in the P5 have or will have more in the coming days.

[leopold]

If the Trammel article is correct - and the expansion bit is nothing but a shakedown of ESPN and Fox then SMU's chances have improved. UH has the ability to beat OU and Texas while dragging down the status / academic profile of the Big 12. UT regents hate UH - they see it as a two bit commuter school that will take the academic at risk players- a la Boise State - and beat them on the field. That's what UH did in the SWC days and UT hasn't forgotten it. I think Trammel is correct - UT and OU see the Big 12 as their private play thing and will work together to get what they want.

SMU will win 2 out of10 football games against UT and OU, can play in front of big Dallas alum groups, bring academic credibility, and be a low cost venue for non revenue sports ( busing the volleyball team to Dallas is much cheaper for UT and OU than flying them to Cincy). So, we represent a very good value proposition if in fact this is simply a money grab until the GOR expires in 2025.

1. If it is, in fact, a shakedown of the networks for more money and not an honest attempt to build the conference for the long run then go ahead and stick a fork in the Big XII. Regardless of joining this round or not, expansion/realignment is going to go on and be an even bigger deal in the coming decade or so. The problems and shortcomings facing the Big XII are going to drive Texas and Oklahoma away and a couple more million for a few more years will not help the stability of the conference or give them a better chance at the CFP.
2. They problem with the idea of bringing in SMU simply as a nice, sweet, 'good' private school who will get thumped on the field and be a short drive for their alum is that there are already two of those in the conference - Baylor and TCU - and they are winning left and right, and Baylor is pulling an 'SMU' and being idiots about it.

Either they come up with a few more schools this round based around long term potential for the conference - however they choose to define that potential - or all ten schools need to start looking for new homes NOW.

[leopold]

On the other hand all 33 SMU Fans that have bothered to buy tickets to the Baylor game should march on Waco to prove how much we deserve to be in the Big 12

Lock-Arms!!!

In the final analysis the SMU students, alumni and friends in the community haven't sufficiently supported the program in 60 years for us to be included among the P5

33 huh?

Sounds like the same number who post regularly on this board.

Might be preaching to the choir.

[Grant Carter]

On the other hand all 33 SMU Fans that have bothered to buy tickets to the Baylor game should march on Waco to prove how much we deserve to be in the Big 12

Lock-Arms!!!

In the final analysis the SMU students, alumni and friends in the community haven't sufficiently supported the program in 60 years for us to be included among the P5

33 huh?

Sounds like the same number who post regularly on this board.

Might be preaching to the choir.

I see your point but it seems likely that a number of people who bought tickets for the game also bought for themselves plus a family member or two so the 33 would probably translate into a smaller number of posters who bought tickets.

[smusic 00]

On the other hand all 33 SMU Fans that have bothered to buy tickets to the Baylor game should march on Waco to prove how much we deserve to be in the Big 12

Lock-Arms!!!

In the final analysis the SMU students, alumni and friends in the community haven't sufficiently supported the program in 60 years for us to be included among the P5

33 huh?

Sounds like the same number who post regularly on this board.

Might be preaching to the choir.

I see your point but it seems likely that a number of people who bought tickets for the game also bought for themselves plus a family member or two so the 33 would probably translate into a smaller number of posters who bought tickets.

That's it, I'm selling yours!

[Mexmustang]

There is still no tangible evidence that we have a plan to join any P-5 conference. Most of us (those that have followed SMU for the past 40 years, believe that we have a plan, and it is to remain mediocre in a mediocre conference so we can be a Big Fish in a small pond. Let's be honest, leopard's that have had spots for 20 years, don't suddenly grow stripes in 90 days!

In 21 years SMU has not prepared athletics to make a jump forward. Let's see, after being abandoned by the SWC/Big 12, we helped form the WAC. Shortly after we were left in the remnants of the WAC, as the Mountain West was formed, we help form a new CUSA only to see it disintegrate, and we joined the Big East only to see 13 schools quickly abandon (the basketball schools after Tulane was admitted without their approval) that conference forming the AAC. Now the top six schools have all announced their goals to leave and join any P-5 that will have them (seven, if we really are in the mix). When this thing is said and done SMU will likely be in the Sunbelt, with the AAC moniker.

Our super-secret undercover plan to suddenly politic the Big 12 is just another excuse for being caught with our "pants down" again as the world changes. Remember, we weren't even good enough to follow TCU to the Mountain West! Just who will the Big 12 exclude from consideration for stating their plan to join it? Houston has been as vocal as any school and currently they look like the winner coming into the clubhouse turn. "Super Secret", believe that and I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.

The so-called Master Plan was disclosed prematurely, before we had the donors lined up, simply because our Administration got wind of some very angry board members of the Letterman's Club, Mustang Club and Board, that knew we had done nothing to promote our case to the Big 12. Simply ask any SMU Board member when Turner ever mentioned that Big 12 membership was ever a priority or university goal. Certainly not prior to the last 60-90 days. Not to mention that Chad (and June) were promised an IPF. 18 months into Chad's contract and no ground breaking and no money. Start by Christmas and he will have been here for three plus years before the IPF will be available. Priorities? Why do major projects in the country club sports have priorities over football? Tennis, Swimming, Golf, Soccer, La Cross don't get you in the Big 12.

There were only three things different from the plan we reviewed last October: First, there is not start date, before it was to be July 1, 2016; second the promised IPF is now available to the entire university, not exclusive to football; and Turner has made it public, putting his own reputation out there publically. But, in continuing to offer naming opportunities for the Tennis facility and Moody's remodel, it simply re-confirmed that both projects were way over budget and we are still almost $20-30,000,000 short of even completing these projects funding. In other words, we are not any further along than we were almost a year ago. A 'paper' plan would have been far less important than having a promising basketball program under LB. Yeah, I'm disgusted in how that was handled, you don't offer a coach like LB a reduced salary and "[deleted] around" for almost a year in coming to terms. Think Miami Heat and how they treated their long-time star Dwaine Wade. LB and our basketball program was the only thing in our athletic quiver and his peg was knocked down because it was higher than that of our administration's.

There are several reasons SMU fans have stopped showing up--but the first is losing, we don't have a product we can be proud of, second is the coaching carousel, exacerbated by poor hires and broken promises to both coaching staffs and fans. Just how many times do we simply blame the coaches but never the lack of support from the administration. Just remember, before JJ we didn't even pay our coaches a competitive salary. Phil's salary almost doubled after being let go as SMU's head coach becoming a Baylor coordinator.

Quick, name one category either academic or athletic that TCU has not either closed the gap or passed SMU in the past 20 years. We know about athletics, but I haven't even found a single category in US News that they haven't closed the gap academically. I'm not suggesting they have passed us, but that they have closed the gap in almost every category, and actually passed us in one or two.

Endowment? They started way behind and are now equal or have exceeded SMU.

If you can't successfully manage an athletic department how do you manage the academic side of the university? Musical chairs hasn't been limited to athletic coaches, it extends to the academic side as well.

[Grant Carter]

Remind me again how Tulane got into the big east without the other schools approving their entry? Did they just sort of show up to the meetings and it was too awkward to ask them to leave?

[peruna81]

MexM, amen to 98.63% of your well thought out rant...I think the disclosure was timed to give the appearance that we WERE taking the appropriate steps toward facility/equity with a P5 program.

[tristatecoog]

Mexmustang, hasn't the admin been pretty supportive since hiring June Jones? I've read that the AD runs a nearly $20MM annual deficit. Maybe a lot of that is the full cost of tuition. Even if SMU were consistently as good as Baylor and TCU in football, would the Big 12 expand with a third team within 100 miles of DFW? The play might be with UH and SMU to the Pac or ACC.

[Pony Boss]

On the other hand all 33 SMU Fans that have bothered to buy tickets to the Baylor game should march on Waco to prove how much we deserve to be in the Big 12

Lock-Arms!!!

In the final analysis the SMU students, alumni and friends in the community haven't sufficiently supported the program in 60 years for us to be included among the P5

60 years?