How Much is a Season Worth?

[leopold]

So, the Big XII has talked about expansion. Only I don't think they know, as a group, what they want, else they would have already picked and invited the schools. It's so bad, in fact, that they've said they will end up interviewing 18 schools or so. As a result, I have a hard time believing they are going to be able to decide in the next couple of months on two schools to invite, if they even decide to expand. I'd argue they need to wait until at least the first of the year to get the chance to really get a grasp on things before they pick someone.

In the mean time, our football team is expected to improve over last year. Most publications have us picked to win about four games, which is legitimate improvement, and believe we are on the upswing. We've just announced the plans for brand new IPF, and our coaching staff is already being considered for other jobs. I don't believe there is an AAC team we absolutely cannot beat -even Houston - Memphis has key losses, we get TCU at home, and even Baylor is falling apart, so five wins is a realistic goal, and we can hope for more without sounding stupid. The team, which actually has talent at key positions, could improve ahead of schedule and not only win the games it should win but also pull an upset or two, going bowling if they do.

This is important because the biggest issue that we face in terms of conference membership is how bad our football team has been. But that may be changing for the better, and a winning season with a key upset or two may change someone's mind. T. Boone Pickins, for example, has said that he would be in favor of us if we weren't so bad on the field. Memphis, with their two good years and one upset of Ole Miss, has become a Big XII possibility over the last year despite the basketball team tanking and no real improvement in facilities. Houston opened a brand new stadium last year and continues to win but has other issues.

So my question is this: How much can we improve in the Big XII's eyes in one football season?

What if we do go on roll, catch a few breaks, upset a few teams, go bowling, or even challenge for a conference championship with a young team? Would an athletic director, university president or influential booster take note?
What if we beat North Texas, Liberty, Tulane, Memphis, Tulsa, East Carolina, and, say a Houston, TCU, or Baylor? Do we move ahead of those programs like Memphis, Tulane, and Houston who seemingly have a lead on us right now?

With a clock possibly ticking, what can be accomplished in one season?

[Dukie]

Well, Memphis is talked about as a top-notch candidate partly because of their current football prowess--which covers exactly two seasons, 9-3 in 2014 and 10-2 in 2015. In the five seasons before that, they averaged 2.4 wins per year. So yeah, a couple of winning seasons help a lot. (So does FedEx money, but SMU has its own money.)

[whitwiki]

I don't think our team is better than Houston. 4 wins would be a good season for us.

[BleedingRed+Blue]

A large part of Memphis's recent football success is now backing up Mark Sanchez in Denver.

[Pony Boss]

Well, Memphis is talked about as a top-notch candidate partly because of their current football prowess--which covers exactly two seasons, 9-3 in 2014 and 10-2 in 2015. In the five seasons before that, they averaged 2.4 wins per year. So yeah, a couple of winning seasons help a lot. (So does FedEx money, but SMU has its own money.)

10-3 in 2014 and 9-4 in 2015

[Pony Boss]

And I don't believe Fedex shareholders are too fond of the company wasting money on a college football program and see nothing in return just to make it's CEO happy that his alma matter is there. At least Nike Makes money off sponsoring Oregon

[Dukie]

Well, Memphis is talked about as a top-notch candidate partly because of their current football prowess--which covers exactly two seasons, 9-3 in 2014 and 10-2 in 2015. In the five seasons before that, they averaged 2.4 wins per year. So yeah, a couple of winning seasons help a lot. (So does FedEx money, but SMU has its own money.)

10-3 in 2014 and 9-4 in 2015

You are correct, thanks. Not as good a winning percentage as I was recalling off the top of my head.

[Digetydog]

And I don't believe Fedex shareholders are too fond of the company wasting money on a college football program and see nothing in return just to make it's CEO happy that his alma matter is there. At least Nike Makes money off sponsoring Oregon

Because of the way FedEx operates, they are committed (for better or worse) to Memphis in a big way. Because they need to be able to attract and retain good people, they have made huge investments in Memphis and in Memphis State. Bottom line, Memphis State's growth/improvement is part of FedEx's business plan.

[PonyTime]

And I don't believe Fedex shareholders are too fond of the company wasting money on a college football program and see nothing in return just to make it's CEO happy that his alma matter is there. At least Nike Makes money off sponsoring Oregon

Because of the way FedEx operates, they are committed (for better or worse) to Memphis in a big way. Because they need to be able to attract and retain good people, they have made huge investments in Memphis and in Memphis State. Bottom line, Memphis State's growth/improvement is part of FedEx's business plan.

Good thing they just relocated the new HQ of one of their largest subs "FedEX Office" to Plano when they could have moved it to Memphis and hired all Memphis State grads to run it.

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2015/07/fedex-office-shows-off-its-new-world-headquarters-in-plano.html/

I guess all of the Memphis State Grads are hired for the important positions:

[Digetydog]

And I don't believe Fedex shareholders are too fond of the company wasting money on a college football program and see nothing in return just to make it's CEO happy that his alma matter is there. At least Nike Makes money off sponsoring Oregon

Because of the way FedEx operates, they are committed (for better or worse) to Memphis in a big way. Because they need to be able to attract and retain good people, they have made huge investments in Memphis and in Memphis State. Bottom line, Memphis State's growth/improvement is part of FedEx's business plan.

Good thing they just relocated the new HQ of one of their largest subs "FedEX Office" to Plano when they could have moved it to Memphis and hired all Memphis State grads to run it.

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2015/07/fedex-office-shows-off-its-new-world-headquarters-in-plano.html/

I guess all of the Memphis State Grads are hired for the important positions:

Just pointing out that their support of Memphis State is not entirely altruistic.

[leopold]

There's a reason why Fred Smith is a billionaire and legendary businessman - he donates things and makes people better while making himself better as well. And Thank God for it - Memphis needs it.

But if we went, say, 8-4 would it actually have an impact on us getting in?

[mrydel]

Considering they said a decision will be made in September or October I doubt that it will matter what we do this year.