Ruminations on our IPF

[SMU_Alum11]

The point I was trying to make is that we have too few opportunities to compete on a level playing field with P5. This is one of those opportunities.

Also, overlooking men's track could prove to be shortsighted. If we ever want to move to a P5, you might want to have a facility where your men's track team could train. You might also want a facility that would appeal to potential multi-sport athletes like Margus.

Yeah, the original version was $160,000,000. Too many damn cheapskates on here for that kind of project

If we got the contractor that's doing I-35, I'm sure they knock that price down by 50% but it wouldn't get done for like 10 years....

[mtrout]

I totally agree and I am honestly not trying to be a troll.

Coaches have talked to recruits and shown them renderings of this awesome indoor/outdoor football practice master plan for over a year now. It's like telling your kid you're gonna get him an NSX and you get him a Camaro instead.

I guess they feel like they have to crack their piggybank now and move. So be it.

[No Quarter]

I have no idea about the distances / travel time - walking, university shuttle, whatever - are from housing, food lines, classrooms, etc., to the IPF on the campus of any former SWC opponent or teams in the AAC. I am sure that that a site on campus is at a minimum same as or better than the fifteen minutes minimum each way (counting assembly and loading) to/from the HPHS facility that has been used in the past. But for some athletes that half hour may be important and the facility will be OURS.

I do not think it will make much difference in recruiting or even practice results. Some former players have said as much in the several years of discussion about the IPF. I suspect that the resurrection of the baseball program would do more for recruiting although two sport lettermen are passing rare nowadays, but that's a different discussion really. I also don't see that it gets us into a P5 conference.

I'll give RGT one thing. I do think he tried to get SMU into a power conference only to see it evaporate when so many football schools and basketball schools bailed. From a different angle I think RGT will be remembered for building buildings - including at length the IPF - rather than programs. There is a similar sentiment in some evangelical churches. Some preachers are remembered for the buildings erected during their time as the pastor and not for contributions for missionary work.

Having said that, my thanks to those who have funded the sports programs and now the IPF. I hope some day they will be remembered for their deep feelings about SMU and also their interest in advancing Dallas by furthering SMU sports. IMO the complaints about the IPF being inadequate are without foundation - an IPF is on the way and it is OURS.

[gostangs]

The point is, why are we throwing more money down the toilet on it? If it's "as good as" then it is merely staving off the inevitable. It won't help us with a new conference and won't really show serious commitment to anyone. If "as good as" was good enough, I think concerned members of this board would be thrilled. However, yet again, we are years late, dollars short for us to have it do the good it needs to. All this demonstrates is that we as an administration or as a university cannot or will not compete at this level seriously and we're just throwing money away that could be spent improving the university where we can and should be competing. As good as tech, tcu , texas, baylor, then it loses it's recruiting pull because those schools play in bigger stadiums to larger crowds and at least on paper with a chance at a national title. This will be an expensive missed opportunity to compete in one of the few places where we can, facilities.

Aside from the IPF which, I agree, is not a huge deal though potentially a waste of $30 million (which is a pretty big deal), the way it has been done is illustrative of the bigger problems with the current leadership in all areas. Even the way it was done smells of a bait-and-switch from the B12 plan (which had a whiff of fraud about it to begin with) and when they did get approval, there was no fanfare or explanations and designs to get behind to encourage us to stroke checks.

You aren't making sense. The IPF is basically checking a box, and we would have been just checking a box if it was 50M or 30M. Its not like the B12 is going to say "hey - have you seen the track inside SMU's IPF that nobody uses? - its so cool we need to ask them into our conference!" What we are building is more than good enough to do the job intended - and is as good as almost anything in the state. We are taking away a negative, and continuing to keep ourselves as close to the hoop as we can in case there is a future opportunity. Those that have the wherewithal to do something about this were briefed on both plans. The second plan came directly from the resistance to over spending on the first one. That's good stewardship.

[Julian Grendel]

gostangs makes a lot of sense in this threat. Refreshing contrast to the "how big a pile of bs would I have to buy into" theories in the rest of the thread.

SMU will go from "well they don't have an IPF. They have to go HPHS to practice when there's bad weather" to "man, the weather is bad. Guess they're practicing inside"

box. checked.

[smu2004]

Is this thread parody? Undoubtedly, it's one of the dumbest in the history of this board (And yes, I understand the magnitude of that statement). You could build another Taj Mahal and 99.9% of kids w/ UT offers are going to UT still irrespective of whatever we build to practice in when it is raining.

I could go on and on about the overall absurdity spouted in this thread, but I simply don't have the will power and/or constitution to do so. Build the kids a place to practice indoors when it is raining and be done with it.

[perunapower100]

Obviously, facilities are huge. However, we built Ford Stadium and no real success came with that quality construction. Amon Carter Stadium at TCU was renovated AFTER TCU hired a great coach and won for YEARS. Moody is fantastic now but what drove the attendance increase was winning and having the right coach to sell the program. We have to start winning period. We have to start scheduling games against quality opponents. Houston Baptist as a home non-conference game in 2018? Seriously? Regarding the IPF location, I'm glad that the IPF will not be constructed on the current soccer field/track. The renderings looked cheap and ruined that open, pretty part of the campus. I'd like the new IPF to resemble the architecture of the old Natatorium facade (especially the side that will face Bishop Blvd). I think we will all feel better after seeing the renderings (and all of the amenities) of the proposed IPF to make sure it blends and not overpowers the space.

[footballdad]

Is this thread parody? Undoubtedly, it's one of the dumbest in the history of this board (And yes, I understand the magnitude of that statement). You could build another Taj Mahal and 99.9% of kids w/ UT offers are going to UT still irrespective of whatever we build to practice in when it is raining.

I could go on and on about the overall absurdity spouted in this thread, but I simply don't have the will power and/or constitution to do so. Build the kids a place to practice indoors when it is raining and be done with it.

Exactly.....end of thread.

No amount of $$$$$ spent on an IPF is going to help win recruits vs P5, or help SMU get a P5 invite.

[Water Pony]

The larger IPF would have been nice, but at the expense of a competitive track and soccer field. I would think that having the new facility centrally located on Bishop and Binkley at an acceptable cost to the donors feels like a big win. It will provide indoor options for football and other events, when needed.

As for recruiting, two things matter. A competitive and winning program and crowds that fill Ford Stadium. The students have demonstrated that they will support BB. Getting them into the FB stadium before Kick-off and staying until the end will more for recruiting than a Taj Mahal IPF. Passion for SMU and all its teams should be an trademark for everything we do. Game Day needs to be exciting, which will pull Dallas fans.

BTW, bringing back Men’s Track & Field would also be a plus. I feel a need for speed.

[horsemanx]

As for recruiting, two things matter. A competitive and winning program and crowds that fill Ford Stadium. The students have demonstrated that they will support BB. Getting them into the FB stadium before Kick-off and staying until the end will more for recruiting than a Taj Mahal IPF. Passion for SMU and all its teams should be an trademark for everything we do. Game Day needs to be exciting, which will pull Dallas fans.

An IPF is definitely behind big crowds and uniforms in recruiting, but having one sure will help!

[East Coast Mustang]

Yes, it will be nice to be able to “check the box” with an IPF on campus. No, it’s not an Earth-shattering development for recruiting, but if you don’t have one, you’re way behind in the arms race and other schools will use it to recruit against you.

[peruna81]

I'm sending my $29.99 in today!

SMU to the Big 12, uh, no...the SE-C...nope again...uhhh...

[mtrout]

[HubbaHubba]

Gawd, that's fugly!

[Charleston Pony]

functional and consistent with campus so they are they not still leading the way in CUSA?