For those wondering about our bowl chances...

[MustangStealth]

I would rather be 4-3 at 15,000 than 2-5 at 25,000...or whatever their record is.

Unfortunately, we're 4-3 at 14,000, which means we are in danger of getting probation (= no bowls) if we don't get it up to 15,000.

[mrydel]

I would rather be 4-3 at 15,000 than 2-5 at 25,000...or whatever their record is.

Unfortunately, we're 4-3 at 14,000, which means we are in danger of getting probation (= no bowls) if we don't get it up to 15,000.

That is just not true. Please do not start a rumor like that.

[MustangStealth]

http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/governance/division_I/DI_Membership_Info/Information/FBD

Q. What is the penalty for noncompliance with any of the Football Bowl Subdivision membership requirements?

A. An institution that fails to satisfy any of the Football Bowl Subdivision membership requirements set forth in Bylaws 20.9.7.1 through 20.9.7.4 shall receive notice of such noncompliance. After receiving notice, any further noncompliance with the Football Bowl Subdivision requirements within a 10-year period shall cause the institution to be placed in restrictive membership. While in restricted membership, an institution shall not be eligible for post season football competition. At the conclusion of the one-year period, the institution shall be granted membership in its preferred division, provided the institution complies with the division?s criteria. If the member does not meet the criteria of any division at the conclusion of the restricted membership period, the institution may continue to be classified as a Division I member in sports other than football, provided the institution satisfies the Division I membership requirements set forth in Bylaws 20.9.1 through 20.9.5. A Division I member that loses Football Bowl Subdivision status must comply with the multidivision classification requirements (a two-year process) set forth in Bylaw 20.4 to regain such status. [Bylaws 20.9.7.5.1 and 20.9.7.5.2]

[MustangStealth]

If we miss the minimum attendance requirement twice in a 10 year period, we would go into restricted membership, which means we are not eligible for postseason games.

[docabel]

It is 2 such violations in a 10 year period, and you will get a "warning letter" from the NCAA if you do miss the number. Correct me if I am wrong, but it don't beleive that we have ever received such a warning.

Three things that I see helping our attendance as the year goes on.

1. Homecoming - always a guaranteed boost of attendance of several thousand with more alumni and parents.

2. A winning record late in the season. Nothing draws fans SMU/Dallas alike like a winner.

3. Proximity to Houston/Tulsa and the likelihood that they will bring more fans to the games.

[mrydel]

It is 2 such violations in a 10 year period, and you will get a "warning letter" from the NCAA if you do miss the number. Correct me if I am wrong, but it don't beleive that we have ever received such a warning.

Three things that I see helping our attendance as the year goes on.

1. Homecoming - always a guaranteed boost of attendance of several thousand with more alumni and parents.

2. A winning record late in the season. Nothing draws fans SMU/Dallas alike like a winner.

3. Proximity to Houston/Tulsa and the likelihood that they will bring more fans to the games.

This is what I meant. IF it were to happen it would be over a several year period during which a large donation could buy enough tickets to take care of the matter. Or we would schedule "Humongous State University" to come to Dallas, fill the Cotton Bowl and all would be well for the NCAA. This penalty will never happen to SMU while it is a division 1 school. The way the original statement was made would make some on this board to think IF we were to become bowl eligible this year and our attendence continued low that we would not be allowed to go. That is not true.

[MustangStealth]

I never said that we would be put on probation this year. My point was that as of now we are on our way to step 1 in the process.

[westexSMU]

Our best deal would be the ARMED FORCES BOWL, in Ft. Worth which would probably be against the froggies. Lets face it , a game with TCU has great local appeal and we would bring several thousand fans to Ft. Worth. Sure going to another place would be more fun in alot of respects but for recruiting etc. it would be impressive to play our first post DP Bowl here in the DFW area. Predictions ? who knows ? the froggies need to start winning again to make it and Willis and Company need to win alot more.

[Col. Nathan R. Jessep]

which big team did rice play at home to bump their average up so high?

Last year, we had Baylor and TCU at home to bump ours up.

They played Texas in a "home" game in Reliant Stadium.

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When the Jerry Jones Stadium opens, we should play OU or A&M in Arlington.

Of course, the Ags will probably get destracted @ 6 Flags and never make it to kickoff!
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[EastStang]

If its between SMU and UAB for a bowl bid. SMU gets it if they beat UAB and also UAB has as bad a travelling rep as we do. The good news is that its been so long since we went bowling that a bowl sponsor might try asking us to see if our bowl starved fans turn out.

[J.T.supporta]

I see UCF and UAB finishing their years at 6-6 each. Giving the East 3 bowl eligible teams.

The west will have Tulsa, Houston, UTEP and us as bowl eligible teams.

The only problem is that CUSA has 5 tie-ins this year with Bowls and if those 7 teams that I see go 6-6 or better, we might get left out of a post-season.

It is still TOO EARLY to talk about bowls. We can officially start talking about bowls after the UAB game.

[EastStang]

The other issue which could be huge is conference standings. It looks like most teams have at least five conference games left. If we win out (not likely but one can dream) for example, we could be co-champions of the west and go to the Conference Championship game which if we won would give us a Liberty Bowl bid. There is still the possibility (although it is remote) that an eastern team could end up with a losing record but still win the division and would still have a losing record even after the conference championship game. Would the Liberty Bowl decline the invite? In other words, let's worry about beating ECU on the road this weekend. They beat UVa. so they are not creampuffs.

[J.T.supporta]

if you win the Conference Championship you get an AUTOMATIC BID, no matter what your record is. It is like in the NCAA March MADNESS tourney...win your championship and you are IN.

I dont see Southern Miss having a lossing record and I dont see us making the CUSA championship game over tulsa, one can dream like you said.

The better we do in conference with a 6-6 record will help us.

However, BOWL OFFICIALS will always be looking at our loss to UNT which will hurt us if we just go 6-6. Thats why I think 7-5 is a near lock for a bowl bid.

[Peruna2001]

which big team did rice play at home to bump their average up so high?

Last year, we had Baylor and TCU at home to bump ours up.

They played Texas in a "home" game in Reliant Stadium.

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When the Jerry Jones Stadium opens, we should play OU or A&M in Arlington.

Of course, the Ags will probably get destracted @ 6 Flags and never make it to kickoff!
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We've already schedule the Ags for 2012 here. I would guess that we would probably go to either the Cotton Bowl or the new Cowboys stadium for that game. It would be nice to get some other big teams on our 2008-2011 schedules for home games though. Maybe Arkansas and have the game in Shreveport again.

[SMU Football Blog]

Our best deal would be the ARMED FORCES BOWL, in Ft. Worth which would probably be against the froggies. Lets face it , a game with TCU has great local appeal and we would bring several thousand fans to Ft. Worth. Sure going to another place would be more fun in alot of respects but for recruiting etc. it would be impressive to play our first post DP Bowl here in the DFW area. Predictions ? who knows ? the froggies need to start winning again to make it and Willis and Company need to win alot more.

Don't hold your breath on the Fort Worth bowl. With all due respect to the good people of Fort Worth that raised me, those folks that run TCU de facto run that bowl and they sure think they are extra special. If SMU were slotted for that bowl, they would do everything in their power to sabotage it. It would be all under the guise of tourism: SMU fans won't spend money in Ft. Worth; they'll just go to the game and leave.

I am not sure what they would do, but they would certainly try.

Be nice for me, though. I wouldn't have to pay for tickets.