Live from the FedEx Forum...

[Alaric]

I'll summarily apologize for all the SMU idiots who pull out the "elitist card" when we get thrashed. Check out our attendance and you'll know see that the rest of Dallas doesn't like this crappy attitude either.

[jkflamebo]

i have no idea how you corollate our "crappy attitude" with smu sports attendance, that makes a lot of sense genius!

[FordtoTolbert]

Drew, thanks for helping me make my point, I sincerely appreciate your assistence.

[saprissa13]

...when it comes to basketball, SMU will never be at the elite level Memphis is...all the academics in the world won't help you.

Since when does winning the coveted NIT title classify you as an 'elite' program? Making the NIT and NCAA tourneys a couple times really doesn't impress me. That's not to say our program is any more elite at this point in time, but a lot can happen in 7 years, just like it did in memphis. Simply because you went from losing records in conference USA pre-calipari to handily winning it once all the 'elite' programs had left, does not give you the legitimate authority to question our future prospects. On another note, it is amazing how calipari managed to graduate a full 9 of his last 14 seniors!! Then again i guess anything is an improvement over the reported 0% graduation rate enjoyed during the late 90's.

[gomemphistigers1]

...when it comes to basketball, SMU will never be at the elite level Memphis is...all the academics in the world won't help you.

Since when does winning the coveted NIT title classify you as an 'elite' program? Making the NIT and NCAA tourneys a couple times really doesn't impress me. That's not to say our program is any more elite at this point in time, but a lot can happen in 7 years, just like it did in memphis. Simply because you went from losing records in conference USA pre-calipari to handily winning it once all the 'elite' programs had left, does not give you the legitimate authority to question our future prospects. On another note, it is amazing how calipari managed to graduate a full 9 of his last 14 seniors!! Then again i guess anything is an improvement over the reported 0% graduation rate enjoyed during the late 90's.

yeah, Memphis has an NIT title...but that's no big deal.

Memphis has played in an NCAA national championship game...we have been to multiple Final Fours, multiple elite eights, sweet sixteens and so on...that's what makes our program an elite one...look at our recruits, facilities, coaches, budgets...all top notch.

the losing season and the zero percent grad rate is why we brought in John Calipari...most will tell you that was a true low point for our program and we rectified the situation by bringing in a hard-working, big name coach in Cal.

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

[saprissa13]

Memphis has played in an NCAA national championship game...we have been to multiple Final Fours, multiple elite eights, sweet sixteens and so on.

I'll admit, I have to plead ignorance on this one. Most of the events you are referencing happened prior to my birth.

[EastStang]

We have a long way to go in basketball. Coach Doherty said it would be five years. We saw what a very good team looks like compared to our team. Its nice to know where these guys are. We will get better as Doh gets his players in. And we have some basketball traditions too. A final four appearance: A short lived #1 ranking in the Koncak era; several first round NBA draft choices, Koncak and Sasser; and a current NBA player Quentin Ross with the Clippers. He is probably the best defensive player in the NBA. He drove Nash crazy during the playoffs last year. We have a coach with a lot of credibility and a great base to start from. We can promise these kids and their parents a first class education and the ability to rub elbows with the hottest women on the planet and some of the elite of American business. Oh and we have more alumni owners with Super Bowl trophies. That's a good trivia question is there any other university that has more alums who own teams that won the Super Bowl during their ownership years.

[Alaric]

i have no idea how you corollate our "crappy attitude" with smu sports attendance, that makes a lot of sense genius!

I'll break it down for you. Many Dallasites think SMU students & alum are rich, spoiled, elitist punks so they don't relate, don't care and many don't want SMU to succeed because of that. Get out of 75205/75225.

I'm not talking about th [deleted]/whining here on a msg board. That just shows people care.

[RobmandtheMemphisFan]

I, for one, am very proud of Memphis winning the NIT. Whether or not it is the best competition, it is still not an easy task. I am also proud of my school. I am very aware that there are more selective, private schools in the league - SMU, Rice, Tulane... but Memphis really does provide an opportunity for kids with potential but limited means. I have never seen a school with a stronger scholarship program than Memphis.

I know very little about SMU, except that there is at least one fan that, despite his superior pedigree and intellegence, is not aware that, in 1994, the name of my alma mater changed from Memphis State University to the University of Memphis.

In response to the "Memphis High" comment, the insutling high school reference of choice for SEC fans in the Memphis area is "Tiger High".