The path to relevance...what if?

[kent dorfman]

"If we just made a play here or a play there" or "If we just get one or two more good recruits" or "If these guys pan out" or "If I could turn whiskey into wine" then we'll go 7-5 and get to a bowl and then the next season we'll win 10 games, win conference and make the top 25! Is that going to be the case? We went 6-6 in 2006 and now look at us.

Yes, if I could just win the lottery tomorrow I'd never have to worry about debt ever again in my life. But as it stands I have school loans to pay off.

If I had a better attention span, I could have gotten into an Ivy League school. But I'm distractable and never really studied until college so my high school grades were nothing great.

No expectations. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever.

[The XtC]

Who exactly did Rice beat. Do they really deserve national respect when there are 50 teams in the country who would beat the crap out of Rice. The non-BCS schools that have become nationally relevant all have one thing in common. A big upset of a Top 25 BCS school early in the season. ECU became nationally relevant this year. TCU has repeated upsets in September over Tech and OU and others. Utah has has early upsets of BCS powers like Michigan and Oregon. Boise and BYU have had their early season upsets. Fresno St. has earned some national respect with a long tradition of playing a tough schedule and winning their share. That's how the Nation sits up and takes notice of a non-BCS schools. Pillow Fights in a weak CUSA ain't going to get national respect. Playing Texas State, Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston are never going to gain a school respect.

The upset that got TCU noticed was beating USC in the Sun Bowl. That was what really got things rolling for the frogs. Until then they were just another middle of the pack team in a mid-major conference that barely qualified for a minor bowl. Beating USC opened people's eyes, and started their string of Bowl appearances, etc.

[RGV Pony]

The upset that got TCU noticed was beating USC in the Sun Bowl. That was what really got things rolling for the frogs. Until then they were just another middle of the pack team in a mid-major conference that barely qualified for a minor bowl. Beating USC opened people's eyes, and started their string of Bowl appearances, etc.

I would also represent that the Sun Bowl win by TCU was a culmination of an effort similar to what we've begun here. I think it was their AD Hyman (no kidding) who spearheaded the process, first hiring Billy Tubbs...then luring Fran from NM. I remember there being some back and forth as to whether TCU deserved that bid, as there were other teams with better records. What were they, 6-6 that year? 6-6, go to the Sun Bowl and play USC. For us, 6-6 gets us the New Orleans Bowl and a game against Middle Tennessee St.

[The XtC]

Someone with a better memory than I, remind me what it was in the early 80s when SMU had the longest winning streak in the nation...how many w's was it?

23 games. Almost 2 full seasons. Ironically, UT was at both the front and back end of the streak.

[The XtC]

The upset that got TCU noticed was beating USC in the Sun Bowl. That was what really got things rolling for the frogs. Until then they were just another middle of the pack team in a mid-major conference that barely qualified for a minor bowl. Beating USC opened people's eyes, and started their string of Bowl appearances, etc.

I would also represent that the Sun Bowl win by TCU was a culmination of an effort similar to what we've begun here. I think it was their AD Hyman (no kidding) who spearheaded the process, first hiring Billy Tubbs...then luring Fran from NM. I remember there being some back and forth as to whether TCU deserved that bid, as there were other teams with better records. What were they, 6-6 that year? 6-6, go to the Sun Bowl and play USC. For us, 6-6 gets us the New Orleans Bowl and a game against Middle Tennessee St.

They were 6-5. And frankly, TCU might not have gotten the bid if the MWC teams hadnt been splitting off from the WAC that year. The Sun Bowl is in El Paso, and UTEP was one of the schools being left behind, so there were alot of hard feelings towards the teams who were deserting. Sun Bowl also could have picked a Big-10 team, but Ohio State went to a BCS bowl, and the Big 10 didnt have any more bowl eligible teams to send.

[HB Pony Dad]

The upset that got TCU noticed was beating USC in the Sun Bowl. That was what really got things rolling for the frogs. Until then they were just another middle of the pack team in a mid-major conference that barely qualified for a minor bowl. Beating USC opened people's eyes, and started their string of Bowl appearances, etc.

The 1998 USC Team that TCU beat in the Sun Bowl was pathetic.

"In 1998, head coach Paul Hackett took over the team, but posted a disappointing 19–18 record in three seasons.

By 2000, most observers surmised that USC football's days of national dominance were fading; the football team's record of 37–35 from 1996 to 2001 was their second-worst over any five-year span in history (only the mark of 29–29–2 from 1956–1961 was worse), and the period marked the first and only time USC had been out of the final top 20 teams for four straight years."

Best to beat a declining power before anyone realizes their suckalicious factor.

[One Trick Pony]

What would it take to bring SMU to a level near TCU or Utah or Boise?

Win, a lot…

[huskerpony]

Perhaps we are overlooking the real turning point for TCU......

In the prior season, TCU did not win a game--until the last game of the season. Even though we were bowl eligible, that provided the knockout blow. We didn't get invited to the party after losing to a winless team.

Since then, the trojectory of the two programs have pretty much been in equal and opposite directions.

Maybe that should provide us with some hope--TCU, a team that won only one game in 1997, beat USC in a bowl game the following year. Ten years later, there is at least a small possibility they will be a BCS school soon. Or maybe that day in 1997 sealed our fates......at least we broke part of their crappy stadium that night!

[Dooby]

The upset that got TCU noticed was beating USC in the Sun Bowl. That was what really got things rolling for the frogs. Until then they were just another middle of the pack team in a mid-major conference that barely qualified for a minor bowl. Beating USC opened people's eyes, and started their string of Bowl appearances, etc.

I would also represent that the Sun Bowl win by TCU was a culmination of an effort similar to what we've begun here. I think it was their AD Hyman (no kidding) who spearheaded the process, first hiring Billy Tubbs...then luring Fran from NM. I remember there being some back and forth as to whether TCU deserved that bid, as there were other teams with better records. What were they, 6-6 that year? 6-6, go to the Sun Bowl and play USC. For us, 6-6 gets us the New Orleans Bowl and a game against Middle Tennessee St.

They were 6-5. And frankly, TCU might not have gotten the bid if the MWC teams hadnt been splitting off from the WAC that year. The Sun Bowl is in El Paso, and UTEP was one of the schools being left behind, so there were alot of hard feelings towards the teams who were deserting. Sun Bowl also could have picked a Big-10 team, but Ohio State went to a BCS bowl, and the Big 10 didnt have any more bowl eligible teams to send.

In addition to that, I think it was the Norwest Sun Bowl at the time (it might have been Wells Fargo). Wells was bought by Norwest, but they were taking the Wells name. A lot of Norwest execs were in Ft. Worth at the the time from the purchase of Central Bank and Trust, including one of their largest shareholders.

TCU was very fortunate to be selected to that game. Of course, they made the most of it.

[mr. pony]

SMU needs to get into the Big 12 or SEC. Period. And away would go recruiting woes.

[CA Mustang]

SMU needs to get into the Big 12 or SEC. Period.

And how exactly is that going to happen?

[Get_Some_Ponies]

Why not just snake some of those USM guys? THere have to be some pretty decent players not getting shots at the big time schools.

I think we need to elevate the attitude and the expectations. SMU used to be REALLY good. Yeah it was forever ago, but the Bosie St., Rice and TCU teams don't compare because they have no tradition. I think when we start winning the respect will come pretty quickly. Bowl eligible next year, rough up on the dregs of CUSA the following, and schedule Arkansas or some other former SWC team for our 2011 OOC coming out party.

[Stallion]

you guys really don't understand much about building a solid program do you. Chill and Relax-we've got a long road ahead.

[Alaric]

you guys really don't understand much about building a solid program do you. Chill and Relax-we've got a long road ahead.

that's what people have been telling you since JJ was hired

[VarsityShop]

SMU needs to get into the Big 12 or SEC. Period. And away would go recruiting woes.

Yeah thats worked great for Baylor and Iowa State.