BIG EXPANSION NEWS ON RIVALS

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

"I agree, but in the end, will our wealthy alumni make up for our lack of a fanbase and presence in the DFW market? Is Carl Sewell going to cut a $20 million check to the MWC?"


I would not presume to make any pronouncements about what will happen "in the end." There are way to many variables at play right now for that. My only point is that this time, finally, we seem to have an administration, board, and alumni who are ready and willing to do whatever they can to best position SMU in the coming storm. That gives me some comfort.

Previously, SMU's only selling point was "we were once a national power." That pitch buys you a one-way ticket to nowhere. Now we can sell, "we were once a national power and we are building towards that again. . .here's the evidence. Invest in SMU and your investment will pay dividends going forward." That is a much more compelling argument.

[smupony94]

SMUPONY94 can bring Kate to the table too

[MustangIcon]

After all this goes down- here is my dream scenario. Mountain West picks up:

Boise St. from WAC
Baylor, Kansas, K State from Former Big 12
SMU, UH, Tulsa from CUSA
Add those to the current MWC and divide into 2 divisions.

Mid-West:
Kansas
KState
TCU
SMU
Baylor
UH
Tulsa
Colorado St


West:
Boise St.
BYU
Utah
Air Force
Wyoming
UNLV
San Diego St.
New Mexico

Of course there would still be Iowa St., teams from the WAC, UTEP, and plenty of others that would like to be added too. But this would be great for us. Our Conference schedule would be a dream come true.

[Water Pony]

I can't imagine Kansas in the mix, a blue blood BB program with a strong influence in KC, KS. Big Ten would grab them, leaving their conference mate, KSU behind. Remember, before Synder, the Wildcats we once one of the worst FB programs in the country. Iowa State would replace Kansas in this scenario. Finally, CSU, WY and AF need to be in the same division. Roll NM to the Midwest/Prairie Division. Another candidate beyond UTEP would be Fresno, but I like this mix too.

[Water Pony]

Press coverage in Big Ten.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/20 ... nsion.html

[ponyinNC]

article by Richard Justice, Houston Chron on new SWC

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2010/06/uhs_invitation.html

[Dooby]

great article by Richard Justice, Houston Chron on new SWC

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2010/06/uhs_invitation.html

Great? Or stupid? I thought it was lame of the highest order.

[Water Pony]

great article by Richard Justice, Houston Chron on new SWC

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2010/06/uhs_invitation.html

Never going to happen: "UH, Rice, Baylor, SMU, TCU, UTEP, Sam Houston, North Texas, Texas State and UTSA"

TCU and Baylor would turn their nose up at this, while Texas System Schools would weaken the profile of the new SWC. For us, it doesn't excited me either.

[ponyinNC]

great in that he calls SMU a model of what schools can do...beautiful on-campus stadium, etc. I don't like his conference make up, and think we can (and hopefully will) do better.

PS, how glad should we be that Jim Copeland is no longer AD. Steve O, now is when you make your mark on SMU athletics!!!!!

[Stallion]

I can't believe there are people paid money to write that kind of sophomoric, naive article-there is a 0% chance of this happening

[ponyinNC]

great in that he calls SMU a model of what schools can do...beautiful on-campus stadium, etc. I don't like his conference make up, and think we can (and hopefully will) do better.

PS, how glad should we be that Jim Copeland is no longer AD. Steve O, now is when you make your mark on SMU athletics!!!!!

[MustangIcon]

I can't imagine Kansas in the mix, a blue blood BB program with a strong influence in KC, KS. Big Ten would grab them, leaving their conference mate, KSU behind. Remember, before Synder, the Wildcats we once one of the worst FB programs in the country. Iowa State would replace Kansas in this scenario. Finally, CSU, WY and AF need to be in the same division. Roll NM to the Midwest/Prairie Division. Another candidate beyond UTEP would be Fresno, but I like this mix too.

You make a good point about Kansas not falling that far down, but again, it was my *dream* scenario. I hate to split up natural rivals and KState is a very good hoops program now, so let's say they both get snapped up. Here is your new MWC.

Mid-West:
TCU
SMU
Baylor
UH
Tulsa
New Mexico
UTEP
Iowa St.

West:
Boise St.
BYU
Utah
Air Force
Wyoming
Colorado St
UNLV
San Diego St.

I absolutely love the idea of playing Baylor and TCU every year as a part of our conference schedule in Football and Basketball, while still keeping Houston (and to a much lesser extent Tulsa and UTEP). TCU, Houston, and Baylor are really the 3 teams I most look forward to playing in both revenue sports in just about any year.

[WSGJ]

great article by Richard Justice, Houston Chron on new SWC

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2010/06/uhs_invitation.html

Great? Or stupid? I thought it was lame of the highest order.

When is this guy going to start writing for Bleacher Report?

[Water Pony]

MWC fans dreaming big:

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/ ... dissection

[Stallion]

Right now if the Big 12 South becomes the PAC East then the MWC is sitting in absolutely fantastic position-most everybody thought that at least 1 of its schools would be picked off. Its could save the [deleted] of schools like Wyoming, SDSU and UNLV unfortunately and give them bargaining power to command the remaining schools. I'd rather see a new conference formed from a more cohesive and less western group from the MWC/CUSA and Big 12 Leftovers.