Its Official Utah Invited to the PAC

[RGV Pony]

Best of the Methodists league

USC
SMU
Northwestern
Duke

Vanderbilt

Auburn

[smupony94]

Throw in Brandeis, Temple and BYU to have it be the religious conference

[Ponyx2]

Throw in Brandeis, Temple and BYU to have it be the religious conference

Well if you just want to throw in religious schools, go ahead and include Holy Cross because I think the Crusaders is a cool name.

[smupony94]

Gonzaga. Good basketball

[ponyboy]

Notre Dame. Pretty good football.

[ponyte]

Not trying to start a Holy war but I don't feel after about 100 years that religion in the name of the school is a significant issue. After some time, successful schools' names have brand recognition. Notre Dame is a well known religious school. The fact that the University's name has religious significance probably doesn't hurt the school.
SMU Cox is a well known (I believe copyrighted) branded name for the school of business. The B School is well known around the country and attracts quality students despite using SMU in its branding.
SMU has been around near some 100 odd years. A generation ago, the school was primarily a school of Texans. Now, there is about half the student population from other states. One can argue that the brand recognition (SMU) of a good product (very good school) is now combining to attract a more national customer.

[smupony94]

Not trying to start a Holy war but I don't feel after about 100 years that religion in the name of the school is a significant issue. After some time, successful schools' names have brand recognition. Notre Dame is a well known religious school. The fact that the University's name has religious significance probably doesn't hurt the school.
SMU Cox is a well known (I believe copyrighted) branded name for the school of business. The B School is well known around the country and attracts quality students despite using SMU in its branding.
SMU has been around near some 100 odd years. A generation ago, the school was primarily a school of Texans. Now, there is about half the student population from other states. One can argue that the brand recognition (SMU) of a good product (very good school) is now combining to attract a more national customer.

Maybe we can get the firm that did the Pony Up campaign to re-brand SMU

[EastStang]

Can we start with Hot Chicks U? HCU. We wouldn't be falsely advertising.

[ponyhockey23]

I dont know how true this is but I heard that it is in SMU's bylaws or something that the university is required to keep the SMU as the name. Vanderbilt used to be called smu but the vanderbilt family donated a lot of money so they changed the name and when SMU was founded the Methodists were pretty upset about that

[Wuba]

I dont know how true this is but I heard that it is in SMU's bylaws or something that the university is required to keep the SMU as the name. Vanderbilt used to be called smu but the vanderbilt family donated a lot of money so they changed the name and when SMU was founded the Methodists were pretty upset about that

I read that about Vanderbilt and thought, "huh, that is interesting." Then I thought "actually, that does not sound true." Then I looked it up and saw that it wasn't.

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/about/history/

[huskerpony]

Anyone else notice they are saying Utah will join in 2011? Makes you wonder if they are also pushing Colorado not to wait 2 years so they can start their championship game right away.