Source: Houston and SMU Happy in CUSA

[mustangxc]

Sounds like utep and sjsu to the mwc

...and La Tech to CUSA. I'd be all right with that.

[NickSMU17]

Is there anyone better than La. tech...?

[couch 'em]

Frankly, Big East makes me nervous. I personally believe that you'll see the Big East implode during the next conference land grab as the Big 10 +2, ACC, and SEC mooch teams. The real question centers on what will remain of the Big East and is that better than CUSA...

After the BE explodes, it'll be a lot easier to get in a BCS conference at that point if we had just spent a few years in BCS conference, with BCS prestige, money, and recruiting than to try to move up from CUSA then.

I'd accept membership in any BCS conference, no matter the terms.

[mustangxc]

Is there anyone better than La. tech...?

Temple

[NickSMU17]

To far...

[RGV Pony]

Temple was my first thought...it is far and Id just as soon not have another trip east other than Marshall.

Watch out or June will say Navy

[Samurai Stang]

Is there anyone better than La. tech...?

Temple

Doubtful as Temple would most likely require that its basketball program remain in the Atlantic 10.

[Stallion]

Concentrate on the checklist SMU needs to complete to reach BCS status rather than hoping that lightening strikes because we have a rather large checklist before we will be legitimately considered.

1. Indoor Practice Facility
2. 45,000+ Football Facility
3. New or completely remodeled Basketball Facility

these come immediately to mind just with regard to facilities before we even get to the real problem-lack of a strong fanbase.

[ObeyMyDog]

Concentrate on the checklist SMU needs to complete to reach BCS status rather than hoping that lightening strikes because we have a rather large checklist before we will be legitimately considered.

1. Indoor Practice Facility
2. 45,000+ Football Facility
3. New or completely remodeled Basketball Facility

these come immediately to mind just with regard to facilities before we even get to the real problem-lack of a strong fanbase.

#1- Being seriously discussed, and so is the funding. When people are talking about the money involved then you know they are serious, trying to get it done, and want to put a timetable together.

#3- All they need is the money, which is unfortunately a problem right now. But, from what I know, everything else has more or less been worked out.

#2- Once #1 and #3 are completed then the football team needs to keep winning and then demand will eventually reach the point that it will make sense to expand Ford to hold 45,000 +.

Some basketball success would not hurt general interest either, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. I have a strict "take one sport at a time" mentality when it comes to SMU athletics. Football is obviously the most visible SMU sport, and therefore the main concern.

[EastStang]

I do not expect UTEP to leave. A lot of people forget that they are one of the Universities of Texas and have a ton of alums in Houston and Dallas. Being in a conference with SMU and Rice (and now Houston) has been a huge benefit to them. They get a football game every year in Houston and one in Dallas every other year. They get hoops games every year in Dallas and in Houston. This allows them to reconnect with their alums and also recruit more easily in eastern, Texas. Yes, mom, junior will play every year in Houston. If they did leave, I think there would be some pressure from the eastern schools particularly East Carolina to add another eastern footprint school. Temple, Ohio U., Miami of Ohio, and Delaware (moving up from 1-AA) come to mind as potential candidates. Or in the south end, Middle Tennessee State has been pitched for a long time by ECU fans. Otherwise, La. Tech would probably be the odds on favorite. I'd like to open up the rust belt for CUSA recruiting, personally. I know Texas has great athletes, but the rust belt has those big uglies by the dozen. BUS would like that.