What do SMU Fans think of TCU?

[Mr. Football]

I'm curious as to how SMU fans think of TCU. Other than one being in Dallas and the other in Fort Worth, what are the major differences between the two schools? I've always perceived SMU to be a better school than TCU, is there a rivalry?

[Sewanee Stang]

For a long time I really liked TCU. They were my second favorite team behind the ponies. My feelings changed a little after the 62-7 whipping they gave us a few years ago. I felt that they intentionally ran up the score by faking a punt on fourth down late in the third quarter after they were ahead by 38 points. That hurt. Since my wife went there and since I live a mile from campus I have tried to put that aside and root for the froggies again, but I have found it difficult because of the arrogance of a number of their supporters including their AD. Don't get me wrong, I am jealous of their success, but it seems that many of their supporters apparently maintain the notion that SMU and Conference USA are beneath them. This bugs me for obvious reasons. However, I don't feel that they truly represent the feelings of the majority of the alums and fans, but they are the most vocal. That said, I'm torn. A part of me wants them to flounder in the MWC I must admit. I'd love to be there to serve them a slice of humble pie if things don't go so well. On the other hand, I'd like to see them break the BCS cartel, and I would welcome them back to Conference USA where they belong. Go Ponies.

[Mustangs35SMU]

it seems that many of their supporters apparently maintain the notion that SMU and Conference USA are beneath them.

Exactly..with that said I would like to say...

SCREW YOU! T-C-U!

[Water Pony]

The move to MWC broke an important bond between the schools. The two most prominent reasons are increased opportunity to qualify for the BCS membership and distancing themselves from SMU, who they feel they are no longer comparable to.

The last point is the most likely. Unfortunately, the real losers are the student athletes (especially in the non-revenue sports), who must travel thousands of miles and one and two time zones away for all conference competition, and all their parents, fans and alumni. I am afraid that hubris did them in.

Success on the field does change and their recent success is not necessarily a perpetual motion machine. There are probably only a dozen BCS schools, who annually can be assured of eight plus victories year after year.

Having said that all this, I wish them well. I am afraid this move won't give them what they have been sold on.

[Greenwich Pony]

I think it is a friendly rivalry gone somewhat sour. SMU is heck and gone the better school academic terms, but the two schools are geographically close, private, about the same size, even though they seemed to represent two very different values sets of Dallas and Fort Worth. It was a good, fun local rivalry- one that I just don't think we could built with a North Texas (please no long responses- I just mean the public school experience is different).

However, in the past few years, relations between the two schools and their fans have gotten rather ugly; both schools seem to be in denial about the realities of college sports in the early 21st century, so I guess we're still similar, but we seem to be taking it out on each other.

TCU has poured effort into their programs and tried to run a good D-1 program until they moved to the MWC. The problem is that with the exception of Miami, USC and Notre Dame, private schools can no longer compete under the present model for college football. Notre Dame is starting to slide, and barring something extraordinary, it is just a matter of time for Miami and USC. TCU has been willing to sacrifice anything to the Gods of D-1 athletics in the process, like much of the rest of Texas football.

SMU has gone the opposite route and until recently tried to run an Ivy League-like program at the D-1 level, and well, we see where that has gotten us. We're trying to shake off years of neglect before it is too late. SMU was unwilling (and still is to some extent) to sacrifice enough to the D-1 Gods. SMU has plenty of resources, so I think and hope we will be able to be competitive again. Time will tell if it's too little, too late.

I hope both schools see the light before it's too late, because it used to be a rivalry that brought out the best of D/FW. Now, it's just ashes in both sides' mouths.

[Hoop Fan]

I think SMU has been naive about TCU for a while now. They have not been our partners or our friends since the SWC broke up. It wasn't just recently when they left for the MWC. TCU has been waging war against us for some time, both PR and otherwise. They saw it as a dog fight for a limited number of recruits and media attention in the Metroplex and have approached it very much that way for some time. They were much more savvy and realistic than SMU, give em credit. Its almost blatant how their hired hand media guys like Newy and Brian Estridge give SMU the cold shoulder on their NBC and ESPN Radio broadcasts even when they are not on the clock for TCU. There are countless instances, but I remember one last winter when SMU beat Tech in basketball on the same night TCU lost to Kansas. I was interested in their game and actually turned on the radio to catch it. They gave game scores around the country, but didnt even mention SMUs win over Bobby Knight. It was almost comical how they avoided reference to anything positive about SMU. We should do it too, but we dont. We've been like the naive dork who doesnt seem to realize the insecure, moderately cool kid is abusing him. In an analogy the poster Mike Damone could relate to, we're like Rat and TCU has been Damone.

[justbeattcu]

I am amazed at the arrogance of the few TCU fans I know (hence my moniker). It was just a few years ago the SMU was on the verge of a bowl eligble season and tcu was looking for the first win of the season. Now, that seems erased from tcu fans' memories. What goes around...

[PonySnob]

Somehow, TCU has truly managed to run a solid D1 program that SMU can only hope to be - at this stage. While TCU has had winning season after winning season, been to 6 consecutive bowl games, won conference championships, been ranked in the top 10 and finished several years in the top 25 - all that has happened over on the Hilltop is a continued downward spiral of the football program. What exactly has TCU given up to achieve the success that they are enjoying? There players don't appear to be a bunch of gangsta players like Miami. Whatever they have done, it seems to generate much more positive press for the school than what SMU gets. For some reason, SMU fans don't want our program to have success like TCU fans want their program to. While SMU uses "rent-a-fans" from Big 12 schools to help us average 15-17K, TCU averages well over 30K at ACS without playing visiting schools with big local followings. Hopefully, SMU can one day enjoy half the success that TCU has enjoyed recently. However at the moment, the two programs could not be any farther apart.

[Frog03]

You guys are acting like the move to the MWC wouldn't have happened if if (for example) UTEP had originally been added instead of SMU. The move still would have happened. The move is for added exposure and increased revenues, which TCU believes will happen in the MWC. The revenue increase is already proving to be true with the CSTV deal. The exposure is a calculated risk that will take a while to find out about.

The other reason for leaving isn't so much about CUSA in '05, as CUSA in just a few more years down the road. Its no secret that the majority of the Eastern schools lobbied to get into the Big East, and that will continue even after the new CUSA is formed. TCU couldn't risk being left in a revamped SWC for many reasons.

You can agree with the move or not, but the reasons for the move were much more numerous than simply not wanting to be in a conference with SMU. If that was the case, we wouldn't continue playing SMU.

[Hoop Fan]

Somehow, TCU has truly managed to run a solid D1 program that SMU can only hope to be - at this stage... Hopefully, SMU can one day enjoy half the success that TCU has enjoyed recently. However at the moment, the two programs could not be any farther apart.

Man, quit lovin on TCU so damn much. Between your ridiculous name and the way you write, its obvious you have some split allegiance or you're an outright troll. Come out of the closet Ponysnob.

[Hoofbeat83]

totally agree. with the [deleted] that he's got for tcu, i don't know why he just doesn't turn in his SMU degree and f**king get one from ft. worth. geez, and that name of his. what a turn off. we don't need fans like that guy.

[KnuckleStang]

I wouldn't pee in a Horned Frog's mouth if his guts were on fire.

[Mr. Football]

I'm fairly certain that TCU will get [deleted] back into obscurity by the hands of the Red Raiders in a couple weeks. No worries.

[Pony Up]

Without dipping into name-calling, etc., it must be admitted that TCU is at a level to which many PonyFans would like to see SMU ascend. TCU has had a winning record in recent years, and has been to several bowl games. For that, the Frogs should be commended.

However, your question is a loaded one, as the relationship between SMU (and its fans) and TCU (and theirs) is like that in any genuine rivalry. There was a time when the two teams were annually among the best in the nation. Since then, there have been streaks during which one team or the other enjoyed a run of success against the other. The rivalry survives and remains healthy because of the proximity between the two schools, and because many of the athletes and the students who support them know each other, went to high school together and in many cases, chose one school over the other. When schools and their athletic programs are as similar as SMU and TCU, a sense of dislike is natural. If you cut through the talk and the posturing, you'll find that the schools, programs and students who make up each school are extremely similar in education, background and upbringing - hence the rivalry.

Look at last year - on paper, SMU had inferior talent. But because of the intensity of the rivalry, TCU's voctory was by a much smaller margin than many expected. I would guess that with few exceptions, the games between the schools will remain close.

[Mr. Football]

Rather, I was hoping to get a better sense of the subtle nuances of each school and how they differ.