Whoever wins C-USA

[SMU 86]

Good point CMF. IMO were are not to the point where we need to have a UNT type OOC schedule. Those types of OOC schedules did nothing for UNT. We need a TCU or Boise State type OOC schedule. BSU nor TCU scheduled more than 1 or 2 tough OOC games per year and both have made it to BCS bowls. I guess in 2013 we will be the first non BCS team to go 4-0 against 4 BCS teams. Remember, usually you have to go undefeated to go to a BCS bowl. Those other teams have good coaches and are recruiting very well. We are on our way up compared to where we were but we are not as far ahead enough to play a death row schedule. Sure we can bring good BCS teams every OOC week here, watch us get beat, end the bowl streak and help their Dallas recruiting but we really need those string of bowl games to continue. 2013 will be a tough year to keep the bowl streak alive. At any rate, this year we'll see how we do again aTm, TCU, UCF, and Houston. Those games wil tell us where we are. For those on both sides of the issue this year should be a real test of where we are. Looking forward to it.

[Comet]

But even now the TCU and Baylor games are toss-ups, and in a couple of years they will be sure wins and the Tech games will be toss-ups.

I wouldn't worry about these schedules one bit.

Why will they be a for sure win? Are they going to stop trying?

No, but our upward trajectory will surpass them in a couple of years. They are on the way down and we are on the way up. Simple math.

The reason our upward trajectory seems so amplified is because we came from NOTHING to just slightly above-average in an average football conference. It's all about the context. TCU not only is playing with the big boys now, but they're BEATING the big boys. SMU is just beginning to sniff the big boys, and will more than likely be losing to them for a couple of years. It's sort of like our academic rankings, you can jump from USA Today's College Rankings from the 100th spot to the 50th, but once you hit that threshold, going from 50th to 40th is going to be hard and agonizing. We've made the initial jump in rankings, but actually breaking into the top 25 in football is going to be tough, and nothing is a given.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Sorry, I forgot I was on frogfans.com.

I'm not discounting their success, but their crown jewel is beating a disinterested Wisconsin team who was maybe the fourth actual best team in the Big 10 last season.

I personally don't see anything that special or anything that can be sustained over the next five years. Maybe I will be proven wrong, but I still maintain the rate of our growth and what I perceive as the plateau of our nearby western neighbors will intersect in the next couple of years.

[Rebel10]

TCU's out of conference games are Baylor, SMU, Portland St., and ULM. SMU's plays Texas A&M, TCU, Navy, and NW St. Seems as if TCU has more of a cushion.

[sbsmith]

TCU's out of conference games are Baylor, SMU, Portland St., and ULM. SMU's plays Texas A&M, TCU, Navy, and NW St. Seems as if TCU has more of a cushion.

Yeah, we could have used a layup in Navy's place. 2 layups, 2 challenges is a good way to go regarding OOC scheduling.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

TCU's out of conference games are Baylor, SMU, Portland St., and ULM. SMU's plays Texas A&M, TCU, Navy, and NW St. Seems as if TCU has more of a cushion.

Yeah, we could have used a layup in Navy's place. 2 layups, 2 challenges is a good way to go regarding OOC scheduling.

If we are where we think we are - shouldn't Navy be a layup? Seriously?

If it's not then we have a way to go - and don't bring up last year because we had them finished and our inexperience let them take it from us.

[GiddyUp]

I would think our next couple of years schedule could change with A&M - perhaps they buy us out so they don't have to play at Ford. Who knows what might happen with conference alignment in the next few years. With their extra conference game - we may get dropped by one of those Big12 teams again.

Hate playing Navy,glad that is skipping a few years - like the UNT matchup. Would like to see some panies more like Texas State, Louisana Monroe, etc. -- 2 competitive opponents and 2 wins like most teams do.

[SMU 86]

TCU's out of conference games are Baylor, SMU, Portland St., and ULM. SMU's plays Texas A&M, TCU, Navy, and NW St. Seems as if TCU has more of a cushion.

Yeah, we could have used a layup in Navy's place. 2 layups, 2 challenges is a good way to go regarding OOC scheduling.

If we are where we think we are - shouldn't Navy be a layup? Seriously?

If it's not then we have a way to go - and don't bring up last year because we had them finished and our inexperience let them take it from us.

If we are who you think we are Navy should be a layup. We have a ways to go, but we are getting better every year. But not a light speed like some may think, we are slowly getting better.

[sbsmith]

TCU's out of conference games are Baylor, SMU, Portland St., and ULM. SMU's plays Texas A&M, TCU, Navy, and NW St. Seems as if TCU has more of a cushion.

Yeah, we could have used a layup in Navy's place. 2 layups, 2 challenges is a good way to go regarding OOC scheduling.

If we are where we think we are - shouldn't Navy be a layup? Seriously?

If it's not then we have a way to go - and don't bring up last year because we had them finished and our inexperience let them take it from us.

Considering we have lost 3 in a row to them and can't even hold a double-digit lead against them, I'd say they're far from a layup. We should win at home but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they beat us again.

[sbsmith]

I would think our next couple of years schedule could change with A&M - perhaps they buy us out so they don't have to play at Ford. Who knows what might happen with conference alignment in the next few years. With their extra conference game - we may get dropped by one of those Big12 teams again.

Hate playing Navy,glad that is skipping a few years - like the UNT matchup. Would like to see some panies more like Texas State, Louisana Monroe, etc. -- 2 competitive opponents and 2 wins like most teams do.

It looks like a near certainty that A&M will buy out of the 2012 and 2014 games at Ford. With the new 9 game Big 12 conference slate A&M plays 5 conference road games in even numbered years, add the Southwest Classic versus Arkansas and that's already 6 games away from Kyle Field, no way they play less than 6 home games. We fill that gap with a layup and the 2012 and 2014 OOC slates don't look quite as daunting.

[GiddyUp]

I would think our next couple of years schedule could change with A&M - perhaps they buy us out so they don't have to play at Ford. Who knows what might happen with conference alignment in the next few years. With their extra conference game - we may get dropped by one of those Big12 teams again.

Hate playing Navy,glad that is skipping a few years - like the UNT matchup. Would like to see some panies more like Texas State, Louisana Monroe, etc. -- 2 competitive opponents and 2 wins like most teams do.

It looks like a near certainty that A&M will buy out of the 2012 and 2014 games at Ford. With the new 9 game Big 12 conference slate A&M plays 5 conference road games in even numbered years, add the Southwest Classic versus Arkansas and that's already 6 games away from Kyle Field, no way they play less than 6 home games. We fill that gap with a layup and the 2012 and 2014 OOC slates don't look quite as daunting.

Good to know. What about Texas Tech? Same deal? Mix in another Pac 12,ACC, Utah or something somewhere.

[sbsmith]

I would think our next couple of years schedule could change with A&M - perhaps they buy us out so they don't have to play at Ford. Who knows what might happen with conference alignment in the next few years. With their extra conference game - we may get dropped by one of those Big12 teams again.

Hate playing Navy,glad that is skipping a few years - like the UNT matchup. Would like to see some panies more like Texas State, Louisana Monroe, etc. -- 2 competitive opponents and 2 wins like most teams do.

It looks like a near certainty that A&M will buy out of the 2012 and 2014 games at Ford. With the new 9 game Big 12 conference slate A&M plays 5 conference road games in even numbered years, add the Southwest Classic versus Arkansas and that's already 6 games away from Kyle Field, no way they play less than 6 home games. We fill that gap with a layup and the 2012 and 2014 OOC slates don't look quite as daunting.

Good to know. What about Texas Tech? Same deal? Mix in another Pac 12,ACC, Utah or something somewhere.

Tech isn't the same deal, they play 5 conference home games in 2013, have a OOC home game with SFA and have 1 game left to fill. They really don't need to pull out of their game with us at Ford.

[mrydel]

I am still confused about the negative attitude and the unwillingness to recognize the changes that are going on in the NCAA conferences. First, as of now, TCU can play all 4 non conference against Pop Warner teams. They are officially joining an AQ conference and that is the goal for us. Second, the teams vying for AQ status are narrowing in number and the competition is getting stronger. It is not the same as when TCU began their climb from mediocrity to where they are now. It is my opinion that W-L alone is not going to be the determining factor. We need to fill seats also and show that we have a fan base that will support out school. And we must also show the ability to complete with the big boys. I believe that a 28-27 loss to TAM and a victory over Baylor with both being Ford sellouts (lots of hypotheticals here) would carry much more weight than 2 wins over ULM and NWS with 9,000 in the stands.

Also, Jones has set out a plan for success. He will obviously either be successful or not. His plan, in his words are to have us at the level of his best Hawaii team either this year or next. I am giving him until 2013 and I am hoping for now that his formula is successful. If it is not, then we will move on to plan z.

4 years ago many were asking why we did not play cupcakes, apparently not recognizing that we were at the bottom of the overall rankings and we were the cupcake. Well, we are no longer a cupcake and I think it is time to recognize that we are not the 2006 or 2007 Mustangs but we have grown as a team to a level that we should be wiling to compete with anyone. Not saying we could beat anyone but we have to compete with them and if we do, good things will happen. If we dwell in the land of the cupcakes we will never get into the type of conference that allows us to compete on an equal playing field at which time we would then be expected to win them all.

This is a long post so someone please give the Cliff Notes version to OTP.

[Stallion]

For what its worth I was at a Happy Hour in College Station recently(is that even possible?) and had a discussion with an A&M Assistant AD who claims that A&M intends to honor that SMU game in Dallas in 2012 despite the Arkansas series at JerryWorld. I still doubt it. He said the reason they didn't move this year's game to San Antonio is they wanted Aggie fans to travel strong to Dallas for the Arkansas game. Seems like logically the same would apply in 2012 and they wouldn't want two dates in Dallas in proximity. But I thought I'd pass that discussion on.

[mrydel]

So I guess the question is how long do you want to wait to be "good"? I think 7 years under Jones should be long enough. But if you want to lay up instead of going for the green I guess that is your right.