Screw it: I say we just go D-3 and be done with it.

[Sir Trolls A Lot]

It's become obvious over the past decade or so that SMU is not ever going to produce a football team to be reckoned with. Yeah, we have a nice new stadium, but sometimes you've got to cut and run. If nothing else, we'd certianly have the best facilities in our new, less competitive, less expensive, division.

By not flushing money down the toilet with D-1 football, SMU could pursue superior sports, like BASEBALL..

Yes, baseball and heck, even softball, at the Hilltop would be divine.
Imagine, instead of baking in Gerald J. on hot August nights and freezing on cold November afternoons, enjoying a spring breeze and the crack of the baseball bat and cheering the Mustangs on to victory in a sport we could get good at a lot quicker than football.

Do we really need a division one football program? It's expensive and its elimination would improve SMU's academic image. I for one would definitely sacrifice a D-1 football program if it meant the school I'm an alum of had a better academic reputation with a baseball program as a bonus.

Current situation=
D-3 football with baseball/softball=

[ponyte]

My oldest daughter, who has accompanied me to many a SMU game, went to her first U of Ark game this last weekend (and first non SMU game). As many are aware, this state worships all things Hogs. She saw a tremendous college football environment. Her comments were that SMU fans should show the same excitement for the Ponies. And she wasn’t seduced by all things Hogs (a big fear of mine) At Division 3; SMU would not have that opportunity for fall excitement. There simply isn't the level of competition, tradition or fan enthusiasm at that level of play. Oh sure, we may win but who cares? We have had a long September. However, our real opportunities begin this Sat. And we can win this one. Let us make the most of our current opportunities and not succumb to that 'it can't be done so lets just shoot ourselves' attitude. Its fall, its football and our Ponies are better. Lets celebrate this time of year!

[Casey]

We live in Texas.

You do not replace football with anything - especially baseball and softball - in Texas. I think you can be forced to move out of the state if you do that.

[Sir Trolls A Lot]

Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens are great baseball players and Texans. Clearly, the Lone Star State has an appetite for a little hardball. No matter how much Texans might enjoy football, they're not going to get on board with a perinnial loser. I say let's get a little baseball going and have a program people will follow: a program with a chance of winning.

Go SMU baseball!
\

[Casey]

So is Josh Beckett - so what? Yes, Texas produces great baseball players. Also cranks out some great basketball players. But how many people go to Rangers games once the Cowboys start playing? This is a football-first state .... as it should be.

Besides, who would fund a baseball stadium at SMU? You can't play baseball in Ford, and nobody would sign off on that.

Nice idea to add baseball, but never at the expense of football.

[Diehard Pony]

I think Sir Trolls statement is done with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek. I also suspect he is a regular on the board trying to have a little fun (has anybody noticed the number of posts is way down from the week preceding TT and the week thereafter).

Regardless, as I have posted probably a hundred times, Gerald Ford (as were the other primary doners) was promised no drop from Div I FB before he handed over his $20M check. There will be no drop to something less than Div I FB (unless the NCAA forces us to), and I doubt we will ever see baseball unless we see a miraculous recovery and assention from our two revenue sports, and even then men's track would come first.

Finally, when we had baseball we were consistently awful, and there was very little interest in it.

[SWC2010]

"Finally, when we had baseball we were consistently awful, and there was very little interest in it."

Diehard, you're right (above) plus baseball brings up 2 issues:

[1] Baseball (according to Title IX) also =SMU softball [read: more money];

& if you got past [1]...

[2] Where the hell will you put 2 playing fields on the campus?

[WreckEm16]

1.) Baseball is the greatest sport in the world.

2.) There's no reason why SMU can't be competitive in football.

[EastStang]

If our trolling new friend wishes to Pony up $400 Million or so for new baseball and softball facilities, coaches and scholarships, he can have his wish. We'll even name the stadium Sir Trolls A Lot Yard. In the meantime, no we'll keep trying to play Div 1 Football and sooner or later we'll get it right.

[Governor Lepetomane]

Watch out Mount Union, here we come...

[MustangStealth]

1.) Baseball is the greatest sport in the world.

Ummm......which world would that be? Baseball is less entertaining, less exciting, less interesting, less fun, and less of a sport than football.

[jtstang]

1.) Baseball is the greatest sport in the world.

Ummm......which world would that be? Baseball is less entertaining, less exciting, less interesting, less fun, and less of a sport than football.

Of course, nothing touches ice hockey and college hoops, Nos. 1 and 1a.

[Sir Trolls A Lot]

You all can bag on baseball all you want. SMU baseball would certainly capture the imagination of the Metroplex in a way that football never has. Fans of all stripes would follow Ponyball, if for no other reason than you'd never see a SMU player throw a chair at a TCU fan, no matter how much they deserved it.

[abezontar]

I really doubt SMU baseball would take off, you've got the rangers, the roughriders, the cats (that minor league team in ft. worth), some new league that just started up I forget what it's called but they are playing at HP. That's four pro teams we would be competeing against in addition to established programs at tcu and dallas baptist (there may be a few others I'm not really sure). That's at least 6 teams we would be competeing with for exposure, not to mention the cost to purchase any land around the school would be exhorbitant making it nearly impossible to start, and then garner a fan base. yeah baseball would do real well at SMU. we woudl be better off starting a badmitton team, we've got a facility and nets, all you would need is a few rackets and some shuttlecocks......

[SWC2010]

Y Fans of all stripes would follow Ponyball, if for no other reason than you'd never see a SMU player throw a chair at a TCU fan, no matter how much they deserved it.

Sorry SirTrolls, but if there is no possibility of a TCU player getting smacked with a chair, I have zero interest in your Ponyball!!!