According to ESPN: SMU target of BE, not AFA

[NavyCrimson]

I think 'independence' should be considered more & more. Knowing Orsini, he's already checking into it!

[ericdickerson4life]

Independence is a last resort. But I'm sure they have thought of that route, the consequences of moving that direction, and if need be would pull the trigger.

[Stallion]

We have what 9-10 National TV games this year and you guys want Independence. I don't get it. I think it would be a disaster

[ericdickerson4life]

Don't consider me in the "you guys" category.

Again, last resort. As in we are NEVER going to get into a BCS conference last resort.

[BRStang]

Just emailed ESPN's Big East Blogger to ask more about the situation. Have not heard back yet. Perhaps everyone should start bombarding her with questions and interest.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast

[StangEsq]

That's crazy... it's a great basketball conference that would make recruiting a LOT easier. TCU BB recruits already having second thoughts after the B12 switch announced. In a few years if we jump again we will have built a better program having been in the BE.

I'll say the same thing about us to BE that I thought about Boise St.

IF it's football only (which I would prefer), it would be a great move & step toward creating a national brand. There would be what, at most 4 trips to the east per year for away games, all kinds of exposure on the east coast, greater brand awareness, etc. Let basketball, equestrian and everything else compete in some conference that makes more geographic sense.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

I'm certainly no expert on this subject, but it seems to me that independence for a program like SMU would only work if: (1) the other current indys remain independent; and (2) the indys enter into some long-term agreement to play each other every year. If you worked a deal like that, SMU could be looking at annual games against Notre Dame, Navy, Army, and BYU. Throw in an annual tilt against TCU (assuming they still play us after they go Big-12) and you at least have the core of a good, TV-friendly schedule. Even in that perfect scenario, you're looking at having to schedule 7 additional games per year. Trying to get quality opponents for those slots would be very tough in a world of 14-16 team super-conferences, which is what it looks like we're moving towards.

Assuming that analysis makes sense (and it may not), then even in the perfect independence scenario, it would be a very tough sled for our program year-in and year-out. So I would have to think independence is definitely the last resort that only gets pulled out if it truly looks like we're going to get left behind.

BTW, not getting our BB program into the Big East would be a huge disappointment IMO. You gotta do what you gotta do, but if I'm Orsini and Turner I would play hardball on that one if the BE is what we're going for.

[03Mustang]

Im looking but not finding....

Nick, if you click the link in the first post it is the 4th headline down the page.

[ColoStang]

I have insider, once you log in, the Big East Expansion post says nothing about SMU or Air Force.

[NickSMU17]

I see that, but I see nothing about SMU...

UPDATE: For the second straight Monday, Big East officials will participate in a conference call to discuss the league's future.

According to Pete Thamel of the New York Times, "Although expansion will be a primary topic, no invitations are expected to be issued.

"One topic that will be discussed is an increase in the league's exit fee, which is $5 million and could be raised to about $10 million."

While those same officials continue to talk about what they might do, they're going to lose one of their schools. TCU is expected to announce its intention today to accept the Big 12's offer.

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UPDATE: ESPN Big East blogger Andrea Adelson says that before the Big East can think about adding new members, it needs to do whatever it can to keep its current roster from shrinking any further (see below).

- Vince Verhei

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Andrea Adelson
Stability badly needed
"As I have said a few times, the league has to secure itself before it can start inviting new members. Navy, for one, is not going to do a thing until it knows what exactly the Big East is going to look like in the future. I realize fans are pulling out their hair because it appears the league is sitting back and being raided. I really think the Big East completely dropped the ball after adding TCU. John Marinatto said that day the goal was to get to 10. Now the league has six members. If it wanted Navy, Air Force, East Carolina and UCF, the Big East could have had them all on the day it added TCU last November. Clearly these defections have increased the sense of urgency, but where was that sense of urgency last year after the league staved off talk of its rapid demise following Big Ten and Pac-12 expansion?"

[PonyPlayer4]

Ty for letting me inside

[GiddyUp]

This is getting ridiculous.

beyond ridiculous....twitter doesnt help things, only makes rumors worse

[StallionsModelT]

Not a thing on ESPN INSIDER about SMU. Nothing to see here. Move along.

[03Mustang]

I have insider, once you log in, the Big East Expansion post says nothing about SMU or Air Force.

Agreed...just noticed that. Very weird. Nick, this is the source of the confusion...

[ponyte]

Just to prove a point, I think we should turn down any offers from the SEC, ACC, Big East, Pac XII, Big XII-II-I+I, and Big X+II just so we can go independent. We could then prove that high academic standards coupled with impeccable recruiting standards (no paydays for players) and second rate athletic talent is the perfect recipe for getting slaughtered year in and year out.

It would be the first time we thought about it (Remember Pye in his heyday?).

All joking aside, we are not in the worse place with CUSA.