Big 12 or Big East?

[PK]

SWC.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

You know, at first blush this might seem like a no-brainer. But its actually a decent question. I think if I'm SMU right now and the Big-12 offers, there is no way I can turn it down. But there are three big negatives to the Big-12 that are at least worthy of consideration:

1. Our football program is making great progress, but I don't think its ready to handle the season-long grind of the Big-12 at this point. Frankly, we'd struggle. . .and probably for awhile. Very tough to compete in recruiting with UT, OU, OSU, etc. when you're not actually paying the recruits and buying them cars. I'm really interested to see how TCU does. Despite all their success over the past 12 years, they've never played a top-to-bottom schedule like they're going to play starting next year. I hope Frog fans are ready for 6-6.

2. I really don't ever want to be in a conference with UT again. UT sucks the oxygen out of every conference its in. The Big-12 will hobble along in some form or fashion for as long as it serves UT's interests. Once the Horns decide to move on to greener pastures, the Big-12 will collapse and everyone else will be scrambling for survival. TCU has decided to put its fate in UT's hands once again. I'd just as soon see SMU go in a different direction.

3. There are budgetary considerations that have to be worked out. The TV money in the Big-12 is great. But its not enough to cover the massive budget deficit our athletics program would have to run in order to compete with the top Big-12 schools in spending. UT has an athletics budget somewhere on the order of $100 million. Not sure how you compete with that if you're SMU.

[StangCP]

Clearly the Big 12 is where you would want to be...eventually. But TCU is getting [deleted] by receiving the B12 invite now. Had nothing changed, TCU could have made a run of 4-5 BCS bowls via the Big East. Now, I don't think they return to a BCS bowl anytime soon.

Go Big East now and work on moving back to a better geographical fit later.

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

You know, at first blush this might seem like a no-brainer. But its actually a decent question. I think if I'm SMU right now and the Big-12 offers, there is no way I can turn it down. But there are three big negatives to the Big-12 that are at least worthy of consideration:

1. Our football program is making great progress, but I don't think its ready to handle the season-long grind of the Big-12 at this point. Frankly, we'd struggle. . .and probably for awhile. Very tough to compete in recruiting with UT, OU, OSU, etc. when you're not actually paying the recruits and buying them cars. I'm really interested to see how TCU does. Despite all their success over the past 12 years, they've never played a top-to-bottom schedule like they're going to play starting next year. I hope Frog fans are ready for 6-6.

2. I really don't ever want to be in a conference with UT again. UT sucks the oxygen out of every conference its in. The Big-12 will hobble along in some form or fashion for as long as it serves UT's interests. Once the Horns decide to move on to greener pastures, the Big-12 will collapse and everyone else will be scrambling for survival. TCU has decided to put its fate in UT's hands once again. I'd just as soon see SMU go in a different direction.

3. There are budgetary considerations that have to be worked out. The TV money in the Big-12 is great. But its not enough to cover the massive budget deficit our athletics program would have to run in order to compete with the top Big-12 schools in spending. UT has an athletics budget somewhere on the order of $100 million. Not sure how you compete with that if you're SMU.

Start the Mustang Network?

[NickSMU17]

You know, at first blush this might seem like a no-brainer. But its actually a decent question. I think if I'm SMU right now and the Big-12 offers, there is no way I can turn it down. But there are three big negatives to the Big-12 that are at least worthy of consideration:

1. Our football program is making great progress, but I don't think its ready to handle the season-long grind of the Big-12 at this point. Frankly, we'd struggle. . .and probably for awhile. Very tough to compete in recruiting with UT, OU, OSU, etc. when you're not actually paying the recruits and buying them cars. I'm really interested to see how TCU does. Despite all their success over the past 12 years, they've never played a top-to-bottom schedule like they're going to play starting next year. I hope Frog fans are ready for 6-6.

2. I really don't ever want to be in a conference with UT again. UT sucks the oxygen out of every conference its in. The Big-12 will hobble along in some form or fashion for as long as it serves UT's interests. Once the Horns decide to move on to greener pastures, the Big-12 will collapse and everyone else will be scrambling for survival. TCU has decided to put its fate in UT's hands once again. I'd just as soon see SMU go in a different direction.

3. There are budgetary considerations that have to be worked out. The TV money in the Big-12 is great. But its not enough to cover the massive budget deficit our athletics program would have to run in order to compete with the top Big-12 schools in spending. UT has an athletics budget somewhere on the order of $100 million. Not sure how you compete with that if you're SMU.

Completely agree and thanks for taking it seriously as this is a possibility...

[smupony94]

Has Oscar been sniffing around the Big East?

[ericdickerson4life]

Big East baby!

[RyanSMU98]

You know, at first blush this might seem like a no-brainer. But its actually a decent question. I think if I'm SMU right now and the Big-12 offers, there is no way I can turn it down. But there are three big negatives to the Big-12 that are at least worthy of consideration:

1. Our football program is making great progress, but I don't think its ready to handle the season-long grind of the Big-12 at this point. Frankly, we'd struggle. . .and probably for awhile. Very tough to compete in recruiting with UT, OU, OSU, etc. when you're not actually paying the recruits and buying them cars. I'm really interested to see how TCU does. Despite all their success over the past 12 years, they've never played a top-to-bottom schedule like they're going to play starting next year. I hope Frog fans are ready for 6-6.

2. I really don't ever want to be in a conference with UT again. UT sucks the oxygen out of every conference its in. The Big-12 will hobble along in some form or fashion for as long as it serves UT's interests. Once the Horns decide to move on to greener pastures, the Big-12 will collapse and everyone else will be scrambling for survival. TCU has decided to put its fate in UT's hands once again. I'd just as soon see SMU go in a different direction.

3. There are budgetary considerations that have to be worked out. The TV money in the Big-12 is great. But its not enough to cover the massive budget deficit our athletics program would have to run in order to compete with the top Big-12 schools in spending. UT has an athletics budget somewhere on the order of $100 million. Not sure how you compete with that if you're SMU.

Right there with you. Geography/travel is not as big an issue as people think it is, and having the opportunity to truly grow as a national brand is far more interesting to me than going back under the UT/OU shadow and putting the old SWC band back together.

[2ndandlong]

I thought UTs budget was more in the neighborhood of $170 mm.

[ponyscott]

Yep...Big East is the way to go. Just load up the truck and move the family....

[ericdickerson4life]

If we can fight for the top spots in the BE we will be much more relevant than fighting for the 3-4 spots in the B12. Not too mention BBall has a much bigger spotlight and opportunity to become a player. Even mid to bottom of the pack BE teams are considered good and better than most teams in the country.

Plus, I'd rather travel to NY for a road game than Stillwater or Ames.

[ThadFilms]

You know, at first blush this might seem like a no-brainer. But its actually a decent question. I think if I'm SMU right now and the Big-12 offers, there is no way I can turn it down. But there are three big negatives to the Big-12 that are at least worthy of consideration:

1. Our football program is making great progress, but I don't think its ready to handle the season-long grind of the Big-12 at this point. Frankly, we'd struggle. . .and probably for awhile. Very tough to compete in recruiting with UT, OU, OSU, etc. when you're not actually paying the recruits and buying them cars. I'm really interested to see how TCU does. Despite all their success over the past 12 years, they've never played a top-to-bottom schedule like they're going to play starting next year. I hope Frog fans are ready for 6-6.

2. I really don't ever want to be in a conference with UT again. UT sucks the oxygen out of every conference its in. The Big-12 will hobble along in some form or fashion for as long as it serves UT's interests. Once the Horns decide to move on to greener pastures, the Big-12 will collapse and everyone else will be scrambling for survival. TCU has decided to put its fate in UT's hands once again. I'd just as soon see SMU go in a different direction.

3. There are budgetary considerations that have to be worked out. The TV money in the Big-12 is great. But its not enough to cover the massive budget deficit our athletics program would have to run in order to compete with the top Big-12 schools in spending. UT has an athletics budget somewhere on the order of $100 million. Not sure how you compete with that if you're SMU.

"I hate Texas." -- Eric Dickerson

If we are going to get ourselves killed every week, then I'd rather we got killed in the SEC. But still, I pray to honey badger that we meet Texas in a bowl game soon -- bring out all the '80s guys in the sidelines, have 'em smash the tiny UT helmet in the locker room like they did in 1980. And then they stomped the then number 2 Longhorns in their house.

Just like we would stomp them now. (Okay, maybe not... but no one expected us to stomp them then!!)

20-6

Glorious!!! I was 2! Got a chance to watch that whole game out at the studio while making the movie. Glorious!

[ponyinNC]

I think 6-6 would be a lofty goal for TCU at this point in the Big 12. It will take them quite a few years to be able to compete with UT, OU, OSU, and to a lesser extent TT, KSU. They can compete right now with Baylor and should beat Kansas, Iowa St. If WVU or louisville enter the B12, even greater competition.

If BE remains AQ, and it should even past 2016, seems like a much easier road to BCS game.

[Mestengo]

Sunbelt

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

If we go big 12, we need to hold admin to the candle, no desire to be baylor or TCU...we need to dedicate a lot to becoming a factor in that conference...

Uh?
TCU won the Rose Bowl last year & could have beat the snot out of Texas.
Nick hasn't TCU been in the Top 10-20 on a regular basis the last few years?
You don't think TCU will be even be "a factor" in the Big 12?

oh...and I guess I'd choose the Big 12
because of the regional games..but I agree
in the Big East SMU will get some decent exposure
be able to compete...
get some wins which will build a pipeline of recruits
not a bad place to be for a few years
heck it's all gonna be changing every few years anyway.