SMU's conference action items

SMUfrat · Post by **SMUfrat** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:54 am

So there is alot of instability in conference alignment still. It is alla trickle down affect...

In essance, nothing has changed while everything has changed. The BigEast is still #6 conf of 11...

sec - big10 - big12 - pac12

acc - bigeast

MW - cusa

mac - sunbelt

wac

I really hope the WAC survives because more bottom conferences, the better for us. A 12th conference would be good too, but I dont see that happening. Ive heard the BigEast refered to as the 'best of the rest'. Maybe that is true... but either way, it is an upgrade for SMU.

I think everyone will be surprised with how competitive the conference will be. ESPN is doing its best to throw us in the mud for TV deal making... and its probably working. In my opinion - a deal with NBC would be the best because those games would be on a major station opposed to just the ESPN circut.

When the BigEast proves itself - which hopefully it will (because of the embedded desire to prove ourselves) - we will be known as the BEast. No doubt.

Priorities right now:

1. Revenue distribution needs to be compatible with other major conferences. This is crucial, but will be really hard. BE is in a weak power position right now and needs a champion out there - which there may not be one right now because they are all looking for their own best interests, $$$.

2. Bowl game tie in... We need to play against another major conference in a major bowl game. This NEEDS to happen. The ACC and BE need to partner because we need each other.

3. Competition. Whoever the new BE commish is has alot on his plate. But has a HUGE opportunity. Right now, the new BE is better than the old BE. Why are we so underrated? Because of the TV deals and its easy for people to dismiss us when they look briefly at conference realignment. The BE needs to schedule well - HARD teams, and WIN those games. The BE's destruction of Clemson came when 3 BE teams basically tied to win the conference, and 2 of which are staying. Whose to say Cincinati wouldnt have done the same?

4. Unity. A new and impressive commish needs to come soon. Positive publicity needs to start happening. And the Boise confusion needs to be cleared up. We need to be solid.

*** SMU needs to take advantage of this opportunity. The end game (2020) When 5 major conferences all go to 14 (70 schools) or 16 (80 schools) SMU will most likely be one of them.

When the Big10 decides to expand to 14, they will take Mizzou I'm sure and maybe ND. Overall. There is no way to know what will happen. But the BigEast is stronger than people think, and a 4 team playoff give the BigEast MUCH MORE opportunity than ever before.

Post by **Webmaster** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 12:09 pm

SMUfrat wrote:ESPN is doing its best to throw us in the mud for TV deal making... and its probably working. In my opinion - a deal with NBC would be the best because those games would be on a major station opposed to just the ESPN circut.

I concur. The idea that everyone in America could watch an SMU/Big East Conference game absolutely FREE and in high definition has major appeal.

I find it interesting that NBC has stepped up to carry the America's Cup World Series races (this Sunday) in Newport, RI and the actual Louis Vuitton Cup / America's Cup races next year. Back when America won the Cup back from Australia, it was the highest rated ESPN broadcast of all time. I like that NBC is aggressively getting back to its sports roots and breaking the ESPN cartel.

PoconoPony · Post by **PoconoPony** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:09 pm

NBC is also carrying most of the Olympic qualifying trials in all sports in prime time every evening. Yes, NBC is becoming aggressive again.

Mexmustang · Post by **Mexmustang** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:59 am

Not an original idea, but some suggest that once a 4-team playoff begins, it will be expanded to 8 teams. It would appear that the Big East should be trying to do those things you have mentioned but also politicking for it.

An eight team playoff (four bowls) playing to the "Final Four" would allow the top six conferences to put their conference champion in the playoff, yet still alow two others, say a second place team or an at large team from a smaller conference the opportunity to play into the championship game. this would give a reasonable chance to say, an undefeated CUSA team to one day participate.

Those same people point to the rapid increase in the number of schools now playing in the NCAA basketball tournament. It was once only a 16 team tournament. Only last year they again effectively increased the size.

DiamondM75 · Post by **DiamondM75** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:11 am

Mexmustang wrote:Not an original idea, but some suggest that once a 4-team playoff begins, it will be expanded to 8 teams. It would appear that the Big East should be trying to do those things you have mentioned but also politicking for it.

An eight team playoff (four bowls) playing to the "Final Four" would allow the top six conferences to put their conference champion in the playoff, yet still alow two others, say a second place team or an at large team from a smaller conference the opportunity to play into the championship game. this would give a reasonable chance to say, an undefeated CUSA team to one day participate.

Those same people point to the rapid increase in the number of schools now playing in the NCAA basketball tournament. It was once only a 16 team tournament. Only last year they again effectively increased the size.

Can you say "Cha Ching"?

Mexmustang · Post by **Mexmustang** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:27 am

Eight teams would give both the ACC and Big East rights to sit at the table again. It was silly for the ACC commissioner to purposely put down the Big East by saying that there are only five major conferences now. It is like the guys being chased by that grizzly bear--you always want someone slower than you behind you. Now the ACC also appears to be the odd man out as well!

SMUfrat · Post by **SMUfrat** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 12:05 pm

Mexmustang wrote:Not an original idea, but some suggest that once a 4-team playoff begins, it will be expanded to 8 teams. It would appear that the Big East should be trying to do those things you have mentioned but also politicking for it.

An eight team playoff (four bowls) playing to the "Final Four" would allow the top six conferences to put their conference champion in the playoff, yet still alow two others, say a second place team or an at large team from a smaller conference the opportunity to play into the championship game. this would give a reasonable chance to say, an undefeated CUSA team to one day participate.

Those same people point to the rapid increase in the number of schools now playing in the NCAA basketball tournament. It was once only a 16 team tournament. Only last year they again effectively increased the size.

I like the 8 team play off system. but realistically - It can't be anymore than 8... It takes alot out of the teams and would be a 3 week process. Would other bowl games be happening during that time too? or will all the other bowls stop during the playoff?

Does it need to be a week between games?

Longtime · Post by **Longtime** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 2:36 pm

Yeah, about that NBC offer. I would wager that a majority of the Big East programming would end up on NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus), the NBC cable channel that needs content.

Not saying that there wouldn't be Big East programming on the broadcast version of NBC, but I bet it would be limited to select games with the rest going to the cable sister station.

NY Pony · Post by **NY Pony** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 3:02 pm

Longtime wrote:Yeah, about that NBC offer. I would wager that a majority of the Big East programming would end up on NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus), the NBC cable channel that needs content.

Not saying that there wouldn't be Big East programming on the broadcast version of NBC, but I bet it would be limited to select games with the rest going to the cable sister station.

I've heard that their proposal includes 4 Saturday BE games on the cable station, and 1 to either lead into of follow Notre Dame football on the broadcast. This would leave 2 games uncovered on many weeks, probably to be moved to weeknights.

This was apparently from their initial info only proposal and did not include financials, so who knows...

Topper · Post by **Topper** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 7:04 pm

Longtime wrote:Yeah, about that NBC offer. I would wager that a majority of the Big East programming would end up on NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus), the NBC cable channel that needs content.

Not saying that there wouldn't be Big East programming on the broadcast version of NBC, but I bet it would be limited to select games with the rest going to the cable sister station.

I heard that the concept was for 4 weekly Saturday games beginning at 11 in the morning and with the final game ending at midnight CDT meaning that either Boise or SDSU would be hosting a night game. On the cable network. I didn't know about a featured weekly game on the broadcast network, but that would be where the real exposure would be.

Mexmustang · Post by **Mexmustang** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:00 am

"I like the 8 team play off system. but realistically - It can't be anymore than 8... It takes alot out of the teams and would be a 3 week process. Would other bowl games be happening during that time too? or will all the other bowls stop during the playoff?"

I agree. I think this would be best for not only the ACC and Big East, but also for the other conferences as well. A four team playoff seems to suggest that four mega conferences would evolve as many have suggested. I don't know if that is the best for college football. Having a number of conference champions, and a number of bowls seems best for the players and the fans. It always seemed to me the biggest hangup with a playoff system was the college football coaches themselves. In the past they could always lay claim to a bowl championship (what now 36?), or a conference championship and keep their jobs. Now the standard will be "final four" We are about to see a real turnover in coaches in the major conferences.

Expanding beyond four or eight teams is not an impossibility. First, we could reduce the number of regualr season games (it was just extended a couple of years ago), second expand the length of the season. I am not for either, just saying it is not an impossibility. Remember when the entire basketball tournament was played in two weekends? Now it plays out beyond just the month of March.

I don't believe going to 16 would be a realistic option. The biggest reason is that in basketball, when David meet Goliath, no one gets injured. That sixteenth seed, say the WAC champion, going against say an Alabama would be difficult to watch.

Charleston Pony · Post by **Charleston Pony** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:25 am

4 team playoff is the best way to preserve the bowls and avoid what we saw last year. I expect very few (outside of the SEC and Alabama in particular) wanted to see that rematch. Strength or schedule is going to be important and it will still be very difficult for 1 loss teams to be considered

Mexmustang · Post by **Mexmustang** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:37 am

Regarding the bowls, I believe that the NCAA needs to finally take charge of these. In an eight team playoff system, I would have six bowls and a rotating final bid out to cities, with the proceeds to be split between the teams and the NCAA. Use some of the proceeds and a tax on football TV revenues to equitably fund an allowance for players--keeping the playing field even amongst schools.

First, all bowl tie-ins for these six would need to be cancelled. If the Rose Bowl doesn't want to play drop them. The Big Ten and Pac champions would rather be in the playoff bowls.

Second, make all the bowl finances transparent. If the Fiesta wants to keep them private for the benefit of a couple executives, drop them. Big schools with great records would rather be in the playoff bowls.

Third, make the revenue split fair for the schools. It is ridiculous that a school losses money going to a major bowl while executives use private planes and golf outings to entertain.

The NCAA should have addressed these issues long ago.

The six bowls would rotate anually for position, four playoff bowls, two semi-final bowls.
I believe that the bowl system would be profitable than it is today and that television ratings would soar regardless of the matchup.

I am a traditionalist, I love remembering the old bowl matchups. But, things have changed and the bowls and their executives need to be managed by the NCAA. The basketball tournament, including the team travel is fully underwritten by the tournament and arranged by the NCAA.

SMUfrat · Post by **SMUfrat** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:46 am

Guys - fundraising for ford expansion has already begun.

"Another large portion of the 2012 contributions came in the form of gifts for capital projects, including those to support enhancements to football facilities, renovation and expansion of Moody Coliseum and construction of a new 12-court tennis complex. These projects will provide many new and improved features to enhance the facilities for student-athletes and the experience for Mustang fans. Additional gifts are still needed to complete funding for Athletics capital projects. "

- SMU Mustang site

StallionsModelT · Post by **StallionsModelT** » Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:00 am

I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but an IPF should be number one on the list of capital improvements for the football program. Every major football program in the nation has one and we don't. Every piece of information out there about when it will break ground or the $$$ raised seems sketchy at best.

There is no need to expand Ford Stadium at this time. Moving to the Big East is great for the viability and exposure, but I don't think there will be a huge jump in attendance unless we go 11-1 or something like that. I could see us averaging 27-29K a game with this schedule though in 2013:

Texas Tech (SELLOUT)
Baylor (CLOSE TO SELLOUT)
Boise State (27K)
Louisville (25K)
South Florida (22K)
Memphis (17K)
Houston (23K)