SMU signs two-year deal with Arkansas State

[abezontar]

For the record TCU did play Arkansas State in Jonesboro in 1999, then at home in 2000, they then played Northwestern State (LA) in Fort Worth, in 2001, they then picked up North Texas in Fort Worth as their other (outside of SMU) patsy game in 2002, 2003 was Vanderbilt at home, and in 2004 we were the only non-conerence game that could be considered an easy win.

Maybe it didn't get them to where they are, but it certainly helped.

[NavyCrimson]

from the ASU athletic site:

ASU ANNOUNCES 2005 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
03/02/2005


JONESBORO, ARK. — Six home games, including the matchup with Missouri in Kansas City, a home and home agreement with Army, a trip to Oklahoma State, and contests with new conference members highlight Arkansas State University’s 2005 football schedule which was released Wednesday afternoon by Director of Athletics Dr. Dean Lee.

“It has been a long and exhaustive process to complete the 2005 football schedule,” said Lee. “We have been working with many teams to try to finalize our last game, and I am extremely grateful to all parties involved in pulling this together.”

In addition, Lee announced that Arkansas State has entered into an agreement with Southern Methodist University for two games, one which will be played at SMU in 2006 and the Mustangs will return a game to ASU in 2008.

“SMU is a good draw for our fans. Their program is well recognized by football fans in Arkansas,” said Lee.

“We are certainly excited about the schedule for our student-athletes and our fans,” said ASU Head Coach Steve Roberts. “The most exciting thing for me is the addition of four home Sun Belt Conference games and three on the road, plus the opportunity to play a game in Kansas City as our home game. This is special for our university and provides our student-athletes the opportunity to play in Arrowhead Stadium.

“And, to close out the season with Army and travel to New York will be a tremendous experience for our student-athletes. Also, Oklahoma State provides another chance to play an outstanding opponent in a two-game deal.”

Lee said the agreements with Oklahoma State and Army are aiding in completion of the 2006 schedule. ASU will open the 2006 season in Jonesboro Sept. 2 against Army and then travel to Little Rock to play Oklahoma State Sept. 9. This marks the first time in school history for ASU to open the season with two Division I-A programs at home. ASU will then make the trip to SMU Sept. 23.

“We are always looking for quality Division I-A teams who will play Arkansas State home and away,” said Lee. “Fortunately, Army was looking for the same situation, and we were able to work out dates for these games. This partnership brings a tremendous opportunity to set up an appealing 2006 schedule. Army is a tradition-rich program that will be a great experience for our student-athletes.”

The Army series marks the second time that ASU will play a military academy in football. Arkansas State and The Citadel have met eight times over the years.

University officials traveled to Kansas City Tuesday to finalize plans for the ASU-Missouri season opener in KC’s Arrowhead Stadium. The game, part of a two-year contract which called for ASU to play Missouri in Columbia last year, is set for Sept. 3.

“This is a great opportunity to kick off the Labor Day weekend at a fabulous sports venue,” said Lee. “Arrowhead Stadium offers tremendous exposure for Arkansas State with the use of our logo on the field and throughout the stadium. Our students will be able to get in free of charge and the city of Kansas City provides a great site for our fans to visit.”

ASU’s other home games include a rematch with Tennessee-Martin (Sept. 10) (Paint the Stadium Red and Hall of Honor Induction); the Sun Belt Conference’s two newest football members Florida International (Sept. 24) and Florida Atlantic (Homecoming—Oct. 22); return trips to Louisiana-Monroe (Oct. 1) and Middle Tennessee (Nov. 5); a return to Indian Stadium for the first time since 2001 for Louisiana-Lafayette (Oct. 15); and a return by Troy University (Nov. 12) (Senior Night).

The Homecoming date has been set for Oct. 22 with Florida Atlantic. Game times will be determined at a later date.

Here is the 2005 Arkansas State University football schedule:
Sept. 3 — +MISSOURI, Kansas City, Mo.
Sept. 10 — TENNESSEE-MARTIN, JONESBORO (Paint the Stadium Red and Hall of Honor Induction)
Sept. 17 — Oklahoma State, Stillwater, Okla.
Sept. 24 — *FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL, JONESBORO
Oct. 1 — *Louisiana-Monroe, Monroe, La.
Oct. 8 — *North Texas, Denton, Texas
Oct. 15 — *LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE, JONESBORO
Oct. 22 —*FLORIDA ATLANTIC, JONESBORO (Homecoming)
Oct. 29 — OPEN
Nov. 5 — *Middle Tennessee, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Nov. 12 — *TROY, JONESBORO (Senior Night)
Nov. 19 — Army, West Point, N.Y.

+ Serves as home game for ASU
* Sun Belt Conference games

http://www.asuindians.com/index.php?op= ... 1ef2e699a0

[bubba pony]

copeland negotiation ability stinks. we play A&M twice at their field and once at ours. we gave more than what we got to play A&M. with ASU we should have gotten more than what we gave. not even up. we need seats in the stands @ Dallas and ASU won't help. maybe one weak win, not worth the price. we should have gotten more.

[SoCal_Pony]

Rather than go from one extreme (Ok State) to another (Ark St) I would prefer Kansas or Missouri.

Ideally we should play TCU every year, Baylor and/or NTSU every year, with the remaining non-conference game either TTech, A&M, Ok State, Kansas, Missouri, Grambling, Arkansas, Mississippi or Mississippi State.

Look at our home schedule in ’06. There is no guarantee we will hit that 15k mark.

[davidsmu94]

This is a dark day in SMU football history. IMHO

[Hoop Fan]

regarding TCU, I think they scheduled Ark State and the others mentioned AFTER they stung USC in the Sun Bowl. After that they couldnt get anyone to come to Fort Worthless for awhile. If I remember, they were begging people from the BCS to play home and away and probably had to settle for ASU.

My first reaction to this deal was negative and my second reaction is very negative. I dont say negative things on this board very often, but this just whips me. I'd rather go to Chicago and take our lumps anytime than go to Jonesboro ever.

Mr. Copeland, please back out of this series like we did the Wake and Northwestern agreements. Regarding attendance, I understand the argument that you need a few Sept wins to keep interest going later in the season. But thats always iffy with unpredicatable late October and November weather and fickle alums anyway. SMU has to put the 15,000 butts in the seats when they can and Arkansas State certainly wont do it for us. Bad move, but nothing that a couple quality wins this fall wouldn't alleviate.

[ALEX LIFESON]

This is a good move at this state of our program. I just wish we played them this year!

[Dooby]

Hoop - what about our history suggests to you that we do not need to dramatically ease up on our out of conference schedule? - this is precisely how our friends to the west built a program leading to many bowl games - and a move we should have made at any costs several years ago.

Maybe this is brilliant, but I dont remember the Frogs playing 1 for 1, home and homes with Arkansas State. Maybe they did, but thats not what got em where they are. I wouldnt mind buying a win and bringing a patsy to Dallas, but the road part of this is what is wrong with it in my opinion. It risks a loss to a bad program. Talk about risky with our fans. Its better to play Texas Tech or somebody similar and at least get a pay day or generate some gate on the their trip to Dallas.

There is no one way to build a program. I dont mind seeing some winnable games at all, I just think Ark State is one of the last schools anywhere I would choose to fill out my schedule with. Thats just me. Oh, and I guess this is an admission we cant compete with La Tech, a closer school who we supposedly already build a rivalry with.

Home and home probably made it cheaper to bring 'em in. I don't care.

Oh, and 1999-00. TCU had a home and home with Arkansas State.

[MrMustang1965]

I just hope their fans don't park their double-wides along The Boulevard.

[Metropolis777]

Guys. This is a good move for y'all. The goal for SMU right now needs to be 6 D1-A wins. Though most don't think Ark St. is 1A, a win over them is still a 1A win in the eyes of the NCAA helping towards bowl eligibility. Plus, y'all now play in possibly the weakest division in the nation. That's good for a program trying to rebuild and get to a bowl game.

My guess is your schedule for 2006 will look like this (barring the 12th game getting approved)

@ Texas Tech
@ UNT
vs. Ark St.
vs. Marshall
vs. UAB
vs. Tulsa
vs. Houston
@ Tulane
@ ECU
@ Rice
@ UTEP

If y'all keep progressing, it is very realistic that y'all will be bowling in 2006. Ark St. is pretty much a guaranteed win meaning you only need 5 more.

[MrMustang1965]

Plus, y'all now play in possibly the weakest division in the nation. That's good for a program trying to rebuild and get to a bowl game.

Huh? Interesting to see your 'location'. TCU!!!!!

[LakeHighlandsPony]

I would be very careful about calling this a win. I remember the Aggies went to Lafayette, LA for an easy win and got their arse handed to them. When you don't win these games it gets people fired. Just ask the Kansas Jayhawk Coach after the Ponies B-slapped them at Ford.

[mrydel]

I find it humorous that any of us can count any game as a sure win. ASU will be a worthy opponent for the time being. There is nothing wrong with keeping a presence in Arkansas. There are a few good athletes here in both football and basketball. I see ASU traveling much lighter than did UA, but there will be fans to come to Dallas. There are a lot of ASU fans in this state. The hatred between ASU and UA is the equivalence of SMU and TCU, only a little stronger since Lord Broyles refuses to play ASU because he feels they are beneath him. (Actually he knows that if he ever lost to them his days would be numbered.) I like the idea of playing the big boys and beating them, but until we get back on solid winning ground, steps like this are acceptable to me. I would think a Vegas line would make this game a pickem today, but hopefully by 2006 we will be ready to chalk up a win. As far as a trip to Jonesboro, I would suggest either Memphis or Little Rock for entertainment, and motor to Jonesboro for the game. Driving time to Jonesboro from Little Rock is not much more than just getting out of the city limits of Dallas. Selfishly, I like an away game that I will be able to attend easily.

[EastStang]

We do need a few winnable games on the schedule now and then. Note I did not say guaranteed wins. As for the home and home, Arkansas State probably gets offered a lot of money for 1 and done body bag games by the likes of K-State, Missouri, Tennessee, you get my drift. We probably don't have to pay them much of anything for a home and home. So any tickets we sell will be money in our pocket. I would have preferred Northwestern to Arkansas State because a win over them would mean more and a loss would hurt a little less.

[Dooby]

I m just stunned that people think this is a bad deal. Back when we were trying to line up Prairie View A&M or whatnot to replace OSU on the schedule, I had a conversation with a fellow SMU grad. This guy is one of those UT ballcap wearing SMU grads that can find time to drive 3 hours to Austin to watch UT trounce Baylor but not drive 5 minutes to watch SMU. He said the same thing that it was a horrible idea. He'd rather SMU lose to OSU by 35 (because that is Big XII football) than beat a lesser opponent.

If beating Ark. State gets us closer to 6 or 7 wins and a bowl game, I am all for it. I have seen what scheduling 3 potential top 25 teams for nonconference games can do-wreck the confidence of the team and lead to a winless season.

A win is a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win a win is a win is a win.