Good article

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

Not about SMU, but I enjoyed the read. It's interesting to hear the negative reaction from both many Big-10 supporters and many Maryland supporters. With all the realignment stuff that's happened, I'm not sure I remember a move that has met with such a mixed response from the press. Now that the ACC is in peril, I think lots of people from schools that looked safe are suddenly waking up to what is really happening. That is why I have hope for SMU. With everything that is happening, there will be quality athletic programs that get left out. There just aren't enough seats at the football adult table. So if the potential losers include programs like Duke, Boston College, Syracuse, Miami, UVA, etc., we may end up being in pretty good company.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/865 ... nd-rutgers

[jpe747]

Good point 1983 CB!!!

[Mexmustang]

Thanks for sharing.
Things are so up in the air, I don't have a clue or opinion as to what will happen next.

[leopold]

Great post - I posted that article myself in facebook. i'm still shocked that the B1G didn't make one last overture to ND, but whatever. They seem to have moved on.

I plan on using this article when I try to explain to my northern friends why the B1G is falling behind and becoming less and less relevant, and frankly, why we are very much positioned for future success.

Additionally, I have made the argument that we would be better off in a Texas-Deep South based conference, such as a revamped CUSA, and I believe this article to point out the major reasons, especially considering the last flagship schools such as Conneticutt and Rutgers are leaving for greener pastures now.

I genuinely believe that long term we have no buisiness in a conference with DePaul, Villanova, Georgetown, and the like, and need to serioulsy reconsider joining the BE.

[EastStang]

The ACC schools are very upset about a charter member leaving the conference, gee where have we heard that before, oh yeah, Arkansas did it to us, as are some Maryland alums. Maryland can't win in the ACC, now they're going to the B1G, and be its doormat. And attendance will be good once in awhile, but come on, Maryland/Northwestern will draw about as big as SMU/Baylor.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

I think the error that some of the defeatists on here make is assuming that realignment for SMU is a zero-sum game. Ie. the only scenarios are either we end up in the SEC or get stuck playing UTSA for all eternity. That's possible I guess, but there are a lot of scenarios between those two that are frankly more plausible. If in fact the big boys all end up in 4 or 5 conferences totalling 60 or 70 programs, then that's going to leave 50 or 60 FBS programs in the wilderness. I think you can pick and choose from those programs and probably end up with a pretty darn good athletic conference.

SMU is not going to have a seat at the PAC-12/Big-10/Big-12/SEC table anytime soon. So you can forget about that. But that doesn't mean that all is lost. Far from it. SMU is well positioned in a big market, with a rapidly improving athletic program, good academics, and access to lots and lots of money. That still counts for something in this world.

[redpony]

IMO our best fit would be in a merger of the BE and ACC after all the rest of the shakeup is finished.