Collaborative Effort: ACC When Dust Clears

[CalallenStang]

The fact the PAC has no other options doesn't mean SMU and/or UH are under consideration. There is no conceivable scenario in the near future where SMU is going to the PAC. Not worth wasting time

Seriously. The Pac-12 is in no rush to go to 16 schools. Hell, they didn't even have a conference BASKETBALL tournament until a few years ago...things develop slowly out there. They'll do what they want on their own time - it doesn't make sense for them to expand to 16 right now unless Texas and OU come calling with OSU and TT tagging along

If by "a few years ago" you mean the same year that SMU got the death penalty, then yes, you are correct. The Big Ten also didn't have a conference basketball tournament back then.

[peruna81]

I like the idea of us in the same conference as "like kind" universities - strong academic institutions dedicated to excellence in Div1 sports with "national brands". If it's ACC, ok. Schools I foresee would definitely be UVA, UNC, Duke (although I never met anyone from there I liked - easy football win, though), ND, would love to say Stanford and USC (and hate to say Rice and Tulane but maybe). Our TX talent pool is better and we could attract some east coasters looking for a warmer weather destination. (and honestly is there a better town than big D - job opportunities, etc etc).

"easy win" for us or them?

I wish your idea was the template, ojaipony, but this round of shifting is based on $$ only, not 'like/kind intitutions'or 'regional' as in the old SWC/Big 12 days. This is cut throat in the extreme, and it seems SMU is staring from the outside again, much like the bust up of the SWC. I truly hope I am wrong, and am not trying to be the half-full glass guy, but our move to the Big East has not put us in any more stable a position than the WAC 16 was.

We don't have the market share in DFW to be a player. TCU does. thus the Big East

[East Coast Mustang]

The fact the PAC has no other options doesn't mean SMU and/or UH are under consideration. There is no conceivable scenario in the near future where SMU is going to the PAC. Not worth wasting time

Seriously. The Pac-12 is in no rush to go to 16 schools. Hell, they didn't even have a conference BASKETBALL tournament until a few years ago...things develop slowly out there. They'll do what they want on their own time - it doesn't make sense for them to expand to 16 right now unless Texas and OU come calling with OSU and TT tagging along

If by "a few years ago" you mean the same year that SMU got the death penalty, then yes, you are correct. The Big Ten also didn't have a conference basketball tournament back then.

Well, you're half-right. They had a tourney in the late 80's, then disbanded it until around 2001 if I'm remembering correctly.

My point is, they'll expand on their own timetable. They don't have to do anything out of desperation, i.e., taking SMU and UH. They have the Rose Bowl, therefore, they already have a seat at the table.

[SoCal_Pony]

ECM, i agree the PAC will expand at their own timetable unless there is a play-off system that forces them to act.

Odds of this? who knows but given what has transpired over the past couple of years I wouldn't rule anything out.

[East Coast Mustang]

ECM, i agree the PAC will expand at their own timetable unless there is a play-off system that forces them to act.

Odds of this? who knows but given what has transpired over the past couple of years I wouldn't rule anything out.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... -year-deal

Any playoff system that "forces them to act" won't come until 2025. At that time, the cumbersome B12 TV rights deal that makes it tough for member schools to switch conferences will be a moot point. Then, the Pac-12 can court Texas, OU, TT, and OSU again

[SMUfrat]

ECM, i agree the PAC will expand at their own timetable unless there is a play-off system that forces them to act.

Odds of this? who knows but given what has transpired over the past couple of years I wouldn't rule anything out.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... -year-deal

Any playoff system that "forces them to act" won't come until 2025. At that time, the cumbersome B12 TV rights deal that makes it tough for member schools to switch conferences will be a moot point. Then, the Pac-12 can court Texas, OU, TT, and OSU again

There is something to be said, however, when you get everyone panicked, people make rash decisions. Scott whoever the PAC commissioner would rather see changes in the PAC that he can tout as his own, as opposed to 'waiting it out'. That's how the big ego commissioners work. ie Delany

[East Coast Mustang]

ECM, i agree the PAC will expand at their own timetable unless there is a play-off system that forces them to act.

Odds of this? who knows but given what has transpired over the past couple of years I wouldn't rule anything out.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... -year-deal

Any playoff system that "forces them to act" won't come until 2025. At that time, the cumbersome B12 TV rights deal that makes it tough for member schools to switch conferences will be a moot point. Then, the Pac-12 can court Texas, OU, TT, and OSU again

There is something to be said, however, when you get everyone panicked, people make rash decisions. Scott whoever the PAC commissioner would rather see changes in the PAC that he can tout as his own, as opposed to 'waiting it out'. That's how the big ego commissioners work. ie Delany

If Larry Scott wants to stroke his ego and solidify his legacy as Pac-12 commissioner, he probably shouldn't invite SMU and Houston.

[SMUfrat]

Dude, it isn't hard to sell SMU if you wanted.

"top tier private school" "beautiful campus" "great location in the heart of dallas" "new upped commitment in athletics" "new facilities" "4 bowls in 4 years" "basketball on rise"

Things they wont say but probably would think
- Great recruiting grounds
- PAC network TV sets
- beatable team to make current members look good
- willing to do whatever to make it work
- doesn't degrade our academics

Its all how you spin it. It really depends on Larry Scott, and the PAC presidents. If the ECONOMICS work - in the same manner they worked for Maryland to BIG, then things could get interesting.

[gostangs]

Not only that, but if they said - hey we would like you in the conference but you need to expand football to 45k seats and pick up baseball, it would take two phone calls to get that funded.

[East Coast Mustang]

Dude, it isn't hard to sell SMU if you wanted.

"top tier private school" "beautiful campus" "great location in the heart of dallas" "new upped commitment in athletics" "new facilities" "4 bowls in 4 years" "basketball on rise"

Things they wont say but probably would think
- Great recruiting grounds
- PAC network TV sets
- beatable team to make current members look good
- willing to do whatever to make it work
- doesn't degrade our academics

Its all how you spin it. It really depends on Larry Scott, and the PAC presidents. If the ECONOMICS work - in the same manner they worked for Maryland to BIG, then things could get interesting.

I don't disagree with the premise that SMU has a lot going for it compared to other schools that are on the outside looking in right now. However, you have to look at it from the Pac-12 schools' perspectives. They make an boat load of money every year in TV revenue with their ESPN/ABC/FOX/whatever contract + the Pac-12 Network. The sole reason to add schools is the make the pie bigger; i.e., bring in more revenue for the conference. It doesn't make sense for them to add schools who will take a slice of the pie without making the pie bigger.

I'm not convinced by the argument that SMU and Houston add the Texas market. We couldn't even get the SMU-Rice game here on TV on UVerse, that should tell you something. I think some Pac-12 schools would have reservations about adding SMU because of its Methodist affiliation and conservative reputation, and I know that pretty much all of the Pac-12 schools would have an issue with UH because of academics. BYU is obviously much more religious than SMU, but they have a huge nationwide following and still couldn't get in the Pac-12...that's pretty telling.

[CalallenStang]

I'm not convinced by the argument that SMU and Houston add the Texas market. We couldn't even get the SMU-Rice game here on TV on UVerse, that should tell you something.

That has nothing to do with SMU and Rice, and everything to do with CUSA's stupid TV contract that awards a certain amount of games each year to "CSS" which is only available on Comcast cable (since it is a Comcast owned channel, they do not allow carriage on competing cable systems except in a few extenuating circumstances). Any competent conference doesn't sign that stupid of a contract.

[Comet]

Dude, it isn't hard to sell SMU if you wanted.

"top tier private school" "beautiful campus" "great location in the heart of dallas" "new upped commitment in athletics" "new facilities" "4 bowls in 4 years" "basketball on rise"

Things they wont say but probably would think
- Great recruiting grounds
- PAC network TV sets
- beatable team to make current members look good
- willing to do whatever to make it work
- doesn't degrade our academics

Its all how you spin it. It really depends on Larry Scott, and the PAC presidents. If the ECONOMICS work - in the same manner they worked for Maryland to BIG, then things could get interesting.

It just sucks that even with these good reasons, they could easily dismiss SMU because we can't even fill a third of our stadium and our basketball on the rise still has a half empty arena (I'm convinced this is going to get dramatically better though). I really really hope SMU can land in the PAC-12 one day... but it's going to be a tough sell.

[CalallenStang]

I think some Pac-12 schools would have reservations about adding SMU because of its Methodist affiliation and conservative reputation

SMU has a commitment to secular teaching and open inquiry, unlike BYU.

Further, Pac-12 schools are stuck on themselves and think that their alumni and faculty are the best in academia. Fortunately, SMU has a lot of former PAC faculty and alums in high-ranking positions.

Provost Paul Ludden, former Dean of College of Natural Resources at UC-Berkeley
Vice President for Student Affairs Lori White, Bachelors degree from UC-Berkeley, Ph.D. from Stanford, formerly held administration positions at USC and Stanford.
Dean Jose Bowen (Meadows), holder of 4 degrees from Stanford, started his teaching career at Stanford
Assoc. Vice President for Research James Quick, UCLA degree, Ph.D. from CalTech (highly respected amongst many on the West Coast)
Dean David Chard (Simmons), Ph.D from Oregon, former Associate Dean at Oregon

While these connections may mean nothing, they certainly won't hurt and in fact show a commitment to making SMU a PAC-style university.

[CalallenStang]

Dude, it isn't hard to sell SMU if you wanted.

"top tier private school" "beautiful campus" "great location in the heart of dallas" "new upped commitment in athletics" "new facilities" "4 bowls in 4 years" "basketball on rise"

Things they wont say but probably would think
- Great recruiting grounds
- PAC network TV sets
- beatable team to make current members look good
- willing to do whatever to make it work
- doesn't degrade our academics

Its all how you spin it. It really depends on Larry Scott, and the PAC presidents. If the ECONOMICS work - in the same manner they worked for Maryland to BIG, then things could get interesting.

It just sucks that even with these good reasons, they could easily dismiss SMU because we can't even fill a third of our stadium and our basketball on the rise still has a half empty arena (I'm convinced this is going to get dramatically better though). I really really hope SMU can land in the PAC-12 one day... but it's going to be a tough sell.

Attendance doesn't matter that much. They haven't kicked Washington State out yet.

[Mexmustang]

Interesting discussion. I lend nothing to the speculation. But, I would point out one additional fact--SMU and U of H also play two hours earlier--the time zone(s) in the PAC has always been a handicap for TV. Having a number of conference games midday in NYC maybe our biggest asset.