Dr. Turner: Do something ...

[couch 'em]

We won't be in BE long

[SMU_Alumni11]

I don't understand what would be the point in slightly demoting us to the MWC. It makes no logical sense. We would have to pay a fine, get a crappy pro-rata of tv revenue since Boise gets it all. We beat their top team in the Hawaii bowl so why become super king cupcake. I just don't understand what possible argument have for going to the MWC other than to play easier teams and end our struggle permanently to become relevant...

[CBpony]

I think we can all thank the longhorn network for this fbs circus.

[Comet]

Sit it out, wait to see how badly the ACC gets raided. Pray for an invite. If that doesn't happen, go West, forget the likes of ECU, Memphis, UCF, etc. I'd rather play basketball with UNLV, UNM, SDSU and football with Boise State, SDSU, Fresno, and possibly a scheduling agreement with BYU. No will take the To Be Determined Conference seriously, whereas at least the MWC gets multiple good teams into March Madness as well as into BCS games. I'm over our experiment in the East unless it leads to an ACC invite.

[WE ARE BACK]

Yeah, as depressing as it is, the Big East (or whatever it will be called when the dust settles) is still the best plan for us, at least in the short term.

You must be Turner's ghost writer... Because its that type of logical reasoning that has us up sit creek without a paddle. At least a majority of people on here finally see that conference big east rejects is a losing proposition. Only a few of us were preaching MWC... Not looking so laughable now is it?!! I only remember one other person saying "go west young man" and now we'd be fortunate to get the invite. You dump all this money into moody to host some blow hard school we never heard of? And then I get the weekly Sunday evening phone call asking for money? Turner is a clown, this new ad is MIA, and we in a dead end conference that doesn't even exist yet... B-R-A-V-O!

[Maine Mustang]

We've complained about every conference we've been in for the past 20 years. How about we quit complaining, worry about building a championship calibre program, and actually dominate these supposedly inferior conference mates on the field and court...just a thought.

[Bergermeister]

Can we somehow blame Ken Pye for this?

Is there any doubt that this is all his fault?

[EastStang]

We're upgrading our conference even if we lose the Catholic 7. UConn has won a NC and been a frequent 1 seed. That translates into $$$$. Memphis and Cincy are like clones of each other and I suspect will renew a pretty good rivalry in hoops. We need to build the hoops brand and let the football come along slowly. We have great cities in the conference. Orlando, Houston, Dallas, Tampa, Hartford, Cincy, Memphis, Philly, New Orleans. Either the ACC will get slaughtered or ESPN will bail them out and then the only sexy pickups are in the TBD conference. Those are UConn, Cincy, SMU, UH, Temple.

[ponyscott]

We're upgrading our conference even if we lose the Catholic 7. UConn has won a NC and been a frequent 1 seed. That translates into $$$$. Memphis and Cincy are like clones of each other and I suspect will renew a pretty good rivalry in hoops. We need to build the hoops brand and let the football come along slowly. We have great cities in the conference. Orlando, Houston, Dallas, Tampa, Hartford, Cincy, Memphis, Philly, New Orleans. Either the ACC will get slaughtered or ESPN will bail them out and then the only sexy pickups are in the TBD conference. Those are UConn, Cincy, SMU, UH, Temple.

I agree with that assesment. We just have to be dominant and make a name for ourselves NATIONwide to get attention to our programs....THEN we may have a chance at a big conference or newly formed group of 'wanna be's' that are focused financially on succeeding.

[Water Pony]

Yeah, as depressing as it is, the Big East (or whatever it will be called when the dust settles) is still the best plan for us, at least in the short term.

You must be Turner's ghost writer... Because its that type of logical reasoning that has us up sit creek without a paddle. At least a majority of people on here finally see that conference big east rejects is a losing proposition. Only a few of us were preaching MWC... Not looking so laughable now is it?!! I only remember one other person saying "go west young man" and now we'd be fortunate to get the invite. You dump all this money into moody to host some blow hard school we never heard of? And then I get the weekly Sunday evening phone call asking for money? Turner is a clown, this new ad is MIA, and we in a dead end conference that doesn't even exist yet... B-R-A-V-O!

East Coast Mustang is no ghost writer for Turner. He makes his case. As for calling Turner a clown, I must ask, are you in junior high? You sky is falling bit is sad and hardly reflects SMU considerable efforts to recover and move forward. Beside, we have to earn it, not play Chicken Little. As a Newbie, make a better case. Name calling weaken your "opinions"

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

The title of this thread and some of the posts smack of panic. And as we all know, panic is not a strategy. I agree with Couch Em that we won't be in the BE for long. And I agree with Stallion that if MWC is our destiny (and I sure hope its not), it will be there for us next year, and the year after that. There is no reason to go off half-cocked and do something dramatic when we have yet to see how the biggest moves will play out (IE. what happens to the ACC?).

Personally, I've always been of the view that going west to anything not called the PAC is a one way ticket to nowhere. I know there are many here who do not agree, and that's fine. But when all the pros and cons are added up, I personally think we are headed in the best direction we can be for the moment.

[Mexmustang]

I can't really disagree with your points regarding staying in the Big East.

But, I do think we should revisit a New MWC. If we bring Houston with us, whose to say alot of movement wouldn't occur in the process? BSU might be willing to reconsider its "special" TV rights, the TV contract might be upgraded (more markets, central time zone games, maybe better schools, etc.). Right now the New BE TV contract doesn't appear to be significantly better than the MWC. Put Houston and SMU in and that might prove the tipping point in terms of payout in favor of the NMWC.

As far as an ACC/BE discussion, that really is nothing more--a discussion of "what ifs". First will it happen? Second, who is to say amongst those schools, who will standup for SMU? Pitt? Duke? UConn? The new members (SMU, Houston, Memphis) will be the last invited, if at all. Why would we even be attractive to an Eastern Seaboard conference. I am just saying the only mention of our inclusion and for than matter a combined conference has been on fan boards such as this. I very much believe it hasn't even been discussed amongst those member schools.

That is simply not enough to not realistically investigate our options.

Our Big East membership is sorta like buying a house. The realator has told you the price is below market, the bank will be willing to lend 80%, at 3%, and the house is in perfect shape. The week before closing you find, the appraisal came in at 80% of your purchase price, the bank will now only lend 64% of your price, the rates have risen to 4% and the inspection report indicates that there is foundation problems, the appliances all need replacing, and it has turmite damage. Same with the Big East, the facts are now signigicantly different. Wouldn't you at least check your options?

[GiddyUp]

Look guys, our options are very limited right now, no ways around it other than saying yes with UH to MWC. Or take our chances with ACC. Not much else at all. This realignment stuff is going to be on for a long while, just have to deal with it.

[Charleston Pony]

The future of NCAA football involves a 4 team playoff so all these conference moves are all about positioning your conference to have an opportunity to compete for national championships, while building on or at least protecting your value (per school) to the networks.

The MWC will be a 2nd tier conference, as will the "Yet To Be Named" conference that we are headed into.

All indications are the Big 10 will join the SEC and PAC in that final 4. The only remaining question iswhether the Big XII and ACC will decide to compete for that 4th spot. We know the PAC would like to break up the Big XII and the Big 10 wants to plunder the ACC. The SEC is under no pressure to initiate the next move.

We just need to get better and make ourselves as attractive as possible so we end up with an attractive group...whether it is in one of the major football conferences of the most attractive of that "next tier"

I still don't rule out the possibility that during my lifetime I could once again watch SMU playing against Baylor, TCU, Houston, Rice and others in a SWC version 2.0

[MustangStealth]

BSU might be willing to reconsider its "special" TV rights

Why would they ever do that? They know the MWC TV deal was a stinker, there's no way they just decide to give up extra money.