EastStang wrote: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.
you are correct in that "if" this group sticks together and everyone works hard to improve the product, there are some nice potential rivalries. Memphis and Cincy go back to the Metro days, UConn is well known and could build a northeastern rivalry with Temple, SMU vs Houston has some history and Tulane and presumably Tulsa have potential in our region. USF vs UCF is a natural and Navy will always have a national following. Only ECU is isolated and without any natural rival, but they've been that way pretty much forever as the red-headed stepchild of the North Carolina ACC schools.
"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."
If they only look at the short term they wouldn't. But the addition of SMU and Houston would give the conference a bigger footprint, entrance into the Central Time Zone, and a couple of schools to solidify the long-term survival of the conference. In the long run it might be more money for everyone. In the short-term the addition of the two schools might even cause a bump in the payout per school. It all depends on what can be negotiated.
I believe that a new MWC would be far more stable that this "pig in a poke" conference we have bought into. The remaining Big East schools will run to the next offer and never give SMU a second thought. I also believe that the playoff will expand to 8 teams giving the ACC and MWC a chance to play. I also believe that the MWC has more political power(will) to have its conference represented in the playoffs.
I also know that if you don't study the matter and get to the negotiating table, nothing is going to happen. SMU has now effectively been thrown out of three conferences--Big 12, WAC and now the Big East. If a combined ACC/BE leftover conference is cobled together, there is no certainty SMU would be included--this would be an Eastern Seaboard Conference, not one west of the Mississippi.
the football playoff will essentially be an eight team playoff, with the 1st round being the power 4 conference championship games. I do think we could see four conferences grow into 16-20 members each (ultimately squeezing out either the ACC of Big XII), but the MWC is no better than where we are. If we don't get to participate as a member of one of those big 4, I'd rather be with leftover eastern schools/teams than western schools and that's what I think it might come down to.
I would say when seven basketball teams, ND, five new schools do a "touch and go" and two or three founding members leave as you join the conference, taking the bulk of the TV money and the conference name, you "effectively" were thrown out of the conferencebefore you ever played a single down or tip off.
What is the diffence when the best WAC schools left us high and dry (including TCU) and formed the MWC? I guess we technically weren't thrown out of the SWC, just that most everyone just left...
Last edited by Mexmustang on Sun Mar 03, 2013 9:31 am, edited 2 times in total.
I agree, I would rather stay east than go west. But, I don't see that happening. A combined Big East and ACC will not include us. They will not want to come to Texas for any minor sport, there will be enough good basketball teams, and footballwhich at this point will not be enhanced by our inclusion. The expenses and travel time and lack of traditional rivalries with these schools will keep us on the bench. Just who will sponsor us? UConn? Pitt? Miami? UCF? I am sorry, but I don't see us being included as a foregone conclusion.
Its CUSA without some of the dead weight and four improvements. Improvements are a good thing. Look at how hard Tulsa is trying just to make the move to a slightly better conference. What did SMU to earn any of the money going to the BE3? Nothing. Nothing at all.
SMU still cant fill the stands, field a good hoops team and get the football team to play consistently. All three of those things need to change first. SMU is in a good situation to change those things. Improve the product and a better conference may present itself in the future.
Trey was using the powers of Gamehendge to allow the show to continue, to give the band the strength it needed to help break through this barrier
