I feel like a Kansas/Kentucky/Duke fan

[StallionsModelT]

SMU will always be a more desired college destination than TCU and Baylor. SMU is in Dallas. That alone will yield a better applicant pool than Baylor or TCU could ever hope to get. Yes they will be cashing huge checks from football, but they aren't going to catch us or pass us by in regards to academic ranking or prospective student pools. We need to have our eyes on Rice. Every other school in Texas is already in our rearview mirror.

[03Mustang]

SMU will always be a more desired college destination than TCU and Baylor. SMU is in Dallas. That alone will yield a better applicant pool than Baylor or TCU could ever hope to get. Yes they will be cashing huge checks from football, but they aren't going to catch us or pass us by in regards to academic ranking or prospective student pools. We need to have our eyes on Rice. Every other school in Texas is already in our rearview mirror.

The University of Texas might disagree with that.

And plenty of people view SMU in the same light as Baylor or TCU. In most people's eyes - mine included - you are going to get the same quality education at each; it's all about what you do with it. The key difference is they are absolutely crushing us in national exposure now and that is more meaningful than a 15-spot delta in the US News rankings any day.

[PK]

SMU will always be a more desired college destination than TCU and Baylor. SMU is in Dallas. That alone will yield a better applicant pool than Baylor or TCU could ever hope to get. Yes they will be cashing huge checks from football, but they aren't going to catch us or pass us by in regards to academic ranking or prospective student pools. We need to have our eyes on Rice. Every other school in Texas is already in our rearview mirror.

The University of Texas might disagree with that.

And plenty of people view SMU in the same light as Baylor or TCU. In most people's eyes - mine included - you are going to get the same quality education at each; it's all about what you do with it. The key difference is they are absolutely crushing us in national exposure now and that is more meaningful than a 15-spot delta in the US News rankings any day.

It doen't matter. We don't want students that like football anyway...just the ones who read US News.

[SoCal_Pony]

SMU will always be a more desired college destination than TCU and Baylor. SMU is in Dallas. That alone will yield a better applicant pool than Baylor or TCU could ever hope to get. Yes they will be cashing huge checks from football, but they aren't going to catch us or pass us by in regards to academic ranking or prospective student pools. We need to have our eyes on Rice. Every other school in Texas is already in our rearview mirror.

Living in SoCal, I think a fair comparison to SMU is USC.

Methodist founded private school, known for its rich / BMW / well-connected students and alumni. They also have a top tier business school, and, like SMU, I have met more than a few who probably got admitted due to Daddy's $.

Wish HB Dad would post on here and give us his opinion of how valuable the football program & P5 membership is to the school overall. In terms of dollars & cents, I would think the value is at a minimum $300M. I have met so many USC grads in the business world here in OC. They love their Trojan football. Did that play a role in them attending USC?, for many, yes.

Just go to Newport Harbor during football season and see all the USC flags being proudly displayed on ocean front properties. Trust me, they're not being displayed because of the achievements of their chess team.

[03Mustang]

And no one on their fan boards posts about academic rankings.

So let's get over it.

[smusic 00]

HB Dad is busy cheering the Lane Kiffin firing.

[Mustangs_Maroons]

SMU will always be a more desired college destination than TCU and Baylor. SMU is in Dallas. That alone will yield a better applicant pool than Baylor or TCU could ever hope to get. Yes they will be cashing huge checks from football, but they aren't going to catch us or pass us by in regards to academic ranking or prospective student pools. We need to have our eyes on Rice. Every other school in Texas is already in our rearview mirror.

The University of Texas might disagree with that.

And plenty of people view SMU in the same light as Baylor or TCU. In most people's eyes - mine included - you are going to get the same quality education at each; it's all about what you do with it. The key difference is they are absolutely crushing us in national exposure now and that is more meaningful than a 15-spot delta in the US News rankings any day.

These 'plenty' of people, including yourself, don't know much about the differences in the student bodies. The difference between SMU and tcu is almost the same as between us and rice. You clearly don't know and every ranking bares this difference out, and many times its night and day. I'll take these rankings and the differences in the profiles of incoming students to your assertion by 'these' many people.

And we have on average passed on UT-Austin. We also have a higher cieling. Regardless, compating us to UT is comparing apples to oranges.

I do think turner made a huge mistake by not positioning us to be prepared to be in a power conference. There's a lot of money that we're missing out on.

[Mustangs_Maroons]

And no one on their fan boards posts about academic rankings.

So let's get over it.

That's because there is nothing for them to talk about in this regard.