HART/SMU SID/SMU : IPF should be #1 infrastructure priority

[feelthehorsepower]

You do realize we have invested probably over $150 million in facilities and coaching salaries based on direct gifts from our generous alumni since the turn of the decade. There probably isn't another non-BCS program in the country except for BYU (which doesn't count) that has had such generous gifts from its alumni. The issue is not about the money. Its about logistics and campus planning. If it could be built tomorrow I'd bet the money would be there. Meanwhile we average less than 15,000 of our own fans. Just be happy we have alumni who apparently enjoy funding projects for entitled fans like you because quite honestly investing in the SMU sports program makes very little financial sense. We definitely can not afford all the bells and whistles than BCS programs can

TCU has spent a lot of money on facilities. They built their new house before they even cashed their first BCS check.

I am grateful of what our alumni have given. We will average more fans eventually. Have they ever thought of just building the IPF in Pettus?

[mrydel]

I think $15,000,000 from the Rose Bowl probably helped them with their facility.

[Stallion]

not to mention $12 Million from Fiesta Bowl. Two straight BCS Bowls has a tendency to engender good will from your alumni

[FWMustang]

And that leads to the biggest difference between the situations at SMU and TCU (as much as it pains me to admit it):

TCU has its alumni (not just a small hardcore group) and the city of Fort Worth behind the program. They were just waiting for good things to happen. Families who move to Fort Worth from other parts of the country become TCU fans and join the "hometown community." Youth soccer games and other social events take a back seat when they conflict with Horned Frog games.TCU is Fort Worth's team. Having lived in both cities, Dallas does look down on Fort Worth, but there is money in Fort Worth and at TCU. (see my conflict in being very proud to be a son of the Panther City but an SMU alum.) TCU would have had a crowd if they played this morning. Most fans live around the school and people that live around the school are fans.

Do I even need to contrast that with SMU's alumni and surrounding community? You can say almost the exact opposite about SMU's support. I think beyond the facilities, uniforms and coaching, these recruits want to play in front of 40-50k rabid fans and feel that support as they walk around campus. I'll admit living in FW and having 3 kids prevents us from supporting the school. But I just don't get the feeling that that spirit lives on or around the Hilltop. Dallas by and large doesn't care about SMU; and I get the impression that the residents of UP and HP rather loathe the school's presence in the midst of their Shangri-La.

This wasn't always the case, and I hope it is not in the near future. The scandals and DP of the 80's are still having an effect. And as much as we howl about other institutions not getting the same punishment for similar crimes, I think we would all admit that we wouldn't wish this fate on anyone (well, maybe except for The U.)

[feelthehorsepower]

not to mention $12 Million from Fiesta Bowl. Two straight BCS Bowls has a tendency to engender good will from your alumni

I completely agree. But look at this. I am not sayin that an IPF will be the winning factor in getting winning seasons. We need a new coach and great facilities in order to do that. We need talent. We need fan support. All of that will come. I am confident in SMU and our ability to gain fans.

From 2000 to 2013, TCU had 9 seasons with 10 or more wins. They worked their way into 2 BCS bowls. We have not done that yet, which is why I insist SMU is at the point where TCU was in 1998, when they were 8-5. We need that Gary Patterson type coach to come here and build an empire. We have the potential and the resources to do so. Once we get winning, our alumni, rich and not so rich will pour money in this program! Me and others like me will commit money. We will get the Big 12 fans we need once we start acting like a big time program, because we can do it and because we will do it. I go all in for my Mustangs. S M U! STAAAAAAAAAANGS!

[SMUPhil]

And that leads to the biggest difference between the situations at SMU and TCU (as much as it pains me to admit it):

TCU has its alumni (not just a small hardcore group) and the city of Fort Worth behind the program. They were just waiting for good things to happen. Families who move to Fort Worth from other parts of the country become TCU fans and join the "hometown community." Youth soccer games and other social events take a back seat when they conflict with Horned Frog games.TCU is Fort Worth's team. Having lived in both cities, Dallas does look down on Fort Worth, but there is money in Fort Worth and at TCU. (see my conflict in being very proud to be a son of the Panther City but an SMU alum.) TCU would have had a crowd if they played this morning. Most fans live around the school and people that live around the school are fans.

Do I even need to contrast that with SMU's alumni and surrounding community? You can say almost the exact opposite about SMU's support. I think beyond the facilities, uniforms and coaching, these recruits want to play in front of 40-50k rabid fans and feel that support as they walk around campus. I'll admit living in FW and having 3 kids prevents us from supporting the school. But I just don't get the feeling that that spirit lives on or around the Hilltop. Dallas by and large doesn't care about SMU; and I get the impression that the residents of UP and HP rather loathe the school's presence in the midst of their Shangri-La.

This wasn't always the case, and I hope it is not in the near future. The scandals and DP of the 80's are still having an effect. And as much as we howl about other institutions not getting the same punishment for similar crimes, I think we would all admit that we wouldn't wish this fate on anyone (well, maybe except for The U.)

You hit on many good points here, but I have always thought that SMU's surrounding community ($$$) is the type that already ARE the big donors for their own alma maters. Not just random neighbors who think it'd be fun to go to the local game. SMU is surrounded by the types with private planes that fly to Austin for every home game, etc.

[feelthehorsepower]

And that leads to the biggest difference between the situations at SMU and TCU (as much as it pains me to admit it):

TCU has its alumni (not just a small hardcore group) and the city of Fort Worth behind the program. They were just waiting for good things to happen. Families who move to Fort Worth from other parts of the country become TCU fans and join the "hometown community." Youth soccer games and other social events take a back seat when they conflict with Horned Frog games.TCU is Fort Worth's team. Having lived in both cities, Dallas does look down on Fort Worth, but there is money in Fort Worth and at TCU. (see my conflict in being very proud to be a son of the Panther City but an SMU alum.) TCU would have had a crowd if they played this morning. Most fans live around the school and people that live around the school are fans.

Do I even need to contrast that with SMU's alumni and surrounding community? You can say almost the exact opposite about SMU's support. I think beyond the facilities, uniforms and coaching, these recruits want to play in front of 40-50k rabid fans and feel that support as they walk around campus. I'll admit living in FW and having 3 kids prevents us from supporting the school. But I just don't get the feeling that that spirit lives on or around the Hilltop. Dallas by and large doesn't care about SMU; and I get the impression that the residents of UP and HP rather loathe the school's presence in the midst of their Shangri-La.

This wasn't always the case, and I hope it is not in the near future. The scandals and DP of the 80's are still having an effect. And as much as we howl about other institutions not getting the same punishment for similar crimes, I think we would all admit that we wouldn't wish this fate on anyone (well, maybe except for The U.)

I agree with your analysis about TCU. They are Fort Worth's team. I think we should make an effort to become Dallas' team. That means ALL OF DALLAS. North, South, East and West. We can do it, because Dallas is looking for a college football team. We just have to reach out and earn the love of the town. People talk to me when they see me with SMU gear and say that they would love to go to SMU games if we had "parking" and if we were winning. Dallas wants it, we want it. Let's make it happen.

[ftworthmustang]

And that leads to the biggest difference between the situations at SMU and TCU (as much as it pains me to admit it):

TCU has its alumni (not just a small hardcore group) and the city of Fort Worth behind the program. They were just waiting for good things to happen. Families who move to Fort Worth from other parts of the country become TCU fans and join the "hometown community." Youth soccer games and other social events take a back seat when they conflict with Horned Frog games.TCU is Fort Worth's team. Having lived in both cities, Dallas does look down on Fort Worth, but there is money in Fort Worth and at TCU. (see my conflict in being very proud to be a son of the Panther City but an SMU alum.) TCU would have had a crowd if they played this morning. Most fans live around the school and people that live around the school are fans.

Do I even need to contrast that with SMU's alumni and surrounding community? You can say almost the exact opposite about SMU's support. I think beyond the facilities, uniforms and coaching, these recruits want to play in front of 40-50k rabid fans and feel that support as they walk around campus. I'll admit living in FW and having 3 kids prevents us from supporting the school. But I just don't get the feeling that that spirit lives on or around the Hilltop. Dallas by and large doesn't care about SMU; and I get the impression that the residents of UP and HP rather loathe the school's presence in the midst of their Shangri-La.

This wasn't always the case, and I hope it is not in the near future. The scandals and DP of the 80's are still having an effect. And as much as we howl about other institutions not getting the same punishment for similar crimes, I think we would all admit that we wouldn't wish this fate on anyone (well, maybe except for The U.)

I've lived through the purple rise and this is 100% true. In a nut shell, TCU built a winning team and successfully marketed it to Fort Worth. There are many TCU fans that have no affiliation with the school other than living in Fort Worth.

[Stallion]

Note-I am now being lectured by FTH in 2013 about how TCU is the Model for SMU's program based on what they've done since 1998. I think I'll pass on responding

[mrydel]

And they did it without a IPF until just recently.

[SoCal_Pony]

NY - i wouldn't bet my life on it - but pretty sure our endowment does not include the value of our real estate. Not that it matters related to this discussion.

SMU's current endowment is ~$1.2B.

Ford Stadium/Loyd alone is worth $100M, excluding the land. Moody/Crum must be around $80M, excluding land. That would mean Ford/Moody = 15% of the value of our University, excluding land.

No way endowment includes our land and buildings.

Would not surprise me if the total 'value' of SMU is around $5B.

[feelthehorsepower]

Note-I am now being lectured by FTH in 2013 about how TCU is the Model for SMU's program based on what they've done since 1998. I think I'll pass on responding

You have got to be kidding me. Have more respect. It's true. They are doing all the right things.

[blackoutpony]

Note-I am now being lectured by FTH in 2013 about how TCU is the Model for SMU's program based on what they've done since 1998. I think I'll pass on responding

He's a troll. We need to stop feeding him

[SMU 86]

Just a quick point here, I felt it neccessary to mention that June didnt have an indoor practice facility at Hawaii, he had an UNDERWATER facility. In the fall when it rained their practice field would flood, and one end would become unusable for 2 months. June didnt win at Hawaii because of their facilities or amenities, he won because he cared. Hawaii was his dream job, it was a labor of love, he built a team for his home and his people, he put his heart and soul into that job because he wanted it badly. He came to SMU because the school offered him 3 times what Hawaii could afford to pay him, and he needed to start a retirement fund. He won at Hawaii because he wanted it more than anything else in life. Here, he gets paid either way, so..... meh.

Good info. Thanks.

[Stallion]

Note-I am now being lectured by FTH in 2013 about how TCU is the Model for SMU's program based on what they've done since 1998. I think I'll pass on responding

You have got to be kidding me. Have more respect. It's true. They are doing all the right things.

Yeah and I was explaining exactly how it was going to happen and in fact how it did happen before it happened not a decade and a half later. That's why they say I'm a TCU homer even though I have no connection whatsoever to the university