If SMU joined...Big 12 alignment

[TidePony]

The SEC (not the Bevo 10) should be our goal.

[sbsmith]

I never could understand the need to start playing with teams that beat us during our darkest hour then basicly left SMU for dead.Can some one explain that to me.

Better attendance, better recruiting, better TV money

[couch 'em]

I never could understand the need to start playing with teams that beat us during our darkest hour then basicly left SMU for dead.Can some one explain that to me.

It wasn't personal - just business. The teams that operate that way are winners. Associate with winners. Don't associate with Rice vs SMU loser mentality.

[BigT3x]

Agree. It's time to move on. We may have a better deal than most realize right now in the BEast. The lil12 doesn't want us & that's fine so move on.

Wrong. The Big Least is a mirage. Regional is where it's at - and always will be.

Too much of this 80's mindset on this board

[couch 'em]

Agree. It's time to move on. We may have a better deal than most realize right now in the BEast. The lil12 doesn't want us & that's fine so move on.

Wrong. The Big Least is a mirage. Regional is where it's at - and always will be.

Too much of this 80's mindset on this board

These people would rather be in a conference with rice Tulsa unt Tulane ark St. Etc rather than play big time football

[PK]

As long as Texas is part of the big 12 SMU will never be allowed to join. We beat them at cheating and embarrassed them on the playing field. So lets make the Big East something to be proud of and move on.

Wow, a lot of give-up here, guys.
Truth is, UNTIL SMU is back with UT, we are not back.
The Big 12/16 or SEC MUST be SMU's ultimate goal.

Screw Texas. Get so good, they HAVE to look at us.

Not saying that being in the big 12 wouldn't be good, just being realistic. I would love to play the old SWC teams on a regular basis, but UT currently won't even play us as an OOC game...but they will play rice. That speaks volumes to me. Actually, we probably have a better chance joining the SEC than the big 12.

[sbsmith]

Not saying that being in the big 12 wouldn't be good, just being realistic. I would love to play the old SWC teams on a regular basis, but UT currently won't even play us as an OOC game...but they will play rice. That speaks volumes to me. Actually, we probably have a better chance joining the SEC than the big 12.

Texas plays Rice because they get a 2 for 1 deals with the return games at Reliant instead of Rice Stadium. They already have a neutral site game in Dallas and since they'd never agree to play at Ford what would be the point of playing them?

[PonySnob]

As long as Texas is part of the big 12 SMU will never be allowed to join. We beat them at cheating and embarrassed them on the playing field. So lets make the Big East something to be proud of and move on.

We've never exactly dominated Texas - even when we had the best team we could buy.

[ponyscott]

What a tired thread....it ain't happening in our lifetime. Embrace the BE...the TV contracts are the new reality even though regional conflicts are fun to reminisce about.

[mr. pony]

Not saying that being in the big 12 wouldn't be good, just being realistic. I would love to play the old SWC teams on a regular basis, but UT currently won't even play us as an OOC game...but they will play rice. That speaks volumes to me. Actually, we probably have a better chance joining the SEC than the big 12.

Texas plays Rice because they get a 2 for 1 deals with the return games at Reliant instead of Rice Stadium. They already have a neutral site game in Dallas and since they'd never agree to play at Ford what would be the point of playing them?

We'd play them at JerryWorld.
And if UT and OU ever move their game to home-and-home, there's SMU's opening.

[DentonTechsan]

There's a rumor that the legalese of the Champions Bowl is written for the respective winners of the conference's championship games. This is the only current indication that the conference would be required to expand. If the Big 12 is looking to put at least 1 team into the BCS semi-finals, they'll need teams that showcase their best programs and not look to level the playing field with higher competition. At the end of the regular season, there'll be 45 wins and 45 losses. When just looking at conference play, there's not advantage in having Texas (6-3), Oklahoma (7-2), West Virginia (6-3), Florida State (7-2), and Clemson (6-3) isn't as advantageous as a rematch between Texas (8-1) and Oklahoma (9-0). There's a reason why college football doesn't regulate between tiers like soccer or schedule teams with similar records in the previous season (NFL) because Iowa State isn't going to win the Big 12 and Ole Miss won't win the SEC. The "big boys" need teams annually to beat up on. That's why Florida State and Clemson won't be invited to the Big 12, but "quality program" like TCU and West Virginia will. After the turn around at SMU and hopefully Houston, the same will happen again with the Mustangs and Cougars.

North:
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
West Virginia

South:
Baylor
Houston
SMU
TCU
Texas
Texas Tech

Just as when the Big 12 Conference was formed in 1994, the the conference's two marquee programs (the Longhorns and Sooners) would be split, but 1 permanent interdivision match up would preserve the conference's showcase rivalry, unlike Nebraska-Oklahoma. With an 9 game conference schedule (5 division, 3 rotating interdivision, 1 permanent interdivision game), this gives the teams outside the state of Texas away games twice a season (just as they are now).

[couch 'em]

Why would big 12 take teams like SMU that deliver no new markets? They could take any number of schools with new markets/money. SMU delivers nothing to big 12.

SEC or PAC on the other hand.....

[HB Pony Dad]

"I think Couch 'em is right."

[Topper]

The SEC (not the Bevo 10) should be our goal.

Absolutely but it won't happen. There was a fairly well substantiated rumor that there was support among some SEC schools for adding SMU and Houston when the SWC broke up. They wanted entre into Texas recruiting and their foot in the door in the Houston and Dallas TV markets. I was enthusiastic about it at the time, but was told that the administration did not return any calls. IF the story was true, it was a massive blunder.

[ponyboy]

As long as Texas is part of the big 12 SMU will never be allowed to join. We beat them at cheating and embarrassed them on the playing field. So lets make the Big East something to be proud of and move on.

We've never exactly dominated Texas - even when we had the best team we could buy.

We scored 120 points to UT's 64 from 1980 to 1985.