How SMU ends up in the ACC...bear with me

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

So much pessimissm. Tsk, tsk. Come on guys, we're SMU! Our football program has been through WAY worse than this and yet we survived. We LITERALLY saw the end of SMU football for two whole years. But we somehow clawed our way back from that. I'll grant you, it hasn't been pretty. But we SURVIVED.

I'm past worrying about conference realignment. Whatever happens will happen. SMU will be fine. I have faith. Personally, I like Pony in NC's scenario a lot. But then again, I married a Carolina girl. So I'm inclined to go with whatever the guy from NC says.

[East Coast Mustang]

So much pessimissm. Tsk, tsk. Come on guys, we're SMU! Our football program has been through WAY worse than this and yet we survived. We LITERALLY saw the end of SMU football for two whole years. But we somehow clawed our way back from that. I'll grant you, it hasn't been pretty. But we SURVIVED.

I'm past worrying about conference realignment. Whatever happens will happen. SMU will be fine. I have faith. Personally, I like Pony in NC's scenario a lot. But then again, I married a Carolina girl. So I'm inclined to go with whatever the guy from NC says.

At the end of the day, we're in the same lifeboat with USF, UCF, UH, and Boise. It's not the end of the world. It's not like we're going to have Sam Houston State as a conference rival in 2014

[SMU 86]

The ACC is looking at 4 schools now in Louisville, UCONN, South Florida, and Cincinnati. SMU is nowhere in the discussion. It would take a lot to get in the discussion.

[ponyinNC]

So much pessimissm. Tsk, tsk. Come on guys, we're SMU! Our football program has been through WAY worse than this and yet we survived. We LITERALLY saw the end of SMU football for two whole years. But we somehow clawed our way back from that. I'll grant you, it hasn't been pretty. But we SURVIVED.

I'm past worrying about conference realignment. Whatever happens will happen. SMU will be fine. I have faith. Personally, I like Pony in NC's scenario a lot. But then again, I married a Carolina girl. So I'm inclined to go with whatever the guy from NC says.

I married a Carolina Girl too..great minds think alike.

ACC looks to be raiding the Big East...but what happens when FSU/Clemson/VT start to get calls??

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

SMU 86, I don't think anyone is saying we are a legitimate candidate for the ACC right now. I think the scenario outlined in this thread is possible if the ACC blows up. And blow up it might. Maryland has poisoned the well. What Maryland just did destroys the trust that a conference must be built upon. All the ACC schools will start looking out for Number 1 now. When that happens, all bets are off.

[ponyinNC]

SMU 86, I don't think anyone is saying we are a legitimate candidate for the ACC right now. I think the scenario outlined in this thread is possible if the ACC blows up. And blow up it might. Maryland has poisoned the well. What Maryland just did destroys the trust that a conference must be built upon. All the ACC schools will start looking out for Number 1 now. When that happens, all bets are off.

Yup, it was supposed to be a long term scenario, but looks like some wheels may already be in motion.

I hate this...can't we just play football? When will it ever end. Full circle back to the original Metro Conference??

[East Coast Mustang]

The ACC is looking at 4 schools now in Louisville, UCONN, South Florida, and Cincinnati. SMU is nowhere in the discussion. It would take a lot to get in the discussion.

I can't imagine Duke, UVa, UNC, and Wake would want to align with Louisville, USF, and Cincinnati, but who knows?

[East Coast Mustang]

I think they'll stay at 14 with UConn

[covok48]

SMU has had close to twenty years (since the SWC dissolved) to make its case in being included in the big boys table. The school chose not to make that case, and started wayyyyy too late with wayyyy too little effort. It's done guys. We're stuck here for the foreseeable future unless Larry Brown has us dancing every year and we somehow get a Chris Petersen of our own going to BCS games. That's not happening.

Absolutely 100% agree.

Talk about us going anywhere worthwhile needs to cease until we actually do something worth while to warrant such a move. As a school we don't have the clout to demand "Do you know who I am" to automatically get a seat at the big boys table.

Our deep pocket fan support fueled by the wild success of the early 80's will eventually run out and we can't sell DFW as a potential fan market when we can't even get recognized in our own city.

I thought this realignment BS was behind us. Instead, it's not and we're in big trouble.

[SMU_Alumni11]

Our deep pocket fan support fueled by the wild success of the early 80's will eventually run out and we can't sell DFW as a potential fan market when we can't even get recognized in our own city.

That is exaclty what is killing us. If we had Dallas or a majority of it. That would sustain us indefinitely. People would say, oh that team that has a city with roughly a million people + surrounding areas. Yeah that would be worth picking up. The fact we cant even get HP to put up SMU gear kills us. There is nothing we can do about it other than beat the teams that they put up in their front yard.

[Pony81]

I think the ACC gets proactive and doesn't wait to add members when one gets poached.

Instead they try to ramp up and get big.

I've always thought the ACC was our final resting place. A big step up even if they lose the Clemsons / VT of the world.

The ACC will judge SMU on its location (A+), it facilities (B+), commitment to athletics (A) and lastly its academic profile (B). I don't think they look too close at attendance as they believe exciting opponents will draw fans and as long as we are trying to improve we will be a credit to the league.

The Larry Brown hire and his UNC / ACC pedigree may pay more dividends than just on the court.

[EastStang]

They've already shot the finger up at UConn last year when they offered Syracuse and Pitt. Of course losing Maryland hurt. UConn might have a champion in Syracuse and BC. But its going to be interesting. If I recall only 2 blackballs are allowed. If Duke, WF, UNC, and UVA form a phalanx like they'll only take three public schools, then a private school becomes attractive. UVA, UNC, WF and Duke worry about academics and preferred Syracuse several years ago to VT for that reason. Louisville has tried twice to get into the ACC only to get stiff armed. The question is what do Clemson, FSU and GT want to do. What will keep them in the ACC? If they're already out the door, then the ACC might be looking at non-football issues.

[East Coast Mustang]

commitment to athletics (A)

Not sure about that.

[SMU_Alumni11]

commitment to athletics (A)

Not sure about that.

Lol a B- at best, and thats only because of the alumni.

[ponyinNC]

If I am right about this dream scenario, I should get an honorary box at Ford Stadium!!

After conference realignment thermonuclear war, the remaining Big East/ACC could be:

WF, Duke, Cuse, UConn, Pitt, Miami, UC, USF, Temple, UCF, Houston, SMU, Memphis (or they would do some 8+8 hybrid with FCS schools to preserve Bball and academic excellence by taking the best of the best from that group).

SDSU and Boise back in the MWC.


Tell me that conference doesn't make complete sense. Academic excellence. Great basketball. Pretty good football. Aligned with the smaller private football-playing schools.