ESPN: Sources: Tulsa to Big East

[GiddyUp]

What does KTP say now after all his whining before..?

[GiddyUp]

I don't get why the new BE wants Tulsa. They are a tiny school with hardly any fans.
.

Haha, and SMU is not?

[mustangbill67]

Tulsa has an enrollment of only 4,092 (3,004 undergraduate, 1,088 graduate and law) as opposed to 11,000 at SMU and Tulsa is in a small media market. However, it does have a very successful athletic program although the football team averages only around 20,500 in a 29,000 capacity stadium. I guess it is the best team available under all the circumstances but I really do not know if it has any real upside potential as does SMU.

[GiddyUp]

Bill- Not really sure the point, both are small schools and hardly any fans. Our
Market would be relevant in comparison if anyone cared or watched.

Regardless, sounds like its done, i would have preferred TU over Tulane if i had a choice.

[mustangbill67]

Bill- Not really sure the point, both are small schools and hardly any fans. Our
Market would be relevant in comparison if anyone cared or watched.

Regardless, sounds like its done, i would have preferred TU over Tulane if i had a choice.

the point is there is really no comparison between SMU and Tulsa size wise, academically, media market or national reputation. Yes, it has been generally more successful than SMU on the athletic field but that is about it. Tulsa will always be a small university in a very limited media market. I happen to like Tulsa but It is what it is.

[Stallion]

There is no other alternative worth considering unless you want Southern Miss which I have no problem with. In the long run I'm seeing a Southern based conference which I prefer over the MWC.

[bubba pony]

interesting

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_s ... all_school

The smallest Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A) school is the University of Tulsa, with 2756 undergraduates. Rice University is the second smallest, with 3054, and Wake Forest University is the third smallest, with 4412.

[Water Pony]

TU hopes success continues it in new conference home

"It appears inevitable that Tulsa will soon make yet another move, its third league in 17 years, when it agrees to join the former Big East Conference."

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/a ... ULSAS42690

[PonyKai]

Tulsa officially accepted its invitation to the league formerly known as the Big East today according to Bill Haisten of the Tulsa World, and the school is expected announce the move later this week (possibly Tuesday). Tulsa's membership to the old Big East is expected to start in 2014. Those plans could be expedited.

"...sources say (Tulsa) has told Conference USA it will leave the league this summer for the yet-unnamed conference formerly known as the Big East," Chad Bishop of the Bowling Green Daily News reported.

If Tulsa were able to leave Conference USA for the old Big East this summer, the Big East would have 11 football members for the upcoming season. East Carolina will enter the league in 2014, while Louisville departs. And Navy is set to join in 2015

[mustangxc]

TU hopes success continues it in new conference home

"It appears inevitable that Tulsa will soon make yet another move, its third league in 17 years, when it agrees to join the former Big East Conference."

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/a ... ULSAS42690

That article presents pretty conclusive evidence on the difference between Tulsa and SMU. For Tulsa CUSA and the new conference represent the pinnacle of their athletic success while for SMU it is a slow climb from the valley. They are happy where they are while we are nowhere near our end goal.

[SMU2007]

Tulsa and Southern Miss would be preferable to Tulane and ECU in my opinion

[redpony]

IMO the only positive for Tulane was location/market and academics- neither of which exist in Tulsa.

[MustangStealth]

IMO the only positive for Tulane was location/market and academics- neither of which exist in Tulsa.

Tulsa is only slightly behind SMU and Tulane in the US News rankings.

[ponyboy]

Tulsa offers a nice education and has done well in football and basketball. It's also a nice road trip -- nice little town. But that's it. I'm not certain I wouldn't rather have Rice.

[East Coast Mustang]

Tulsa is a considerably better addition than Rice. Rice adds nothing- their admin doesn't give a rip about athletics.