Embracing the BE as a national university

Water Pony · Post by **Water Pony** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:29 pm

I have long preferred a regional AQ conference for obvious reasons, including greater attendance at Ford and reasonable travel for all sports teams.

However, with the pending move to the BE, SMU should not only be grateful, but enthusiastic about this prospect. As the BE expands geographically across the Mississippi with highly competitive teams, such as Boise State, BYU (looks promising) and Houston, the conference takes on a national identity. Large markets, i.e. Orlando, Houston, Dallas, Washington DC, Salt Lake City, Denver/CO Springs, will appeal to media, fans and recruits.

Embracing the BE spells opportunity for SMU too. As a private university in Dallas, we export graduates coast to coast, especially in larger cities. Services academies and BYU are national teams. I suggest the Mustangs can begin to brand itself the same way. ND, USC, Miami, Stanford, Duke, Northwestern and Vanderbilt graduates have a certain national constituency too.

Speed rennovation of Moody and embrace BE, the best BB national conference. Heck, announcing Women's Lacrosse, a solid BE and growing national sports played by the BE, ND, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Northwestern (4x National Champs).

With a possible announcement this weekend, SMU needs to do more than accept an invitation. We need to embrace the BE, the first national BCS conference.

whitwiki · Post by **whitwiki** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:32 pm

Good write-up. I'm very excited about the impact of this move on our student body demographics.

SMU 86 · Post by **SMU 86** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:36 pm

Solid write-up.

Comet · Post by **Comet** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:42 pm

Not only do we need to embrace this opportunity, but we need to use our new income to brand brand brand brand. It's time to get the lost generation interested in SMU sports, it's time to get Dallas behind it's university, and it's time to get our students more enthused to the point where they don't ditch games for frat naps.

TidePony · Post by **TidePony** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:44 pm

Let's go

SMU_Alumni11 · Post by **SMU_Alumni11** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 10:03 pm

Hurry up and announce it!

03EMBA · Post by **03EMBA** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 10:29 pm

All I've heard about for the last 7 years (current job) is Tex, AnM, Tech, etc.... From co-workers. Since BE announcement it's all about SMU, great campus, great upside, can't wait to know more... Very positive opportunity and we should be excited. That said, when do our teams get as excited (at least play like it) as we the fans are... They sure seem flat... Both football, basketball....

SMU_Alumni11 · Post by **SMU_Alumni11** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 10:31 pm

03EMBA wrote:All I've heard about for the last 7 years (current job) is Tex, AnM, Tech, etc.... From co-workers. Since BE announcement it's all about SMU, great campus, great upside, can't wait to know more... Very positive opportunity and we should be excited. That said, when do our teams get as excited (at least play like it) as we the fans are... They sure seem flat... Both football, basketball....

Probably because the starters (seniors, juniors) wont get to play in the BE and only get to experience crap USA

rich59 · Post by **rich59** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 9:26 am

Waterpony, very fine post. I believe that if SMU was in a BE with all the teams that are currently rumored to be members, the advantages for the University academically and ultimately for the endowment would exceed any advantages the athletic department would enjoy.

Water Pony · Post by **Water Pony** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 11:32 am

rich59 wrote:Waterpony, very fine post. I believe that if SMU was in a BE with all the teams that are currently rumored to be members, the advantages for the University academically and ultimately for the endowment would exceed any advantages the athletic department would enjoy.

Apparently, BE blogs are getting enthused too:

http://bigeastblog.wordpress.com/2011/1 ... ike-a-fox/

SMU_Alumni11 · Post by **SMU_Alumni11** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 11:41 am

Water Pony wrote:
rich59 wrote:Waterpony, very fine post. I believe that if SMU was in a BE with all the teams that are currently rumored to be members, the advantages for the University academically and ultimately for the endowment would exceed any advantages the athletic department would enjoy.

Apparently, BE blogs are getting enthused too:

http://bigeastblog.wordpress.com/2011/1 ... ike-a-fox/

The only bummer is that we are looked down as children (SMU, UCF, Houston) in most of the write ups. They are all excited (as most should be outside of our bubble) with big names like BSU, BYU and A/F. Hopefully we can make an impact at whatever bowl we go to, whether thats ticketcity and demolishing a big ten ( :lol:

) or demolishing weaker teams like sunbelt.

ponyscott · Post by **ponyscott** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 11:47 am

We will show them all what children we are when we jump and bite their [deleted]. They just don't know much about UH and SMU in the Big East markets and maybe rightfully so. Its a great chance to display to the rest of the nation what Texas athletics AND academics ( at least for SMU) is all about. I just love it, especially with BYU added. Bring those Mormans down here!

SMU_Alumni11 · Post by **SMU_Alumni11** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 11:58 am

Ugh, whenever I think about playing BYU, I think about the Holiday bowl against them...what a disaster...hopefully we can smoke them everytime. The best part about the new conference is when you beat them your name gets out there on the national media (at least compare to CUSA and beating a team like Tulane).

rich59 · Post by **rich59** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:20 pm

If you read your history you will note that SMU went to NY in 1935, I think, to play Fordham and the Seven Blocks of Granite. SMU threw the ball a lot and the game raised the level of awareness in the East of SWC football and also about SMU. If SMU is in the BE, eventually some of the families up there will send their children to SMU, become interested in the school, raise the SAT averages and some even donate money to the school. Turner ought to be happy if the deal comes together.