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I have a question, does the money your football team is paid by your conference really matter? And, if so, why? I remember when we accepted a bid to the Big East, we were talking $10M per school, now we get $2.5M per team or so. (Maybe more if the AAC pays out some of that Big East fee money). At that point we were talking adding sports. Now we are not. So does it really matter that much, us being in the AAC other than Conference prestige?

Well Conference prestige is worth something and considering what CUSA looks like now we are in a somewhat better position in AAC. Money wise it may not be much, but for what it is worth it is more than we would be getting in CUSA or MWC.

You answered your own question. Now can't add sports since we don't hve the money.

The money could also fund a lot of advertising to increase attendance, facility upgrades, tutors, etc

Money is the only thing that matters.

Facilities, support systems, exposure, tutors, coaches salaries, etc.....

Yes. I'd say it matters.

Well yea but besides all that stuff.

The fact that TCU is going to earn probably 25+ million more than us next year based on conference affiliation alone should [deleted] you off enough to make it matter. Well, maybe ONLY 20+ million more since we're getting some of the 100 million left overs

Well yea but their basketball team did poorly in the big 12 last year!

I don't think it matters as much as most people think. There has always been a disparity between the haves and have nots money wise. Yet many athletic departments at big schools have gone bankrupt. TCU and West Virginia may be getting way more money than us, but at what cost of success. TCU will not be posting 10 win seasons with regularity anymore. West Virginia wont win their conference anymore. Sure they are getting PAID, but they will turn into the next Washington State, Iowa State, Wake Forest.....

Look, not saying I would reject an offer to a big 5 conference, I would say go in a heartbeat. But it doesnt guarantee any success, and would result in SMU losing a lot more games.

Looking at the issue the wrong way asking this question. It's not does money matter. It's, do you want a D1 program. For all intents and purposes, the money comes with being a top program, and the top programs are in 5 conferences. So when they split, or create a new division within the NCAA, it's do you want in.

Of course, at a certain point it makes a huge difference w/r/t facilities, coaching salaries, marketing, etc. But the difference between 10M and 3M is not going to break us. However, the difference between$ 20, 30, 40M per year vs. $3M is going to be tough to overcome.

The AAC was the right move - no question. Even if we joined after most teams had moved on to greener pastures, it would still be the right move. Poor Rice and USM will be playing UNT, ODU and Charlotte next year.

Exactly right ponyinNC.

The AAC is our home for the next several years barring another massive shift. It seems as though the landscape has settled down a bit so lets make the most of our opportunity in this new conference. No matter how you slice it, we have moved up the ranks both for football and basketball. SMU is now in a conference with Cincinnati, South Florida, UConn, and Temple while removing the dead weight of UTEP, Rice, Southern Miss, UAB, and Marshall.

Also, I'm glad we didn't do anything stupid like running after the MWC. Terrible time zones, bad TV contract especially with the Boise State sweetheart deal, awful exposure, and just as much dead weight at CUSA. The AAC is superior in every way to the MWC and leaves CUSA (especially the current lineup of CUSA) completely in its dust.

It depends. The upgrade in the conference increases money but also exposure. CUSA didn't have the biggest names or draw the best bowls. AAC has bigger names and a much improved BB conference. That could translate to more exposure and money.

More exposure is important for ratings (incase the Big XII-I-II+ whatever) comes calling. And more exposure increases the opportunity to sell merchandise (not conference per say but money for the school none the less).

Thanks for your input. I do tire of some posters here that keep saying if you're trying to make the best of our situation, you are complacent. I don't know a single fan who is satisfied about the conference we're in, but we have to make the most of our current placement. That's why I say the next HC hire is going to be the most important in the History of SMU Football!

"Its not the money its the stuff"
-The Jerk

TV/Bowl game access, TV and media profile, recruiting of players and coaches who want to compete at highest level are the real BCS factors that separate the Haves from the Have Nots. But when you have the money you tend to find a way to spend it.