Which other schools...

[SMUPhil]

Which other schools are in the same position we are in? By that I mean, spent a good part of history as part of a 'major' conference, but are now left out? Let's say keep answers to conference shifts since 1960, I hope we dont really compare to Suwannee being part of the SEC.

Rice, Houston, and SMU obviously. Cincy and Temple since they were original football members of the Big East?

During the same timeframe, it seems like a ton of schools have been 'called up', and obviously there isnt an unlimited number of spots

I just worry that we will forever be left out. Meanwhile, Rutgers is in the Big 10, Utah is in the Pac 12, and TCU is in the Big 12. Ugh.

[Charleston Pony]

SWC break-up is really all that comes to mind. Cincy was in the Metro, which became CUSA and the Big East was really a bball league until Miami brought football to that group. Temple was always a hoops school that actually got kicked out of the Big East for bringing down their football image (because of poor attendance)

The landscape of college athletics changed when cable TV and ESPN entered the picture. Today's game is all about how much interest a program generates and we are failing miserably. Right now, BYU is as strong as any program "on the outside" but schools like UCF have tremendous potential because of their size. It would not surprise me to see programs like UNT and UTSA run over us in the future.

SMU hoops could provide the spark SMU athletics needs...but something has to be done about this football program or we will have among the nicest facilities you will find at the FCS level (or whatever it might eventually be called)

[No Quarter]

Tulane. And GT left the SEC because of admissions policies of other members. Be interesting to know if they have regrets.

The University of Chicago and Fordham gave up football, but that's a different case.

[feelthehorsepower]

Blackout Pony wants us to be Mid Majors forever just to keep his monopoly on Ponyfans and not having 60k people coming to our games and filling up the boards....

[RE Tycoon]

I still think if we have a chance for a call up it's the PAC.

[sbsmith]

I still think if we have a chance for a call up it's the PAC.

The Pac is only stretching its footprint this far for Bevo.

[CA Mustang]

I still think if we have a chance for a call up it's the PAC.

Unless SMU is forced on the Pac-12 via multi-conference realignment, SMU will have to raise its value significantly. The Pac-12 is only interested in schools that BRING more revenue to ALL members, not ones that would lower the average distribution.

[03Mustang]

Until we start drawing AT LEAST a legit 30k on a consistent basis even against AAC teams we aren't going anywhere.

That is a fact. We add nothing now, and being in Dallas is not enough.

Ice or not, today's attendance situation says it all.

[PoconoPony]

We should give football 3 more years and if there is no improvement we should scrap football and request to join the Ivy League and/or petition to join the Big East as a basketball school. Most of our minor sports are not even competing against AAC teams if you check out the schedules.

[DFW HOYA]

The University of Chicago and Fordham gave up football, but that's a different case.

As noted above, Fordham is in I-AA (beat Temple and Villanova this season) and is doing well. They dropped football for 10 years from 1954-64.

Chicago dropped football from 1939-69 and currently play in Division III.

[mustangxc]

We should give football 3 more years and if there is no improvement we should scrap football and request to join the Ivy League and/or petition to join the Big East as a basketball school. Most of our minor sports are not even competing against AAC teams if you check out the schedules.

Why would you do that? Hoops in the AAC are equal to if not better than the Big East. We are in Texas, where football is king. Even though AAC football is not P5, it is still FBS.

[Dukie]

Apart from fellow 1994 SWC left-behinds, the best comparison for SMU is probably Tulane. Differences being that Tulane's history in the SEC is far more ancient than SMU's in the SWC, but the most salient similarity is the mid-major purgatory in which Tulane and SMU both exist. Good for Fordham and UChicago and Sewanee and Washington & Lee trying to compete at FCS or Div III after ancient success, but only Tulane is a former "major" now on the have-not step within FBS.