45 replies to this topic

[TEUFELI]

My, what a well-reasoned, and might I add, compelling, argument.



As far as facilities go, here's Fresno:
http://www.gobulldog...facilities.html

And here's smu:
http://smumustangs.c...facilities.html


Also, smu has an endowment of just over $1 billion. Fresno's endowment is less than a tenth of that. Same with their income, smu has a 50% advantage in athletics revenue annually. Translation: smu has the resources and support to get better. Fresno, I think, has already maxed out their potential.

smu was a powerhouse the death penalty. TCU has proven that a small, private school can still be a powerhouse in today's arena. And yeah, I'd love for the TCU-smu rivalry to be relavent again, since both schools would only benefit from the national attention of major rivalry.

Just as long as, you know, TCU is always slightly better.

Did you do post grad at SMU or something?

And the answer to the question "What do ya'll think?" - is...it really matters.

[Frog_Fan71]

Adding another school in basically the same city as TCU does nothing for the rest of the conference. Fresno adds another tv market, larger than what SMU would bring, and they are in the west. Easier travel for the majority of the conference.

The logistics for this argument are no more valid than you being a Boise fan and thinking you have a say in this matter. TCU has to travel to all of the other MWC locales, as all the schools must travel here on occasion. It is easier to travel to D/FW Airport and travel roughly 15-20 miles either way to play a game than it is to add another "out of the way" member.

Also it gives more visibility in the Texas market. TCU and SMU were more popular than Texas at one point, don't forget that fact. They can compete for that share of popularity again. To deny one good team may be easy to do, but to deny two in the same region, would be near impossible. That is how you cut into market share by making a better product.

[halfwaytoheaven]

I've been to Fresno State and SMU. I wouldn't say Fresno State has better facilities than SMU.

Fresno's new basketball arena looks pretty nice. I'd say the Ponies have the edge in just about everything else.

[Frognosticator]

Do not be so quick to dismiss them. Even with meager resources and revenues, SMU has done more with less and in far less time than Baylor has. I'd say SMU in the MWC after Boise, but before anyone else. With the MWC cred factor and June Jones recruiting, they would help elevate the conference talent-wise, faster than any other school in the league, save TCU, BYU and Utah. This also would help immensely with the overall conference standings.

They are already in in the metroplex. If they get good, and I do mean really good, then the only thing in the Big-12 that would rival the TCU-SMU game would be Texas-OU.

To snub your nose at them simply because they are SMU is foolish and makes you sound no better than a arrogant Baylor grad. At one time in history, the TCU-SMU game really meant something. Not just in Texas, but on a National level. It could be that way again. It is an old traditional rivalry with loads of history and some of the most legendary players in college football. It could be that way again.

Just food for thought.

As an aside. I very much believe that SMU has hired their own Gary Patterson in June Jones.

I'm not snubbing my nose at anything. I'm looking at facts. SMU has had 1 winning season in the past 14 years. Fact. They average less than 20K to their games. Fact.

You want to compare SMU to Baylor? Who cares about Baylor? Why?? You were comparing SMU to Fresno State, remember? And I posted facts that show that Fresno is far ahead of SMU.

I like SMU. Always have. My dad went there. But facts are facts and nothing can take away the fact that SMU has been TERRIBLE for a very long time. Fresno State has at least built up a solid, consistent program and earned consideration. What the hell do you think SMU is going to do when June Jones leaves?

[Pure Purple]

SMU? - No!

[RSF]

While SMU's football program appears to be on the rise (CUSA apologists were saying the same thing about UTEP when they replaced us), they probably wouldn't be the 1st choice to join us from the state of Texas. Houston (untapped market) or UTEP (untapped market and historical ties) would be more likely for the MWC. Between the two, SMU, IMO, has a more limited upside than Fresno in both football and basketball. Fresno already draws 30-40K a game for football, and their BBall team is a money maker. SMU has some deeper pockets, but Fresno's has more (albeit shallower) pockets.

[gohornedfrogs]

I'd select - none of the above.

But I'd be happy with any below...female, of course.

[toad horny]

But I'd be happy with any below...female, of course.

I'd be happy to share.

[The Main]

While SMU's football program appears to be on the rise (CUSA apologists were saying the same thing about UTEP when they replaced us), they probably wouldn't be the 1st choice to join us from the state of Texas. Houston (untapped market) or UTEP (untapped market and historical ties) would be more likely for the MWC. Between the two, SMU, IMO, has a more limited upside than Fresno in both football and basketball. Fresno already draws 30-40K a game for football, and their BBall team is a money maker. SMU has some deeper pockets, but Fresno's has more (albeit shallower) pockets.

let's not get ahead of ourselves. yes, this their first winning year in 20 or so years, and they won their bowl game...but we can't assume they're on the rise just yet

[RSF]

let's not get ahead of ourselves. yes, this their first winning year in 20 or so years, and they won their bowl game...but we can't assume they're on the rise just yet

Which is why I underlined 'appears'......

[Frog_Fan71]

Many seem to forget that TCU's run of success started in the very same way.

[WIN]

Fresno over SMU. There is real value in being the only Texas based school in our conference.

Agree. Would rather recruit against Fresno.

[HG73]

Every time I hear smu or houston mentioned as potential members in our conference I wonder about the writers affiliation. Please, no smu, houston, or any other Texas school. We have a real opportunity to seperate and distance ourselves from them. Why in the world would we want to help either of them?

[froginaustin]

Every time I hear smu or houston mentioned as potential members in our conference I wonder about the writers affiliation. Please, no smu, houston, or any other Texas school. We have a real opportunity to seperate and distance ourselves from them. Why in the world would we want to help either of them?

+1

Our reasonably likely worst case scenario pulls both of the Utah schools out of the MWC, and leaves us there. Even if this happens, we can back fill the MWC with the top of the WAC and have a good enough conference for a product-separation recruiting advantage over C-USA and the WAC leftovers.

A reasonably likely better scenario ends with our being in an autobid conference (or how ever a top tier conference is described in the coming years), and Houston and SMU stuck in C-USA where they belong.

[Gunner]

Neither too.

[Purple Geezer]

neither

It's just a wild guess but I think SMU is closer.

[satis1103]

Why in the world would we want to go to 11??????

Yeah, I mean, why not just make 10 louder?

[froglicious]

<br />Yeah, I mean, why not just make 10 louder?<br />

Even though our worst crowd is double UH avg crowd the Houston connection has merit. SMU really brings nothing since we play them every year anyway. I can't believe I am about to engage in attendance smack but pony fans are a joke. Starting 2011 Allen HIGH will be drawing more than SMU. NO HIGH SCHOOL stadiums should be admitted to a major conference. Sorry smu.

[Screaming Flea]

I'll tell you bout' good ole SMU.

Remember three years ago they said the were averaging 18,000 per game? Couple of times they had just over 10,000 in the stands. They came close to loosing their D-1 status because of attendance.

Then there was the time when they were losing a couple of million a year, then two months later, they said they had surplus in the athletic budget. This was after repeated million dollar short falls in the athletic budget.

Simply, SMU has a habit of cooking the books to make them more attractive.

No, like others, I don't like either one of them. (Fresno or SMU)

I don't like Houston either.

[halfwaytoheaven]

Yeah, I mean, why not just make 10 louder?

Win.