SMU

[rsbgduck]

Anyone else paying attention to them. Not necessarily this years team but the progrums future? This years team has good well coached players in the starting 11, what they don’t have is the talent throughout the depth chart……but they will. People talk about Oregons Nike money and that’s why we are as good as we are now. Well Nike money is a drop in the bucket when compared to SMU’s big oil money (cattle is still big money too) donors and alumni in and around Dallas. I don’t want to hear about tech money, yes there is lots of it but tech money doesn’t love college football like big oil. All they needed was a power conference with eyes on them to start bringing in 4 and 5 star talent and they knew it. If they continue at their current rate of success, by the time the ACC eventually devolves the SEC would be out of their minds not to snatch them up. It’s not like SMU doesn’t have the cash to sweeten the pot by defering TV money for a few years, they are already doing it, it’s what closed the deal to get into the ACC.

If anyone else is paying attention I would be curious on your thoughts and opinions.

[Phalanx]

I wasn't paying attention, but I will now that you pointed it out. I was noticing the rise of Liberty U the past few years, but they seem to have regressed somewhat this year.

[Duck07]

We're not far away from Saudis and Black Rock getting involved in CFB and players declaring bankruptcy before entering the Portal. Totally absurd times were living in with the priorities people have with their discretional spending.

[rsbgduck]

We're not far away from Saudis and Black Rock getting involved in CFB and players declaring bankruptcy before entering the Portal. Totally absurd times were living in with the priorities people have with their discretional spending.

Great point about bankruptcy. Ive gone down a few rabbit holes over all this but that’s not one of them. I did see a story about one of the Sanders kids facing bankruptcy.

[ducks5ever]

It's true that Dallas has lots of affluent people looking for a local team that's actually good, but UT (Texas) [and Texas A&M to a lesser extent] has received this windfall for decades.

Will NIL change this dynamic? Possibly, but there's plenty of money in other big cities too (Florida, Seattle, LA)

[Duck07]

It's true that Dallas has lots of affluent people looking for a local team that's actually good, but UT (Texas) [and Texas A&M to a lesser extent] has received this windfall for decades.

Will NIL change this dynamic? Possibly, but there's plenty of money in other big cities too (Florida, Seattle, LA)

You have to recall though that it is alumni/donors who have ties to the program and if they don't have those ties, its harder to come by. Bill Gates stole the coding for Windows off the UW computers from a Professor; Bezos has long been rumored to buy a pro-team but still hasn't and old families like the Wrights who own Pac-Car aren't always poodle fans.

Some of our largest on campus donations for projects are for things like the Lokey Science building and the big donation from the Ballmers for another building which end up being tax write-offs for them but they don't have that same ability for sports.

[nogerO]

Anyone else paying attention to them. Not necessarily this years team but the progrums future? This years team has good well coached players in the starting 11, what they don’t have is the talent throughout the depth chart……but they will. People talk about Oregons Nike money and that’s why we are as good as we are now. Well Nike money is a drop in the bucket when compared to SMU’s big oil money (cattle is still big money too) donors and alumni in and around Dallas. I don’t want to hear about tech money, yes there is lots of it but tech money doesn’t love college football like big oil. All they needed was a power conference with eyes on them to start bringing in 4 and 5 star talent and they knew it. If they continue at their current rate of success, by the time the ACC eventually devolves the SEC would be out of their minds not to snatch them up. It’s not like SMU doesn’t have the cash to sweeten the pot by defering TV money for a few years, they are already doing it, it’s what closed the deal to get into the ACC.

If anyone else is paying attention I would be curious on your thoughts and opinions.

From an earlier thread:
Yes to a lot of people (SMU) they're a surprise. I've been following the Mustangs closely for 3 years, and everything was in place for Dallas' only native team (TCU is in Ft. Worth) to make a resurgence in the football world. NIL was the answer to the Dallas super rich donators were waiting for!) And don't dismiss them, they could make the playoffs and do some serious damage.

[rsbgduck]

Anyone else paying attention to them. Not necessarily this years team but the progrums future? This years team has good well coached players in the starting 11, what they don’t have is the talent throughout the depth chart……but they will. People talk about Oregons Nike money and that’s why we are as good as we are now. Well Nike money is a drop in the bucket when compared to SMU’s big oil money (cattle is still big money too) donors and alumni in and around Dallas. I don’t want to hear about tech money, yes there is lots of it but tech money doesn’t love college football like big oil. All they needed was a power conference with eyes on them to start bringing in 4 and 5 star talent and they knew it. If they continue at their current rate of success, by the time the ACC eventually devolves the SEC would be out of their minds not to snatch them up. It’s not like SMU doesn’t have the cash to sweeten the pot by defering TV money for a few years, they are already doing it, it’s what closed the deal to get into the ACC.

If anyone else is paying attention I would be curious on your thoughts and opinions.

From an earlier thread:
Yes to a lot of people (SMU) they're a surprise. I've been following the Mustangs closely for 3 years, and everything was in place for Dallas' only native team (TCU is in Ft. Worth) to make a resurgence in the football world. NIL was the answer to the Dallas super rich donators were waiting for!) And don't dismiss them, they could make the playoffs and do some serious damage.

Sorry if I gave the impression that I am surprised by their fast rise or I’m sorry for misinterpreting your post. I absolutely expected them to become a very good progrum. However the only big hang up for them to become a consistent playoff caliber team year in and year out was not being in a P4 (P5 when I first started watching them) conference. As a college football fan and a hater of the NCAA I’ve followed/researched SMU for a long time. Not to mention Erick Dickerson is in my top 5 NFL RB’s all time. I do think that they couldn’t have timed it all out any better if they knew what was coming.

[nogerO]

Anyone else paying attention to them. Not necessarily this years team but the progrums future? This years team has good well coached players in the starting 11, what they don’t have is the talent throughout the depth chart……but they will. People talk about Oregons Nike money and that’s why we are as good as we are now. Well Nike money is a drop in the bucket when compared to SMU’s big oil money (cattle is still big money too) donors and alumni in and around Dallas. I don’t want to hear about tech money, yes there is lots of it but tech money doesn’t love college football like big oil. All they needed was a power conference with eyes on them to start bringing in 4 and 5 star talent and they knew it. If they continue at their current rate of success, by the time the ACC eventually devolves the SEC would be out of their minds not to snatch them up. It’s not like SMU doesn’t have the cash to sweeten the pot by defering TV money for a few years, they are already doing it, it’s what closed the deal to get into the ACC.

If anyone else is paying attention I would be curious on your thoughts and opinions.

From an earlier thread:
Yes to a lot of people (SMU) they're a surprise. I've been following the Mustangs closely for 3 years, and everything was in place for Dallas' only native team (TCU is in Ft. Worth) to make a resurgence in the football world. NIL was the answer to the Dallas super rich donators were waiting for!) And don't dismiss them, they could make the playoffs and do some serious damage.

Sorry if I gave the impression that I am surprised by their fast rise or I’m sorry for misinterpreting your post. I absolutely expected them to become a very good progrum. However the only big hang up for them to become a consistent playoff caliber team year in and year out was not being in a P4 (P5 when I first started watching them) conference. As a college football fan and a hater of the NCAA I’ve followed/researched SMU for a long time. Not to mention Erick Dickerson is in my top 5 NFL RB’s all time. I do think that they couldn’t have timed it all out any better if they knew what was coming.

No I didn't take or mean it that way I too have like SMU since 1963 when we played them in the sun bowl which we lost 21-14.

[StevensTechU]

Overall, I would say the issue with saying "They have a lot of money" is that money alone doesn't do much for you. Lots of schools have money from operations and rich alumni. Seems like the best it can do is level the playing field. So on that basis, I would give SMU a fighting chance in this future of college sports, but I'd stop short of saying they're going to be an emerging power.

[Everythingsducky]

Between 247, Rivals, and On3, SMU ranks between 26-31 in team rankings for recruiting 2025. NIL dollars reported are currently middle of the road. Would expect a bump if they make a run here. We will see how they manage in the portal, and if the NIL dollars jump this cycle. SMU is very new to the party. They have been pretty irrelevant since the Dickerson/Craig James days.

[Duck07]

Between 247, Rivals, and On3, SMU ranks between 26-31 in team rankings for recruiting 2025. NIL dollars reported are currently middle of the road. Would expect a bump if they make a run here. We will see how they manage in the portal, and if the NIL dollars jump this cycle. SMU is very new to the party. They have been pretty irrelevant since the Dickerson/Craig James days.

Really makes a fan wish Mike Leach was still around.

Long Live CJK5H