Inside SMU's Pursuit of the Power 5
Detailed article from Yahoo Sports about how the SMU saga unfolded. They were very close to joining the PAC12 apparently. The ACC was a long shot, but here they are.
Link:
link
43 Replies
H
HokieZig
2y
SMU to the ACC actually makes a lot more sense than California and Stanford. Its clear, SMU is going to throw a lot of money at the athletics, especially football. I am not so sure about the Olympic sports. They also have a lot of very good athletes very close to the campus. Add in the fact that there NIL money will out pay most ACC schools. Its going to take them a few years to get going but they look like with the right leadership they could be a very successful school in athletics.
(In response to this post by HOO86)
2y
But you can't pass on P5 options just sitting there waiting to be picked up. So Stanford and Cal will work.
(In response to this post by HokieZig)
2y
Link:
Click
(In response to this post by HOO86)
K
kgevt1
2y
determination they can be very competitive very fast.
(In response to this post by Tuckahokie)
Looks like they will fit right in w/ the ACC
If you told me that was Wake, I would have believed it
(In response to this post by Tuckahokie)
2y
And even more impressive how they were able to get multiple billionaires ($15 billion in the core group) to align on supporting the school. Not only that, but the way I read it, Cal and Stanford probably would not have gotten in without the help of SMU. The SMU was so all in that it looks like they came up with several of the key creative financial arrangements as well as the option to use Dallas as a mid way point for olympic sports.
Basically, SMU's push convinced the ACC how to fund expansion, flipped NCSU vote, and made Stanford and Cal easier to accept with the travel aspect. If even half of that is true, bravo SMU. Tip of the hat to them for pulling this off.
(In response to this post by HOO86)
2y
But it was okay for UMCP, Rutgers, OR, and WA to join the Big10 at reduced shares. And for BYU, UH, UCF, and UC to come in at reduced shares in the Big XII.
Considering that SMU will make more money in the ACC from their non media payouts than they got in total payouts from the American, it looks like a great deal for them.
Add in that they will go from hosting football games against Tulsa, Charlotte, Temple, USF, ECU, and North Texas to hosting games against Miami, FSU, Clemson, VT, Pitt, NCSU, and being in the rotation for a game against ND. On top of that, they will now get basketball games against Duke, UNC, UVA, Syracuse, and Louisville that will most certainly boost their ticket revenue to more than make up for the loss of their $7M a season from the AAC in TV money.
(In response to this post by HOO86)
2y
Not being disrespectful to you personally. I just can’t believe you guys are putting lipstick on this pig.
** Edited by Millpoint at 9/7/2023, 3:46:09 PM
(In response to this post by mrcaniac)
2y
Ore and Washington are coming in to the Big 10 at half shares
BYU, Cinn, Hou, and UCF are all came into the Big 12 at reduced shares.
UMCP and Rutgers all joined the Big 10 at reduced shares
SMU coming in at a reduced share is nothing new, and they will actually make more money with a reduced ACC share than they would staying with the American.
BTW, Utah will make more in its first season in the Big 12 than BYU will in its second season.
Link:
Utah More money that BYU
(In response to this post by Millpoint)
2y
AAC additions will receive full shares after two seasons in the Big 12. That’s only one year after the PAC additions. Not comparable.
** Edited by Millpoint at 9/7/2023, 6:44:01 PM
** Edited by Millpoint at 9/7/2023, 7:03:35 PM
(In response to this post by mrcaniac)
E
EDGEMAN
2y
...to take nothing for years if they would only allow them to join.
(In response to this post by mrcaniac)
2
2hhoop3
2y
read the article and ponder what SMU has committed to. Those guys are coming to WIN, not just be a private school feeding at the larger P5 trough. I expect there are a number of ACC schools, private as well as public that might benefit from looking at the SMU quest and considering how they will likely have to adapt. Stanford is Stanford and Cal obviously carries its own name but, reading this article you get a real sense SMU is the one coming to really play.
(In response to this post by HOO86)
2y
(In response to this post by 2hhoop3)
2
2hhoop3
2y
who were smart and savvy enough to make that money in the first place? Risk takers and visionaries are not necessarily fools. VT could use some of those deep pockets.
(In response to this post by reestuart)
2y
$200M just so you can say you financed a football program seems foolish. Is he a visionary, or was he born into it? I honestly have no idea.
(In response to this post by 2hhoop3)
2y
the robber barons who funded/founded Duke, Vandy, Stanford, Carnegie-Mellon, Tulane etc.
(In response to this post by reestuart)
2
2hhoop3
2y
it is his money and he can do what he wants with it. The group includes guys that made their own money, as well as some I am sure who were born into it. I doubt any of those guys are doing it just so they can say "they financed a football program", but, they could have many motives, some more altruistic than others. Perhaps you should reread the article a little bit closer as Miller, who was a scholarship basketball player, has been repaying his free education for a lot longer than recent times and in an amount to date, $100M estimated broken down $75M and $25M academics and athletics per the article. You say you have no idea, again I would suggest you reread the article in more depth, your contention of a fool and his money being soon parted and just financing a program seems far less likely than a group of individuals putting their money where their mouth is to support a school they believe in, a mission that likely comes with a far less tangible ROI.
(In response to this post by reestuart)
2y
The article talks about how he always wanted to give back to the school that gave him an education
(In response to this post by reestuart)
2
2hhoop3
2y
a large part of the earlier stuff is now likely legal. In addition, what they did was over the top and deserved punishment, the death penalty is subject to debate, however, even back then SMU was not doing anything some of their competitors were not doing as well. Many still believe SMU got hammered more for the schools they were beating at their own game than for the fact they were doing things more egregious than the other schools.
(In response to this post by Femoyer Hokie)
Except the kept coming back for more. Just daring the NCAA to act.
Sure, what they did is now overlooked despite still being illegal under NCAA rules. I’m more concerned with the money being so readily available that they will always be looking for ways to gain an advantage outside of the rules. It’s in their DNA.
(In response to this post by 2hhoop3)
2
2hhoop3
2y
about it and their head coach at the time was more than willing to play, however, a lot(not all) of what they did then is no longer illegal under NCAA rules today. As far as the rest goes, EVERYBODY looks for advantages, just some have more money than others. Given things that have gone on at UNC and Louisville, to just name two from the ACC among countless other NCAA schools, I am not sure anyone should throw stones from the glass houses the schools have been living in for a very long time.
(In response to this post by Femoyer Hokie)
2y
behind the scenes (Charlotte) so long ago. Do you think that the ACC was doing anything behind the scenes to grab the best teams from the Pac12 before the B1G got them? History tells me no but it wouldn't surprise me either.
(In response to this post by HOO86)
2y
Should have been talking to them a year earlier. At this point I think the ACC should talk to Connecticut. UConn has been operating with an independent football team not receiving conference revenue, and then operating the rest of their programs on a Big East distribution. The ACC could probably strike a similar deal to Stanford & Cal and have UConn join with only the same amount they would be getting from the Big East for 7 years or so. Use the rest to make the Performance Pot bigger.
I watched the game that NC State played in East Hartford, and they had a good crowd there. Jim Mora has improved UConn football. The UConn athletic revenue is about $99 million per year now according to USN&WR. That's more than Georgia Tech.
But as hard as it was to get the Stanford, Cal, and SMU deal across the finish line, I doubt the ACC will do anything more.
(In response to this post by IB4TECH)
2y
And men's and women's basketball teams that can win NCAA Championships.
Plus regional rivalries in the northeast and a strengthening of the ACC presence in New England and New York City. If we could get them at reduced share, they would bring some of the same as the 3 just added. Perhaps there is a way to allow them to keep their existing football media deal with CBS Sports Network and just bring in with basketball share for a while. Get creative like with SMU.
But as I said the ACC had a tough enough time adding the current 3, so adding more will probably have to wait.
(In response to this post by HokieZig)
2y
Unless it happens when Big 12 schools are available and the ACC becomes more attractive than the Big 12. Right now, moving from the Big 12 to the ACC (or vice versa) is a lateral move, so there's not much point in doing it.
(In response to this post by HOO86)
T
Truthahn
2y
Some decent choices, IMO. Hopefully, all of those will get really good in the AAC in the meanwhile (or at least UConn can stay great in BB, and pretty good in football).
(In response to this post by tarheelblue)
2y
Looking West of the Mississippi it's current members of the Mountain West. Colorado State, San Diego State, Nevada Reno and UNLV. Never would have thought about any of those previously, but with Stanford and Cal Here, why not?
(In response to this post by Truthahn)
"IF" FSU leaves, it will be interesting to see which direction the ACC...
will go. UConn basketball or USF and maintianing two members in the state of Florida. Both those schools will be pushing hard to be the ACC's 18th member. IMO, the top 3 ACC hopefuls are 1. USF, 2. UConn and 3. Tulane. This is based on FSU leaving.
(In response to this post by Truthahn)
2y
(In response to this post by Old Line Hokie)
2y
One of those might be persuaded to join.
(In response to this post by tarheelblue)
2y
You have to be able to backfill quickly. Big 12 was able to backfill with 4 schools quickly, while the Pac-12 waited and the whole thing fell apart. The ACC has pre-backfilled with Cal, Stanford, and SMU. The ACC would be wise to start vetting schools in the Big 12 and the AAC now so that they can move quickly if the need arises in the future.
** Edited by tarheelblue at 9/7/2023, 2:24:00 PM
(In response to this post by Truthahn)
T
Truthahn
2y
The results were that Memphis, Houston, Cincinatti, and UCF would be best candidates, but they would take no one at that time (seven-ish years ago, I guess).
We should do the same now. Say we are vetting for an 18th team and then get some articles out there that UConn, USF, Memphis and Tulane would all be great additions, but not at this time. We need to get people thinking of them as desirable teams, just in case we need them.
If FSU keeps this up, I would even like to add UConn soon for everything except football, just to get them further along. Maybe arrange to buy some of their football TV games, whenever they play an ACC team at home. That would give their football a small boost.
(In response to this post by tarheelblue)
2y
Apparently Arkansas recruits the same territory as SMU will be recruiting, and they have concerns with SMU being able to recruit as a P5 member.
Link:
link
(In response to this post by HOO86)
2y
"Now that the Mustangs can sell an athlete on playing in a major conference, the odds are tipped heavily in SMU's favor because Arkansas can't match the NIL money and it would be shocking if Texas or Texas A&M can either."
(In response to this post by HOO86)
T
Truthahn
2y
I would love to see SMU and VT in the ACC championship, soon.
(In response to this post by Nortazhokie)
2y
It's that all the millionaire boosters of A&M and Tex are the employees of the billionaires of SMU.
(In response to this post by Nortazhokie)