And I have worked for companies that don't offer even a 401K, much less a pension! I would think that no 401K is very uncommon in the DFW metroplex. Yes, I call it the ZERO 1K. And I was a corporate level manager at one time with nothing! The job market is definitely broken here in KY (I still have no 401K) but at least you can readily find employment with a 401K plan down there to help build retirement funds tax free. I do think the employer owes the employee a 401K at a minimum for being allowed to operate in the world's only super power country.
That same working model is what was happening in college football though. Offer the players almost nothing until the system self-destructs. And here we are, an oligarchy type college football system unfolding. Even SMU $$ can't crack this system now.
For the record, I think SMU is a very good school.