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Inside SMU's pursuit of the Power Five — 'It's a couple hundred million dollars. I'm not losing sleep over it.'

JT Hammons

By JT Hammons
in Conference ReAlignment

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JT Hammons Proficient

JT Hammons

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DALLAS — David Miller is tall enough not to hide among crowds, particularly this one.

At an impromptu celebration within SMU’s indoor football facility, there is no escape for Miller. He is, after all, the chairman of the school’s board of trustees.

On this day, for a party 40 years in the making, he is dressed the part. In a red-and-blue plaid sports coat and slacks, he stares down through eyeglasses from his 6-foot-8 perch as, one by one, members of the SMU family form a receiving line.

For a brief moment, the scene is reminiscent of the 1970s Hollywood hit “The Godfather.” Supporters stop shy of genuflecting at the 73-year-old’s feet, restraining themselves to handshakes and hugs.

“Thank you so, so much,” a woman tells a smiling Miller.

“We appreciate everything,” a young donor says to him.

Miller is an oil man, with a deep booming voice and an accent you’d find on any Lone Star ranch. He began as an oil banker, then was an oil operator and now, sitting on a cushion of hard-earned cash, he's an oil investor. He’s got five children and 13 grandchildren, all of whom he expects to attend his alma mater, the oak tree-lined private school nestled in the plush neighborhood of Highland Park.

read more: https://sports.yahoo.com/inside-smus-pursuit-of-the-power-five--its-a-couple-hundred-million-dollars-im-not-losing-sleep-over-it-125139541.html

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PlummMeanGreen Grand Master

PlummMeanGreen

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Was talking to a fellow alum at a pre-UC-Berkeley game tailgate last Saturday & suggested this to him: 

I've been going to most SMU/UNT games since the series re-opened in 1974 & I'm not sure there was even one game in the NCAA's modern era when the Pony's were not a $emi-pro college football team.  I remember one Mustang/Mean Green game began with Craig James running 80 yards for a TD in Texas Stadium. 

Not sure we should continue as SMU's whipping post so when all else in their "paid for" undeserving NCAA world goes south they can pile-on us or.........that a fully amateur college football team should play a semi-pro outfit.  Just seems a tad unbalanced to me.  

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untphd Veteran

untphd

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46 minutes ago, Rudy said:

Is there a reason you posted this story?

Another lost little pony who can't find his way home so he posts here.I hope his mom puts out an alert so she can make sure his is ok.

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Rudy Grand Master

Rudy

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5 minutes ago, untphd said:

Another lost little pony who can't find his way home so he posts here.I hope his mom puts out an alert so she can make sure his is ok.

His mom needs to arrange for better care while she's out working Harry Hines.

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untjim1995 Grand Master

untjim1995

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On 9/18/2023 at 5:28 PM, PlummMeanGreen said:

It still amazes me how Pony fans from back in the day still gloat about winning with semi-pro football teams; especially listening to Eric D.  & Craig J.  
Do their fans to this day know what earned them the Death Penalty? 

They don’t care and the SWC media feels sorry for what happened. This morning on The Ticket, two UNT alums glowingly talked about SMU raising all that cash and being in the ACC. 
 

What UNT needs to do ASAP is stop playing then in anything. It really has never helped us anyway, but now, every Texas team needs to avoid them like the plague. Make recruits know that their parents have to travel to Louisville for the closest conference game. San Francisco to Boston to Miami… good luck with all that.

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untjim1995 Grand Master

untjim1995

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8 minutes ago, antique_alum said:

No problem on $MU player parent travel…donors will find ways to get them there…maybe raise player nil from $36k to $50k/ yr.,  charter jets, ?? When money is no object, there’s always a way!

Well, let them enjoy those 3-4 hour flights each way.

The biggest issue is dropping them from any schedule, just like TCU did, as well as Baylor, Tech, and UH have done.

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NT80 Grand Master

NT80

Posted
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On 9/20/2023 at 9:12 AM, antique_alum said:

No problem on $MU player parent travel…donors will find ways to get them there…maybe raise player nil from $36k to $50k/ yr.,  charter jets, ?? When money is no object, there’s always a way!

Sure, until the football team racks up a couple 3-9 seasons.  Then the donors leave to go find something more fun to spend on.  Rich guys don't want associated with poor investments for very long.

UNTLifer Grand Master

UNTLifer

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15 hours ago, NT80 said:

Sure, until the football team racks up a couple 3-9 seasons.  Then the donors leave to go find something more fun to spend on.  Rich guys don't want associated with poor investments for very long.

Unless they are educated at smuT

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