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Lashlee isn’t going anywhere ever if SMU doesn’t want him to. SMU can spend with anyone. Only reason Dykes left was to coach in the P4. The ACC F’d up admitting SMU and it is hilarious that SMU is letting them keep their money but is taking their trophy. I can’t stand SMU, but I am impressed with how they have expertly maneuvered this situation. The current era of college athletics with unlimited NIL is perfect for SMU. Better make hay while the sun is shining because once there are caps on spending, the Ponies will be sent back to the barn.

And the biggest key is administrative support, which UNT clearly lacks. Our Board of Trustees has aligned the university to pursue athletics to support the academic mission of the school and we're all pulling the same direction.

basically heading into December, I think this is a pretty good way to look at the league, KenPom through 12/1 games in (): Tier 1 - Memphis (31) - I know everyone will be quick to point out their collapse last season...I suppose it could happen again, but this team looks built different. they'll head into December ranked while presumably no one else will even receive a vote. Tier 2 - UNT(66) ; Wichita State (88) - both schools have quality wins over Big 10, WCC, A-10 and MVC schools...nothing really to blink at too much in their losses. Tier 3A - Rice (164) ; East Carolina (123) - call this the over-achieving tier. Rice has a good win now over ASU...hung tough with Florida State. ECU has yet to play an actual road game and their loss looks pretty mid, but 7-1 is 7-1 so far. Tier 3B - FAU (105) ; UAB (137) - call this the under-achieving tier. FAU look like Memphis last season...a solid collection of talent that isn't playing as a team...case in point, they went 52-26 to lose by 2 to FGCU. I don't know what to make of UAB. still, despite early struggles, both these will be tough Ws Tier 4 - Temple (114) ; South Florida (138) - both just look solid if unremarkable. both have some testers in December and it'd be a big benefit to the conference if they can pick up some good wins. Tier 5 - Tulane (226) ; Charlotte (204) ; Tulsa (215) ; UTSA (263) - there's very little to like here. nothing approaching a quality win and each with some pretty bad loses. I almost just made a separate tier for UTSA, but I'll be kind for now since the resumes here all look so similar. UTSA goes to Cali to play St. Mary's Tuesday and then to Fayetteville for ranked Arkansas on Saturday (who made their schedule?)...so once they get drubbed by 30 in each, maybe they'll earn their own tier

SMU got the death penalty because they were incredibly stupid back then. When the NCAA announced new cheating rules in 1985 that included the death penalty as the most severe potential punishment, SMU responded by phasing out payments to players instead of ending them immediately. At least one of those players got kicked off the team and spilled the beans in a TV interview. Now SMU thinks it deserves revenge because it was told not to piss on an electrified fence and did it anyway. Mustang nation would be smarter to leave the past in the past and enjoy the run they're on.

SMU's upturn started two years before NIL opened up. The biggest key is the free transfer rules amd the strategy to go after local players at top programs to come home for more playing time, to help out baby momma, etc. NIL definitely amped it up. But we aren't money whipping alone. We have a big time payroll but we aren't in the A&M/Ohio St/etc universe. The money just removes the golden handcuffs of under the table money that was keeping them at top programs (especially OL and DL). ACC membership is huge too. UNT could be running some of this playbook, BTW. More than enough DFW players looking to get on the field.