I'd imagine they'd start D1 WLax at the same time. If true, SMU would have the first D1 men's team in the state of TX and give the ACC 6 teams again.
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SMU Possibly Looking to Elevate MLax To D1
- Thread starter bigmatt718
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I'd imagine they'd start D1 WLax at the same time. If true, SMU would have the first D1 men's team in the state of TX and give the ACC 6 teams again.
Texas still doesn't sanction the sport at the high school level, but it's getting close. Once that designation changes, they will produce a lot of talent. SMU has money to burn. They aren't even taking media money for 10 years. Crazy they can do that. They'd have to sponsor women's too if they do.
Was discussed before. And that alumni base donates, so the money will likely be there. But perfect for Ivy transfers? RU has the pipeline established but will the money be sufficient. And Duke still offers an MBA from Fuqua. UNC an MBA from Flagler. Notre Dame will be in the hunt as well, but outside of the law school and alumni network I can't see why.
One of our former Ivy transfers told me there is a lot of smoke around the Ivy's transferring there, but I just don't see it. Many of them will have a lot of great options, most of which will provide a better degree than SMU. But, SMU has a lot to offer outside of that. Hot chicks, and an obscenely wealthy alumni base that isn't afraid to buy wins in any sport. Still though, I'll believe it when it happens. Also, are they starting a women's program? There is still Title 9 to deal with.
Have to think they start women's lax at the same time to keep up with Title IX. If SMU does in fact start men's lax I see them booming in the sport quickly. Would be the first D1 team in TX with underrated academics, as well as wealthy alums who would well fund it, in DFW which is a growing market economically with great weather and gorgeous Texas coeds.
True. They'd also have to start some women's program unless they are ahead of the Title 9 curve which I'd highly doubt. SMU is capable no doubt. They have crazy money. But all of the Ivy's transfers all of a sudden banding to go there together? I'm not buying it. I can tell you for sure a number of them are talking to other schools and taking visits/virtual visits right now. Can't see SMU landing them all as some sort of coup.
I don't think a club team is included in Title IX calculations for NCAA sports. If so, the woman's team going club to NCAA takes care of any problems.
I also don't see Ivy transfers banding together to go with a brand new program. Turning down a free first year at Fuqua and playing for a sure fire May Madness team? Nope.
Yeah for sure. Duke Business School is about as good as you can get for a Master's program short of getting into Wharton or Harvard. I'm sure SMU's Business School is quite good but it ain't Fuqua.
It's a little odd we aren't hearing anything about the women's program starting up, which is what would likely need to happen.
Coaches and players already there and funding is not an issue. They can build at their leisure. I'd love to listen in when the players get told they now have scholarships.
I can’t imagine they’d invest all of that money and not bring in a high level D1 coach. Big difference between club lacrosse and D1
That’s an impressive raise though I wonder how many scholarships that will yield. Surely the dept is investing too. Not a true apples to apples comparison but to start PSU’s hockey program(s) the initial investment was $100MM
Penn St. had to build a hockey rink when they went D1 in hockey. The funding need was greater.
Agreed. That’s why I said it wasn’t apples to apples. But the point remains. $20MM is a great raise, but to start two D1 programs? I’m not seeing it.
I still for the life of me don't understand why USC doesn't have a D1 men's team. Do what SMU just did and add like field hockey for a women's sport to keep in Title IX compliance. B1G expands west in both sports.
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I won't get into specifics but USC was offered the opportunity to have one donor fully fund the men's program, and they said no.
SMU is going to get very good very quickly. I would think they'd be more of a problem for some of the other Acc's recruiting wise more than most of the Big Ten schools.
For sure. SMU is going to be a problem. Nice weather, in a growing media market in DFW, with good academics and Texas co-eds. I'm bullish to say the least on SMU becoming a force once they get rolling.
They have crazy money and crazy money buys you nice things in college athletics. If they can pull of this Ivy coup, look out. Not sure I am buying that though. A number of those guys play the same roles on their teams. Not sure they would be willing to take a backseat.
On top of that lax is continually growing in Texas. Pull in some Ivy grad years to lead the program in the early years and fill the roster with locals. A solid D1 college team will do nothing but spur further growth in-state.
That is surprising. USC would become a major player in short time if they committed to MLax. There is a massive amount of talent in SoCal and the Bay Area which is currently way under recruited because there are no local college programs. Technology has made recruiting farther from your backyard better, but it is still much easier to find talent at local programs that are within easy driving distance than a massive state over 2000 miles away. USC would have their pick of top the players CA and HS LAX would explode if there were a local premier D1 option. Currently Utah is the closest D1 program. And Utah in the ASUN vs USC in the B1G is like comparing apples to bowling balls.
Club lax scene in TX is booming. SMU is going to blow the lid off lax in TX. Youth football in TX is already feeding the growth as lax is a great alternative for kids that probably have no future beyond Friday Night Lights.
now that SMU rumor is a reality who’s up next? LAX is booming in CA and growing quickly in middle America. WTF are Stanford and Northwestern waiting for - great academics, great facilities, great women’s program.
now that SMU rumor is a reality who’s up next? LAX is booming in CA and growing quickly in middle America. WTF are Stanford and Northwestern waiting for - great academics, great facilities, great women’s program.
feel like everyone is hyping up SMU and it's definitely not going to live up to what is being spoken about. most new d1 programs take a long time to find success, Utah/Michigan. it's cool to see SMU start up - not sure that the success is going to be instant.
Totally different situations. Utah started its first few years as an independent before joining one of the weaker AQ conferences. Michigan upgraded into one of the top conferences but like Utah, both upgrades mostly occurred pre portal and well before NIL.
If SMU is able to pull in enough funding to operate the team and support scholarships plus a healthy NIL budget, they will be able to get competitive real quick, especially since they are upgrading right into one of the top 2 conferences. If the rumors of 5th year Ivy transfers planning to jump onboard (which I am personally skeptical of, but money talks so who knows) they could be competitive in year one. I also question if $25MM is enough to fund starting up a brand new D1 program from scratch and NIL budget, but who knows, they may have a separate fund for that.
The 25MM is on top of what the SMU has put into their budget. Put it this way, forget lacrosse,what are the annual alumni donations to RU football?
FWIW, I went to high school in Rhode Island in the 1990s where lacrosse was unheard of outside of a few expensive, elite private schools that competed against schools from Connecticut and Massachusetts. Nobody I grew up with held a lacrosse stick except one rich kid who went to one of those schools but never played in a lacrosse game.
Today, the majority of high schools in the state field lacrosse teams. I have no idea where that came from. Thirty high school teams compete, including three coops, in a state with around 45 high schools.
I doubt these schools will ever produce the lacrosse talent of Long Island, New Jersey, and Maryland though.
Today, the majority of high schools in the state field lacrosse teams. I have no idea where that came from. Thirty high school teams compete, including three coops, in a state with around 45 high schools.
I doubt these schools will ever produce the lacrosse talent of Long Island, New Jersey, and Maryland though.
Asked my brother about SMUs MBA program. His response was solid but not the equal of Fuqua. Fortunately for them Harvard, Wharton and Tuck aren't part of the equation.
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