ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips believes that new member SMU is “going to be competing with the best in the league sooner than later” after officially joining its first power conference in nearly three decades, according to Jacob Richman of LONESTARLIVE.com. Phillips “touted the recent success” SMU’s teams have had and the “support the team has received recently from fans and -- crucially -- donors.” Phillips said, “You see the financial support from the board and the donors and from the Dallas-Fort Worth area and also their alums, it’s staggering.” Phillips: “They’re in it for the right reasons.” Richman noted $159M was raised in FY 2023-24 “as part of the efforts that allowed the Mustangs to make the move to the ACC.” Phillips was “already bullish” on SMU joining the ACC but seeing the “reaffirmation” from the school has him “prepared to see SMU compete at a high level and quickly.” He said, “I think they’re going to be an immediate impact school for us” (LONESTARLIVE.com, 7/1).
CELEABRATORY MOMENT In Dallas, Sophia Vesely noted SMU hosted a public celebration at downtown sports bar Happiest Hour to “commemorate” its first official day in the ACC. Guests dressed “exclusively in blue and red, matching the hundreds of balloons that formed arches and pillars around the room.” They sipped on “special drinks while perusing Mustang merchandise and season ticket packages for the fall sporting events.” All of the ACC’s costumed mascots “were in attendance” as they “visited Dallas landmarks throughout the day for photo ops, exploring the Dallas Arboretum, Fair Park and Reunion Tower, among other locations.” SMU concluded yesterday’s celebrations by “lighting up the Dallas skyline in Mustangs’ colors,” a display that “demonstrated the city’s solidarity that was scheduled to last until midnight” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/1).
