They never had a really strong fanbase. Going back to their years in the Cotton Bowl and Texas Stadium. As said by FfldCntyFan, they had their best crowds when some regional "rival" was playing a road game at SMU. BCU Lite.
BCU will always have excuses as to why they don't draw despite being "big time". It's the Red Sox, it's the celtics, it's the bruins, it's leaf peeping season.
Can't imagine why you think that UConn appeals to the Big 10.
Aside from Jerry Levias, & then the Pony Express, my enduring memory of SMU football was their game on ESPN the day after the season opener of Dallas. There was a crowd shot of frat brother types holding up a huge placard with this message "Kristen couldn't have shot J.R.-she was with me!" Thay had about as much of a chance with Bing Crosby's daughter as I have with Angie Harmon.
Socioeconomically, SMU's and BCU's student bodies may not be too different, one more southern/southwestern, one more Catholic. The Mustangs' football games are far more of an excuse for socializing during their Boulevard tailgates than even possible in BCU's lame tailgating environment. Neither has much of a fan base beyond some alumni, some students, and parents, and neither gets much attention in their home cities.
Not that SMU has too many fans, but Rutgers shares that same primary color of red. It was nothing like osu's red dominating Northwestern's stadium.
That's too bad, it has got to be a big loss since $8-10 beers have to have a good profit margin. The $4 waters and 5 dollar cokes are probably the biggest money makers.
