It's unfortunate we can't play the "tradition" card vs SMU. They've got pretty darn good tradition.
True they have tradition but its even older than ours. And theirs does include the "death penalty" which isn't really much of a plus.
To me the big thing in our favor is that we're in a BCS conference. This provides several incentives:
1) If you want to test yourself to see what you've REALLY got then you need to be playing BCS caliber opponents week in and week out
2) TV - we're on TV way more than SMU is so he'll get much more immediate attention
3) Recruiting - I think GT might have a lot of advantages versus SMU, believe it or not. We're both in major cities with lots going on (Atlanta vs Dallas). And we both compete with lots of other schools in talent rich areas for recruits. But where is it more likely those kids are going to get exposed to higher levels of competition and to being on TV? SMU or GT? Yes we compete against Clemson, FSU, Miami, UF, UGA, UA, Aub, etc... for recruits but SMU competes with Texas, TAMU, Ark, Oklahoma, etc... and they aren't in a BCS conference and that job is clearly a rebuilding position
4) Rebuilding vs remodeling - SMU is no doubt a rebuilding job which poses it's own unique challenges which could be very appealing to someone. GT isn't so much a rebuilding job though I think maybe remodeling
isn't a bad analogy to what is needed here.
Anyway, those are just my impressions of what MIGHT help sway a coach one way or the other that are factors other than money.
Late addition: I just noticed the ACC vs C-USA thread and realized this probably would have been more appropriate to post in there. Sorry about that.
