National sportscaster and former “Pony Express” standout Craig James speaks at Southern Methodist University’s official announcement to join Conference USA at a rally held in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center on Wednesday, Nov. 3. SMU, along with Rice and Tulsa, will join Houston, TCU, and Tulane to form a western division of Conference USA effective July 1, 2005.

Photo by Hillsman S. Jackson / SMU.

SMU Cheerleaders celebrate the University’s official announcement to join Conference USA at a rally held in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center on Wednesday, Nov. 3. SMU, along with Rice and Tulsa, will join Houston, TCU, and Tulane to form a western division of Conference USA effective July 1, 2005.

Photo by Hillsman S. Jackson / SMU.

SMU Football Coach Phil Bennett speaks to the media after the University’s official announcement to join Conference USA at a rally held in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center on Wednesday, Nov. 3. SMU, along with Rice and Tulsa, will join Houston, TCU, and Tulane to form a western division of Conference USA effective July 1, 2005.

Photo by Hillsman S. Jackson / SMU.

SMU Athletic Director Jim Copeland and National sportscaster and former “Pony Express” standout Craig James at the University’s official announcement to join Conference USA. SMU held a rally in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center on Wednesday, Nov. 3 complete with cheerleaders, band and mascot. Along with Rice and Tulsa, SMU will join Houston, TCU, and Tulane to form a western division of Conference USA effective July 1, 2005.

Photo by Hillsman S. Jackson / SMU.