(04-22-2017 10:11 PM)NuMexAg Wrote:  I think it could be more the opposite - that the WAC may have a stronger long-term plan by being the non-football out for any Big Sky schools thinking of dropping football.

FCS football is relatively expensive for most FCS schools - given the lack of good revenue options, and in this day of ever tightening budgets and shrinking TV money for non Power programs, I could see some of the more squeezed FCS schools just hanging it up on football. And the WAC would be a great landing place for them.

My guess is we are a few years away from that. But there is a definite trend in cost containment now - and I think the logical solution to that for some will be dropping football.

I think its the bottom tier FBS programs that will be in the most trouble. FCS schools never really had TV revenue as a significant revenue source, while those FBS programs are selling their souls for what little cut of the TV pie they get. So when the TV money really starts to diminish for the bottom tier FBS (this will happen after the next round of TV contracts), they will be the ones with the biggest budget shortfalls.

It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.

I think within 5 years NAU, SUU and Sac State all drop FCS football and join the WAC.

(04-23-2017 05:48 PM)Clarity Wrote:  I think within 5 years NAU, SUU and Sac State al drop FCS football and join the WAC.

I wouldn't put money on that prediction. Well, maybe NAU.

(04-23-2017 06:16 PM)SJHornet Wrote:  

(04-23-2017 05:48 PM)Clarity Wrote:  I think within 5 years NAU, SUU and Sac State al drop FCS football and join the WAC.

I wouldn't put money on that prediction. Well, maybe NAU.

Me either. Sac State will have football so long as Nelsen is President...and if we drop FB, we'll angle for BW to join our CA public school brethren.

Wasn't there some talk/speculation of Portland State possibly being a candidate for dropping football? I know, just talk, but....

(04-23-2017 06:47 PM)RunnerBall Wrote:  Wasn't there some talk/speculation of Portland State possibly being a candidate for dropping football? I know, just talk, but....

Yes, there was. And from what I remember, it got serious. However, the admin and boosters have saved the program for the immediate future, but major issues remain. The most serious problem they face is an increasingly messy stadium situation. The Timbers would like the Vikings to take a permanent hike. Portland is also a commuter school, and plays a major third fiddle to Oregon and OSU. State funding has been difficult for the program, and at times, bleak. The funding issue is similar in Arizona, where NAU is at the mercy of Arizona and ASU. When state funding got tight, lawmakers considered cutting all the school's athletic funds and funneling them to the larger schools. If I remember right, there was also a proposal to "merge" NAU into UA.

Sac will keep football, and there are no indicators at this time the program is under review or under much threat. The admin and boosters put about 95% of their interest, recousces and time into the football program, and have made major investment. The Olympic sports have done well, and received their own investment, but football is king, president and God at State. Even when California experienced its last major financial crisis, and programs like SJSU and SDSU considered their options regarding football, Sac never budged.

Most schools will operate the same way. When football is king, you do whatever it takes to keep the king safe. You eliminate sports, hike fees and ask the boosters to dig deep. This is why the WAC should cater to the schools that sponsor the sport, rather than wait for them to cut the program.

The problem is the only D1 schools the WAC can poach is some of the Big Sky like NAU. Maybe some of the Texas schools or Denver would consider but I don't see that happening. The problem is they all have football except for Denver. CBU will put us at 9 but Chicago State will likely not be renewed next year which leaves the WAC at 8. 8 is the minimum you need for an auto-bid to the NCAA tournament. If schools start jumping ship, GCU and UMKC being the most likely, the WAC could be in serious trouble. I wonder if they have a contingency plan if a school were to leave. All it would take is one team jumping to sink the WAC and IIRC the WAC's fee for leaving the conference is really low. Who do you guys think would be the D1 schools to immediately fill the void if it happens?

For the 100th time Denver left the Wac cause they don't want to be in the same conference as Grand Canyon. I can tell Clarity is new to message boards. He hasn't read the 1000 or more fantasy realignment threads.

Huh? I was talking about them rejoining possibly and I didn't even say it was likely. They have been mentioned about rejoining in 100s of threads here and everyone agrees they would be a good add. I didn't bring them up before others did.

(04-23-2017 08:37 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  For the 100th time Denver left the Wac cause they don't want to be in the same conference as Grand Canyon. I can tell Clarity is new to message boards. He hasn't read the 1000 or more fantasy realignment threads.

He arrived here P.S.E: (Post Scout Era).
Denver has a short history with the WAC. One of many: http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=451&f=2368&t=13709891


Here is a link to our old former boards. Browse to your heart's content. You can't throw a stone and fail to hit a realignment thread there. Don't get Rickrolled either (you'll understand that sooner or later)

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=451&f=2368

I think that things could get interesting over the next month or so with the movement of Wichita State to the AAC. The linchpin will be what the Missouri Valley Conf. decides to do. As of now, the WAC really isn't affected at all. UMKC is sometimes mentioned as a candidate, but they are a ways down the list reportedly.

After the MVC makes their move, then we move to the conferences that have been hit, such as possibly the Horizon, and the OVC. The rumors are hot that Valpo (Horizon), and Murray State (OVC) are locks for the MVC. Once the dominoes began to fall, a number of schools could be moving.

The loss of Murray St. would be a hard hit for the OVC. The Racers are the most recognizable program in the conference, and will be tough to replace. And this is where the WAC might come in. Could SIUE began conference shopping rather than be left in the downgraded OVC. Football will be the priority add for the Ohio Valley which doesn't help them at all.

I realize it may not move the needle much in the WAC's westward expansion plans, but it might help keep UMKC around if Chicago State does eventually get forced to drop to a lower level of athletics.

I agree UMKC is probably not leaving and definitely not for the MVC but what about GCU? I've seen them mentioned in a lot of realignment talk. They are probably the one to worry about. The WAC needs to seriously consider adding other D1 schools to ensure stability.

(04-23-2017 08:28 PM)Clarity Wrote:  The problem is the only D1 schools the WAC can poach is some of the Big Sky like NAU. Maybe some of the Texas schools or Denver would consider but I don't see that happening. The problem is they all have football except for Denver. CBU will put us at 9 but Chicago State will likely not be renewed next year which leaves the WAC at 8. 8 is the minimum you need for an auto-bid to the NCAA tournament. If schools start jumping ship, GCU and UMKC being the most likely, the WAC could be in serious trouble. I wonder if they have a contingency plan if a school were to leave. All it would take is one team jumping to sink the WAC and IIRC the WAC's fee for leaving the conference is really low. Who do you guys think would be the D1 schools to immediately fill the void if it happens?

7 is the minimum for a basketball auto bid, not 8.

Ah you're right but my concern is still valid.

If the WAC wants D-1 schools they will have to look at schools in the mid-west/Texas (SIUE, TAM-CC, Oral Roberts, and Denver is GCU were to jump to another league).

But if all stay put the WAC will slowly just keep adding D-2 western schools. (CSLA, SF State, Chico St) schools like that.

Anyways when it comes to schools joining new conferences its usually never as easy as most on the board make it sound. With that said it should be fun to see what happens if anything at all does happen with the MVC/Horizon/OVC.

(04-23-2017 05:41 PM)SDHornet Wrote:  

(04-22-2017 10:11 PM)NuMexAg Wrote:  I think it could be more the opposite - that the WAC may have a stronger long-term plan by being the non-football out for any Big Sky schools thinking of dropping football.

FCS football is relatively expensive for most FCS schools - given the lack of good revenue options, and in this day of ever tightening budgets and shrinking TV money for non Power programs, I could see some of the more squeezed FCS schools just hanging it up on football. And the WAC would be a great landing place for them.

My guess is we are a few years away from that. But there is a definite trend in cost containment now - and I think the logical solution to that for some will be dropping football.

I think its the bottom tier FBS programs that will be in the most trouble. FCS schools never really had TV revenue as a significant revenue source, while those FBS programs are selling their souls for what little cut of the TV pie they get. So when the TV money really starts to diminish for the bottom tier FBS (this will happen after the next round of TV contracts), they will be the ones with the biggest budget shortfalls.

It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.

No. The TV revenue will not affect FBS G5 schools. The Sun Belt, for example, has never had any decent TV revenue. They currently get about $100,000 per school. Nowhere to go but up for the Sun Belt. But if they never get a decent TV deal, they will survive.

The college football playoff revenue and money games will keep schools at the FBS level. Even with NMSU going independent, they will still get about $300,000 in playoff revenue and they will always have the money games. They are getting $1.7 million to play at Alabama in 2019. That kind of revenue will keep them at the FBS level for a long time.

The TV revenue is important and that is the advantage that a P5 school has over a G5 school. But G5 conferences are beginning to focus more on exposure. The AAC gets about $2 million per school in TV revenue, but it is the exposure that really helps. Most of the AAC football and basketball games are nationally televised. That has been very helpful in recruiting.

I dont see how UMKC would pass up a Horizon or Summit invite to stay in the WAC. I think its very possible the WAC loses a member from the Wichita trickle-down

I, uh...wish we had a few 'Roo fans here to chip in on that.

Currently mobile....away from the house or on "the throne."

Honestly they aren't getting in the Valley they have like 3 or 4 schools higher on the list. Does the Summit even want them back after they bolted for the WAC?

(04-24-2017 02:39 PM)Clarity Wrote:  Honestly they aren't getting in the Valley they have like 3 or 4 schools higher on the list. Does the Summit even want them back after they bolted for the WAC?

If the Summit loses 1-2 schools they would