(09-12-2017 10:41 AM)MWC Tex Wrote: That is a better word. APU is pretty football crazy so I wouldn't doubt they would find a way to keep football even if they got an invite to the WAC and play Indy football at the FCS level. Unfortunately, they will have to wait for Cal Baptist for finish transitioning before they would get an invite unless the WAC would have enough schools to allow 2 transitioning teams at the same time to not cause scheduling issues.
I can also see if APU does get a D1 invite, that a football only conference could be created with UCD, Sac St, APU, Cal Poly, S. Ut and NAU.
I think Western should return to the NAIA. They haven't separated themselves from their previous NAIA members.
They have to wait until CBU completes their first year, as they count as a D-I school in their 2nd year for scheduling requirements.
20.9.8 Basketball Scheduling.
...
20.9.8.4.1.1 Reclassifying Opponents. A reclassifying institution shall be counted as a Division I opponent in the year the reclassifying institution must comply with Division I scheduling requirements (year two of the reclassifying process).
This is mostly an issue for New Mexico State as they are mandated to play New Mexico public D-II schools, which limist them to just two conference D-II category opponents (first transition year). UNM is supposed to as well, but they get around that somehow.
20.9.8 Basketball Scheduling.
20.9.8.1 Four-Game Limit. An institution may schedule and play not more than four basketball games, including any contest (e.g., scrimmage, exhibition), in an academic year against institutions that are not members of Division I. (Revised: 3/1/12)
Note, CBU starts in '18-19. That means APU can start in '19-20. To do so they must submit to reclassify by June 1, 2018, with the application post-marked no later than May 25th, 2018.
If APU wants to move up to the WAC their is no issue. Same would be true of UCSD if they passed another student Athletic Fee referendum that had more flexibility and allowed the school to join the WAC (and not just the Big West).
In theory the WAC could bring one D-II transition school a year without impacting NMSU scheduling too much.
'18-19 CBU
'19-20 APU
'20-21 UCSD
The path is there for Asuza Pacific to move up to the WAC and probably put Football in the Big Sky or initially as an Independent. The Big Sky schools are always looking for opponents, especially in talent rich California.