(03-08-2018 01:03 AM)McKinney Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 12:23 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  It's why I say Rice needs to make a choice. Fully embrace their academic profile and join some peers or enhance their overall profile with competent D-I athletics.

You mean like the University Athletic Association?

Or as an FCS non-scholarship or even dropping sports. Or maybe dream up a Southern Ivy conference.

(03-08-2018 05:02 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 11:37 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 11:04 PM)michael.stevens.3110 Wrote:  Rice U would be a great addition to the MW ...They have the potential to be the next TCU ... excellent academics .. excellent Baseball ..located in the Hotbed of a high School Football recruiting .. ALL. MW teams would LOVE to play at least once in a while in Texas ...


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Yeah - UNLV, SDSU, and UNM are all dying to play in front of less than 10k in humid Houston for football and less than 1k in basketball!!!!!

New Mexico would, you’re damn right. The other Mountain Division programs as well. Why do people ignore printed facts? The MWC is attracted to playing in Texas.

Then you don't grab Rice, you grab UTSA or Texas State. Even UNT may work if you just wanna do it for recruiting.

(03-08-2018 03:24 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 01:51 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 01:42 AM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 01:20 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  Even given western distances, NMSU is not all that more distant from the MVC core than BYU. BYU is not exactly particularly close to any WCC team as it is. The only other options would be the WAC, a major step down even farther than the WCC and the Big Sky. The good thing about the Big Sky is it would be a regular auto-bid each season should they ever choose that.

In basketball, the Big Sky as a conference has never had a higher RPI than the WAC. I just don’t see how the WAC is a step down from the Big Sky. This season, the WCC is #13 in conference RPI ranking and the WAC is #14. The WAC is better than you think.

Or that any conference rated below #10 in the RPI is essentially garbage.

Yeah, after the top 2 or 3 of most 1-bid leagues, the teams are more or less interchangeable. Who in the WAC after the top 2 are inherently better than the Big Sky? I don't mean that in a side-by-side comparison way either. Who long term would you take from the WAC would you take over anyone in the Big Sky outside NMSU? I wouldn't even put much stock in Utah Valley.

This is why I hate the term low major.

Power (P7)
High Mid Major (a few more, G5 because of budgets)
Mid Major (everyone else)

Those are more the 3 levels. The whole 1-10, 11-20, 21-30 subdivision doesn't have a lot of weight when universities from the bottom group constantly move to the second one.

(03-08-2018 05:52 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 05:02 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 11:37 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 11:04 PM)michael.stevens.3110 Wrote:  Rice U would be a great addition to the MW ...They have the potential to be the next TCU ... excellent academics .. excellent Baseball ..located in the Hotbed of a high School Football recruiting .. ALL. MW teams would LOVE to play at least once in a while in Texas ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yeah - UNLV, SDSU, and UNM are all dying to play in front of less than 10k in humid Houston for football and less than 1k in basketball!!!!!

New Mexico would, you’re damn right. The other Mountain Division programs as well. Why do people ignore printed facts? The MWC is attracted to playing in Texas.

Then you don't grab Rice, you grab UTSA or Texas State. Even UNT may work if you just wanna do it for recruiting.

Except that academics and silly things like image matter to school presidents. Rice improves the academic standing of the conference and I'm sure Air Force is all-aboard in inviting them. Wyoming, Colorado State, and San Diego State are all respectable and would benefit from the association.

UTSA, Texas State, and UNT were not even on the Big XII's extended list, much less the finalists. I think that's the best measurement in the totem pole that is expansion.

(03-08-2018 01:03 AM)McKinney Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 12:23 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  It's why I say Rice needs to make a choice. Fully embrace their academic profile and join some peers or enhance their overall profile with competent D-I athletics.

You mean like the University Athletic Association?

Go Owls! Beat Maroons!

WCC ratings down. Guess who played? BYU and their "tremendous" following

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2018/03/...ege-hoops/

A can’t think of a worst move for the MW than to pick up the Texas schools whose athletics are completely upside down financially ... Rice is far and away the best addition ... A TOP TWENTY ACADEMIC INSTITUTION .. Excellent location .. excellent facilities .. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECRUITING .... GREAT BASEBALL ..Gives the MW a lot of press in BIG Texas markets ...


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(03-08-2018 08:41 AM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 01:03 AM)McKinney Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 12:23 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  It's why I say Rice needs to make a choice. Fully embrace their academic profile and join some peers or enhance their overall profile with competent D-I athletics.

You mean like the University Athletic Association?

Go Owls! Beat Maroons!

Truthfully, if we're not in FBS then UAA is the next logical stop. There are no FCS peers here and the area does not support D2.

(03-08-2018 04:59 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 12:27 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  They have one of the smallest enrollments in FBS and play in a large pro sports dominated city. Nobody cares about Rice.

Yet they were one of the confirmed finalists for Big XII expansion.

One of 10, along with Tulane. Being a B12 expansion finalist is like being a finalist for Sears headquarters. Nothing happened so what was the point? Finalist for something that didnt happen. Wow!

(03-08-2018 05:02 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 11:37 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 11:04 PM)michael.stevens.3110 Wrote:  Rice U would be a great addition to the MW ...They have the potential to be the next TCU ... excellent academics .. excellent Baseball ..located in the Hotbed of a high School Football recruiting .. ALL. MW teams would LOVE to play at least once in a while in Texas ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yeah - UNLV, SDSU, and UNM are all dying to play in front of less than 10k in humid Houston for football and less than 1k in basketball!!!!!

New Mexico would, you’re damn right. The other Mountain Division programs as well. Why do people ignore printed facts? The MWC is attracted to playing in Texas.

The OP said that all the MWC teams would love to play in Texas. I'm sure the players and fans would really love playing in front of empty seats.

No doubt the MWC is attracted to Texas, but to say that any team is going to love playing at Rice is ridiculous. Only coaches, who may get a few recruits, care about it.

(03-08-2018 08:45 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  WCC ratings down. Guess who played? BYU and their "tremendous" following

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2018/03/...ege-hoops/

the lowest snce 2011? yep...that big BYU basketball following is non-existent.

(03-08-2018 08:45 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  WCC ratings down. Guess who played? BYU and their "tremendous" following

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2018/03/...ege-hoops/

Interesting, .6 rating down 38% from last years final of Gonzaga vs St Mary’s.
The MVC final of Loyola Chicago vs Illinois St got a 1.2.
So almost a million more people watched the Missouri Valley final than the WCC final this year. And BYU is the reason. Gonzaga will want out of that league now without BYU.

(03-08-2018 09:29 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 05:02 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 11:37 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(03-07-2018 11:04 PM)michael.stevens.3110 Wrote:  Rice U would be a great addition to the MW ...They have the potential to be the next TCU ... excellent academics .. excellent Baseball ..located in the Hotbed of a high School Football recruiting .. ALL. MW teams would LOVE to play at least once in a while in Texas ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yeah - UNLV, SDSU, and UNM are all dying to play in front of less than 10k in humid Houston for football and less than 1k in basketball!!!!!

New Mexico would, you’re damn right. The other Mountain Division programs as well. Why do people ignore printed facts? The MWC is attracted to playing in Texas.

The OP said that all the MWC teams would love to play in Texas. I'm sure the players and fans would really love playing in front of empty seats.

No doubt the MWC is attracted to Texas, but to say that any team is going to love playing at Rice is ridiculous. Only coaches, who may get a few recruits, care about it.

Rice would give you great academics, Texas exposure for what its worth, and great baseball.

BYU is the trophy for a MWC return.

New Mexico State is crying for conference inclusion, gives New Mexico and in state bus ride rival, and adds a great basketball program to the conference like Gonzaga.

UTEP would love to join the MWC.

With the rumors going on with Gonzaga to balance Hawaii for FB only and adding a top BB program to get to 12 and 12 for FB and BB, the MWC can stop right there with that addition and improve itself or it can add two all sports schools along with Gonzaga to get to 14 and 14 for FB an the Olympic sports if the economics of the other 2 additions works out. Naturally BYU would be the cherry on top but I doubt they are making any moves until the B-12's GOR's runs out and the potential realignment rumors start again. I'd grab Gonzaga now and bait and wait on BYU for the time being. If the MWC doesn't eventually reel BYU back into the fold the other three schools will still be there with opened arms down the realignment road to get to 14 and 14 for FB and the Olympic Sports if the economics and money indicators dictate that it should do so. Right now the MWC is only battling the AAC for the number 6 and 7 spot in the college all sports pecking order with the BE floating in there for BB, so mimicking the AAC model for now will work just fine for them at this point while trolling for BYU with a baited hook for the future prize winning catch if it materializes. If the MWC loses on BYU they can swing for two of the other three mentioned above it feels it is necessary to do so.

^^^this. Gonzaga will come alone. The MWC will bring in BYU when it needs them. They do not need BYU, nor will they give them unnecessary concessions.

(03-08-2018 09:25 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 04:59 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 12:27 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  They have one of the smallest enrollments in FBS and play in a large pro sports dominated city. Nobody cares about Rice.

Yet they were one of the confirmed finalists for Big XII expansion.

One of 10, along with Tulane. Being a B12 expansion finalist is like being a finalist for Sears headquarters. Nothing happened so what was the point? Finalist for something that didnt happen. Wow!

The point is it’s an actual measuring stick to reference. Couple that with the fact that Rice and UTEP were at the forefront of MWC expansion talk two years ago and it’s obvious they are one of programs being discussed. Personally, I believe the MWC will go with the conservative approach and invite Gonzaga alone, but if Texas schools are invited, Rice will be one of them.

BTW, there were 11 finalists:
Cincinnati, UConn, Air Force, Colorado St., Rice, Tulane, Houston, SMU, BYU, UCF, and USF.

The biggest problem for NMSU is if they join CUSA or MWC then New Mexico or UTEP loses a slot on their non-conference slate across sports. Non-conference scheduling is always challenging out west right now New Mexico and UTEP know they can plug a non-conference date in volleyball or football with NMSU.

(03-08-2018 09:45 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 08:45 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  WCC ratings down. Guess who played? BYU and their "tremendous" following

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2018/03/...ege-hoops/

the lowest snce 2011? yep...that big BYU basketball following is non-existent.

Sour grapes. BYU/Gonzaga 2015 drew just as well SMC/Gonzaga in 2017.

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2015/03/...r-ufc-fs1/

The constant is Gonzaga. They were pushing for a #1 tourney seed in both 2015 & 2017.

Gonzaga sounding pretty much like a done deal. They seem to have moved on to the question of "What will BYU do?" Thats a huge home run for the MW if they can get BYU back for all sports---and its a solid double or triple if they just land Zags and BYU for olympic's. Unless they are stupid, I dont see how the MW gets less than a solid double or triple out o this move. Pretty shrewd move by Thompson.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/spor...story.html

(03-08-2018 09:48 AM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(03-08-2018 08:45 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  WCC ratings down. Guess who played? BYU and their "tremendous" following

http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2018/03/...ege-hoops/

Interesting, .6 rating down 38% from last years final of Gonzaga vs St Mary’s.
The MVC final of Loyola Chicago vs Illinois St got a 1.2.
So almost a million more people watched the Missouri Valley final than the WCC final this year. And BYU is the reason. Gonzaga will want out of that league now without BYU.

Bear in mind the MVC final was on a Sunday on CBS at 2pm eastern. WCC final was on a Tuesday on ESPN at 9pm eastern.

Not saying BYU is the reason fewer people watched the WCC final, but ...

The Loyola/Illinois St MVC Final outdrew Kentucky/Florida and Cincinnati/Wichita (all 3 games on CBS this weekend) in the 18-49 demo. Also outdrew last year’s Wichita/Illinois St final. That’s pretty impressive for the MVC.