chargeradio Wrote:Texas-San Antonio has approved football and will play as a I-AA Independent before moving to I-A. Lamar has approved the addition of three women's sports recently and reportedly will announce the revival of its football program in the near future. Texas State has explored the idea of moving up to I-A as well.

If all three join the WAC, the conference could split into divisions:

Pacific - Hawaii, San Jose State, Fresno State, Nevada, Boise State, Idaho
Central - Utah State, New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, Texas-San Antonio, Lamar, Texas State

If Boise State does leave, perhaps North Texas finally joins the WAC, and Utah State could move to the Pacific Division.

eldermars Wrote:
North Texas would be a good addition to the WAC, but they were approached once before and said "No". They're waiting for that C-USA invite.

eldermars Wrote:
North Texas would be a good addition to the WAC, but they were approached once before and said "No". They're waiting for that C-USA invite.

chargeradio Wrote:Actually, if Boise State did leave, would North Texas be more willing to be part of this:

WAC Central - North Texas, UTSA, Lamar, Texas State, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State
WAC Pacific - Utah State, Idaho, Nevada, San Jose State, Fresno State, Hawaii

as opposed to this:

SBC West - North Texas, Arkansas State, UALR, UL-Monroe, UL-Lafayette, New Orleans, Denver
SBC East - Western Kentucky, MTSU, South Alabama, Troy, Florida Atlantic, Florida International

You'd only have at most three conference football games outside the Central Time Zone each year (one of which is New Mexico State), and only four conference basketball games outside the Central Time Zone (again, one of which is New Mexico State).

If the Sun Belt takes any of the new programs in Texas, though, I'd think UNT would stay put.

jediwarrior Wrote:True. ...and I think their decision alone has allowed the WAC to "restart" its migration back West. If the WAC is smart (...and that's in question), the WAC concentrates on "remaining" a "western" conference.

Krocker Krapp Wrote:

jediwarrior Wrote:True. ...and I think their decision alone has allowed the WAC to "restart" its migration back West. If the WAC is smart (...and that's in question), the WAC concentrates on "remaining" a "western" conference.

Exactly. I do not understand why so many WAC fans seem to be obsessed with returning to Texas. The WAC should have Sacramento State, followed by UC Davis, on speed dial in case any changes happen in the future. Concentrate on making California the epicenter of the WAC just as Texas is now, by and large, the epicenter of CUSA.

UTSA, by the way, has been very vocal about the fact that their target league is CUSA and their target date is 2014. They want to join UTEP and I actually think it would be a marketing plus for that league if they can actually pull it off. Of course they have a lot of work to do over the next seven years before they ever get to that point.

If there was a CUSA West Division of ... UTEP and UTSA, Houston and Rice, plus SMU and Tulsa ... that would be great for generating rivalries across all sports. Tulane would swing over to the CUSA East Division to turn up the heat in their rivalry with Southern Miss. The other four teams would be whoever the Big East does not pluck up.

As for Lamar, if they do indeed restart football, and Texas State ... I think they will remain in the Southland Conference for quite a few more years ... plus TAMU Corpus Christi and UT Arlington are looking at getting football programs going in that league too. But they would need to replace UTSA if they become successful in moving up.
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Krocker Krapp Wrote:If my feeling that the Big East will only expand by one school - if at all - in 2010 - and that school is Central Florida - then UTSA probably has a shot at CUSA if that league decides to pass on Louisiana Tech and North Texas again. Charlotte, even though they are a former CUSA member, could just end up with no FBS options. They better make sure that they have everything well planned out if they also decide to start a football program and try to fast track it to the FBS level.

Krocker Krapp Wrote:That is exactly why I want the Big East to take Central Florida as soon as possible rather than waiting too long. I do not want Florida Atlantic to be a viable option to Conference USA at that time.

For one thing, FAU is even further away from the rest of CUSA than UCF, that league is spread too widely. They do not need a team in Florida but should stick with the Texas and Mid-South regions.

If they were to end up with North Texas, for example, CUSA West would be very compact with five schools in Texas and one in Oklahoma. CUSA East would also be compact except Marshall and ECU.

That, in my opinion, would put them on more solid footing than trying to spread out too far just to chase elusive additional market share. The WAC will be better in the long haul with your current line-up.