(05-04-2018 07:08 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(04-28-2018 09:47 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I had a thought regarding the fallout from the WAC/MWC split. As we know, the WAC was left with 8 schools. They added 2, Nevada and Boise St, and replaced TCU with LA Tech when they bailed for C-USA.

What if they had just gone ahead and absorbed all of Big West football instead of just 2 members?

WEST: Hawaii, San Jose St, Fresno St, Nevada, Utah St, Idaho, Boise St
EAST: New Mexico St, UTEP, Rice, SMU, UNT, Tulsa, LA Tech

The geography is good and would be sustainable until 2005 when they lost 4 to C-USA when they could either hold at 10 or bring in SBC teams like Arkansas St and ULL to rebuild.

Speaking of the SBC, if NMSU and UNT were to join the WAC in 2000 or 2001 then SBC football gets sets back about 5 years.

Interesting! This may actually be one of those "self-correcting" alternate timelines that end up basically the same as ours. As you say, Sun Belt football might be delayed, but WAC football is still pretty much doomed once the MWC forms and the drive to 12 for a CCG ensues.

I don't see it winding up with the same conclusion as our timeline at all. I think the WAC loses 4 of its 14 members in 2005. ULL and Ark St would still not have SBC football up and going yet and in 2005 their options are ULM, Troy, MTSU, FAU, and FIU. That's a small and weak league so I think that pair pushes hard to join the WAC with MTSU and Troy trying as well. The first two get in while the last two do not.

The WAC still gets picked apart but with a strong Central Time Zone presence at the expense of a SBC that might not ever form they survive albeit they look a lot like the current SBC only with Idaho and NMSU entrenches as full members.