(02-14-2018 09:14 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I'd think it would be in the Big Sky's interest to get about 14 FCS scholarship programs playing in the western states so that they could have two autobids. The WAC could be the 2nd league and take on Northern Arizona, Southern Utah, and Sacramento St as full members and Cal Poly and UC Davis as affiliates. San Diego (w/ schollies) could be another affiliate and Azusa Pacific the last full member.

I understand what you're getting at, but it'll be a cold day in Hell before the Big Sky actively helps anybody build a football conference, let alone the WAC.

If the WAC is trying to rehab its image with a football conference, I don't think adding schools like Azusa Pacific is the way to go. Go after the disaffected members of the Southland like SHSU and SFA who want to escape the Houston Baptists and Incarnate Words of the world and create an FCS conference that can be competitive out of the gate. Poach Cal Poly and UC Davis from the Big Sky if they're willing to jump. Poach a couple of other schools in the Texas sphere that are disaffected by recent adds to the Southland like SELA and Central Arkansas, who then keep their Texas recruiting ties while joining a better conference. Maybe that kick-starts UTRGV's desire to field football. Suddenly you have a respectable 7-team football conference without adding any D2 schools. If Sac State thinks it could benefit from a move to another league, all the better.

Of course, there are a ton of moving parts there, and it's an extreme long shot. But if the WAC wants to be taken seriously, building a startup football conference around Azusa Pacific and Tarleton State won't get it done.