Unless there is a for sure bcs bid, I cant see it happening. Not saying nothing bad either. I know of the history with them, but I believe what most miners have said about how glad they were and the benefits they seem to be enjoying. The exposure of being in cusa have been so good for the programs and the fact they play on central time zone seems to me is working alot better for them. Exposure for them in the east coast zone help promotes their programs. Everything the miner fans, I have spoke too, has been nothing than positive.

"history" didn't keep the Miners in the only league they've known for the past 30+ years.

Whoever wrote that is blowing smoke up our gagooch.

johnnylightnin Wrote:Might not be a step up, but think about it like this. MWC is a more respected football conference (sorry guys, it's just the truth). Football makes the money.

I disagree. With the exception of Utah's amazing season the year before last, there's not much difference between the two. Well, except that CUSA has the better TV ratings, better TV contract, and more bowl tie-ins.

MinerThreat Wrote:

Sir Galahad Wrote:

Quote:UTEP would be an ideal member of the MWC. I'd hate to lose UTEP, but if the MWC ever looks to expand I expect them to come hard afer UTEP.

Maybe it's me, but I just don't see the logic why UTEP would want to go the MWC. Nothing against the MWC, but its not like its a step up for anyone in CUSA. Also, UTEP is still in Texas and the last time I checked, there were four teams in CUSA from Texas.

UTEP has history with the MWC schools, except for TCU and UNLV. UTEP does not belong in a conference with schools from West Virginia and Florida, it does not make geographical sense. Nor should it for Marshall and UCF to be in the same league with a school from West Texas.

Over 90% of miner fans prefer cusa over the mountain waste conference. They like the fact of being associated with fine educational institutions such as Rice, SMU, Houston. If we were to ever go back to the abyss otherwise known as the mountain waste conference we would go back to a conference that has a severe identity crisis. People can't tell it apart from the current wac. Finally, the mountain waste offers not a damn thing to utep currently. Not tv, not exposure, not recruting, not more money.

Airport KC Wrote:The question I have is could the MWC+UTEP have a shot at landing
the Sun Bowl.....

I can't see UTEP turning down the MWC if the Sun Bowl is part of the package.

What kind of messed up logic is this supposed to be?

If UTEP can't sway the Sun Bowl to follow them to C-USA, what makes you think the Sun Bowl would follow them to the MWC?

If the Sun Bowl wanted to be associated with the MWC, they'd do it with or without UTEP in the equation, seeing as that's how they're currently operating - WITHOUT UTEP.

These MWC fans are looney. You guys lacking oxygen or something?

FastCat Wrote:

Airport KC Wrote:The question I have is could the MWC+UTEP have a shot at landing
the Sun Bowl.....

I can't see UTEP turning down the MWC if the Sun Bowl is part of the package.

What kind of messed up logic is this supposed to be?

If UTEP can't sway the Sun Bowl to follow them to C-USA, what makes you think the Sun Bowl would follow them to the MWC?

If the Sun Bowl wanted to be associated with the MWC, they'd do it with or without UTEP in the equation, seeing as that's how they're currently operating - WITHOUT UTEP.

These MWC fans are looney. You guys lacking oxygen or something?

The MWC has computer ratings on the par with the Big East....so the thinking is the MWC could steal the Sun Bowl from the Big E with UTEP in the fold........

Now CUSA is as strong as the MAC.....I mean seriously look at the Sagarins.

Airport KC Wrote:

FastCat Wrote:

Airport KC Wrote:The question I have is could the MWC+UTEP have a shot at landing
the Sun Bowl.....

I can't see UTEP turning down the MWC if the Sun Bowl is part of the package.

What kind of messed up logic is this supposed to be?

If UTEP can't sway the Sun Bowl to follow them to C-USA, what makes you think the Sun Bowl would follow them to the MWC?

If the Sun Bowl wanted to be associated with the MWC, they'd do it with or without UTEP in the equation, seeing as that's how they're currently operating - WITHOUT UTEP.

These MWC fans are looney. You guys lacking oxygen or something?

The MWC has computer ratings on the par with the Big East....so the thinking is the MWC could steal the Sun Bowl from the Big E with UTEP in the fold........

Now CUSA is as strong as the MAC.....I mean seriously look at the Sagarins.

CBS is the calling the shots in that bowl arrangement and trust me, they don't give a damn about the MWC or Jeff Sagarins computer ratings. The only ratings that concern them are Neilson's and those are best delivered by the Big East, Big 12, and Pac-10.

Airport KC Wrote:

FastCat Wrote:[quote="Airport KC"]
The question I have is could the MWC+UTEP have a shot at landing
the Sun Bowl.....

I can't see UTEP turning down the MWC if the Sun Bowl is part of the package.

What kind of messed up logic is this supposed to be?

If UTEP can't sway the Sun Bowl to follow them to C-USA, what makes you think the Sun Bowl would follow them to the MWC?

If the Sun Bowl wanted to be associated with the MWC, they'd do it with or without UTEP in the equation, seeing as that's how they're currently operating - WITHOUT UTEP.

These MWC fans are looney. You guys lacking oxygen or something?

The MWC has computer ratings on the par with the Big East....so the thinking is the MWC could steal the Sun Bowl from the Big E with UTEP in the fold........

Now CUSA is as strong as the MAC.....I mean seriously look at the Sagarins.[/quoteWhat kind of crack are you smoking? The mountain waste bowl games have been the lowest of any conference. Yeah right, the sun bowl is going to pay 1.75-2.0 million dollars for a mountain waste team to be matched with a big12 team, if all of your current bowls pay the minimum. lmfao You goats sure are delusional.

IF Memphis bolts to BE, then UTEP would probably see that MWC would be stronger. CUSA needs to hope that BE picks Temple, ECU and then stays put. That would open up 1 spot to add Western Kentucky, which would help hoops and get a team closer to Marshall.

Back a couple of years ago when all the instability hit I was one in El Paso that spoke up about how the Sun Bowl should support/help UTEP to get into a more stable league. We passed out flyers calling for a boycott of the Sun Bowl, went on radio shows and had a newspaper article about the situtation. And for our efforts the Sun Bowl had one of its largest crowds. What it came down to is just what someone posted earlier that CBS is calling the shots for the Sun Bowl and there is now way they would ever give up the deal they have now with the Big 12/BE and Notre Dame and the PAC 10. The Sun Bowl is a prize that would only be used to get UTEP in the Big 12 or PAC 10 and that just isn't going to happen. I loved this year in CUSA as the vast majority of UTEP fans have and we aren't going any where soon.

UTEP isn't going anywhere, if the MWC is planning on expanding..they should look into Fresno St, Boise St, and Nevada/Hawaii..

I only expect C-USA to get better in every sport..so I'm very happy and excited about the future of C-USA.

As for the Sun Bowl becoming a MWC bowl lmfao ...sorry Junky, I know you talk about it all the time on the MWC board...but it is never going to happen. ;-)

Airport KC Wrote:

FastCat Wrote:

Airport KC Wrote:The question I have is could the MWC+UTEP have a shot at landing
the Sun Bowl.....

I can't see UTEP turning down the MWC if the Sun Bowl is part of the package.

What kind of messed up logic is this supposed to be?

If UTEP can't sway the Sun Bowl to follow them to C-USA, what makes you think the Sun Bowl would follow them to the MWC?

If the Sun Bowl wanted to be associated with the MWC, they'd do it with or without UTEP in the equation, seeing as that's how they're currently operating - WITHOUT UTEP.

These MWC fans are looney. You guys lacking oxygen or something?

The MWC has computer ratings on the par with the Big East....so the thinking is the MWC could steal the Sun Bowl from the Big E with UTEP in the fold........

Now CUSA is as strong as the MAC.....I mean seriously look at the Sagarins.

Ummm, I don't think so. And the computer ratings have MWC far behind the Big East and every other BCS conference. In fact, if you look at the Sagarin and computer ratings the MWC is closer to the MAC then they are the Big East. In fact, the MAC and C-USA are more then equal of MWC. The MWC sure have big heads after one good season.

CatsClaw Wrote:

Airport KC Wrote:

FastCat Wrote:

Airport KC Wrote:The question I have is could the MWC+UTEP have a shot at landing
the Sun Bowl.....

I can't see UTEP turning down the MWC if the Sun Bowl is part of the package.

What kind of messed up logic is this supposed to be?

If UTEP can't sway the Sun Bowl to follow them to C-USA, what makes you think the Sun Bowl would follow them to the MWC?

If the Sun Bowl wanted to be associated with the MWC, they'd do it with or without UTEP in the equation, seeing as that's how they're currently operating - WITHOUT UTEP.

These MWC fans are looney. You guys lacking oxygen or something?

The MWC has computer ratings on the par with the Big East....so the thinking is the MWC could steal the Sun Bowl from the Big E with UTEP in the fold........

Now CUSA is as strong as the MAC.....I mean seriously look at the Sagarins.

Ummm, I don't think so. And the computer ratings have MWC far behind the Big East and every other BCS conference. In fact, if you look at the Sagarin and computer ratings the MWC is closer to the MAC then they are the Big East. In fact, the MAC and C-USA are more then equal of MWC. The MWC sure have big heads after one good season.

Maybe you should actually look at the rankings you speak of. The BCS computer ratings that give conference ratings all show a bigger gap on either side of the BE and MWC than between the two last year:

http://www.colleyrankings.com/curconf.html
http://www.andersonsports.com/football/ACF_frnk.html
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbc05.htm

There is a definite gap between the BE and MWC, but the gaps on either side of the conferences are bigger, at least according to Sagarin, Colley and Anderson/Hester. The MAC and CUSA alternate the #8 spot depending on the computer ranking for last year.

Obviously if the MWC were to expand with Fresno, Boise, UTEP, that would make the gap between the BE and the MWC even smaller.

In terms of the original question in the thread, the MWC if it expands will most definitely look first to the WAC, but UTEP would obviously have to seriously consider a 12 team MWC with Fresno, Boise and UTEP. That conference would have a lot of momentum as a conference on the football field. This year that would mean 6 top 41 preseason teams in teh Sporting News preseason rankings, for example.

CatsClaw Wrote:

SPECoog518 Wrote:Football is debatable... A sub .500 CUSA team went undefeated in their league last year. Argue that.

Didn't an 0-11 MAC team win C-USA last year?

Why you over here throwing darts? Cause your FB team sucks and always will? I question whether your hoops team will ever be worth a damn again.

UCF didn't win C-USA - Tulsa did. And they were the best team in the league, in my opinion, hands down. They would have handed UC their butts on a platter.

Frog in the Kitchen Sink Wrote:

CatsClaw Wrote:

Airport KC Wrote:

FastCat Wrote:

Airport KC Wrote:The question I have is could the MWC+UTEP have a shot at landing
the Sun Bowl.....

I can't see UTEP turning down the MWC if the Sun Bowl is part of the package.

What kind of messed up logic is this supposed to be?

If UTEP can't sway the Sun Bowl to follow them to C-USA, what makes you think the Sun Bowl would follow them to the MWC?

If the Sun Bowl wanted to be associated with the MWC, they'd do it with or without UTEP in the equation, seeing as that's how they're currently operating - WITHOUT UTEP.

These MWC fans are looney. You guys lacking oxygen or something?

The MWC has computer ratings on the par with the Big East....so the thinking is the MWC could steal the Sun Bowl from the Big E with UTEP in the fold........

Now CUSA is as strong as the MAC.....I mean seriously look at the Sagarins.

Ummm, I don't think so. And the computer ratings have MWC far behind the Big East and every other BCS conference. In fact, if you look at the Sagarin and computer ratings the MWC is closer to the MAC then they are the Big East. In fact, the MAC and C-USA are more then equal of MWC. The MWC sure have big heads after one good season.

Maybe you should actually look at the rankings you speak of. The BCS computer ratings that give conference ratings all show a bigger gap on either side of the BE and MWC than between the two last year:

http://www.colleyrankings.com/curconf.html
http://www.andersonsports.com/football/ACF_frnk.html
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbc05.htm

There is a definite gap between the BE and MWC, but the gaps on either side of the conferences are bigger, at least according to Sagarin, Colley and Anderson/Hester. The MAC and CUSA alternate the #8 spot depending on the computer ranking for last year.

Obviously if the MWC were to expand with Fresno, Boise, UTEP, that would make the gap between the BE and the MWC even smaller.

In terms of the original question in the thread, the MWC if it expands will most definitely look first to the WAC, but UTEP would obviously have to seriously consider a 12 team MWC with Fresno, Boise and UTEP. That conference would have a lot of momentum as a conference on the football field. This year that would mean 6 top 41 preseason teams in teh Sporting News preseason rankings, for example.

1) Do you really want to get into the flaws in the computer rankings?

2) Do you really want to get into why basing your "analysis" on one year is extremely flawed?

3) Do you really want to get into why stating "Conference A is stronger than Conference B" is a flawed argument?

Frog, nobody is leaving. Is there some mind alternaturing plant in texas that the rest of us know nothing about? Personally, I am glad you left because we got a better program in your place. Thank you for leaving!(just in case I didnt say it before) However, we understand that you guys will be looking at our western borders, not that we are worried about it, there are many fine programs in our western division but none are interested. They see the difference, and want no part of you. The benefits of cusa is far better than the goat conf. In the grand scheme of things, we gained so much more with Utep than we ever had with you. Their programs are so far ahead of you or anything that the goat conf. has to offer. They have great fan support for all their sports than you, a better grade of fans also, and better facilities also. Heck, they had alot better first year than you did here. All of Utep programs did great in their first year and will only improve with time.

Sophandros Wrote:1) Do you really want to get into the flaws in the computer rankings?

2) Do you really want to get into why basing your "analysis" on one year is extremely flawed?

3) Do you really want to get into why stating "Conference A is stronger than Conference B" is a flawed argument?

Sure lets get it on, I'm bored ;-)

Naw good points, but that's what makes message boards fun. If we can't argue who is a better team or a better conference, what fun would that be? MWC is better than the BE, CUSA is better than the MWC, MAC better than the CUSA..... who cares if the arguments are flawed as long as we can put off doing work!

OUBOBCATJOHN Wrote:IF Memphis bolts to BE, then UTEP would probably see that MWC would be stronger. CUSA needs to hope that BE picks Temple, ECU and then stays put. That would open up 1 spot to add Western Kentucky, which would help hoops and get a team closer to Marshall.

I'm trying to figure out if Temple, ECU and/or Memphis should be offended or thanking you for those comments. lmfao

usmjournalism Wrote:Fresno State and Nevada would make the best additions to the MWC. Fresno State helps out in football and baseball. Nevada is decent in football and good in basketball. Helps the MWC eliminate the WAC as a potential challenge for Non BCS supremecy and starts to make the MWC a conference capable of competing with the PAC 10. Boise State football is too much of an unknown element with Dan Hawkins and the Broncos really don't have anything else to offer the MWC.

Hawkins is now the coach at Colorado I believe.

I love when a term like "the MWC should take this" is thrown about. Like the MWC can just go take whoever they want.

What in the hell is so attractive about the MWC as a whole? Yes it does make complete sense for UTEP to be in the MWC or the WAC for that matter. But you tell me that some genius is just realizing that UTEP has great fan support and marketing capabilities? Bano realized this which is the reason why UTEP is in CUSA. The MWC had an opportunity to get UTEP and decided not to go that route.

But I'll be the first to say goodluck to UTEP if they did leave CUSA. In hindsight, if geography is a reason why to leave CUSA then maybe the Miners should go back to the WAC. It could be argue with a UTEP back in the WAC along with Nevada, Frenso, Hawaii and Boise would be more football competitive than the MWC. Basketball with the addition of Utah St. would definitely be better than the MWC. They would get a better TV deal and maybe even another bowl to add to their league.

Until the MWC proves their TV deal with CSTV will stand the test of time and they can get more bowl games, the MWC you see now will still be same for quite sometime.

CatsClaw Wrote:

SPECoog518 Wrote:Football is debatable... A sub .500 CUSA team went undefeated in their league last year. Argue that.

Didn't an 0-11 MAC team win C-USA last year?

No a$$. Didn't Pitt lose to a 4-7 MAC team last year? And with a tremendous 7-3 victory over Western Carolina last year I would be less worried about 0-11 team from two years and not in your conference and a bit more concern about UC Football.