MWC considering expansion......<a href='http://www.mwcboard.com/www/forums/index.php?showtopic=302' target='_blank'>MWC Commish says expansion possible in a few years</a>

With all of the Big East expansion rumors that have floated around, I seem to remember one on the rumors revolving around the Big East adding 2 schools. I think the rumor came from a poster on a Louisville board.

TexanMark Wrote:MWC considering expansion......<a href='http://www.mwcboard.com/www/forums/index.php?showtopic=302' target='_blank'>MWC Commish says expansion possible in a few years</a>

If MWC wants to look good in front of the BCS, they should add 3 more schools and go to 12. I think adding Boise, Fresno and Hawaii would do the trick. That would be a pretty decent lineup.

As for the BE, there just aren't many programs that have good FB teams like Fresno and Boise left as candidates from expansion. If ECU, UCF and Memphis improve their FB schools in a big way, things might change.

Unfortunately, if the MWC adds Fresno, Boise, and someone else, they would be a better FB conference then anything the BE could muster assuming Penn State or ND don't switch over, which won't happen.

Let's hope this doesn;'t occur!

Quote:SF Husky Posted on May 2 2005, 03:01 PM
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Quote: (TexanMark @ May 2 2005, 02:32 PM)
MWC considering expansion......MWC Commish says expansion possible in a few years&nbsp;

If MWC wants to look good in front of the BCS, they should add 3 more schools and go to 12. I think adding Boise, Fresno and Hawaii would do the trick. That would be a pretty decent lineup.

Agreed. And Boise and Fresno should definitely be two of the three schools. I suspect either UTEP or Houston would be the other. That would give the MW some decent, if not the greatest, travel partners:

Utah-BYU
Colorado State-Air Force
Fresno State-San Diego State
Boise State-Wyoming
UNLV-New Mexico
TCU-UTEP/Houston

Houston gives them the potential larger market share (#11) to add to #7 Dallas-Ft. Worth, #18 Denver, #26 San Diego, #36 Salt Lake City, and #51 Las Vegas, but it doesn't give them enough of a boost in overall conference strength that including UTEP's #37 finish last year (with Boise's #9 and Fresno's #33) would do. Taking UTEP, Boise, and Fresno gets the MW up to an overall BCS average of 53.8. And also gives them two Top 10 finishers. Of course those two Top 10 finishes are also their only Top 25 teams (out of 12, which is only 16.6%), but I bet they could make a case for an auto-berth with that 12 team configuration.

I suspect that is why Weiberg said the new criteria could result in anywhere from 5-7 auto-berth conferences. The 5 super-conferences will definitely meet the criteria, and both the BE and MW have the ability to attain it. The BE as currently constituted and the MW with expansion including Boise and Fresno.

Quote: As for the BE, there just aren't many programs that have good FB teams like Fresno and Boise left as candidates from expansion. If ECU, UCF and Memphis improve their FB schools in a big way, things might change.

Actually, Memphis and their #34 ranking would actually improve the 2004 numbers of the Big East. They also add the #44 market, have great basketball and bring with them a nice Bowl tie-in.

Still there is resistence to taking the Tigers that I don't quite understand. ECU's or UCF's numbers would kill us, but I'm sure the #20 Orlando-Daytona market is appealing for some. That plus a possible travel partner for USF, seems to make them a front-runner for #9.

In any case, all of the potential new members need to aim for doing well in 2006 and 2007 because I believe those years will determine who gets a BABE invite or not for 2010. And if none of them do well, expect a renewal of the 16-team confederation for another 5 years after 2010.

Cheers,
Neil

Of course, it isn't just market size...it's also fan support and travel to bowls. That would add ECU and Marshall to the mix. Market size helps Memphis, UCF, and Temple. I think we are down to those five schools, barring an upgrade from a good 1AA. The others (Army, Navy etc.) just aren't interested.

SF Husky Wrote:

TexanMark Wrote:MWC considering expansion......<a href='http://www.mwcboard.com/www/forums/index.php?showtopic=302' target='_blank'>MWC Commish says expansion possible in a few years</a>

If MWC wants to look good in front of the BCS, they should add 3 more schools and go to 12. I think adding Boise, Fresno and Hawaii would do the trick. That would be a pretty decent lineup.

As for the BE, there just aren't many programs that have good FB teams like Fresno and Boise left as candidates from expansion. If ECU, UCF and Memphis improve their FB schools in a big way, things might change.

I think any one or 2 of these programs could come close: Bowling Green, Toledo, Miami OH. At least one of these teams are always in the top 25. Many times a couple of them are ranked. They are always very competitive.

gimpdog12 Wrote:Unfortunately, if the MWC adds Fresno, Boise, and someone else, they would be a better FB conference then anything the BE could muster assuming Penn State or ND don't switch over, which won't happen.

Let's hope this doesn;'t occur!

Don't be so sure. Schools like UConn, South Florida and Cincinnati could rise up and be Top 25 caliber programs with a few years of BCS recruiting.

cuseroc Wrote:

SF Husky Wrote:

TexanMark Wrote:MWC considering expansion......<a href='http://www.mwcboard.com/www/forums/index.php?showtopic=302' target='_blank'>MWC Commish says expansion possible in a few years</a>

If MWC wants to look good in front of the BCS, they should add 3 more schools and go to 12. I think adding Boise, Fresno and Hawaii would do the trick. That would be a pretty decent lineup.

As for the BE, there just aren't many programs that have good FB teams like Fresno and Boise left as candidates from expansion. If ECU, UCF and Memphis improve their FB schools in a big way, things might change.

I think any one or 2 of these programs could come close: Bowling Green, Toledo, Miami OH. At least one of these teams are always in the top 25. Many times a couple of them are ranked. They are always very competitive.

I honestly don't see us ever adding a MAC school. The best program in the MAC as a total package would probably be Northern Illinois, and they don't make sense geographically.

The problem w/ any MAC school is that it will be considered mid-major regardless of a jump to the BE. The MAC has a mid-major perception - when you think mid-major in football, you think the MAC - and I don't think any of its member institutions would be able to escape that label. It would hurt the BE in perception far more than it would ever help us.

Cat's_Claw Wrote:

gimpdog12 Wrote:Unfortunately, if the MWC adds Fresno, Boise, and someone else, they would be a better FB conference then anything the BE could muster assuming Penn State or ND don't switch over, which won't happen.

Let's hope this doesn;'t occur!

Don't be so sure. Schools like UConn, South Florida and Cincinnati could rise up and be Top 25 caliber programs with a few years of BCS recruiting.

I agree, even with Boise and/or Fresno, the MWC simply does not match up w/ the BE.

omnicarrier Wrote:Agreed. And Boise and Fresno should definitely be two of the three schools. I suspect either UTEP or Houston would be the other. That would give the MW some decent, if not the greatest, travel partners:

Utah-BYU
Colorado State-Air Force
Fresno State-San Diego State
Boise State-Wyoming
UNLV-New Mexico
TCU-UTEP/Houston

Houston's not exactly west of the mountain now, is it? But yeah, that 12 team line-up with Boise, Fresno, and UTEP seems to make the most sense. I wonder if there were any clause for the new CUSA members when they sign on prohibiting them from leaving for another conference in a said period of time?

Quote:I agree, even with Boise and/or Fresno, the MWC simply does not match up w/ the BE.

-- I don't know....a league of :

Utah-BYU
Colorado State-Air Force
Fresno State-San Diego State
Boise State-Wyoming
UNLV-New Mexico
TCU-UTEP/Houston

... as some good talent and is deeper in terms of quality than we are....the BE would need a couple more teams to develop and make another solid expansion choice or two to compete


Jackson

We would have to add Memphis, ECU, Southern Miss and Central Florida.

I don't know if our BCS ranking could handle the additons of ECU and UCF at the same time....I know both programs can succeed given certain circumstances but let's face facts....both haven't been too good recently and would certainly bring down our confernce ranking....especially if the MWC is adding quality like Fresno and Boist St...I think we would be in a tough spot if the MWC pulled this off


Jackson

Quote:Jackson1011 Posted on May 2 2005, 11:12 PM
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I don't know if our BCS ranking could handle the additons of ECU and UCF at the same time....I know both programs can succeed given certain circumstances but let's face facts....both haven't been too good recently and would certainly bring down our confernce ranking....especially if the MWC is adding quality like Fresno and Boist St...I think we would be in a tough spot if the MWC pulled this off

Agreed. Our overall BCS average for 2004 would plummet from an already inflated 48.25 to 58.58 by adding Memphis, So. Miss., ECU, and UCF.

In the meantime, if MW were to add Fresno, Boise, and UTEP theirs goes up to 53.8 from a current adjusted (for TCU) 63.0.

Definitely not a good trade-off.

Memphis alone brings us up to an even more inflated 46.6 - but it would help our overall 4-yr average with an expected decline in that number once we no longer have Temple to beat up on (and have the luxury of not counting Temple's ranking). That's quite a gift from the BCS.

Cheers,
Neil

If the MWC adds Fresno, Boise and Utep...then perhaps the BE would have to look at schools not normially mentioned when it comes to expansion....Assuming ECU and UCF do not improve....I think Memphis and Southern Miss would be locks but then names like Marshall, Bowling Green and Miami of OH would have to get a look too...I know bball would suffer if those candiates (other then Memphis) were choosen but it seems the all important conference football ranking is going to be our #1 priority



Jackson

i don't think expansion is the answer, the big east needs to establish the teams it already has and then expand to 9 if the split occurs. if we win our out of conference games, win our bowls, gain some recognition, and average 2-3 teams in the top 25 our bid will be safe. don't get me wrong boise state and fresno state are good and i've respect what they've done but their records are inflated being from the wac. mountain west may get the seventh spot if they get those two teams but i doubt they take the big east's spot.

Quote:USFMike Posted on May 2 2005, 11:59 PM
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i don't think expansion is the answer, the big east needs to establish the teams it already has and then expand to 9 if the split occurs. if we win our out of conference games, win our bowls, gain some recognition, and average 2-3 teams in the top 25 our bid will be safe. don't get me wrong boise state and fresno state are good and i've respect what they've done but their records are inflated being from the wac. mountain west may get the seventh spot if they get those two teams but i doubt they take the big east's spot.&nbsp;

Agree 1000 %.

Cheers,
Neil

nm

USFMike Wrote:i don't think expansion is the answer, the big east needs to establish the teams it already has and then expand to 9 if the split occurs. if we win our out of conference games, win our bowls, gain some recognition, and average 2-3 teams in the top 25 our bid will be safe. don't get me wrong boise state and fresno state are good and i've respect what they've done but their records are inflated being from the wac. mountain west may get the seventh spot if they get those two teams but i doubt they take the big east's spot.

Ignore the man behind the curtain. ..... no footbal is played west of the mississippi..... nothingi s going on out here at all.... steady as she goes.