(02-13-2012 10:18 PM)7 Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 10:15 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 10:12 PM)7 Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 10:11 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 09:59 PM)7 Wrote:  If they're really going to add 6 members, you have to think NIU is going to be somebody they consider.

After they add 1 more all sports team they are looking to add 2-5 all sport (non-football) schools. Rumor is that there are some good MBB schools in-discussions with the ultimate goal of enticing Temple to join in all sports.

They want to add 2-5 non football schools? Or 2-5 football only schools?

2-5 non-football schools (for upping the conferences basketball image)

Like who/where did you see this?

CUSA board...but before you dismiss it there are a few (2-3) guys on there that have been 100% dead on with leaked info before it was anywhere else and they are saying that one or more of the schools will be announced tomorrow at noon.

I think I would rather NIU stay in the MAC, but if they come hunting for Temple, Toledo, Ohio, WMU, or some combination that would cripple the MAC for football.

NIU has to make sure they don't end up on the outside looking in.

(02-13-2012 10:11 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 09:59 PM)7 Wrote:  If they're really going to add 6 members, you have to think NIU is going to be somebody they consider.

After they add 1 more all sports team they are looking to add 2-5 all sport (non-football) schools. Rumor is that there are some good MBB schools in-discussions with the ultimate goal of enticing Temple to join in all sports.

Ultmate goal is to entice Temple? Jees as if they think Temple is the almighty god on a throne that will be their crown jewel...they are competitve in basketball but football they are pretty average. They havn't even beaten a MAC team with a winning record nor won a MACC, am I right?

I dont get it.

(02-13-2012 10:26 PM)7 Wrote:  I think I would rather NIU stay in the MAC, but if they come hunting for Temple, Toledo, Ohio, WMU, or some combination that would cripple the MAC for football.

NIU has to make sure they don't end up on the outside looking in.

Agreed in that scenario. If we were invited with that particular crew, I would feel horrible for the teams that remain (for a period anyway). Still would like to avoid the super-mess though.

(02-13-2012 10:49 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 10:11 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 09:59 PM)7 Wrote:  If they're really going to add 6 members, you have to think NIU is going to be somebody they consider.

After they add 1 more all sports team they are looking to add 2-5 all sport (non-football) schools. Rumor is that there are some good MBB schools in-discussions with the ultimate goal of enticing Temple to join in all sports.

Ultmate goal is to entice Temple? Jees as if they think Temple is the almighty god on a throne that will be their crown jewel...they are competitve in basketball but football they are pretty average. They havn't even beaten a MAC team with a winning record nor won a MACC, am I right?

I dont get it.

Ultimate goal is to bring them in for all sports (aka basketball)

They are already interested in FB only.

Seems like we are not even a target anyways...

@thebeatofsports
Buzz on CUSA/MWC expansion list: Temple(who still wants Big East invite),FIU, FAU, N. Texas, Utah St., La Tech, La-Lafayette


Utah St and FIU are the 2 being talked about most right now.

Do we even make sense geographically?

(02-14-2012 12:13 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  Do we even make sense geographically?

Hawaii and East Carolina are both in this conference. Chicago is closer to Paris than those two.

There is no geographical sense here.

(02-14-2012 01:36 AM)7 Wrote:  

(02-14-2012 12:13 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  Do we even make sense geographically?

Hawaii and East Carolina are both in this conference. Chicago is closer to Paris than those two.

There is no geographical sense here.

They want 18 FB teams so there are ZERO crossover games. It is really going to be two separate divisions that will only play in the playoff or if they want to schedule an OOC game with another "alliance" member.

ECU, Marshall, UAB, So Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, Temple, FIU & Rice

UTEP, Nevada, Fresno St, Hawaii, Utah St, Wyoming, AF, CO St, New Mexico

Then they want to add 2-5 more non-football schools to have the same thing with the other sports.

The MWC teams are getting the better deal in travel.
The CUSA teams are going from 2 divisions in their footprint to contracting to 1 division yet, despite the likely move of UTEP to the West, overall expanding their footprint (adding Temple & FIU).

Analysis on CFN about the merger. They want to have a 4 team playoff concept for the conf championship. All about survival in a BCS world...

http://cfn.scout.com/2/1158488.html

I like this semi-final playoff idea. The MAC should go to 16, have four 4 team divisions. Divisions pair up each year to play each other, giving 7 games with one extra wild card game from the other 2 divisions. 1vs4, 2vs3 in playoffs, and championship at ford field.

phew, lots of stuff going on here.

I don't think the MAC is going anywhere. Historically the MAC (sans Marshall and UCF) have stood together and let the dust settle on these carnival side shows. There is a reason we are bringing teams into the conference. Its stable and has a good alliance of ADs.

I have always wanted NIU to move to the "next level" of football, but if it means moving to a behemoth 24 team conference, I'll pass. I have never been a fan of the MAC, but as this great conference shake up gets more and more ridiculous, (Hawaii and East Carolina in the same conference? yeah cool dude... eye roll) I advocate the staying in a conference that promotes education and quality athletics over what ever crazy NCAA video game simulation style alignment that is dreamed up to line the pockets of the schools.

NIU was never going to the BIG12. Money and facilities are the biggest indicators. You don't need to win in multiple sports, just the most important one, Football(look at Boise St).

I think the MAC does a poor job of promoting(though in their defense they did get the thursday night ESPN football game).

I think we should keep winning MAC championships and work to make the MAC a better conference. One thing I'd like to see is a MAC television package that is a lot better than the "MAC Game of the Week". Unfortunately, this may not be possible unless the MAC can worm its way out of the ESPN stranglehold.

I don't think MAC gets a better tv package than they have until they have a team crack the top 25 consistently(and 2 teams would help)..

I would like to see NIU try to get more games aired on Comcast locally

(02-14-2012 01:37 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  I don't think MAC gets a better tv package than they have until they have a team crack the top 25 consistently(and 2 teams would help)..

I would like to see NIU try to get more games aired on Comcast locally

Me too. But it won't happen until the ESPN deal expires in about 5 years or so.

(02-13-2012 07:43 PM)UIHuskie Wrote:  I don't even know what the point of it is anymore, with automatic BCS bids about to go by the wayside, I don't think it accomplishes anything. The TV deal they can get would be larger, but it's going to be split against a lot more teams, as well.

IIRC, the original intention was to work towards a BCS bid, but with that out the window, it's just going to become a logistical nightmare.

This is where I'm at. The two leagues are basically shriveled husks of their former selves. But it seems like the membership of both leagues are wrapped up in what they used to be. They seem to think if they just pool together they can prop the old image up. Eventually cold reality will set in. Fresno will wonder why they're playing UAB. They'll figure out they're better off splitting up to work more specialized niches around some combo of geography and quality.

That league has an expiration date and won't survive past whatever TV deal it gets together.

(02-14-2012 03:36 PM)DogTracks Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 07:43 PM)UIHuskie Wrote:  I don't even know what the point of it is anymore, with automatic BCS bids about to go by the wayside, I don't think it accomplishes anything. The TV deal they can get would be larger, but it's going to be split against a lot more teams, as well.

IIRC, the original intention was to work towards a BCS bid, but with that out the window, it's just going to become a logistical nightmare.

This is where I'm at. The two leagues are basically shriveled husks of their former selves. But it seems like the membership of both leagues are wrapped up in what they used to be. They seem to think if they just pool together they can prop the old image up. Eventually cold reality will set in. Fresno will wonder why they're playing UAB. They'll figure out they're better off splitting up to work more specialized niches around some combo of geography and quality.

That league has an expiration date and won't survive past whatever TV deal it gets together.

Guys you need to realize that the two divisions are not going to play each other in football in the regular season. So Fresno St could only play UAB in their 4 team playoff.

The MWC teams are getting the better deal because they were already one division and they are just adding teams within their footprint along with Hawaii. The CUSA teams are going to be the ones that have the hard time with travel. Marshal and ECU will now be in the same division as Tulsa and Rice.

NIU is good for the MAC
NIU wants the MAC
The MAC is good for NIU
The MAC wants NIU

NIU is probably good for CUSA
NIU doesn't want CUSA
CUSA is bad for NIU
CUSA doesn't want NIU

NIU is not good for MWC
NIU doesn't want MWC
MWC is bad for NIU
MWC doesn't want NIU

(02-14-2012 05:22 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

NIU is good for the MAC
NIU wants the MAC
The MAC is good for NIU
The MAC wants NIU

NIU is probably good for CUSA
NIU doesn't want CUSA
CUSA is bad for NIU
CUSA doesn't want NIU

NIU is not good for MWC
NIU doesn't want MWC
MWC is bad for NIU
MWC doesn't want NIU

Thanks I needed that seizure.

I agree.