How about a Big Sky-WAC Merger?

North: Eastern Washington, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, North Dakota, Portland State, Sacramento State, Seattle*
South: Cal-Davis**, Cal Poly**, Denver*, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Southern Utah, Weber State

* - No Football, ** - Football Only

What's taking so long to get this through?

Have never heard anything formal on it. Have any officials or Presidents of the Big Sky or WAC said anything?

I just don't see the WAC doing anything after this year. It will be more likely that NMSU & Idaho drop to FCS before any mergers happen with the WAC. The problem is there is no one driving the ship and all teams that have a life preserver are jumping ship.

Would think that both schools would hold out of going to FCS for as long as possible, but would expect NMSU to stick it out longer than Idaho. Really a shame that the WAC personnel are so incompetent that they evidently cannot get anything done to save such a long term conference.

(09-27-2012 06:00 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Would think that both schools would hold out of going to FCS for as long as possible, but would expect NMSU to stick it out longer than Idaho. Really a shame that the WAC personnel are so incompetent that they evidently cannot get anything done to save such a long term conference.

Agree. Not even able to put together an non f/b version of the WAC.

Exactly.

At this point, it looks like Idaho will have no choice but to end up in the Sky. I'm still hopefull that NMSU can survive as an Independent and join the MVC with Denver.

Would think that NMSU could at the very least survive as an independent for a few years if need be.

At this point it would appear that NMSU is playing the waiting game. If the Big East plucks another Mountain West team then NMSU would be the likely replacement, unless Mountain West can sweet talk BYU into joining.

(10-02-2012 04:37 PM)Bluedawg10 Wrote:  At this point it would appear that NMSU is playing the waiting game. If the Big East plucks another Mountain West team then NMSU would be the likely replacement, unless Mountain West can sweet talk BYU into joining.

Agree but I think the Big East is going to sweet talk BYU into joining especially if the nBE secures a good tv contract. Then the Mountain West won't need a replacement unless they plan to expand.

So the MWC does not have to take anyone in if the nBE picks up BYU?

(10-02-2012 10:46 PM)RUfan03 Wrote:  

(10-02-2012 04:37 PM)Bluedawg10 Wrote:  At this point it would appear that NMSU is playing the waiting game. If the Big East plucks another Mountain West team then NMSU would be the likely replacement, unless Mountain West can sweet talk BYU into joining.

Agree but I think the Big East is going to sweet talk BYU into joining especially if the nBE secures a good tv contract. Then the Mountain West won't need a replacement unless they plan to expand.

I agree that BYU is the Big East's first choice but the scenario I was thinking of is that a Mountain West team would get picked if BYU falls through. And if the Big East cannot convence BYU to join, then I don't think the Mountain West will have much luck either. I don't think the Mountain West will want to expand for the sake of expanding as the only options are NMSU, Idaho, or western based FCS teams. The only way NMSU gets in is if Mountain West has a defector slot to fill.

(10-03-2012 02:24 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  So the MWC does not have to take anyone in if the nBE picks up BYU?

No they will not have to. BYU is an Independent like Notre Dame. BYU would be the ideal way for the Big East to go as they would not open any wholes in another conference.

Been a lot of talk from CUSA commissioner or ECU President saying they want to set something up with BYU similar to Notre Dame's deal with the ACC. Think that is just wishful thinking on their part of would it be something BYU might be interested in?

It's hard to say. I know BYU enjoys their independence but I don't think they have the prestige the Notre Dame has or the following Navy & Army has. I think it is still too early for them to decide whether Independence is working out for them or not. It is really hard on Independents when they fall out of the race the BCS Championship because that is the only championship they have to play for. Which is why I think a couple of average years for BYU is all it will take for them to start looking for a conference home. CUSA may have a shot at landing a Notre Dame type deal with BYU if the Big XII is not interested in them and whether the Big East's western expansion experiment is working or failing.

Does BYU not want any part of the Big East because of it being so spread out, or has the BE not asked them. I thought they had asked them, but not sure. Guess it would just be for football like Boise State if so.