(07-14-2014 11:56 PM)rknj8993 Wrote:  

(07-14-2014 11:26 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(07-14-2014 10:10 PM)rknj8993 Wrote:  According to Craig Haley, a writer for Sports Network, the commissioner of the Big Sky Conference, Doug Fullerton, stated that either Idaho or NMSU were being looked at as the 14th member of the Big Sky Conference.

https://twitter.com/CraigHaley/status/48...7602506752

I know that Idaho is expected to leave the Sun Belt Conference soon-ish, but should the Big Sky take both, what should the Sun Belt do?

Doug Fullerton talks a lot, but I would not take him seriously. Idaho is not leaving the Sun Belt and neither is New Mexico State. Fullerton likes to dream, but he cannot match the money that can be made at the FBS level. He can't come close.

Well, Idaho is leaving eventually. I'm not sure about NMSU, but Idaho is getting the boot in 2016(?) I believe.

You BELIEVE? Stop the presses.

Meh. I'll believe any of it when I see it.

I've always been in favor of NM State for all sports

I'm just glad that no one has blown the dog whistle yet because this thread would attract you know who like flies.

If this actually holds up, I will say that while it came earlier than I thought I do believe it's in the best interest of Idaho to drop back to the Big Sky. To me their only possible long term route would be as an independent, and that's just a rough path to follow in the modern CFB world.

NO way NMSU goes to big sky for football-I don't really see them putting the rest of their sports in Big Sky as well.

(07-15-2014 09:03 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(07-15-2014 08:14 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(07-15-2014 08:05 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(07-15-2014 07:51 AM)I AM an Eagle! Wrote:  I would prefer to keep NMSU and bring them in as an all-sports member and let the Big Sky scoop up Idaho. They have already stated that they would accept an all-sports invite. NMSU is a little out there but they remain connected through TXST and are the only other game in town besides UNM. They bring in enough value as an all-sports member to warrant investing in them.

I dont have anything against Idaho. they are a good state flagship school but geography is working against them. they are an outlier for the sbc and because of their climate they are forced to deal with an odd setup facility wise. If they are set on remaining at the top level in sports as a flagship school should try to do, they need to figure out a way to get in the mwc. nmsu is a good get for the sbc and we should work on getting them all in. their closest neighbor would then be uta and somewhere down the road uta may be able to restart football and then the travel situation would be a lot better.

There is no figuring a way for Idaho to go to the MWC. Montana, UC-Davis, Sac. St would be in line before any desperate choice of adding Idaho.

Except that MWC looks a lot like the WAC that those schools have said no to repeatedly.

??. There were only 4 Western schools in the WAC at that time. The MW would have at least 8 schools and a much more stable situation than the WAC. Those schools and NMSU would be invited before Idaho. BSU is going nowhere so the MW would look at larger cities and new areas of who to invite. But as is the case now, the MW is solid and no need to expand.

(07-15-2014 09:02 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  #1. Never take anything Doug Fullerton says to the bank.

#2. NMSU isn't going FCS. There are further from other FCS schools than they are FBS. They are 433 miles from the nearest Big Sky school and only one other Big Sky is within 700 miles. They are basically 500 miles from the nearest Southland. BUT they are short trips from UTEP and New Mexico who so far seem to committed to playing old rival NMSU annually on a home/home basis. If they go FCS they will not see UTEP and New Mexico coming to Las Cruces in football any more. Historically NMSU football has been better playing in more eastern oriented leagues so odds are they will get better again in the Sun Belt.

#3. Idaho. Their situation is not sustainable. They are parked here to see if something breaks loose in the west. Playing Georgia State or Arkansas State in October and November isn't going to energize their fan base nor is it going to energize the kids coming in on visits then. Western kids aren't going to be crazy about playing at Idaho where the nearest conference opponent is NMSU. Their fate rests on their ability to secure regional non-conference games (UNLV, Nevada, Wyoming, Fresno are home/home on future slates) and on Paul Petrino's success. My guess is that if Petrino can't make Idaho a winner that Idaho is done in the Sun Belt after the 2017 or 2019 season unless we are in a situation at that point where we have 12 in football and don't have an adequate replacement lined up.

I have no idea who Doug Fullerton is much less wheither to believe him. I can see where the Big Sky would except Idaho into there conference in a heart beat for football if Idaho decides it is in there best interest to move ther football down to FCS.

I also do not for one second believe that Idaho Football will stay in Sun Belt for the long term. So from this the Idaho Football program is only parked inside the Sun Belt Conference for short term, but none of us can say at this time how much time is short term. Is it only 4 years if the contract is not renewed or 6, 8, 10, ect...... Only time will tell.

(07-15-2014 09:39 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(07-15-2014 09:03 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(07-15-2014 08:14 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(07-15-2014 08:05 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(07-15-2014 07:51 AM)I AM an Eagle! Wrote:  I would prefer to keep NMSU and bring them in as an all-sports member and let the Big Sky scoop up Idaho. They have already stated that they would accept an all-sports invite. NMSU is a little out there but they remain connected through TXST and are the only other game in town besides UNM. They bring in enough value as an all-sports member to warrant investing in them.

I dont have anything against Idaho. they are a good state flagship school but geography is working against them. they are an outlier for the sbc and because of their climate they are forced to deal with an odd setup facility wise. If they are set on remaining at the top level in sports as a flagship school should try to do, they need to figure out a way to get in the mwc. nmsu is a good get for the sbc and we should work on getting them all in. their closest neighbor would then be uta and somewhere down the road uta may be able to restart football and then the travel situation would be a lot better.

There is no figuring a way for Idaho to go to the MWC. Montana, UC-Davis, Sac. St would be in line before any desperate choice of adding Idaho.

Except that MWC looks a lot like the WAC that those schools have said no to repeatedly.

??. There were only 4 Western schools in the WAC at that time. The MW would have at least 8 schools and a much more stable situation than the WAC. Those schools and NMSU would be invited before Idaho. BSU is going nowhere so the MW would look at larger cities and new areas of who to invite. But as is the case now, the MW is solid and no need to expand.

I left out the era when the Big Sky schools tried to get them as well. SJSU, Nevada, Boise, Fresno, Hawaii, Utah State have all been parts of leagues they turned down.

I think he is hoping the Big Sky is in the same division as the MWC. The P5 creating a new top level and probably MVFC and BSC move to second level with G5.

He has talked about it before

Foolerton's a blowhard and makes this same stupid statement about every 6 months. No news here.

(07-15-2014 09:47 AM)ValleyBoy Wrote:  

(07-15-2014 09:02 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  #1. Never take anything Doug Fullerton says to the bank.

#2. NMSU isn't going FCS. There are further from other FCS schools than they are FBS. They are 433 miles from the nearest Big Sky school and only one other Big Sky is within 700 miles. They are basically 500 miles from the nearest Southland. BUT they are short trips from UTEP and New Mexico who so far seem to committed to playing old rival NMSU annually on a home/home basis. If they go FCS they will not see UTEP and New Mexico coming to Las Cruces in football any more. Historically NMSU football has been better playing in more eastern oriented leagues so odds are they will get better again in the Sun Belt.

#3. Idaho. Their situation is not sustainable. They are parked here to see if something breaks loose in the west. Playing Georgia State or Arkansas State in October and November isn't going to energize their fan base nor is it going to energize the kids coming in on visits then. Western kids aren't going to be crazy about playing at Idaho where the nearest conference opponent is NMSU. Their fate rests on their ability to secure regional non-conference games (UNLV, Nevada, Wyoming, Fresno are home/home on future slates) and on Paul Petrino's success. My guess is that if Petrino can't make Idaho a winner that Idaho is done in the Sun Belt after the 2017 or 2019 season unless we are in a situation at that point where we have 12 in football and don't have an adequate replacement lined up.

I have no idea who Doug Fullerton is much less wheither to believe him. I can see where the Big Sky would except Idaho into there conference in a heart beat for football if Idaho decides it is in there best interest to move ther football down to FCS.

I also do not for one second believe that Idaho Football will stay in Sun Belt for the long term. So from this the Idaho Football program is only parked inside the Sun Belt Conference for short term, but none of us can say at this time how much time is short term. Is it only 4 years if the contract is not renewed or 6, 8, 10, ect...... Only time will tell.

Foolerton is the Big Sky Commish and makes claims that his league was the second best league in the west after the Pac. As the WAC was crumbling and looking to reload, he knew that his league would the WAC's primary target.

He did everything in his power to keep it together and the WAC was forced to go after Great West schools (UT-Pan American, Chicago State, Utah Valley). He offered Idaho a soft landing for all of their sports so he could woo them back into the fold

Don't see it happening, but the best thing would be for NMSU & UTEP to be taken in by the Mountain West.

Big Sky fans also have a rumor circulating that the Sun Belt will take them all in and then
once they transition they would break away to still be the Big Sky, but as FBS. There are
variations on it but that is the most often mentioned. Some are rock solid sure about it,
to the point of being dismissive if someone calls them out on it.

(07-15-2014 11:45 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Big Sky fans also have a rumor circulating that the Sun Belt will take them all in and then
once they transition they would break away to still be the Big Sky, but as FBS. There are
variations on it but that is the most often mentioned. Some are rock solid sure about it,
to the point of being dismissive if someone calls them out on it.

The only chance of this ever happening was the WAC-East idea before ODU, GSU, GaSta, App, Charlotte all made moves to the C-USA and SBC

Some still think it is going to happen now with the Sun Belt as the protagonist.
What reason to hurt the SBC themselves has never been thought up.

I think Fullerton is expecting the big five's demands for autonomy (SEC, B1G, ACC, BIG XII, and PAC-12) to unravel the FBS's present setup. And, force the lower level FBS institutions to bow out for lack of funding. Consequently. putting conferences like C-USA, the MAC and the SBC on the same level as the Big Sky.

Being on a level playing field with the Sun Belt, the Big Sky commissioner believes he can coax Idaho and possibly NMSU away from the SBC. I think that is what he is alluding to with his statement.

(07-15-2014 12:14 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  I think Fullerton is expecting the big five's demands for autonomy (SEC, B1G, ACC, BIG XII, and PAC-12) to unravel the FBS's present setup. And, force the lower level FBS institutions to bow out for lack of funding. Consequently. putting conferences like C-USA, the MAC and the SBC on the same level as the Big Sky.

Being on a level playing field with the Sun Belt, the Big Sky commissioner believes he can coax Idaho and possibly NMSU away from the SBC. I think that is what he is alluding to with his statement.

I was thinking this as well. Idaho would move in a heartbeat if that was the case.

(07-15-2014 12:14 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  I think Fullerton is expecting the big five's demands for autonomy (SEC, B1G, ACC, BIG XII, and PAC-12) to unravel the FBS's present setup. And, force the lower level FBS institutions to bow out for lack of funding. Consequently. putting conferences like C-USA, the MAC and the SBC on the same level as the Big Sky.

Being on a level playing field with the Sun Belt, the Big Sky commissioner believes he can coax Idaho and possibly NMSU away from the SBC. I think that is what he is alluding to with his statement.

Pretty much.

Lots of delusions in Big Sky Country

(07-15-2014 12:17 PM)dmacfour Wrote:  

(07-15-2014 12:14 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  I think Fullerton is expecting the big five's demands for autonomy (SEC, B1G, ACC, BIG XII, and PAC-12) to unravel the FBS's present setup. And, force the lower level FBS institutions to bow out for lack of funding. Consequently. putting conferences like C-USA, the MAC and the SBC on the same level as the Big Sky.

Being on a level playing field with the Sun Belt, the Big Sky commissioner believes he can coax Idaho and possibly NMSU away from the SBC. I think that is what he is alluding to with his statement.

I was thinking this as well. Idaho would move in a heartbeat if that was the case.

Thanks. We like you guys too.

(07-15-2014 12:18 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(07-15-2014 12:14 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  I think Fullerton is expecting the big five's demands for autonomy (SEC, B1G, ACC, BIG XII, and PAC-12) to unravel the FBS's present setup. And, force the lower level FBS institutions to bow out for lack of funding. Consequently. putting conferences like C-USA, the MAC and the SBC on the same level as the Big Sky.

Being on a level playing field with the Sun Belt, the Big Sky commissioner believes he can coax Idaho and possibly NMSU away from the SBC. I think that is what he is alluding to with his statement.

Pretty much.

Lots of delusions in Big Sky Country

They drink a lot.

I know from experience.

The equation:

SBC - Idaho - NMSU + Missouri Sate + UTA football = Better SBC

(07-15-2014 12:18 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(07-15-2014 12:14 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  I think Fullerton is expecting the big five's demands for autonomy (SEC, B1G, ACC, BIG XII, and PAC-12) to unravel the FBS's present setup. And, force the lower level FBS institutions to bow out for lack of funding. Consequently. putting conferences like C-USA, the MAC and the SBC on the same level as the Big Sky.

Being on a level playing field with the Sun Belt, the Big Sky commissioner believes he can coax Idaho and possibly NMSU away from the SBC. I think that is what he is alluding to with his statement.

Pretty much.

Lots of delusions in Big Sky Country

not too likely that any schools in the mwc would consider sac state or uc-davis their peers.

(07-15-2014 12:39 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  The equation:

SBC - Idaho - NMSU + Missouri Sate + UTA football = Better SBC

Close...SBC - Idaho + NMSU all sports + Missouri State + James Madison = GREAT Sun Belt!