(08-19-2014 08:15 AM)Chappy Wrote:  Maybe I'm naive, but in my opinion Hawai'i (football) would be better off as an independent, and is one of the few places that could make independence work, IF (and only if) ESPN (or a competitor that wanted the programming bad enough) wanted to have Hawai'i football and their unique time slot.

Think about this - 6-8 times a season, once all the other games have ended, Hawaii would have an exclusive window. Sure, it would be midnight on the east coast of the US, but a 9pm west coast start time would not be bad at all, especially since the majority of the teams travelling to play them would be Pacific or Mountain teams.

How much would ESPN be willing to pay? I don't know, but I would guess that it's more than Hawaii makes right now from the MWC deal when you factor in the travel subsidies they pay.

And since ESPN would be a partner, they could help with scheduling to get some big-name opponents out there.

It would be wise of the MWC to allow them to do so. Unlike Boise's special provisions, it wouldn't be for Hawaii's enrichment, but rather just for the maintenance of their program, which is good for the MWC in the end.

(08-19-2014 07:06 AM)SteveUCF19 Wrote:  

(08-18-2014 06:54 PM)OUGwave Wrote:  There are certain things you should not say aloud.

"There's a very real possibility of football going away" is one of them.

[b]Those comments are going to kill recruiting there. They are going to hurt, not help, season ticket sales. They are going to depress interest in the football program.
[/b]
And this is bad for the MWC. Every member of a conference has to be pulling in the same direction.

Recruiting, ticket sales and fan interest don't matter if they shut down the program.

I was talking under the assumption that he was just floating the idea, not that they were seriously considering it.

Maybe the threat is to remove the subsidies to the mwc or they quit. Puts the mwc in another tough position.

(08-18-2014 10:27 PM)Savacool Wrote:  What does this thread topic have to do with the AAC?[/b]

IMO, it would trigger the ideal time and situation for the AAC to go for an aggressive westward expansion. If the AAC added UNLV, SDSU, and Air Force from the MWC, the MWC would be down to 8 teams. It would likely look to programs like UTEP and UTSA to survive. May be even convince Montana to upgrade to FBS.

That move would put the AAC clearly ahead of the rest in both perception and on-field product.

(08-19-2014 10:06 AM)OUGwave Wrote:  

(08-19-2014 07:06 AM)SteveUCF19 Wrote:  

(08-18-2014 06:54 PM)OUGwave Wrote:  There are certain things you should not say aloud.

"There's a very real possibility of football going away" is one of them.

[b]Those comments are going to kill recruiting there. They are going to hurt, not help, season ticket sales. They are going to depress interest in the football program.
[/b]
And this is bad for the MWC. Every member of a conference has to be pulling in the same direction.

Recruiting, ticket sales and fan interest don't matter if they shut down the program.

I was talking under the assumption that he was just floating the idea, not that they were seriously considering it.

Gotcha. It should be a final decision before he ever mentioned it publicly. It wouldn't reflect very good on him to be the AD that had football die on his watch.

(08-19-2014 10:40 AM)YNot Wrote:  

(08-18-2014 10:27 PM)Savacool Wrote:  What does this thread topic have to do with the AAC?[/b]

IMO, it would trigger the ideal time and situation for the AAC to go for an aggressive westward expansion. If the AAC added UNLV, SDSU, and Air Force from the MWC, the MWC would be down to 8 teams. It would likely look to programs like UTEP and UTSA to survive. May be even convince Montana to upgrade to FBS.

That move would put the AAC clearly ahead of the rest in both perception and on-field product.

The unfortunate world we live with in the new age college football. We need others to fail so we get that access spot and keep the perception that we are the best. I also like the idea of going to 14-16 and grabbing whoever we want. Army, Air Force, SDSU, and BYU. If BYU denies, move to UNLV

The headline news in the Honolulu paper this morning is that it was all a misunderstanding and no sport is at risk of being axed at UH. I'd post a link but the article is behind a pay wall. The AD was trying to make a point and stated it poorly.

This is one of the few times I've actually felt sorry for Norm Chow. He refused comment on the whole affair, other than to say "We're preparing our football team for a very difficult schedule and our players and coaches deserve all the support they can get."

umass has the new England patriots on their side, the talk is mark whipple will turn things around, he won an fcs championship there.
umass plays bc at Gillette.

(08-19-2014 08:15 AM)Chappy Wrote:  Maybe I'm naive, but in my opinion Hawai'i (football) would be better off as an independent, and is one of the few places that could make independence work, IF (and only if) ESPN (or a competitor that wanted the programming bad enough) wanted to have Hawai'i football and their unique time slot.

This!

An independent Hawaii could have its own TV deal, its own bowl contract, and greater control over the schedule. There may even be scenarios where Hawaii plays a road game on Saturday and another road game the following Thursday, to save on travel costs.

I would see the ideal Hawaii 13-game schedule (7 home, 6 away) looking like this:

August
Week 1 - Big Ten/ACC/Big 12
September
Week 2 - @ PAC 12
Week 3 - @ MWC (Thursday)
Week 4 - PAC 12
Week 5 - American
October
Week 6 - BYE
Week 7 - @ Big Ten/ACC/Big 12
Week 8 - @ American (Thursday)
Week 9 - MWC
November
Week 10 - MAC/C-USA
Week 11 - BYE
Week 12 - MWC
Week 13 - Army/Navy (h-h)
Week 14 - @MWC (Friday)
December (conf. championship weekend)
Week 15 - BYU rivalry game (h-h - Thursday/Friday)

Hawaii's home schedule would improve (and so would ticket sales), with 7 home games, featuring PAC 12, Big Ten/ACC/Big 12, American, MWC (x2), a MAC/C-USA payday game, and BYU or Army/Navy.

Aloha stadium seats 50K. However, Hawaii only averages about 30K per game. The best attended games, however, over recent years have included USC, Wisconsin, Colorado, BYU, Navy, and Army. That's not a coincidence. The gate revenue would increase and the TV deal would at least be on par with current MWC money, but likely better.

And, Hawaii could save on costs by not paying the MWC. Hawaii could also time the road games such that it was only travelling from the islands 3 times each season. Once in September with the PAC 12 and MWC duo, once in October with the Big 12/ACC/Big Ten and American duo, and once in November/December with either traveling to Army/Navy then the MWC OR traveling to the MWC and then BYU.

(08-19-2014 10:40 AM)YNot Wrote:  

(08-18-2014 10:27 PM)Savacool Wrote:  What does this thread topic have to do with the AAC?[/b]

IMO, it would trigger the ideal time and situation for the AAC to go for an aggressive westward expansion. If the AAC added UNLV, SDSU, and Air Force from the MWC, the MWC would be down to 8 teams. It would likely look to programs like UTEP and UTSA to survive. May be even convince Montana to upgrade to FBS.

That move would put the AAC clearly ahead of the rest in both perception and on-field product.

To me this is just throwing a lifeline to a few dying MWC programs.

The adding of BYU is the only thing that should spur any type of a westward expansion, adding them would be enough to distance the AAC from the MWC so anything more would just add more mouths to feed.

BYU is target 1, if they joined Army becomes target 2, if they say no AFA becomes target 2a. Past those 2 if spot 14 is still open because BYU is onboard then I’m fine with any program the western schools feels would be the best fit, with the exception of Boise.

In a perfect world if all 3 joined the AAC then I’m good with spot 16 going to the choice of the western schools (as long as it’s not Boise) but there is no need to go past 16.

IMO BYU needs to be the first domino to fall otherwise it’s not worth it.

(08-19-2014 11:56 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  IMO BYU needs to be the first domino to fall otherwise it’s not worth it.

This -- with the proviso that Army/Air Force should always be considered for a scheduling-arrangement and bowl-selection cooperation, even if full-on conference membership doesn't work out

(08-19-2014 12:34 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(08-19-2014 11:56 AM)NYCTUFan Wrote:  IMO BYU needs to be the first domino to fall otherwise it’s not worth it.

This -- with the proviso that Army/Air Force should always be considered for a scheduling-arrangement and bowl-selection cooperation, even if full-on conference membership doesn't work out

Likely any combo that would include army, byu, or Air Force would be welcomed. Instant tv value. If all 3 wanted in, we would figure something out for #4, imo.