http://csnbbs.com/thread-651509.html

A random message board question constitutes MWC poaching two of our programs?

I foresee almost no issue with a western athletic conference like the MWC expanding to 16, stretching from Hawaii to Texas to Idaho. They can have meetings in destinations nears airports, too. What could possibly go wrong?

(09-30-2014 09:00 AM)CoachMaclid Wrote:  I foresee almost no issue with a western athletic conference like the MWC expanding to 16, stretching from Hawaii to Texas to Idaho. They can have meetings in destinations nears airports, too. What could possibly go wrong?

(09-30-2014 08:46 AM)MUsince96 Wrote:  A random message board question constitutes MWC poaching two of our programs?

Started by an SMU fan.

I'm waiting for the Dude of WV to confirm.

(09-30-2014 10:12 AM)comiceagle Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 08:46 AM)MUsince96 Wrote:  A random message board question constitutes MWC poaching two of our programs?

Started by an SMU fan.

Last year.

Theoretically, having access to both TX and CAL for recruiting and TV would be a big boon for the MWC.

If they went to 16 (yes I know about the WAC but this is just a thought experiment) They could break into pretty perfect pods:

Pacific Ocean

Hawaii
Fresno
San Jose
San Diego

Great Basin
Boise
Utah State
Nevada
UNLV

Front Range

New Mexico
Air Force
Wyoming
Colorado State

Lone Star

North Texas
Rice
UTEP
UTSA

Now about those choices: Two of them are in good sized markets with much less P5 influence (San Antonio and El Paso) and two are recruiting trips in Dallas and Houston area, two of the most fertile in the country. TXST was a consideration but they will always suffer the same problem as Eastern Michigan: located in a small town way too close to one of the biggest and most popular powers in the state so ultimately they don't add much for recruiting or TV (and before any bobcats complain, it's all about how things look on paper and not a reflection of your actual FB program)

Without any relief on the CCG requirement, the same issue ultimately rears its head: not all of the schools who want to play each other annually get to do so. That said, this alignment could be survivable since BYU and Utah are gone. UNM-UTEP may have to be permanent, but if UNM is content playing UTSA only twice every six years that would work.

Regarding any Texas school considering MWC, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

UTEP to Mountain: possible but not likely, IMHO.

UTSA and/or Rice to Mountain: only if C-USA implodes and the only remaining "eastern-based" options are MAC and Sun Belt. And even then I wouldn't be too sure.

Hmmm, maybe MWC, AAC, MAC, and Sunbelt should team up and each take 4 teams and let C-USA fold.

MWC takes BYU, UTEP, UTSA, UNT
AAC takes Rice, southern miss, Old dominion, Arky State
MAC takes Marshall, UMass, Army, Idaho
SBC takes everybody else

eh, on second thought....

(09-30-2014 12:46 PM)Tallgrass Wrote:  Regarding any Texas school considering MWC, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

yea it worked out horribly for TCU

Rice an UTSA would be good gets for the MWC but count me among those surprised if the MWC pushed beyond 12 anytime soon.

The BYU-Rice combo to get the Cougars to return to the MWC sounds more appealing.

Mountain Div: BYU, Utah St, Wyoming, Colorado St, Air Force, New Mexico, Rice
West Div: Boise St, Nevada, UNLV, San Jose St, Fresno St, San Diego St, Hawaii

It makes the divisions more regional for everyone involved. Rice would get a division with Air Force and BYU and that is better than anything CUSA could possibly offer from an academic standpoint.

(09-30-2014 11:12 AM)10thMountain Wrote:  Theoretically, having access to both TX and CAL for recruiting and TV would be a big boon for the MWC.

If they went to 16 (yes I know about the WAC but this is just a thought experiment) They could break into pretty perfect pods:

Pacific Ocean

Hawaii
Fresno
San Jose
San Diego

Great Basin
Boise
Utah State
Nevada
UNLV

Front Range

New Mexico
Air Force
Wyoming
Colorado State

Lone Star

North Texas
Rice
UTEP
UTSA

Now about those choices: Two of them are in good sized markets with much less P5 influence (San Antonio and El Paso) and two are recruiting trips in Dallas and Houston area, two of the most fertile in the country. TXST was a consideration but they will always suffer the same problem as Eastern Michigan: located in a small town way too close to one of the biggest and most popular powers in the state so ultimately they don't add much for recruiting or TV (and before any bobcats complain, it's all about how things look on paper and not a reflection of your actual FB program)

It would probably be better to do 8 team divisions.
West Division
Hawaii
Fresno
San Jose
San Diego
Boise
Utah State
Nevada
UNLV

Mtn Division
New Mexico
Air Force
Wyoming
Colorado State
North Texas
Rice
UTEP
UTSA

It would setup a nice divide especially where the each division mostly recruits. Kinda like 2 regional conferences within one and where the MW has a TV platform and the MW Digital Network running and improving, it could be a revenue boon on the digital network side which could make up the dilution of the $12 million max payment for each conference.
BSU and FSU would have the familar teams fans want to see, same goes for CSU and Wyoming.
The CCG would be very interesting, it would rarely have 2 teams that played each other during the regular season.

However, I don't see it happening but I can see 14 (with NMSU and TX St) added before that scenario.

(09-30-2014 10:16 AM)domer1978 Wrote:  I'm waiting for the Dude of WV to confirm.

His mom has grounded him, and taken away his computer until he cleans up his room.

BYU will never go back to the MWC. End of story.

I'll maintain that the most likely scenario to unfold would be for the AAC to absorb some of the MWC schools and for CUSA to absorb the rest... and both of those are long shots at best.

Best guess: we're all going to be where we are for a while to come UNLESS the ACC acts first and grabs UConn or Cincinnati. Then all bets are off.

(09-30-2014 02:38 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 11:12 AM)10thMountain Wrote:  Theoretically, having access to both TX and CAL for recruiting and TV would be a big boon for the MWC.

If they went to 16 (yes I know about the WAC but this is just a thought experiment) They could break into pretty perfect pods:

Pacific Ocean

Hawaii
Fresno
San Jose
San Diego

Great Basin
Boise
Utah State
Nevada
UNLV

Front Range

New Mexico
Air Force
Wyoming
Colorado State

Lone Star

North Texas
Rice
UTEP
UTSA

Now about those choices: Two of them are in good sized markets with much less P5 influence (San Antonio and El Paso) and two are recruiting trips in Dallas and Houston area, two of the most fertile in the country. TXST was a consideration but they will always suffer the same problem as Eastern Michigan: located in a small town way too close to one of the biggest and most popular powers in the state so ultimately they don't add much for recruiting or TV (and before any bobcats complain, it's all about how things look on paper and not a reflection of your actual FB program)

It would probably be better to do 8 team divisions.
West Division
Hawaii
Fresno
San Jose
San Diego
Boise
Utah State
Nevada
UNLV

Mtn Division
New Mexico
Air Force
Wyoming
Colorado State
North Texas
Rice
UTEP
UTSA

It would setup a nice divide especially where the each division mostly recruits. Kinda like 2 regional conferences within one and where the MW has a TV platform and the MW Digital Network running and improving, it could be a revenue boon on the digital network side which could make up the dilution of the $12 million max payment for each conference.
BSU and FSU would have the familar teams fans want to see, same goes for CSU and Wyoming.
The CCG would be very interesting, it would rarely have 2 teams that played each other during the regular season.

However, I don't see it happening but I can see 14 (with NMSU and TX St) added before that scenario.

In all honesty, that's a good-looking lineup.

LOL at Houston to the MWC. There's a reason Houston went east to C-USA once the SWC fell apart and stayed put in the 2003 realignment carosel. Now, especially without programs like TCU, BYU and Utah what exactly is the incentive? Basketball maybe but that is an even trade at worst.

Let's also not forget that UTSA turned down the MWC for C-USA or so I heard.

So we're following a thread from 2013?