(04-14-2015 05:41 PM)BigHouston Wrote:  

(04-12-2015 10:54 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(04-12-2015 10:05 AM)He1nousOne Wrote:  UNLV should be doing this to try to be a reasonable choice for the AAC when it expands in the relatively near future. The PAC is out of reach for more reasons than just the stadium.

Why would they make, at most, a baby step up (and really, a lateral move) to play in a league where the closest teams are half a continent away? It'd be better to try to get a few out west to go independent and play a national schedule.

I don't know why you say is a lateral move, is not... I understand AAC's TV deal is not something to cheer about yet but as far as football goes, the American is the better league. Not even close.

Ya got anything other than your blind opinion to back that up? This past year the MWC was ranked the top G5 conference (AAC was 3rd) & Boise claimed the access bowl spot. The MWC also put more teams in the NCAA tourney (3-2).

(04-14-2015 08:47 PM)monarchoptimist Wrote:  

(04-14-2015 05:41 PM)BigHouston Wrote:  

(04-12-2015 10:54 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(04-12-2015 10:05 AM)He1nousOne Wrote:  UNLV should be doing this to try to be a reasonable choice for the AAC when it expands in the relatively near future. The PAC is out of reach for more reasons than just the stadium.

Why would they make, at most, a baby step up (and really, a lateral move) to play in a league where the closest teams are half a continent away? It'd be better to try to get a few out west to go independent and play a national schedule.

I don't know why you say is a lateral move, is not... I understand AAC's TV deal is not something to cheer about yet but as far as football goes, the American is the better league. Not even close.

Ya got anything other than your blind opinion to back that up? This past year the MWC was ranked the top G5 conference (AAC was 3rd) & Boise claimed the access bowl spot. The MWC also put more teams in the NCAA tourney (3-2).

In many ways the MWC has more potential to ascend to the power conference level than the AAC.

They are the major conference representatives of the states of Hawaii, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming and New Mexico along with land grant schools in Utah and Colorado. 3 schools in California and potential of getting into some nice markets in Texas.

The AAC is a marriage of two groupings; one large schools on the East Coast and the second a group of SW private schools which are a threat to bolt to the MWC. Since the East Coast schools are definitely not joining the MWC the future direction of the AAC is probably along the Atlantic Coast with Army, UMass, ODU, Charlotte, Buffalo all talked as long term additions. That East Coast footprint is identical to the footprint of the ACC so the idea of them elevating is a non-starter.

I think losing Utah, BYU and TCU set the MWC back a decade it its quest to become a power conference but if they could pick up SMU and UTSA after the AAC is raided there is no doubt they would be the best positioned conference.

(04-12-2015 10:54 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  

(04-12-2015 10:05 AM)He1nousOne Wrote:  UNLV should be doing this to try to be a reasonable choice for the AAC when it expands in the relatively near future. The PAC is out of reach for more reasons than just the stadium.

Why would they make, at most, a baby step up (and really, a lateral move) to play in a league where the closest teams are half a continent away? It'd be better to try to get a few out west to go independent and play a national schedule.

The only way it happens is if UNLV comes as part of a 6-team package including the top 6 MW schools to become a far western division of a 3 division, 18 team AAC (which is only possible when/if division play and CCG's are deregulated). That would create a very dominant G5 conference that's strong in basketball, solid in football, and unique among all college conferences as the only nationwide FBS college athletic league.

(04-14-2015 11:52 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  In many ways the MWC has more potential to ascend to the power conference level than the AAC.

They are the major conference representatives of the states of Hawaii, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming and New Mexico along with land grant schools in Utah and Colorado. 3 schools in California and potential of getting into some nice markets in Texas.

The AAC is a marriage of two groupings; one large schools on the East Coast and the second a group of SW private schools which are a threat to bolt to the MWC. Since the East Coast schools are definitely not joining the MWC the future direction of the AAC is probably along the Atlantic Coast with Army, UMass, ODU, Charlotte, Buffalo all talked as long term additions. That East Coast footprint is identical to the footprint of the ACC so the idea of them elevating is a non-starter.

I think losing Utah, BYU and TCU set the MWC back a decade it its quest to become a power conference but if they could pick up SMU and UTSA after the AAC is raided there is no doubt they would be the best positioned conference.

Although most of the western states listed are tiny,

#50 Wyoming = 584K
#40 Hawaii = 1.4 million
#39 Idaho = 1.6 million
#36 New Mexico = 2.08 million
#35 Nevada = 2.8 million

the MWC does have the 3 teams in California (#1 state, 38.8 million) and the best G5 program (Boise St.) and has the only G5 NY6 bowl game (so far).

A new 4-team MWC eastern division/pod of Houston, SMU, Tulane, and Memphis would add an MWC foothold into the #2 state Texas (26.9 million) and a contiguous conference.

THIS is why I think the AAC should be pro-active to add Boise St., two teams in the #1 California market (SDSU and Fresno St.), and CSU and a couple others (Air Force, UNLV, New Mexico) to the fold. If the current AAC experiment doesn't pan out, the MWC is poised to poach from the AAC.

(04-14-2015 08:07 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Could UNLV host a Final Four if it had an indoor stadium? They might be the only place west of the Phoenix area that could host it, as Los Angeles doesn't have a dome yet either. A dome would also be in rotation for hosting regionals as well.

probably not. The NCAA mandates Final Four sites seat 70,000 now. They would probably make exceptions for some places that seat close to it, like 65,000, but a domed UNLV stadium would still only seat 50,000 for basketball, and that may be a stretch

(04-15-2015 10:50 AM)YNot Wrote:  

(04-14-2015 11:52 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  In many ways the MWC has more potential to ascend to the power conference level than the AAC.

They are the major conference representatives of the states of Hawaii, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming and New Mexico along with land grant schools in Utah and Colorado. 3 schools in California and potential of getting into some nice markets in Texas.

The AAC is a marriage of two groupings; one large schools on the East Coast and the second a group of SW private schools which are a threat to bolt to the MWC. Since the East Coast schools are definitely not joining the MWC the future direction of the AAC is probably along the Atlantic Coast with Army, UMass, ODU, Charlotte, Buffalo all talked as long term additions. That East Coast footprint is identical to the footprint of the ACC so the idea of them elevating is a non-starter.

I think losing Utah, BYU and TCU set the MWC back a decade it its quest to become a power conference but if they could pick up SMU and UTSA after the AAC is raided there is no doubt they would be the best positioned conference.

Although most of the western states listed are tiny,

#50 Wyoming = 584K
#40 Hawaii = 1.4 million
#39 Idaho = 1.6 million
#36 New Mexico = 2.08 million
#35 Nevada = 2.8 million

the MWC does have the 3 teams in California (#1 state, 38.8 million) and the best G5 program (Boise St.) and has the only G5 NY6 bowl game (so far).

A new 4-team MWC eastern division/pod of Houston, SMU, Tulane, and Memphis would add an MWC foothold into the #2 state Texas (26.9 million) and a contiguous conference.

THIS is why I think the AAC should be pro-active to add Boise St., two teams in the #1 California market (SDSU and Fresno St.), and CSU and a couple others (Air Force, UNLV, New Mexico) to the fold. If the current AAC experiment doesn't pan out, the MWC is poised to poach from the AAC.

Population is only one variable in the terms of position. Recent program success, marketability of program (brand-historic success), university endowment, boosters and overall athletic budget, community support (football culture) are as equally important as population. Hence, population is not an absolute variable in the power or potential of athletic program. Boise State is a great example of this situation. Their recent (relative) success, athletic budget-boosters and community support have made then a perennial power in college football yet small population. They far exceed many mid and lower power 5 schools.

Do you know the populations of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Lousianna or Oregon?

Yes. Some MWC schools have a harder time than others but it's not all about population. UNLV's problem is 3-fold; lack of university support-boosters, transient nature of Las Vegas resident (everyone is from somewhere else and they brought their college team preference with them) and horrific history of losing. Each of these items are being addressed. Boosters-administrative support is here (on its way), transient nature is diminishing as the town is becoming more and more native AND wins will come with the right investment into coaches and facilities (boosters-plan). Additionally, a real HS football culture has developed in the last decade which will ultimately assist UNLV to recruit local talent and get stronger community involvement.

Other teams like Hawaii have flirted with BCS busting.

Regardless, a university's potential shouldn't be based solely on population or a number of Power 5 schools wouldn't be on the list as well as prior member Utah and BYU (not P5 but recognized a P5 game).

I agree that MWC is still a ways away from power conference status. Many programs are investing into what is necessary to make this happen. The question is the P5 going to allow another conference ever to be let into this club. And the answer is no f-ing way.