I would hope they'd feel around the MWC and aim toward it. Avoid the muck and mire of eastern politics. The MAC's more like what they know geographically, but it wouldn't do anything for their basketball. Most natural fit, though.

Is MWC still sweet on Tulsa? The two of them would be a good pair. Sorry, UTEP.

Before we go nuts, though, studies don't guarantee execution. Basketball will suffer financially for football, too, barring a Tom Jurich-like leader to help both along without issue. And these kind of things tend to alienate the wrong sort, trying to fish for hypothetical folks who may or may not really exist.

(12-09-2015 12:50 PM)Once a Knight... Wrote:  Honestly, if Wichita St goes anywhere it would probably be to the AAC. Natural rival with Tulsa, peer-level basketball programs (Cincy, Memphis, Tulsa, SMU, UConn, Temple). I wonder if the Sun Belt would accept Wichita St as a football only. Sun Belt and MAC basketball would be below Wichita St, and likely below the MVC as a whole.

Actually, Wichita State is more interested in the MWC. The AAC to them is too far spread out to even considered. They would be out on an island in the AAC. Being in western Kansas? They are closer to 4 schools in the MWC than they are with the AAC.

(12-09-2015 12:56 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I would hope they'd feel around the MWC and aim toward it. Avoid the muck and mire of eastern politics. The MAC's more like what they know geographically, but it wouldn't do anything for their basketball. Most natural fit, though.

Is MWC still sweet on Tulsa? The two of them would be a good pair. Sorry, UTEP.

Before we go nuts, though, studies don't guarantee execution. Basketball will suffer financially for football, too, barring a Tom Jurich-like leader to help both along without issue. And these kind of things tend to alienate the wrong sort, trying to fish for hypothetical folks who may or may not really exist.

As long as CUSA has Texas schools UTEP will stay with them. Tulsa? Don't think the MW is interested in a very small school and don't believe Tulsa wants to leave the AAC.
I would hope that if WSU says football is a go, then the MW will add then as a full member and then help them transition into FBS like the Sunbelt did with Ga St.
Just wonder if #14 would be BYU or NMSU or perhaps WSU replacing say an Air Force that decide to be in the same conference as Navy and Army.

(12-09-2015 12:57 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(12-09-2015 12:50 PM)Once a Knight... Wrote:  Honestly, if Wichita St goes anywhere it would probably be to the AAC. Natural rival with Tulsa, peer-level basketball programs (Cincy, Memphis, Tulsa, SMU, UConn, Temple). I wonder if the Sun Belt would accept Wichita St as a football only. Sun Belt and MAC basketball would be below Wichita St, and likely below the MVC as a whole.

Actually, Wichita State is more interested in the MWC. The AAC to them is too far spread out to even considered. They would be out on an island in the AAC. Being in western Kansas? They are closer to 4 schools in the MWC than they are with the AAC.

They key you are forgetting is that WSU is very much a baseball school as well and wants be with schools like Houston, the UxF, Tulane, etc. Plus, Wichita is not in western Kansas culturally or geographically. They identify as midwestern like Omaha, Tulsa, OK City etc. Western Kansas is owned by the K-Stater's lock stock and barrel.

(12-09-2015 12:57 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(12-09-2015 12:50 PM)Once a Knight... Wrote:  Honestly, if Wichita St goes anywhere it would probably be to the AAC. Natural rival with Tulsa, peer-level basketball programs (Cincy, Memphis, Tulsa, SMU, UConn, Temple). I wonder if the Sun Belt would accept Wichita St as a football only. Sun Belt and MAC basketball would be below Wichita St, and likely below the MVC as a whole.

Actually, Wichita State is more interested in the MWC. The AAC to them is too far spread out to even considered. They would be out on an island in the AAC. Being in western Kansas? They are closer to 4 schools in the MWC than they are with the AAC.

Wichita is in the central part of Kansas, east of center. Still in the eastern half of the state.

I don't think they're closer to ANY MWC school than they are to Tulsa.
Wichita to Tulsa- 176 miles
Wichita to SMU- 363 miles

Wichita to Colorado Springs- 503 miles
Wichita to Albuquerque- 594 miles

Memphis and Houston are both only 600 miles away from Wichita. So WRONG.

(12-09-2015 01:38 PM)stever20 Wrote:  I don't think they're closer to ANY MWC school than they are to Tulsa.
Wichita to Tulsa- 176 miles
Wichita to SMU- 363 miles

Wichita to Colorado Springs- 503 miles
Wichita to Albuquerque- 594 miles

Memphis and Houston are both only 600 miles away from Wichita. So WRONG.

Tulane and Cincy are both relatively close too (~800 miles). So that makes 6 total AAC teams within approximately 800 miles. That's half the conference.

(12-09-2015 01:42 PM)Once a Knight... Wrote:  

(12-09-2015 01:38 PM)stever20 Wrote:  I don't think they're closer to ANY MWC school than they are to Tulsa.
Wichita to Tulsa- 176 miles
Wichita to SMU- 363 miles

Wichita to Colorado Springs- 503 miles
Wichita to Albuquerque- 594 miles

Memphis and Houston are both only 600 miles away from Wichita. So WRONG.

Tulane is relatively close too.

its about 850. which is still better than a lot of the MWC is for Wichita.

SBC West:
New Mexico State (all sports)
Wichita State
Texas-Arlington (no football)
Texas State

SBC South:
Louisiana
ULM
South Alabama
Troy

SBC East:
Georgia State
Georgia Southern
App State
Coastal Carolina

SBC North:
Eastern Kentucky
Missouri State
Little Rock (no football)
Arkansas State

I just love how everyone is so desperate to get New Mexico St in the Sun Belt. Why on earth would the conference go up to 16 teams? That's just stupid. They have a PERFECT divisional setup now with 6 close teams in each division.

(12-09-2015 01:44 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(12-09-2015 01:42 PM)Once a Knight... Wrote:  

(12-09-2015 01:38 PM)stever20 Wrote:  I don't think they're closer to ANY MWC school than they are to Tulsa.
Wichita to Tulsa- 176 miles
Wichita to SMU- 363 miles

Wichita to Colorado Springs- 503 miles
Wichita to Albuquerque- 594 miles

Memphis and Houston are both only 600 miles away from Wichita. So WRONG.

Tulane is relatively close too.

its about 850. which is still better than a lot of the MWC is for Wichita.

Leaving off Football-only members Navy and Hawaii for this comparison

Distance to MWC Cities:

Wichita to CO Springs - 503mi
Wichita to Fort Collins - 573mi
Wichita to Albuquerque - 594mi
Wichita to Laramie - 639mi
Wichita to Logan, UT - 1,023mi
Wichita to Las Vegas - 1,164mi
Wichita to Boise - 1,330mi
Wichita to San Diego - 1,363mi
Wichita to Fresno - 1,504mi
Wichita to Reno - 1,545mi
Wichita to San Jose - 1,635mi

Average Distance: 1,079mi

Distance to AAC Cities:

Wichita to Tulsa - 176mi
Wichita to Dallas - 363mi
Wichita to Memphis - 577mi
Wichita to Houston - 602mi
Wichita to Cincinnati - 783mi
Wichita to New Orleans - 830mi
Wichita to Philadelphia - 1,319mi
Wichita to Greenville - 1,347mi
Wichita to Orlando - 1,395mi
Wichita to Tampa - 1,413mi
Wichita to Storrs - 1,538mi

Average Distance: 940mi


So... on avg, AAC schools are 140mi closer to Wichita than MWC teams.

6 AAC schools are within 1,000mi of Wichita, compared to only 4 MWC schools. AAC has two schools within 400 miles of Wichita (Tulsa, 176mi and SMU, 363mi) whereas the two closest MWC schools are over 500mi away (CO Springs, 503mi and Fort Collins, 573mi). The closest AAC school Tulsa is 327mi closer than the closest MWC school, Air Force.

Just to put things in perspective:
UTSA
Began the process of a feasibility study in 2006
UTSA began practicing in August 2010,
Competed as a FCS D-1 Independent in 2011
UTSA was FBS transitional in 2012 and 2013,
and became a bowl eligible full FBS member in 2014.

Charlotte
The UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees officially voted
to form a football program on November 13, 2008,
a unanimous recommendation by the Football Feasibility Committee.
The 49ers played as an Independent during
their two years in the FCS subdivision beginning in 2013
FBS in 2015

ODU
ODU resurrected its f-ball program in June 2005
Began play in 2009 as a FCS Independent
Moved to D-1 in 2013

Georgia St
Georgia St in 2006 did a study to look N2 playing f-ball
2007 hired Dan Reeves as a consultant
2008 Georgia St launched its f-ball program
Began play in 2010 as a FCS Independent
2013 FBS D-1

So it looks like IF WSU wants to start up a f-ball program
to reach FBS level will take 6-8yrs, minimum.

(12-09-2015 02:58 PM)HHOOTter Wrote:  Just to put things in perspective:
UTSA
Began the process of a feasibility study in 2006
UTSA began practicing in August 2010,
Competed as a FCS D-1 Independent in 2011
UTSA was FBS transitional in 2012 and 2013,
and became a bowl eligible full FBS member in 2014.

Charlotte
The UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees officially voted
to form a football program on November 13, 2008,
a unanimous recommendation by the Football Feasibility Committee.
The 49ers played as an Independent during
their two years in the FCS subdivision beginning in 2013
FBS in 2015

ODU
ODU resurrected its f-ball program in June 2005
Began play in 2009 as a FCS Independent
Moved to D-1 in 2013

So it looks like IF WSU wants to start up a f-ball program
to reach FBS level will take 6-8yrs, minimum.

What about Georgia St? I think they moved a lot sooner than that.

(12-09-2015 03:03 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(12-09-2015 02:58 PM)HHOOTter Wrote:  Just to put things in perspective:
UTSA
Began the process of a feasibility study in 2006
UTSA began practicing in August 2010,
Competed as a FCS D-1 Independent in 2011
UTSA was FBS transitional in 2012 and 2013,
and became a bowl eligible full FBS member in 2014.

Charlotte
The UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees officially voted
to form a football program on November 13, 2008,
a unanimous recommendation by the Football Feasibility Committee.
The 49ers played as an Independent during
their two years in the FCS subdivision beginning in 2013
FBS in 2015

ODU
ODU resurrected its f-ball program in June 2005
Began play in 2009 as a FCS Independent
Moved to D-1 in 2013

So it looks like IF WSU wants to start up a f-ball program
to reach FBS level will take 6-8yrs, minimum.

What about Georgia St? I think they moved a lot sooner than that.

Same with South Alabama, and Charlotte.

(12-09-2015 01:12 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(12-09-2015 12:56 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I would hope they'd feel around the MWC and aim toward it. Avoid the muck and mire of eastern politics. The MAC's more like what they know geographically, but it wouldn't do anything for their basketball. Most natural fit, though.

Is MWC still sweet on Tulsa? The two of them would be a good pair. Sorry, UTEP.

Before we go nuts, though, studies don't guarantee execution. Basketball will suffer financially for football, too, barring a Tom Jurich-like leader to help both along without issue. And these kind of things tend to alienate the wrong sort, trying to fish for hypothetical folks who may or may not really exist.

As long as CUSA has Texas schools UTEP will stay with them. Tulsa? Don't think the MW is interested in a very small school and don't believe Tulsa wants to leave the AAC.
I would hope that if WSU says football is a go, then the MW will add then as a full member and then help them transition into FBS like the Sunbelt did with Ga St.
Just wonder if #14 would be BYU or NMSU or perhaps WSU replacing say an Air Force that decide to be in the same conference as Navy and Army.

Tulsa was said to be targeted and desired by the Mountain West during that flurry of expansion and swapping some time back. They were even more desired than UTEP, but both were being approached as potential replacements. There was that CUSA-MWC "merger" that kind of kept UTEP in place, to which it fell apart. I don't agree that UTEP's fine with their current place. They were not happy the MW formed without them, and there's even something on their athletic site talking about how the decision about inclusion into the conference was one that was not theirs. Ouch.

I don't know if it's worth leaving AAC for MWC, although, if there's further expansion to be had at the P5 level, it likely comes out of AAC and lessens their standing, giving MWC a chance to grow with desired programs, if it so chooses.

Would love to see Wichita State in the American.

(12-09-2015 02:10 PM)stever20 Wrote:  I just love how everyone is so desperate to get New Mexico St in the Sun Belt. Why on earth would the conference go up to 16 teams? That's just stupid. They have a PERFECT divisional setup now with 6 close teams in each division.

I could see the Sun Belt adding NMSU all sports and going to 14 all sports members by adding either Missouri St or Wichita St and cutting Idaho. Sun Belt basketball would get a little better but would still have a ways to go. Now from a baseball stand point the Sun Belt is a very strong league an will get even better with Coastal Carolina starting league play.

No, we cannot wait on a football program to develop. This isn't a startup league.

(12-09-2015 12:50 PM)Once a Knight... Wrote:  Honestly, if Wichita St goes anywhere it would probably be to the AAC. Natural rival with Tulsa, peer-level basketball programs (Cincy, Memphis, Tulsa, SMU, UConn, Temple). I wonder if the Sun Belt would accept Wichita St as a football only. Sun Belt and MAC basketball would be below Wichita St, and likely below the MVC as a whole.

What's in it for the Belt if we took WSU as a football only? They'd only stay if they sucked. No point in taking them. We already have 12. We already have 2 spares hanging out there with UMass and EKU.

(12-09-2015 03:49 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(12-09-2015 12:50 PM)Once a Knight... Wrote:  Honestly, if Wichita St goes anywhere it would probably be to the AAC. Natural rival with Tulsa, peer-level basketball programs (Cincy, Memphis, Tulsa, SMU, UConn, Temple). I wonder if the Sun Belt would accept Wichita St as a football only. Sun Belt and MAC basketball would be below Wichita St, and likely below the MVC as a whole.

What's in it for the Belt if we took WSU as a football only? They'd only stay if they sucked. No point in taking them. We already have 12. We already have 2 spares hanging out there with UMass and EKU.

Basketball scheduling considerations?