This is perhaps the worst year that the MWC has ever had in football. The conference was won by San Diego State, and that happened after the Aztecs were pretty hopeless in non-conference play.

Well, guess what? SDSU is 9-3, and they are hovering at around #29 if you include the "others receiving votes" list.

So the MWC champion in a really down year is perceived to be the 29th-best team in the country. Hmm... That is a far cry from what a down year for the other G5s would look like, IMO.

Of course, the MWC can't afford to have too many more football seasons like this one if it wants to keep solidifying its reputation.

(12-11-2015 06:23 PM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  Mark Berman ‏@MarkBermanFox26 · now3 minutes ago  Houston, TX

Sources confirm @RiceUniversity officials have had conversations with Mountain West Conference about potential expansion. Nothing imminent.

https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26

Awesome news. Sounds like the university is finally being proactive!

Do it. I much rather be in a conference with schools people have heard of. It should help recruiting. San Jose, Vegas, Hawaii, Colorado, San Diego, even New Mexico, just much better destinations. Boise St a better football program than anything in CUSA or AAC.

Yes please. I would think that any other Texas school in CUSA would jump at that chance. Better football, better basketball. How ould baseball be impacted. Overall, it would be a better regarded conference nationally, better TV contracts, more recognizable schools. The fact that they like us - they really, really like us - and are openly talking about us, especially our academic and athletic success, is encouraging. The news was floated out as a trial balloon, just to gauge how people would react. I would imagine that, while nothing is imminent, this may be further along than what we may originally think. If we get the invite, the athletic department and university administration should do whatever it takes to go there.

(12-12-2015 11:33 AM)Pimpa Wrote:  Yes please. I would think that any other Texas school in CUSA would jump at that chance. Better football, better basketball. How ould baseball be impacted. Overall, it would be a better regarded conference nationally, better TV contracts, more recognizable schools. The fact that they like us - they really, really like us - and are openly talking about us, especially our academic and athletic success, is encouraging. The news was floated out as a trial balloon, just to gauge how people would react. I would imagine that, while nothing is imminent, this may be further along than what we may originally think. If we get the invite, the athletic department and university administration should do whatever it takes to go there.

Again, as others have pointed out, I think JK has been proactively laying the ground works for this possibility. How/why else do you explain the future scheduling of Boise State, New Mexico and Hawaii?

This would be GREAT for the Rice. Maybe not great from a travel standpoint but there are just too many positives to this idea for the school not to be throwing itself into the MW's arms.

Everybody get excited.

This is not a post to spark the definition of "unprecedented success", debate the head coaching position, argue over relevance, or fire up a conversation about expectations. This is simply my own curiosity for opinions:

Regardless of the competition and increasing number of bowls, how impactful are our 3 straight bowl games, 3-1 bowl record since 2008, conference championship, and overall improved W/L record since 2008 on the MW's interests in Rice? How interested do we think they would actually be without the recent success we have had?

In this situation perception is reality; MWC is a better conference. It's a little hard to tell from the various reports but as far as I can tell: 1) our AD has been pounding the phones and the pavement looking for opportunities, and/or 2) the state of our program gives the impression we can add value to a better conference. Both cases reflect very well on the AD.

ETA: Holder, I agree: the recent record is being cited in these reports and analyses.

(12-12-2015 12:53 PM)Holder_Owl_84 Wrote:  This is not a post to spark the definition of "unprecedented success", debate the head coaching position, argue over relevance, or fire up a conversation about expectations. This is simply my own curiosity for opinions:

Regardless of the competition and increasing number of bowls, how impactful are our 3 straight bowl games, 3-1 bowl record since 2008, conference championship, and overall improved W/L record since 2008 on the MW's interests in Rice? How interested do we think they would actually be without the recent success we have had?

Not very interested sans our recent absolute succcess. There's no doubt our academic standing, combined with our absolute successes in baseball and football over the last few years are what has the MWC intrigued. San Diego State, Boise State, Fresno State and Utah State all had three-year runs of consecutive bowls over the same time frame we did (three of those are headed to bowls for a fourth straight year) so being able to say we were among those teams in the category was undoubtedly a great talking point to the MWC. The conference championship is yet another great accomplishment that shows them we can compete in the MWC.

That said, we absolutely have to have a better season in basketball this year and football next year, for this move to the MWC to gain more steam. You can bet they'll be watching the rest of our basketball season closely in order to see how that program fits amongst the existing schools, as well as whether our football team can come close to looking like the 2013 squad. Maybe it doesn't make a difference (I mean, UTEP's football has been worse than ours over the past five years), but another crappy season in football isn't going to excite anyone at the MWC. We'll need to step up our game in both basketball and football if we join the MWC, or we can kiss goodbye any more bowl streaks, much less an additional conference championship.

(12-12-2015 12:53 PM)Holder_Owl_84 Wrote:  This is not a post to spark the definition of "unprecedented success", debate the head coaching position, argue over relevance, or fire up a conversation about expectations. This is simply my own curiosity for opinions:

Regardless of the competition and increasing number of bowls, how impactful are our 3 straight bowl games, 3-1 bowl record since 2008, conference championship, and overall improved W/L record since 2008 on the MW's interests in Rice? How interested do we think they would actually be without the recent success we have had?

Nice to have thrashed MWC teams in our last two bowl wins.

I'm sure that our recent program investments - and likely promise of more - have also been part of the business case.

And make no mistake - this is a business case.

(12-12-2015 12:53 PM)Holder_Owl_84 Wrote:  This is not a post to spark the definition of "unprecedented success", debate the head coaching position, argue over relevance, or fire up a conversation about expectations. This is simply my own curiosity for opinions:

Regardless of the competition and increasing number of bowls, how impactful are our 3 straight bowl games, 3-1 bowl record since 2008, conference championship, and overall improved W/L record since 2008 on the MW's interests in Rice? How interested do we think they would actually be without the recent success we have had?

Doesn't hurt that last 2 bowl wins came against MWC teams.

(12-12-2015 12:53 PM)Holder_Owl_84 Wrote:  This is not a post to spark the definition of "unprecedented success", debate the head coaching position, argue over relevance, or fire up a conversation about expectations. This is simply my own curiosity for opinions:

Regardless of the competition and increasing number of bowls, how impactful are our 3 straight bowl games, 3-1 bowl record since 2008, conference championship, and overall improved W/L record since 2008 on the MW's interests in Rice? How interested do we think they would actually be without the recent success we have had?

Zilch, unless of course you think this year's 5-7 record and sub-Top 100 ranking offset whatever positive the previous 3 years provided. Again, outsiders and casual fans look beyond simply W - L record, and they know full well that virtually any FBS team with a pulse makes a bowl game. More likely they look at final rankings, and we've cracked the Top 75 (barely) over the past 5 years fewer times than we were ranked outside the top 100.

(12-12-2015 01:33 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  

(12-12-2015 12:53 PM)Holder_Owl_84 Wrote:  This is not a post to spark the definition of "unprecedented success", debate the head coaching position, argue over relevance, or fire up a conversation about expectations. This is simply my own curiosity for opinions:

Regardless of the competition and increasing number of bowls, how impactful are our 3 straight bowl games, 3-1 bowl record since 2008, conference championship, and overall improved W/L record since 2008 on the MW's interests in Rice? How interested do we think they would actually be without the recent success we have had?

Not very interested sans our recent absolute succcess. There's no doubt our academic standing, combined with our absolute successes in baseball and football over the last few years are what has the MWC intrigued. San Diego State, Boise State, Fresno State and Utah State all had three-year runs of consecutive bowls over the same time frame we did (three of those are headed to bowls for a fourth straight year) so being able to say we were among those teams in the category was undoubtedly a great talking point to the MWC. The conference championship is yet another great accomplishment that shows them we can compete in the MWC.

That said, we absolutely have to have a better season in basketball this year and football next year, for this move to the MWC to gain more steam. You can bet they'll be watching the rest of our basketball season closely in order to see how that program fits amongst the existing schools, as well as whether our football team can come close to looking like the 2013 squad. Maybe it doesn't make a difference (I mean, UTEP's football has been worse than ours over the past five years), but another crappy season in football isn't going to excite anyone at the MWC. We'll need to step up our game in both basketball and football if we join the MWC, or we can kiss goodbye any more bowl streaks, much less an additional conference championship.

As odd as it may seem, this may actually be a case where our baseball program success and national prominence is factoring into the discussion-- in our favor. Let's not forget, that both Fresno State and SDS consider themselves quality baseball programs, as does Hawaii, and the conference sufferred mightily RPI-wise with the departure of TCU several years back.

(12-12-2015 03:20 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-12-2015 01:33 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  

(12-12-2015 12:53 PM)Holder_Owl_84 Wrote:  This is not a post to spark the definition of "unprecedented success", debate the head coaching position, argue over relevance, or fire up a conversation about expectations. This is simply my own curiosity for opinions:

Regardless of the competition and increasing number of bowls, how impactful are our 3 straight bowl games, 3-1 bowl record since 2008, conference championship, and overall improved W/L record since 2008 on the MW's interests in Rice? How interested do we think they would actually be without the recent success we have had?

Not very interested sans our recent absolute succcess. There's no doubt our academic standing, combined with our absolute successes in baseball and football over the last few years are what has the MWC intrigued. San Diego State, Boise State, Fresno State and Utah State all had three-year runs of consecutive bowls over the same time frame we did (three of those are headed to bowls for a fourth straight year) so being able to say we were among those teams in the category was undoubtedly a great talking point to the MWC. The conference championship is yet another great accomplishment that shows them we can compete in the MWC.

That said, we absolutely have to have a better season in basketball this year and football next year, for this move to the MWC to gain more steam. You can bet they'll be watching the rest of our basketball season closely in order to see how that program fits amongst the existing schools, as well as whether our football team can come close to looking like the 2013 squad. Maybe it doesn't make a difference (I mean, UTEP's football has been worse than ours over the past five years), but another crappy season in football isn't going to excite anyone at the MWC. We'll need to step up our game in both basketball and football if we join the MWC, or we can kiss goodbye any more bowl streaks, much less an additional conference championship.

As odd as it may seem, this may actually be a case where our baseball program success and national prominence is factoring into the discussion-- in our favor. Let's not forget, that both Fresno State and SDS consider themselves quality baseball programs, as does Hawaii, and the conference sufferred mightily RPI-wise with the departure of TCU several years back.

As much as I'd like it to be the case, it's really difficult to believe baseball can substantially influence conference change. And your dismissal of the recent football record is in direct conflict with a large portion of the Internet dialog (including some reporting/analysis) on this news.

(12-12-2015 03:16 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-12-2015 12:53 PM)Holder_Owl_84 Wrote:  This is not a post to spark the definition of "unprecedented success", debate the head coaching position, argue over relevance, or fire up a conversation about expectations. This is simply my own curiosity for opinions:

Regardless of the competition and increasing number of bowls, how impactful are our 3 straight bowl games, 3-1 bowl record since 2008, conference championship, and overall improved W/L record since 2008 on the MW's interests in Rice? How interested do we think they would actually be without the recent success we have had?

Zilch, unless of course you think this year's 5-7 record and sub-Top 100 ranking offset whatever positive the previous 3 years provided. Again, outsiders and casual fans look beyond simply W - L record, and they know full well that virtually any FBS team with a pulse makes a bowl game. More likely they look at final rankings, and we've cracked the Top 75 (barely) over the past 5 years fewer times than we were ranked outside the top 100.

I mean, you do realize that there are teams in the Mountain West Conference that have not been to two consecutive bowl games, much less three, no? We're not going to come into the conference and dominate in football, but we certainly are a better team than a decent amount of teams that are in there now.

If you actually believe the MWC is choosing us solely because of baseball, academics and Houston location, I just can't agree with that. Baseball doesn't move the needle, football and basketball do.

(12-12-2015 03:16 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-12-2015 12:53 PM)Holder_Owl_84 Wrote:  This is not a post to spark the definition of "unprecedented success", debate the head coaching position, argue over relevance, or fire up a conversation about expectations. This is simply my own curiosity for opinions:

Regardless of the competition and increasing number of bowls, how impactful are our 3 straight bowl games, 3-1 bowl record since 2008, conference championship, and overall improved W/L record since 2008 on the MW's interests in Rice? How interested do we think they would actually be without the recent success we have had?

Zilch, unless of course you think this year's 5-7 record and sub-Top 100 ranking offset whatever positive the previous 3 years provided. Again, outsiders and casual fans look beyond simply W - L record, and they know full well that virtually any FBS team with a pulse makes a bowl game. More likely they look at final rankings, and we've cracked the Top 75 (barely) over the past 5 years fewer times than we were ranked outside the top 100.

The casual fan goes down the final rankings list starting at 1 and stops at 25.

(12-12-2015 04:14 PM)S.A. Owl Wrote:  The casual fan goes down the final rankings list starting at 1 and stops at 25.

I think this is true. I also think it is true of most sportswriters and sportscasters. Whether we are 75th or 100th matters little. Whether we are top 25 or not matters. And we haven't sniffed top 25 in ages.

I think our women programs are a definite plus for the MWC accept for basketball but it is up and coming.

(12-12-2015 04:04 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  

(12-12-2015 03:16 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(12-12-2015 12:53 PM)Holder_Owl_84 Wrote:  This is not a post to spark the definition of "unprecedented success", debate the head coaching position, argue over relevance, or fire up a conversation about expectations. This is simply my own curiosity for opinions:

Regardless of the competition and increasing number of bowls, how impactful are our 3 straight bowl games, 3-1 bowl record since 2008, conference championship, and overall improved W/L record since 2008 on the MW's interests in Rice? How interested do we think they would actually be without the recent success we have had?

Zilch, unless of course you think this year's 5-7 record and sub-Top 100 ranking offset whatever positive the previous 3 years provided. Again, outsiders and casual fans look beyond simply W - L record, and they know full well that virtually any FBS team with a pulse makes a bowl game. More likely they look at final rankings, and we've cracked the Top 75 (barely) over the past 5 years fewer times than we were ranked outside the top 100.

I mean, you do realize that there are teams in the Mountain West Conference that have not been to two consecutive bowl games, much less three, no? We're not going to come into the conference and dominate in football, but we certainly are a better team than a decent amount of teams that are in there now.

If you actually believe the MWC is choosing us solely because of baseball, academics and Houston location, I just can't agree with that. Baseball doesn't move the needle, football and basketball do.