So, The MWC has decided not to expand and invite our brethren Rice and UTEP to their beloved conference. For the time being. Folks on the AAC board seem to be more interested in this story than us. Should we be concerned? I for one am proud to have the Miners and the Owls in CUSA. What do you guys think?

General consensus on the Rice board is to move.

It's not happening yet, but it was great to hear that conversations are happening. I did not expect an invite at this time, but it is great to hear that Rice is finally being proactive.

The best time for UTEP and Rice to move is prior to the TV contract negotiations, a small window that will allow a move to MWC without a big penalty.

Rice and UTEP have benefited the most from CUSA 3.0. How many bowl games did they make prior to?

I think it'd be in their best interest to go if the opportunity arises. CUSA should never have went over 12 members anyways. I'd say 99.9% of the USM and MU crowd want out also.

(12-14-2015 10:25 PM)polkhigh Wrote:  I think it'd be in their best interest to go if the opportunity arises. CUSA should never have went over 12 members anyways. I'd say 99.9% of the USM and MU crowd want out also.

Everyone wants out. Every program wants to move on to bigger and better things.

(12-14-2015 10:19 PM)SApuro Wrote:  Rice and UTEP have benefited the most from CUSA 3.0. How many bowl games did they make prior to?

CUSA has been very good to/for UTEP. Both the 2.0 version and the current incarnation. CUSA-west is a great fit for us. As others have mentioned in the original thread, nobody can blame a school for trying to position itself for the MWC and/or AAC.

(12-14-2015 10:38 PM)RonBurgundy Wrote:  

(12-14-2015 10:25 PM)polkhigh Wrote:  I think it'd be in their best interest to go if the opportunity arises. CUSA should never have went over 12 members anyways. I'd say 99.9% of the USM and MU crowd want out also.

Everyone wants out. Every program wants to move on to bigger and better things.

USM and MU aren't special in that regard. Like this LA Tech poster said, everybody wants out...

How "REAL" is this? Last I recalled Rice and UTEP fans didn't want to go back to the MWC/WAC because of who is there and what not. Has what CUSA has become finally broken the camel's back for you guys?

I can't speak for Rice, or for the UTEP fan base for that matter, but I think most UTEP fans would have wanted to leave even CUSA 2.0 for the MWC.

The WAC we left, and the MWC conference, are very very different things.

Edited to add: There is no real problem with CUSA 3.0. The MWC rumor was just an opportunity to move up. Nothing against CUSA at all.

And to think just last year everyone on this board considered the MWC a move down. People are so fickle.

(12-15-2015 12:25 AM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  How "REAL" is this? Last I recalled Rice and UTEP fans didn't want to go back to the MWC/WAC because of who is there and what not. Has what CUSA has become finally broken the camel's back for you guys?

I dont think it was ever real. How much do those 2 add to the mwc tv deal? Not enough to justify the exit and entrance fees.

I would think us, tech, marshall and western would like the situation we are in. dont screw up and you have the best shot at the new years 6.

(12-15-2015 02:00 AM)SigNuTopper Wrote:  And to think just last year everyone on this board considered the MWC a move down. People are so fickle.

I don't remember that at all. Especially from the UTEP fan base. We have been very consistent.

UTEP makes perfect geographic sense for the MWC. The Miners should move to the MWC at the first opportunity they get.

Rice, not so much. La Tech has been there and done that, and it simply didn't work very well. Those long flights to Hawaii, California, Utah, and Idaho start to wear on a team over a season. Especially if you ever have (like we did), back to back away games on the west coast. That kind of travel can be brutal for student athletes.

But for UH, I'm sure Rice would have been taken by the AAC over Tulane and Tulsa. That's a barrier that Rice just can't do anything about and it's one that will probably keep the Owls in CUSA for quite some time.

It's just a rumor, but where there's smoke, there's usually fire. The two side have had discussions. I don't know if the MWC is using Rice and UTEP to make BYU jealous or if they're really sincere in their interest. Maybe they're just getting prepared for when/if things start realigning again. I do know that they'd love the Houston market. CUSA has been good to Rice, especially in football. I've always felt like the conference has a lot of potential. I think we're fine where we are, but I think a move will probably happen. The travel would be hard on the students.

Tech has been there and done the whole west coast thing. Yeah it was nice playing a ranked Boise State every year in football and a usually good Fresno State and Hawaii team but having zero away fans come to games and having no chance to make road games blew. Conference USA is much better to be in for Tech in my honest opinion. The only edge the Mountain West has over CUSA is basketball. UTEP is the only team that actually makes sense to go to the Mountain West just because of the proximity to New Mexico and being a primarily basketball school.

(12-15-2015 10:16 AM)RonBurgundy Wrote:  Tech has been there and done the whole west coast thing. Yeah it was nice playing a ranked Boise State every year in football and a usually good Fresno State and Hawaii team but having zero away fans come to games and having no chance to make road games blew. Conference USA is much better to be in for Tech in my honest opinion. The only edge the Mountain West has over CUSA is basketball. UTEP is the only team that actually makes sense to go to the Mountain West just because of the proximity to New Mexico and being a primarily basketball school.

Yeah, I've never been a fan of the idea of flying across the country to play on goofy blue astroturf either.

Two things that I have come across that prompted the MW to discuss expansion.
Rice made overtures to the MW about membership, UTEP did not. UTEP was a tag along for fill in at #14 if they desired. Each school would need to bring $3.5 million in additional revenue to break even or some combo to meet the $7 million for 2 schools.

The MW is in its 3rd year under the current alignment. Things are settling in and while expansion isn't in the cards, the MW is willing to listen and discuss the fit.

I don't think there is any backhand pressure to bring BYU back. Half of the conference really doesn't want them back and the MW is more stable and the schools have the same mission and values. BYU uses athletics as a mission to spread the religion. That isn't to say that the MW is against taking religious schools (i.e. TCU) but ones that its sole purpose is to spread its faith.

(12-15-2015 03:35 AM)Thegoldstandard Wrote:  

(12-15-2015 12:25 AM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  How "REAL" is this? Last I recalled Rice and UTEP fans didn't want to go back to the MWC/WAC because of who is there and what not. Has what CUSA has become finally broken the camel's back for you guys?

I dont think it was ever real. How much do those 2 add to the mwc tv deal? Not enough to justify the exit and entrance fees.

I would think us, tech, marshall and western would like the situation we are in. dont screw up and you have the best shot at the new years 6.

Agreed

(12-15-2015 10:52 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  Two things that I have come across that prompted the MW to discuss expansion.
Rice made overtures to the MW about membership, UTEP did not. UTEP was a tag along for fill in at #14 if they desired. Each school would need to bring $3.5 million in additional revenue to break even or some combo to meet the $7 million for 2 schools.

The MW is in its 3rd year under the current alignment. Things are settling in and while expansion isn't in the cards, the MW is willing to listen and discuss the fit.

I don't think there is any backhand pressure to bring BYU back. Half of the conference really doesn't want them back and the MW is more stable and the schools have the same mission and values. BYU uses athletics as a mission to spread the religion. That isn't to say that the MW is against taking religious schools (i.e. TCU) but ones that its sole purpose is to spread its faith.

TCU despite it's church affiliation, is hardly a religious school. More like a place that Rodney Da9ngerfield would attend.

Just being honest but C-USA is behind the AAC and MWC in football. Both conference have played and won multiple BCS/New Year's Bowl. Until we win one or at least play for one we will remain behind them.

Any team that wouldn't jump at a chance to move to one of those conferences is foolish.

While we have some good football teams we lack the name brand recognition. Two years ago an undefeated Marshall was behind a two loss Boise team in the CFP rankings. I fear that unless we have a perfect storm we might never sniff the Access Bowl. We need an undefeated team and we need the MW and AAC to really crap the bed.

While we are glad to be here instead of the Sun Belt we also have higher ambitions and will not be content until we are back with our old rivals. Be it UNM, Colorado St, SDSU or UH, SMU Memphis.