(12-19-2015 01:42 PM)HarborPointe Wrote:  Here's the thing. I VERY seriously doubt Rice is the only school that has initiated contact with another conference, and I have a VERY hard time believing Rice-UTEP-MWC is the only such conversation taking place at the moment. Every school should have feelers out all over the place for best case, worst case, and everything in between. Heck, there's probably even a couple of Big 12 schools who are lining up contingency plans for if they get left behind. Anyone who's administration is just sitting around waiting for the phone to ring has the wrong people in charge. This particular discussion just managed to go public.

I can't for the life of me find the bloody story, but ODU's beat writer did a comprehensive story about ODU's search for a new conference when it was obvious that CAA was no longer a viable option for what it wanted to do. They asked pretty much every conference with a pulse, including the ACC, which just no, and the Mountain West, even though Norfolk is only west compared to Europe and its "mountain" is a landfill turned into a park. But yeah, everyone's having casual conversations about their future. It'd be suicide not to.

(12-19-2015 12:12 AM)SoMs Eagle Wrote:  Go right ahead.......the MWC needs their version of Tulane too

Belated congratulations on your second win against Rice in six tries, and your first win at Rice stadium.

(12-19-2015 12:00 AM)WIowl Wrote:  

(12-18-2015 11:07 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  This is simply not true. Boise St was literally a junior college at one point, Nevada-Reno is a step child in their own state, and SJSU, SDSU and Fresno St are all members of the weaker California State University system, not the state's pride and joy Univ of California system. I could go on, but other than the U.S. Air Force Academy, none of the MWC institutions are academic juggernauts.

Not so fast, you say MWC institutions are not academic juggernauts, yet most are ranked better than CUSA, including LaTech.

(posted on the Rice board)
"Using the USN&WR rankings:

Colorado State, #127 national universities
San Diego State, #149 national universities
Hawaii, #161 national universities
Wyoming, #168 national universities
New Mexico, #180 national universities
Nevada-Reno, #187 national universities
Nevada-Las Vegas, national universities other
Utah State, national universities other
Air Force, #29 national liberal arts colleges
San Jose State, #39 regional universities west
Fresno, #52 regional universities west
Boise, #61 regional universities west

And if BYU returned, they are #66 national universities.

Not exactly the Ivy League, but let's compare to CUSA:

UAB, #149 national universities
Charlotte, #194 national universities
La Tech, #199 national universities
Florida Atlantic, national universities other
Florida International, national universities other
Middle Tennessee, national universities other
North Texas, national universities other
Old Dominion, national universities other
Southern Miss, national universities other
UTEP, national universities other
UTSA, national universities other
Western Kentucky, #31 regional universities south
Marshall, #45 regional universities south"

So yes, MWC is much better than CUSA in academics.

Yeah that is a very weak argument there Owl. With the AAC, I could see your point because of Tulane, SMU, and Tulsa. But MWC has got no academic heavyweight besides the service academy Air Force.

Yes, MWC has some tier 1 schools like Tech but there is not much difference between a 187 ranking and a 199 ranking. Whereas the elite privates in the AAC are all sub 100 unlike the MWC which has no sub 100 ranking schools

(12-19-2015 04:22 PM)Dawgxas Wrote:  

(12-19-2015 12:00 AM)WIowl Wrote:  

(12-18-2015 11:07 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  This is simply not true. Boise St was literally a junior college at one point, Nevada-Reno is a step child in their own state, and SJSU, SDSU and Fresno St are all members of the weaker California State University system, not the state's pride and joy Univ of California system. I could go on, but other than the U.S. Air Force Academy, none of the MWC institutions are academic juggernauts.

Not so fast, you say MWC institutions are not academic juggernauts, yet most are ranked better than CUSA, including LaTech.

(posted on the Rice board)
"Using the USN&WR rankings:

Colorado State, #127 national universities
San Diego State, #149 national universities
Hawaii, #161 national universities
Wyoming, #168 national universities
New Mexico, #180 national universities
Nevada-Reno, #187 national universities
Nevada-Las Vegas, national universities other
Utah State, national universities other
Air Force, #29 national liberal arts colleges
San Jose State, #39 regional universities west
Fresno, #52 regional universities west
Boise, #61 regional universities west

And if BYU returned, they are #66 national universities.

Not exactly the Ivy League, but let's compare to CUSA:

UAB, #149 national universities
Charlotte, #194 national universities
La Tech, #199 national universities
Florida Atlantic, national universities other
Florida International, national universities other
Middle Tennessee, national universities other
North Texas, national universities other
Old Dominion, national universities other
Southern Miss, national universities other
UTEP, national universities other
UTSA, national universities other
Western Kentucky, #31 regional universities south
Marshall, #45 regional universities south"

So yes, MWC is much better than CUSA in academics.

Yeah that is a very weak argument there Owl. With the AAC, I could see your point because of Tulane, SMU, and Tulsa. But MWC has got no academic heavyweight besides the service academy Air Force.

Yes, MWC has some tier 1 schools like Tech but there is not much difference between a 187 ranking and a 199 ranking. Whereas the elite privates in the AAC are all sub 100 unlike the MWC which has no sub 100 ranking schools

Rice isn't going to make a jump to the ACC, Big 10 or Pac 12 that would have academic peers so we might as well get closer than we are now. I'd like to at least have Air Force in our conference, right now we have no one even close after losing Tulsa/Tulane/SMU and it a lot of alums hate it. I agree the MWC isn't an academic powerhouse conference though...

(12-16-2015 12:55 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(12-15-2015 10:14 PM)TodgeRodge Wrote:  

(12-15-2015 09:53 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(12-15-2015 08:43 PM)TodgeRodge Wrote:  offering PhDs does not necessarily make any school a top ranked university

Many of the Cal State schools are very difficult to get into and offer high quality academics

Perhaps but the Cal State schools will forever be behind the UC schools. Cal State-San Diego aka SDSU has increased its academic profile but it will never reach the status of UC-San Diego. The powers that be in Sacramento will make sure the status quo stays.

that does not mean they are not very high quality universities especially when compared to other public schools outside of California

Other than San Diego State which I noted has increased its academic profile, what are the other ones? Northridge? Sacramento? Fullerton? Dominguez Hills? San Bernardino? L.A.? Bakersfield? Fresno? Long Beach? The Cal Poly schools?

Cal Poly has freshman class metrics that are similar to some UC schools

http://admissions.calpoly.edu/prospective/profile.html

http://admission.universityofcalifornia....n-profile/

.13 difference in HS gpa

same ACT

30 point difference in SAT

and again the fact that not all of them are on the level of UC schools does not mean they are not very high quality universities.....using only UC schools as a comparison factor is just silly considering the rankings and stature of UC schools relative to most in the nation

(12-19-2015 10:34 AM)StandingInEE Wrote:  

(12-18-2015 01:56 PM)Dawgxas Wrote:  

(12-18-2015 10:19 AM)StandingInEE Wrote:  

(12-15-2015 08:52 PM)born in the burg Wrote:  Guys, the truth is that there is very, very little difference between the G5 conferences. Some have brands that are worth more due to name recognition and market. Otherwise, there is no discernible difference.

Everyone is starting to realize this, thus the conferences are finally going to let common sense prevail and a more geographically friendly G5 (or possibly G4) will emerge. In the end, this will be better for everyone.

The above is true for MWC, CUSA, and Sunbelt. The MAC has known this bit of wisdom for eons. We all know what we are now. The AAC is the only G5 left with an elitist attitude. They will fall back to earth when the final schools with upward mobility go.

Again, amusing.

The AAC distribution was 16 million more than CUSA's last year. No difference???

Should the AAC lose schools with upward mobility who will they backfill with? They will pick CUSA programs that bring them the most benefit, further weakening CUSA.

It's a never ending cycle that has been going on for years now.

Did you add in the 1.5 million more CUSA got than the AAC from the CFP revenue sharing? About 14.5 million difference shared between 11 schools= 1.3 million difference. Whereas the P5 school difference would probably be close to 15-20 million+ more than G5 schools. Do you see the difference now????

"Goys the truth is there is very very little difference between the G5 conferences".

AAC Revenue: 40 million, 3.3 million per school
CUSA Revenue: 24 million, 1.7 million per school

So when you can damn near double your conference pay out from one conference to the next I would hardly say that is very little difference.

Of course that difference doesn't compare with The P6, but none of us are going there so what's your point.

Red Herring. This thread is about Rice and UTEP engaging the MWC about membership, not the AAC. You might as well throw in the SEC and Big 10 for your comparison purposes.

The UTEP-to-MWC rumors are sparking up again.

http://krod.com/rumors-flying-that-utep-...onference/

MWC isn't going to add any teams and UTEP isn't leaving

Has the bridge salesman come around yet?

The 600 AM espn radio guy sure is anti-C-USA. Steve Kaplowitz.Sounds like he is just crusading.

UTEP, just make sure the UAB/ UTEP series doesn't end anytime soon.

(04-25-2016 04:35 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  The UTEP-to-MWC rumors are sparking up again.

http://krod.com/rumors-flying-that-utep-...witter_top

Link didn't work. Maybe you were looking for the Rice aac link?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qylRPcpcdo

(04-25-2016 07:20 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(04-25-2016 04:35 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  The UTEP-to-MWC rumors are sparking up again.

http://krod.com/rumors-flying-that-utep-...witter_top

Link didn't work. Maybe you were looking for the Rice aac link?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qylRPcpcdo

Should be fixed now. Won't click link because I'm at work and they told me that if I get Rickrolled one more time I'm fired.

But, if we have to stay in the G5, I prefer the following scenario of Rice in a new combined "Central" division of 8 current G5 schools from an article on SBnation last year:

Quote:Realignment Never Dies
By Jason Jones SBN on Jul 13, 2015

The Ultimate MWC-AAC Mega-Conference

In response to the Super 64 getting together and leaving everyone else behind - The AAC and MWC could form a mega-conference of their own. This would be a 32 team league that together might be strong enough to keep a seat at the table.

This is assuming UCONN and Cincy to the ACC.

West Coast Division: Fresno, San Jose, SDSU, Hawaii, Nevada, UNLV, Utah State, Wyoming

Mountain Division: Colorado State, Air Force, Boise, New Mexico, UTEP, Kansas State, Iowa State, Tulsa.

Central: Houston, Rice, SMU, Tulane, USM, UAB, LA Tech, Memphis

East Coast: USF, UCF, ECU, Marshall, Temple, Navy, Toledo, Old Dominion

This would probably create a merger of the Sun Belt and the remaining CUSA schools.

Charlotte, Georgia State, FIU, FAU, Georgia Southern, App State, WKU, MTSU

Texas State, UNT, UTSA, ULL, ULM, Arkansas State, Troy, South Alabama

I have yet to see a Miner fan post on here that they wouldn't jump at an invitation. I don't want UTEP to go, but it looks like the new media deal is about as close to no deal as you can get. So, I wouldn't be mad at them if they did leave.

If our media deal turns out to be garbage, then everyone at the conference office needs to be fired.

If UTEP does leave, we should not replace them.

(04-25-2016 04:35 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  The UTEP-to-MWC rumors are sparking up again.

http://krod.com/rumors-flying-that-utep-...onference/

Uncertainty of conference school membership during an already uncertain TV contract negotiation. Can't help.

(04-25-2016 07:31 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  But, if we have to stay in the G5, I prefer the following scenario of Rice in a new combined "Central" division of 8 current G5 schools from an article on SBnation last year:

Quote:Realignment Never Dies
By Jason Jones SBN on Jul 13, 2015

The Ultimate MWC-AAC Mega-Conference

In response to the Super 64 getting together and leaving everyone else behind - The AAC and MWC could form a mega-conference of their own. This would be a 32 team league that together might be strong enough to keep a seat at the table.

This is assuming UCONN and Cincy to the ACC.

West Coast Division: Fresno, San Jose, SDSU, Hawaii, Nevada, UNLV, Utah State, Wyoming

Mountain Division: Colorado State, Air Force, Boise, New Mexico, UTEP, Kansas State, Iowa State, Tulsa.

Central: Houston, Rice, SMU, Tulane, USM, UAB, LA Tech, Memphis

East Coast: USF, UCF, ECU, Marshall, Temple, Navy, Toledo, Old Dominion

This would probably create a merger of the Sun Belt and the remaining CUSA schools.

Charlotte, Georgia State, FIU, FAU, Georgia Southern, App State, WKU, MTSU

Texas State, UNT, UTSA, ULL, ULM, Arkansas State, Troy, South Alabama

that central division would be pretty nice

another lateral move realignment thread...I thought there was a board for this nonsense...

(04-25-2016 09:49 PM)nastybunch Wrote:  another lateral move realignment thread...I thought their was a board for this nonsense...

It is pretty much the boring season for sports message boards so a rumor like this is now on every board I've seen. This started with a poster on one of the more obscure Miner message boards who claimed that he was told by a source he says is "very reliable" that UTEP would be making a conference chance within a few months.

The only reason I think it is possibly true is that the poster who said this is not one who posts rumors that I've ever seen. Someone could be jerking his chain, of course.

The December MWC meetings that ended with a "no expansion at this time" statement did acknowledge that they discussed UTEP and Rice. If MWC expansion happens now it would likely be with both of those schools. For UTEP it would mean realigning with several old rivals and make sense geographically but for Rice it would mean some long trips. I certainly can't put much stock in this but time will tell.

outside of Boise, MWC isn't much better than CUSA and Rice wouldn't be doing their baseball program any favors by leaving