(05-04-2016 10:43 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Honestly, if the MAC didn't do what it did to UMass, Wichita State might have followed that direction, placing hoops in the A10 and letting football run amok there, assuming MAC wanted them.

If the MAC wanted a struggling football program while another conference benefited off the programs basketball program, they would have kept UMass who is a more attractive university and whose football program wouldn't be quite as terrible. Just like UMass the MAC would only want Wichita State if they brought their bball program with them. The MAC as a basketball conference isn't as much of a downgrade for Wichita State as UMass leaving A10 for the MAC. I still don't feel Wichita State would agree to it.

(05-04-2016 10:43 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Honestly, if the MAC didn't do what it did to UMass, Wichita State might have followed that direction, placing hoops in the A10 and letting football run amok there, assuming MAC wanted them.

That option would actually have been better for Wichita State: they would live with a football-only membership in the MAC or Sun Belt if they could stay in the MVC until (in their best case scenario) getting an all-sports invite to the AAC or MWC. However, we have seen that neither the MAC nor Sun Belt seem to have any interest in football-only members that are clearly looking to do just that. The irony is that the G5 leagues have actually gotten more restrictive since they want to limit the number of mouths they have to feed from CFP revenue and lower amounts of TV money, whereas a league like the Big Ten is actually considering affiliate memberships that they never would have even imagined 10 or 15 years ago because they're growing the size of their pie.

(05-04-2016 07:29 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 07:27 AM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  Wichita State can come to the American without football we have 11 members for basketball need one more. Also they have a good baseball program that will fit in the conference.

Football can be built in FCS for a few years then move up to independent for four years then join the conference. Join sooner if someone leaves.

The original article says, regarding the Shockers in the MWC:

Quote: One source told CBS Sports that it's a simple case of economics. The league would be splitting its media rights revenue 12 ways instead of 11 in basketball if it added the Shockers.

One MWC source considered it unlikely that Mountain West's media rightsholders (ESPN, CBS Sports Network) would renegotiate their current contracts to include additional revenue for a 12th basketball school.

Why would either of those points be different for the AAC?

ESPN might rework the tv contract if the MWC adds Wichita State. It would give the MWC more basketball credits, and become more of a multi-bid league. UTEP as number 14 for football and 13 for basketball would make the MWC to 14.

(05-04-2016 09:45 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(05-03-2016 10:46 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  I've said it a million time that CUSA should be considering Wichita State as a way to jump start its basketball success.

Minimal FBS program in CUSA...no problem look at Charlotte.

AAC is and should expect more in FB.

The thing is that Wichita State is not going to start football in order to join C-USA. That's simply not a step up in basketball compared to MVC (and is an overall step down). It would be one thing if I really thought Wichita State wanted to start football because it really wants to play football, but I don't get that feeling. Instead, they seem to have come to the sober conclusion that there is absolutely no chance for them to get into a better basketball league as-is, which means that their only shot at a better league is to have FBS football. A better basketball league is the end goal for Wichita State, NOT adding football in and of itself.

As I've stated before, Wichita State is in a complete box and a classic "Think like a university president and not like a fan" case regarding conference realignment. Fans generally just see Wichita State's performance on-the-court and think that they're going to be attractive to a lot of conferences. The reality, though, is that they don't have any of the off-the-field attributes that any of the conferences that are a clear step up from the MVC (the P5 leagues, Big East, AAC, A-10, MWC and WCC) want from a school, whether it's institutional and academic profile for the Big East and WCC, geography and markets for the A-10, and many of the above plus the lack of a football program for the AAC and MWC.

As we see now with UMass, even a school that has a lot of the attributes that university presidents actually LOVE in conference realignment (e.g. flagship university with solid academics in a large population state with strong ties to large markets), the willingness to take a start-up FBS program is actually very low even for the Sun Belt, much less the MWC and AAC, no matter how good the basketball program might be. Wichita State is actually in a significantly worse position than UMass when it comes to the factors that have actually ended up mattering in conference realignment... and look at how UMass football is homeless right now.

On the flip side, note that UMass refused to join the MAC as an all-sports member because they couldn't stomach a basketball downgrade from the A-10. Much like Wichita State now, the UMass end game was really to add FBS football for the purpose of getting into then-Big East/now-AAC because it would be a boon for basketball, so when that didn't come to fruition, we now see UMass saddled with a nomad football program. Wichita State is looking pretty much the exact same way with respect to their desire to join the MWC, only that Wichita State offers a much worse market and doesn't carry the same academic reputation.

Once again, think like a university president and not like a fan. Always remember this rule as opposed to what might have happened in the NCAA Tournament or a bowl game last year. Why would Wichita State end up with better options than a large market flagship school like UMass by starting up FBS football?

Dayton is in the same boat as Wichita State. They want into a better basketball conference, but they are blocked from joining the Big East because of Xavier. If they want into like AAC? They may have to do a major upgrade for football. Dayton have more than Wichita State. Academics, large tv market, already have a pretty good football team in the Pioneer League, good basketball and other issues. Wichita State beats them in the stadium size.

(05-04-2016 11:29 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 07:29 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 07:27 AM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  Wichita State can come to the American without football we have 11 members for basketball need one more. Also they have a good baseball program that will fit in the conference.

Football can be built in FCS for a few years then move up to independent for four years then join the conference. Join sooner if someone leaves.

The original article says, regarding the Shockers in the MWC:

Quote: One source told CBS Sports that it's a simple case of economics. The league would be splitting its media rights revenue 12 ways instead of 11 in basketball if it added the Shockers.

One MWC source considered it unlikely that Mountain West's media rightsholders (ESPN, CBS Sports Network) would renegotiate their current contracts to include additional revenue for a 12th basketball school.

Why would either of those points be different for the AAC?

ESPN might rework the tv contract if the MWC adds Wichita State. It would give the MWC more basketball credits, and become more of a multi-bid league. UTEP as number 14 for football and 13 for basketball would make the MWC to 14.

No, Craig Thompson has stated that the TV execs will not rework the TV deal with expansion. It was the concern about discussing UTEP and Rice.

(05-04-2016 11:56 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 11:29 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 07:29 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 07:27 AM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  Wichita State can come to the American without football we have 11 members for basketball need one more. Also they have a good baseball program that will fit in the conference.

Football can be built in FCS for a few years then move up to independent for four years then join the conference. Join sooner if someone leaves.

The original article says, regarding the Shockers in the MWC:

Quote: One source told CBS Sports that it's a simple case of economics. The league would be splitting its media rights revenue 12 ways instead of 11 in basketball if it added the Shockers.

One MWC source considered it unlikely that Mountain West's media rightsholders (ESPN, CBS Sports Network) would renegotiate their current contracts to include additional revenue for a 12th basketball school.

Why would either of those points be different for the AAC?

ESPN might rework the tv contract if the MWC adds Wichita State. It would give the MWC more basketball credits, and become more of a multi-bid league. UTEP as number 14 for football and 13 for basketball would make the MWC to 14.

No, Craig Thompson has stated that the TV execs will not rework the TV deal with expansion. It was the concern about discussing UTEP and Rice.

Rice is not good for anything but baseball. That is why they said no. UTEP's football is not that bad. Their basketball is better. UTEP does get viewers when they are on ESPN for football. They drew over 30,000 when they hosted Oklahoma a few years ago. It does not say if the 2 right teams could upped the tv contracts as well. I just don't see Rice in any realignment discussions but just people dreaming that they are a big thing like Texas.

I think Wichita fans know an immediate jump to the MWC or AAC is unlikely but obviously would be best case scenario.

In talking to other fans, I think there could be some openness to spending some time in the MAC if they'd take us. All sports. Less so with the Belt, but it'd be considered. I ran some numbers a while back based on RPI and the MVC without Wichita really isn't better than, or much better than, either the MAC or Belt. And if the MAC were willing to take us, knowing we would be hoping to use them as a stepping stone, and wanted to add another and considered UNI, they could basically end the basketball threat of the MVC and add a solid sports program in UNI long term.

I believe with the announcement of Wichita looking at options, other MVC schools have started looking at what they can do to give themselves possible opportunities elsewhere. I believe Missouri State and Illinois State have previously looked at trying to move up and could be looking at ways to make it more possible moving forward. For as long as the MVC was pretty stable, there are a number of schools looking at ways to get out. Though a lot of that could depend on how far realignment goes in the next cycle and who needs to replace what.

And no doubt Texas is more attractive. The one thing KS has in regards to football is one of the best JC conferences in the country. The Jayhawk often has three or four ranked teams and a couple of them are constantly in the hunt for a national title. Butler CC a few miles down the road from Wichita has won a number of titles and Hutch CC just up the road is usually loaded with talent as well. It's not a ton of HS talent necessarily, but a lot of JC talent.

I'd also point out the adding football goes beyond athletics for President Bardo. He's working to grow the campus and improve our academic and research status as well as our influence in the region. The development of our Innovation Campus along with football can do a lot of good for Wichita and the region if done correctly.

(05-04-2016 12:16 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 11:56 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 11:29 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 07:29 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 07:27 AM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  Wichita State can come to the American without football we have 11 members for basketball need one more. Also they have a good baseball program that will fit in the conference.

Football can be built in FCS for a few years then move up to independent for four years then join the conference. Join sooner if someone leaves.

The original article says, regarding the Shockers in the MWC:

Quote: One source told CBS Sports that it's a simple case of economics. The league would be splitting its media rights revenue 12 ways instead of 11 in basketball if it added the Shockers.

One MWC source considered it unlikely that Mountain West's media rightsholders (ESPN, CBS Sports Network) would renegotiate their current contracts to include additional revenue for a 12th basketball school.

Why would either of those points be different for the AAC?

ESPN might rework the tv contract if the MWC adds Wichita State. It would give the MWC more basketball credits, and become more of a multi-bid league. UTEP as number 14 for football and 13 for basketball would make the MWC to 14.

No, Craig Thompson has stated that the TV execs will not rework the TV deal with expansion. It was the concern about discussing UTEP and Rice.

Rice is not good for anything but baseball. That is why they said no. UTEP's football is not that bad. Their basketball is better. UTEP does get viewers when they are on ESPN for football. They drew over 30,000 when they hosted Oklahoma a few years ago. It does not say if the 2 right teams could upped the tv contracts as well. I just don't see Rice in any realignment discussions but just people dreaming that they are a big thing like Texas.

ya you're probably right...although Rice would probably benefit if Houston left for a P5 conference. I think the American would grab Rice pretty quickly as a replacement. They'd fit perfectly with Tulane, Tulsa, SMU, and Navy...

I've thought Rice would work in the B1G barring any other Texas teams joining, but I don't think the B1G sees the wisdom in that...too many other big fish

(05-04-2016 12:27 PM)SubGod22 Wrote:  I think Wichita fans know an immediate jump to the MWC or AAC is unlikely but obviously would be best case scenario.

In talking to other fans, I think there could be some openness to spending some time in the MAC if they'd take us. All sports. Less so with the Belt, but it'd be considered. I ran some numbers a while back based on RPI and the MVC without Wichita really isn't better than, or much better than, either the MAC or Belt. And if the MAC were willing to take us, knowing we would be hoping to use them as a stepping stone, and wanted to add another and considered UNI, they could basically end the basketball threat of the MVC and add a solid sports program in UNI long term.

I believe with the announcement of Wichita looking at options, other MVC schools have started looking at what they can do to give themselves possible opportunities elsewhere. I believe Missouri State and Illinois State have previously looked at trying to move up and could be looking at ways to make it more possible moving forward. For as long as the MVC was pretty stable, there are a number of schools looking at ways to get out. Though a lot of that could depend on how far realignment goes in the next cycle and who needs to replace what.

And no doubt Texas is more attractive. The one thing KS has in regards to football is one of the best JC conferences in the country. The Jayhawk often has three or four ranked teams and a couple of them are constantly in the hunt for a national title. Butler CC a few miles down the road from Wichita has won a number of titles and Hutch CC just up the road is usually loaded with talent as well. It's not a ton of HS talent necessarily, but a lot of JC talent.

Wichita State leaving the MVC for MAC probably makes the MAC better than the MVC for basketball, but that MAC wouldn't be as good with Wichita State as the MVC currently is. Any kind of agreement would likely need to come with a 5+ year commitment from Wichita State or a decent size buyout.

Personally I'd be for it as it would provide instant credibility for MAC basketball and would give teams like Akron, Buffalo, and Ohio a chance to get their name out there. In the long-term it would likely be Wichita State best chance to get into the AAC. Wichita State would take a beating in the MAC West for football, but it would be a good stepping stone to help prepare them for the competition they will encounter in the AAC.

Well, the real story is that if I were Wichita State I would go ahead and start an FCS team with D1 facilities. I'm sure the AAC would welcome them for Olympic sports.

Why not just join as a non football member with the promise of bring in football after a few years of FCS or if another member leaves.

(05-04-2016 01:41 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 12:27 PM)SubGod22 Wrote:  I think Wichita fans know an immediate jump to the MWC or AAC is unlikely but obviously would be best case scenario.

In talking to other fans, I think there could be some openness to spending some time in the MAC if they'd take us. All sports. Less so with the Belt, but it'd be considered. I ran some numbers a while back based on RPI and the MVC without Wichita really isn't better than, or much better than, either the MAC or Belt. And if the MAC were willing to take us, knowing we would be hoping to use them as a stepping stone, and wanted to add another and considered UNI, they could basically end the basketball threat of the MVC and add a solid sports program in UNI long term.

I believe with the announcement of Wichita looking at options, other MVC schools have started looking at what they can do to give themselves possible opportunities elsewhere. I believe Missouri State and Illinois State have previously looked at trying to move up and could be looking at ways to make it more possible moving forward. For as long as the MVC was pretty stable, there are a number of schools looking at ways to get out. Though a lot of that could depend on how far realignment goes in the next cycle and who needs to replace what.

And no doubt Texas is more attractive. The one thing KS has in regards to football is one of the best JC conferences in the country. The Jayhawk often has three or four ranked teams and a couple of them are constantly in the hunt for a national title. Butler CC a few miles down the road from Wichita has won a number of titles and Hutch CC just up the road is usually loaded with talent as well. It's not a ton of HS talent necessarily, but a lot of JC talent.

Wichita State leaving the MVC for MAC probably makes the MAC better than the MVC for basketball, but that MAC wouldn't be as good with Wichita State as the MVC currently is. Any kind of agreement would likely need to come with a 5+ year commitment from Wichita State or a decent size buyout.

Personally I'd be for it as it would provide instant credibility for MAC basketball and would give teams like Akron, Buffalo, and Ohio a chance to get their name out there. In the long-term it would likely be Wichita State best chance to get into the AAC. Wichita State would take a beating in the MAC West for football, but it would be a good stepping stone to help prepare them for the competition they will encounter in the AAC.

I think this would benefit both sides if you guys could lock them into an eight year deal. Their football team would get to become FBS and their basketball team would still have a decent conference. For the MAC you guys would get to beef up basketball and get any tourney credits they make during the time.

(05-04-2016 12:16 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 11:56 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 11:29 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 07:29 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 07:27 AM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  Wichita State can come to the American without football we have 11 members for basketball need one more. Also they have a good baseball program that will fit in the conference.

Football can be built in FCS for a few years then move up to independent for four years then join the conference. Join sooner if someone leaves.

The original article says, regarding the Shockers in the MWC:

Quote: One source told CBS Sports that it's a simple case of economics. The league would be splitting its media rights revenue 12 ways instead of 11 in basketball if it added the Shockers.

One MWC source considered it unlikely that Mountain West's media rightsholders (ESPN, CBS Sports Network) would renegotiate their current contracts to include additional revenue for a 12th basketball school.

Why would either of those points be different for the AAC?

ESPN might rework the tv contract if the MWC adds Wichita State. It would give the MWC more basketball credits, and become more of a multi-bid league. UTEP as number 14 for football and 13 for basketball would make the MWC to 14.

No, Craig Thompson has stated that the TV execs will not rework the TV deal with expansion. It was the concern about discussing UTEP and Rice.

Rice is not good for anything but baseball. That is why they said no. UTEP's football is not that bad. Their basketball is better. UTEP does get viewers when they are on ESPN for football. They drew over 30,000 when they hosted Oklahoma a few years ago. It does not say if the 2 right teams could upped the tv contracts as well. I just don't see Rice in any realignment discussions but just people dreaming that they are a big thing like Texas.

Actually UTEP drew 40k when hosting Oklahoma and that was a disappointed. Best year for avg attendance in FB was 47k back in Price's early tenure. MBB normally has good attendance but only in the 7-8k range lately with only 1 sellout of 12k this past season. They need to start winning in both sports to get the fans back and to have any shot at moving to the MWC if an opening occurs sometime down the line.

(05-04-2016 01:50 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 12:16 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 11:56 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 11:29 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 07:29 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  The original article says, regarding the Shockers in the MWC: Why would either of those points be different for the AAC?

ESPN might rework the tv contract if the MWC adds Wichita State. It would give the MWC more basketball credits, and become more of a multi-bid league. UTEP as number 14 for football and 13 for basketball would make the MWC to 14.

No, Craig Thompson has stated that the TV execs will not rework the TV deal with expansion. It was the concern about discussing UTEP and Rice.

Rice is not good for anything but baseball. That is why they said no. UTEP's football is not that bad. Their basketball is better. UTEP does get viewers when they are on ESPN for football. They drew over 30,000 when they hosted Oklahoma a few years ago. It does not say if the 2 right teams could upped the tv contracts as well. I just don't see Rice in any realignment discussions but just people dreaming that they are a big thing like Texas.

Actually UTEP drew 40k when hosting Oklahoma and that was a disappointed. Best year for avg attendance in FB was 47k back in Price's early tenure. MBB normally has good attendance but only in the 7-8k range lately with only 1 sellout of 12k this past season. They need to start winning in both sports to get the fans back and to have any shot at moving to the MWC if an opening occurs sometime down the line.

Plus, UTEP is just old school WAC....seems like they belong back with their brethren...

Just this time, bring UTSA and Texas State with you, create a good southwest wing

(05-04-2016 09:45 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(05-03-2016 10:46 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  I've said it a million time that CUSA should be considering Wichita State as a way to jump start its basketball success.

Minimal FBS program in CUSA...no problem look at Charlotte.

AAC is and should expect more in FB.

The thing is that Wichita State is not going to start football in order to join C-USA. That's simply not a step up in basketball compared to MVC (and is an overall step down). It would be one thing if I really thought Wichita State wanted to start football because it really wants to play football, but I don't get that feeling. Instead, they seem to have come to the sober conclusion that there is absolutely no chance for them to get into a better basketball league as-is, which means that their only shot at a better league is to have FBS football. A better basketball league is the end goal for Wichita State, NOT adding football in and of itself.

As I've stated before, Wichita State is in a complete box and a classic "Think like a university president and not like a fan" case regarding conference realignment. Fans generally just see Wichita State's performance on-the-court and think that they're going to be attractive to a lot of conferences. The reality, though, is that they don't have any of the off-the-field attributes that any of the conferences that are a clear step up from the MVC (the P5 leagues, Big East, AAC, A-10, MWC and WCC) want from a school, whether it's institutional and academic profile for the Big East and WCC, geography and markets for the A-10, and many of the above plus the lack of a football program for the AAC and MWC.

As we see now with UMass, even a school that has a lot of the attributes that university presidents actually LOVE in conference realignment (e.g. flagship university with solid academics in a large population state with strong ties to large markets), the willingness to take a start-up FBS program is actually very low even for the Sun Belt, much less the MWC and AAC, no matter how good the basketball program might be. Wichita State is actually in a significantly worse position than UMass when it comes to the factors that have actually ended up mattering in conference realignment... and look at how UMass football is homeless right now.

On the flip side, note that UMass refused to join the MAC as an all-sports member because they couldn't stomach a basketball downgrade from the A-10. Much like Wichita State now, the UMass end game was really to add FBS football for the purpose of getting into then-Big East/now-AAC because it would be a boon for basketball, so when that didn't come to fruition, we now see UMass saddled with a nomad football program. Wichita State is looking pretty much the exact same way with respect to their desire to join the MWC, only that Wichita State offers a much worse market and doesn't carry the same academic reputation.

Once again, think like a university president and not like a fan. Always remember this rule as opposed to what might have happened in the NCAA Tournament or a bowl game last year. Why would Wichita State end up with better options than a large market flagship school like UMass by starting up FBS football?

Wichita State would've been a perfect fit in C-USA 1.0 which was mostly urban schools with a rich tradition in basketball in a hybrid conference. The other two versions, 2.0 and 3.0 would not been a good fit since basketball was diluted and even though the conference has a basketball core of 5 schools with basketball tradition (UAB, UTEP, WKU, ODU, Charlotte), it's still not worth the move. Plus, is the conference willing to go hybrid just for Wichita State? If that's the case, why not offer the same deal to New Mexico State? The TV contract will take a hit, is WSU that worthy to get less money from the TV partners just to get instant basketball cred? What happens when their basketball program takes a hit? It's not a matter of just Wichita State thinking about those issues, but every G5 conference plus the A-10, WCC and Big East would ask the same questions. Your UMass analogy was spot on and UMass is in a much better position than Wichita State and look at them now.

(05-04-2016 01:43 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  Well, the real story is that if I were Wichita State I would go ahead and start an FCS team with D1 facilities. I'm sure the AAC would welcome them for Olympic sports.

Why not just join as a non football member with the promise of bring in football after a few years of FCS or if another member leaves.

If that were an option I'm sure we'd take it. The plan, if it happens, won't be to build FCS level facilities. We will start play in an old stadium that has had some work done over the years to upgrade it some and keep in compliant and seats a little over 31k. But I have no doubt that while we would begin play there, plans for a new stadium on campus would be in the works. But we could raise money for that over the first 5 years or so if need be. I would hope that whatever we'd build would be built with future expansion in mind as well.

I do think it's most likely that we start somewhere else with the hopes of landing in the AAC/MWC down the road. Time will tell what path we take. I'm excited for the feasibility study to be finished and released. Supposed to be this month.

(05-04-2016 01:57 PM)EvilVodka Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 01:50 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 12:16 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 11:56 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 11:29 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  ESPN might rework the tv contract if the MWC adds Wichita State. It would give the MWC more basketball credits, and become more of a multi-bid league. UTEP as number 14 for football and 13 for basketball would make the MWC to 14.

No, Craig Thompson has stated that the TV execs will not rework the TV deal with expansion. It was the concern about discussing UTEP and Rice.

Rice is not good for anything but baseball. That is why they said no. UTEP's football is not that bad. Their basketball is better. UTEP does get viewers when they are on ESPN for football. They drew over 30,000 when they hosted Oklahoma a few years ago. It does not say if the 2 right teams could upped the tv contracts as well. I just don't see Rice in any realignment discussions but just people dreaming that they are a big thing like Texas.

Actually UTEP drew 40k when hosting Oklahoma and that was a disappointed. Best year for avg attendance in FB was 47k back in Price's early tenure. MBB normally has good attendance but only in the 7-8k range lately with only 1 sellout of 12k this past season. They need to start winning in both sports to get the fans back and to have any shot at moving to the MWC if an opening occurs sometime down the line.

Plus, UTEP is just old school WAC....seems like they belong back with their brethren...

Just this time, bring UTSA and Texas State with you, create a good southwest wing

I think UTEP has the support of the Front Range schools, they were on record they wanted to get reunited with UTEP. More than likely the opposition comes from the Pacific Division schools. They don't want another school that will automatically become an ally and vote with the Front Range schools. Had UTEP said yes in 2012, San Jose State would more than likely suffered the same fate as Idaho. They're very lucky UTEP was stupid to say no and they got invited instead.

(05-04-2016 01:47 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 01:41 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 12:27 PM)SubGod22 Wrote:  I think Wichita fans know an immediate jump to the MWC or AAC is unlikely but obviously would be best case scenario.

In talking to other fans, I think there could be some openness to spending some time in the MAC if they'd take us. All sports. Less so with the Belt, but it'd be considered. I ran some numbers a while back based on RPI and the MVC without Wichita really isn't better than, or much better than, either the MAC or Belt. And if the MAC were willing to take us, knowing we would be hoping to use them as a stepping stone, and wanted to add another and considered UNI, they could basically end the basketball threat of the MVC and add a solid sports program in UNI long term.

I believe with the announcement of Wichita looking at options, other MVC schools have started looking at what they can do to give themselves possible opportunities elsewhere. I believe Missouri State and Illinois State have previously looked at trying to move up and could be looking at ways to make it more possible moving forward. For as long as the MVC was pretty stable, there are a number of schools looking at ways to get out. Though a lot of that could depend on how far realignment goes in the next cycle and who needs to replace what.

And no doubt Texas is more attractive. The one thing KS has in regards to football is one of the best JC conferences in the country. The Jayhawk often has three or four ranked teams and a couple of them are constantly in the hunt for a national title. Butler CC a few miles down the road from Wichita has won a number of titles and Hutch CC just up the road is usually loaded with talent as well. It's not a ton of HS talent necessarily, but a lot of JC talent.

Wichita State leaving the MVC for MAC probably makes the MAC better than the MVC for basketball, but that MAC wouldn't be as good with Wichita State as the MVC currently is. Any kind of agreement would likely need to come with a 5+ year commitment from Wichita State or a decent size buyout.

Personally I'd be for it as it would provide instant credibility for MAC basketball and would give teams like Akron, Buffalo, and Ohio a chance to get their name out there. In the long-term it would likely be Wichita State best chance to get into the AAC. Wichita State would take a beating in the MAC West for football, but it would be a good stepping stone to help prepare them for the competition they will encounter in the AAC.

I think this would benefit both sides if you guys could lock them into an eight year deal. Their football team would get to become FBS and their basketball team would still have a decent conference. For the MAC you guys would get to beef up basketball and get any tourney credits they make during the time.

I don't think it would help the MAC much. First, the MAC would have another bad football team, and about the time they stop being an anchor they're gone. Second, although Wichita State would obviously bump the competitiveness in the MAC, we'd get little prestige from having them since everyone would know they're just an interloper and will be gone as soon as their football internship in the MAC is done. Then, the MAC would have to add another school to balance the divisions, and we'd be dividing our money by 14 instead of 12. Then, when Wichita State left, we'd have 13 again, and would have to get someone else, so we'd be stuck with 14 schools indefinitely.

(05-04-2016 03:11 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 01:47 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 01:41 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 12:27 PM)SubGod22 Wrote:  I think Wichita fans know an immediate jump to the MWC or AAC is unlikely but obviously would be best case scenario.

In talking to other fans, I think there could be some openness to spending some time in the MAC if they'd take us. All sports. Less so with the Belt, but it'd be considered. I ran some numbers a while back based on RPI and the MVC without Wichita really isn't better than, or much better than, either the MAC or Belt. And if the MAC were willing to take us, knowing we would be hoping to use them as a stepping stone, and wanted to add another and considered UNI, they could basically end the basketball threat of the MVC and add a solid sports program in UNI long term.

I believe with the announcement of Wichita looking at options, other MVC schools have started looking at what they can do to give themselves possible opportunities elsewhere. I believe Missouri State and Illinois State have previously looked at trying to move up and could be looking at ways to make it more possible moving forward. For as long as the MVC was pretty stable, there are a number of schools looking at ways to get out. Though a lot of that could depend on how far realignment goes in the next cycle and who needs to replace what.

And no doubt Texas is more attractive. The one thing KS has in regards to football is one of the best JC conferences in the country. The Jayhawk often has three or four ranked teams and a couple of them are constantly in the hunt for a national title. Butler CC a few miles down the road from Wichita has won a number of titles and Hutch CC just up the road is usually loaded with talent as well. It's not a ton of HS talent necessarily, but a lot of JC talent.

Wichita State leaving the MVC for MAC probably makes the MAC better than the MVC for basketball, but that MAC wouldn't be as good with Wichita State as the MVC currently is. Any kind of agreement would likely need to come with a 5+ year commitment from Wichita State or a decent size buyout.

Personally I'd be for it as it would provide instant credibility for MAC basketball and would give teams like Akron, Buffalo, and Ohio a chance to get their name out there. In the long-term it would likely be Wichita State best chance to get into the AAC. Wichita State would take a beating in the MAC West for football, but it would be a good stepping stone to help prepare them for the competition they will encounter in the AAC.

I think this would benefit both sides if you guys could lock them into an eight year deal. Their football team would get to become FBS and their basketball team would still have a decent conference. For the MAC you guys would get to beef up basketball and get any tourney credits they make during the time.

I don't think it would help the MAC much. First, the MAC would have another bad football team, and about the time they stop being an anchor they're gone. Second, although Wichita State would obviously bump the competitiveness in the MAC, we'd get little prestige from having them since everyone would know they're just an interloper and will be gone as soon as their football internship in the MAC is done. Then, the MAC would have to add another school to balance the divisions, and we'd be dividing our money by 14 instead of 12. Then, when Wichita State left, we'd have 13 again, and would have to get someone else, so we'd be stuck with 14 schools indefinitely.

Would your opinion change if EMU was to drop football and the MAC needed a 12th member?...

(05-04-2016 03:55 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 03:11 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 01:47 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 01:41 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 12:27 PM)SubGod22 Wrote:  I think Wichita fans know an immediate jump to the MWC or AAC is unlikely but obviously would be best case scenario.

In talking to other fans, I think there could be some openness to spending some time in the MAC if they'd take us. All sports. Less so with the Belt, but it'd be considered. I ran some numbers a while back based on RPI and the MVC without Wichita really isn't better than, or much better than, either the MAC or Belt. And if the MAC were willing to take us, knowing we would be hoping to use them as a stepping stone, and wanted to add another and considered UNI, they could basically end the basketball threat of the MVC and add a solid sports program in UNI long term.

I believe with the announcement of Wichita looking at options, other MVC schools have started looking at what they can do to give themselves possible opportunities elsewhere. I believe Missouri State and Illinois State have previously looked at trying to move up and could be looking at ways to make it more possible moving forward. For as long as the MVC was pretty stable, there are a number of schools looking at ways to get out. Though a lot of that could depend on how far realignment goes in the next cycle and who needs to replace what.

And no doubt Texas is more attractive. The one thing KS has in regards to football is one of the best JC conferences in the country. The Jayhawk often has three or four ranked teams and a couple of them are constantly in the hunt for a national title. Butler CC a few miles down the road from Wichita has won a number of titles and Hutch CC just up the road is usually loaded with talent as well. It's not a ton of HS talent necessarily, but a lot of JC talent.

Wichita State leaving the MVC for MAC probably makes the MAC better than the MVC for basketball, but that MAC wouldn't be as good with Wichita State as the MVC currently is. Any kind of agreement would likely need to come with a 5+ year commitment from Wichita State or a decent size buyout.

Personally I'd be for it as it would provide instant credibility for MAC basketball and would give teams like Akron, Buffalo, and Ohio a chance to get their name out there. In the long-term it would likely be Wichita State best chance to get into the AAC. Wichita State would take a beating in the MAC West for football, but it would be a good stepping stone to help prepare them for the competition they will encounter in the AAC.

I think this would benefit both sides if you guys could lock them into an eight year deal. Their football team would get to become FBS and their basketball team would still have a decent conference. For the MAC you guys would get to beef up basketball and get any tourney credits they make during the time.

I don't think it would help the MAC much. First, the MAC would have another bad football team, and about the time they stop being an anchor they're gone. Second, although Wichita State would obviously bump the competitiveness in the MAC, we'd get little prestige from having them since everyone would know they're just an interloper and will be gone as soon as their football internship in the MAC is done. Then, the MAC would have to add another school to balance the divisions, and we'd be dividing our money by 14 instead of 12. Then, when Wichita State left, we'd have 13 again, and would have to get someone else, so we'd be stuck with 14 schools indefinitely.

Would your opinion change if EMU was to drop football and the MAC needed a 12th member?...

Possibly. I don't think EMU is going anywhere though.