(03-01-2024 09:08 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 11:21 PM)Turtle Power 98 Wrote:  I'd really be shocked if they moved. A lot of things have changed. Back then, the conference was down to 5 teams. They have since added 6. Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State are just over 4 hour drives. CUSA did not have a media deal back then, but now they do, and one comparable to the MAC. The basketball championship was moved from Frisco, TX to Hunstville, AL, much closer to WKU. And there is the fact that WKU signed a grant of rights and would have to pay to get out. Add in that CUSA is superior to the MAC in baseball, basketball, softball, and last year, in football, I don't get why you'd sign up for cold weather weeknight games in November in Ohio and Michigan with the conference with the worst attendance of any.

There are other things to consider besides sports when changing conferences, such as academics. I have no idea what WKU's President deems most valuable, but you can't just cite athletics as the only barometer for a conference change.

Apparently, the president at WKU is pushing hard for WKU to become an R2 institution and the MAC would be a step up academically.

(02-29-2024 11:28 PM)Eagle Talon Wrote:  This makes a lot of sense. Life can bring changes pretty fast.

The MAC really needed to have killed off CUSA when they had the chance.

They couldn't have. The other 3 would have just added more FCS schools. If the G5 wanted CUSA gone, they'd have had to have all worked to together to take every remaining team. I think that would have done it. But there were/are enough FCS schools interested that I bet CUSA survives so long as any of those last five (much less three) are still around.

Maybe not if it was just FIU. Their athletic department was in a bit of flux at that time if I remember correctly.

(03-01-2024 11:48 AM)topper1296 Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 09:08 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 11:21 PM)Turtle Power 98 Wrote:  I'd really be shocked if they moved. A lot of things have changed. Back then, the conference was down to 5 teams. They have since added 6. Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State are just over 4 hour drives. CUSA did not have a media deal back then, but now they do, and one comparable to the MAC. The basketball championship was moved from Frisco, TX to Hunstville, AL, much closer to WKU. And there is the fact that WKU signed a grant of rights and would have to pay to get out. Add in that CUSA is superior to the MAC in baseball, basketball, softball, and last year, in football, I don't get why you'd sign up for cold weather weeknight games in November in Ohio and Michigan with the conference with the worst attendance of any.

There are other things to consider besides sports when changing conferences, such as academics. I have no idea what WKU's President deems most valuable, but you can't just cite athletics as the only barometer for a conference change.

Apparently, the president at WKU is pushing hard for WKU to become an R2 institution and the MAC would be a step up academically.

Correct, the MAC would be a better academic and institutional/cultural fit.

Athletics is a mixed bag with both CUSA and the MAC having good years and lean years.

I assume WKU will follow the money. Not just the money today, but the long term finances. CUSA has solid payouts coming for the next handful of years. It will take the MAC offering at least double our current media deal to make a move worthwhile.

(03-01-2024 11:14 AM)Stugray2 Wrote:  This is not sourced, an opinion piece, apparently based on that one report we have, and then attributing the chatter about that in midwestern newsrooms as multiple sources (sloppy). We still have the single report by a Toledo Blade reporter on twitter. Not saying WKU is not talking with the MAC, just that this is not additional evidence.

I read this differently. The Daily News states that it has "a source close to the athletic administration." What did the paper learn? It was able to verify that while "the university is ... not clamoring for a relocation as it was during the near disintegration of CUSA," Western Kentucky is interested. The paper expresses its understanding of WKU's interest in the form of a double negative -- "not that WKU isn’t interested." Based on its conversation with its WKU source, the paper also notes that reports of a possible marriage between WKU and the MAC are "not inaccurate."

(03-01-2024 09:08 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 11:21 PM)Turtle Power 98 Wrote:  I'd really be shocked if they moved. A lot of things have changed. Back then, the conference was down to 5 teams. They have since added 6. Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State are just over 4 hour drives. CUSA did not have a media deal back then, but now they do, and one comparable to the MAC. The basketball championship was moved from Frisco, TX to Hunstville, AL, much closer to WKU. And there is the fact that WKU signed a grant of rights and would have to pay to get out. Add in that CUSA is superior to the MAC in baseball, basketball, softball, and last year, in football, I don't get why you'd sign up for cold weather weeknight games in November in Ohio and Michigan with the conference with the worst attendance of any.

There are other things to consider besides sports when changing conferences, such as academics. I have no idea what WKU's President deems most valuable, but you can't just cite athletics as the only barometer for a conference change.

Yeah, b/c Academics is a great reason to change (or not change) your Sports Conference affiliation. /sarcasm

I know they all do it, including the SEC Presidents, but this isn't some Academic affiliation here, it's about who you play in football/basketball/baseball/etc etc. Schools can join any number of Academic organizations that have nothing to do with their Athletics conference.

(03-01-2024 11:14 AM)Stugray2 Wrote:  This is not sourced, an opinion piece, apparently based on that one report we have, and then attributing the chatter about that in midwestern newsrooms as multiple sources (sloppy). We still have the single report by a Toledo Blade reporter on twitter. Not saying WKU is not talking with the MAC, just that this is not additional evidence.

It is additional evidence, but pretty thin for sure. I agree that we should wait and see if anything else pops up or if the story instead just goes away.

(03-01-2024 09:04 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  [quote='BruceMcF' pid='19491826' dateline='1709278758']


October Weeknights in Texas/Alabama etc ...

Between the heat and smoke inhalation.... no thanks.

(03-01-2024 11:16 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 09:04 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 02:39 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 10:40 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  Commentary published today by the Bowling Green (Ky.) Daily News:

https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/wku-m...524a3.html

Article1: "WKU considering whether to move."

CSNBBS commentators: "WKU is going to the MAC!"

Article2: "No, really, WKU is just considering whether to move. Their bags aren't packed like last time."

CSNBBS commentators: "WKU is definitely NOT going to the MAC!"

CUSA did indeed bring in a reduction in WKU's travel cost with two of the last adds. And now they are fixing to increase them again with Delaware and whomever #12 might be. CUSA does indeed have a media deal similar to the MAC's ... except midweek in October rather than November, so WKU has to sort out which is more desirable. A real big drawback to the move would be leaving their rival in CUSA ... they would have to discuss with the MAC what scheduling accommodations can be made toward maintaining the rivalry and decide how much that mitigates that downside of the move.

The article is presenting a strong "WKU is not desperate to move at this point in time" message, but whether that spinning toward a decision to stay, or is spinning toward "a carefully considered, non-desperate decision to move" is going to become clearer as more messaging comes out of the Kentucky edition of Bowling Green.

October Weeknights in Texas/Alabama etc vs November weeknights in the Great Lakes...

Pretty sure that WKU is going to keep its home games in South Central Kentucky, whichever conference it is located in.

So they will have ZERO road weeknight games? That is some pull they have.

(03-01-2024 11:48 AM)topper1296 Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 09:08 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 11:21 PM)Turtle Power 98 Wrote:  I'd really be shocked if they moved. A lot of things have changed. Back then, the conference was down to 5 teams. They have since added 6. Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State are just over 4 hour drives. CUSA did not have a media deal back then, but now they do, and one comparable to the MAC. The basketball championship was moved from Frisco, TX to Hunstville, AL, much closer to WKU. And there is the fact that WKU signed a grant of rights and would have to pay to get out. Add in that CUSA is superior to the MAC in baseball, basketball, softball, and last year, in football, I don't get why you'd sign up for cold weather weeknight games in November in Ohio and Michigan with the conference with the worst attendance of any.

There are other things to consider besides sports when changing conferences, such as academics. I have no idea what WKU's President deems most valuable, but you can't just cite athletics as the only barometer for a conference change.

Apparently, the president at WKU is pushing hard for WKU to become an R2 institution and the MAC would be a step up academically.

I don't think athletic conference is a factor in that calculation. Ohio isn't going to lend you PhD students or anything like that.

(03-01-2024 09:50 AM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 09:30 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 09:26 AM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 11:28 PM)Eagle Talon Wrote:  This makes a lot of sense. Life can bring changes pretty fast.

The MAC really needed to have killed off CUSA when they had the chance.

True, but the C-USA would have been down to FIU, Louisiana Tech and UTEP. I doubt it could rebuild with just those three. It's more likely they would have gone the independent route in football with FIU joining the ASUN in non-football, and Louisiana Tech and UTEP joining the WAC for the same reason.

I had the feeling at the time that FIU had no idea a realignment was even happening

Yeah. They seemed to be very asleep at the wheel during that time. No wonder that got left behind when FAU left for the AAC.

I didn't make it this far before replying myself - but yeah. CUSA would have survived (I think) with UTEP/Tech/FIU and maybe even with just Tech or UTEP left. FIU would be the one I wouldn't be so sure to count on pulling something together. At least at that time.

(03-01-2024 12:01 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 09:08 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(02-29-2024 11:21 PM)Turtle Power 98 Wrote:  I'd really be shocked if they moved. A lot of things have changed. Back then, the conference was down to 5 teams. They have since added 6. Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State are just over 4 hour drives. CUSA did not have a media deal back then, but now they do, and one comparable to the MAC. The basketball championship was moved from Frisco, TX to Hunstville, AL, much closer to WKU. And there is the fact that WKU signed a grant of rights and would have to pay to get out. Add in that CUSA is superior to the MAC in baseball, basketball, softball, and last year, in football, I don't get why you'd sign up for cold weather weeknight games in November in Ohio and Michigan with the conference with the worst attendance of any.

There are other things to consider besides sports when changing conferences, such as academics. I have no idea what WKU's President deems most valuable, but you can't just cite athletics as the only barometer for a conference change.

Yeah, b/c Academics is a great reason to change (or not change) your Sports Conference affiliation. /sarcasm

I know they all do it, including the SEC Presidents, but this isn't some Academic affiliation here, it's about who you play in football/basketball/baseball/etc etc. Schools can join any number of Academic organizations that have nothing to do with their Athletics conference.

If you had studied harder in your academics, you would have noticed that I didn't say academics are the only reason to change conference. I said that athletics doesn't make 100% of the decision on conference affiliation. There has to be an idea to investigate a move and academics plays a part in that, so does money, travel, rivals, tradition, history and athletics.

(03-01-2024 01:15 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  WKU should just wait for an opening in the SBC. I’d imagine they’re next.

If the SBC NEEDS to add a school, and all of the preferred additions say no, WKU will be the first call.

(03-01-2024 12:09 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  ... So they will have ZERO road weeknight games? That is some pull they have.

Sure they have road weeknight games, but what difference does it make where your road games are played? The hit on your stadium attendance is driven by your weeknight home games.

I agree with Green Bison that academics should be a factor in any decision to change conferences.

(03-01-2024 01:43 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  I agree with Green Bison that academics should be a factor in any decision to change conferences.

If that's the case, then the BIG should kick out Nebraska since they are no longer an AAU school.

(03-01-2024 01:43 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  I agree with Green Bison that academics should be a factor in any decision to change conferences.

I agree, academics and institutional profiles should be considered. It won't be at the top of the list when evaluating conference affiliation, but it is definitely on it.

You want to be amongst peers. Other universities with similar profiles when it comes to enrollment, spending, academics, missions, and goals.

It is what makes winning in football historically difficult for outliers like Rice, Vandy, Duke, etc. Their standards, athletic spending, and overall mission/goals are not always aligned with their conference mates.

(03-01-2024 01:47 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 01:43 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  I agree with Green Bison that academics should be a factor in any decision to change conferences.

If that's the case, then the BIG should kick out Nebraska since they are no longer an AAU school.

Any decision to change conferences.

Universities already members are grandfathered. Even if their tenure as members is measured in months rather than years.

{Well, mostly grandfathered (as Temple for the deets on that front).}

(03-01-2024 01:56 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 01:47 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 01:43 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  I agree with Green Bison that academics should be a factor in any decision to change conferences.

If that's the case, then the BIG should kick out Nebraska since they are no longer an AAU school.

Any decision to change conferences.

Universities already members are grandfathered. Even if their tenure as members is measured in months rather than years.

{Well, mostly grandfathered (as Temple for the deets on that front).}

I never understood why the Big East kicked out Temple in the first place. There are plenty of teams that do worse, and they remain a member of their respective conference.

(03-01-2024 01:54 PM)freshtop Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 01:43 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  I agree with Green Bison that academics should be a factor in any decision to change conferences.

I agree, academics and institutional profiles should be considered. It won't be at the top of the list when evaluating conference affiliation, but it is definitely on it.

You want to be amongst peers. Other universities with similar profiles when it comes to enrollment, spending, academics, missions, and goals.

It is what makes winning in football historically difficult for outliers like Rice, Vandy, Duke, etc. Their standards, athletic spending, and overall mission/goals are not always aligned with their conference mates.

Perhaps an FBS conference of only private schools wouldn't be a bad way to go.

(03-01-2024 04:48 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 01:56 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 01:47 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 01:43 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  I agree with Green Bison that academics should be a factor in any decision to change conferences.

If that's the case, then the BIG should kick out Nebraska since they are no longer an AAU school.

Any decision to change conferences.

Universities already members are grandfathered. Even if their tenure as members is measured in months rather than years.

{Well, mostly grandfathered (as Temple for the deets on that front).}

I never understood why the Big East kicked out Temple in the first place. There are plenty of teams that do worse, and they remain a member of their respective conference.

Temple got booted because they were absolutely horrendous (UMass-like). a ton of 1 and 2 win seasons