And I'm with you NoDak, on this topic. Denver wants the WCC first. That is their primary target and where they fit the best. The Missouri Valley is second on their list. The Big West is either third or fourth. In any case, Denver's brass would deem all those members acceptable as peer institutions. No issues with Pepperdine, Northern Iowa or Long Beach State.

(09-13-2016 02:57 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  Thanks jd. According to USCHO, Denver had 18 home men's hockey games and averaged 5,123 attendance. http://www.uscho.com/stats/attendance/di...2015-2016/

Obviously no one touches UND, which I believe averages more for a home men's hockey game - at 19 games a year - than a football game!

Before our new hockey arena was built, hockey attendance was below what Denver has now. Goes to show what first class facilities do for areas that don't have pro teams. Our football with a new on campus domed stadium will do wonders for attendance. UND hockey games are must for anybody that needs to be seen in the state. NDSU football has gained that status too.

It's not just the higher number of games. UND hockey will also host the big boys like Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Yale, Ohio State, UMD, etc. They have national championships. They will continue to compete for national championships and send players to the NHL. They don't have that hosting luxury for football (yet?)

(09-13-2016 03:08 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  And I'm with you NoDak, on this topic. Denver wants the WCC first. That is their primary target and where they fit the best. The Missouri Valley is second on their list. The Big West is either third or fourth. In any case, Denver's brass would deem all those members acceptable as peer institutions. No issues with Pepperdine, Northern Iowa or Long Beach State.

Still think the Big West is preferable over the Mo Valley for Denver. The Mo Valley doesn't have standout academics, and if Wichita St leaves their basketball would not be much better than the Slummit. Denver likes California and east coast alignments for student and even athlete recruiting.

A new WAC without GCU, UVU, and Chicago St would suit Denver fine though! Keep that in mind!

(09-13-2016 03:17 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  It's not just the higher number of games. UND hockey will also host the big boys like Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Yale, Ohio State, UMD, etc. They have national championships. They will continue to compete for national championships and send players to the NHL. They don't have that hosting luxury for football (yet?)

The hockey arena has marble floors and leather seats and was donated off of Vegas Casino money, but still has collegiate Gothic architecture . Football plays in the city owned Alerus Center, which also hosts concerts and conventions. The city can't afford to marble the concourses and has cheaper plastics seats. A plan for a domed stadium on campus has been rendered, but not paid for.

Can't see Denver as realistic option for Big West, with no baseball.

I believe Denver was asked to start baseball and softball to join the MVC. They declined.

A Las Cruces column from April of this year. It was the first time the Big West was mentioned as a possibility for NMSU. Take it for whatever it's worth. As long as NMSU remains in limbo, the BW will be a possibility.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/sports/c.../83724144/

If FCS is truly the way to go for New Mexico State, the Missouri Valley or the Southland makes more sense. If NMSU wants to continue life with sports in multiple leagues or as a football independent, the Horizon League or the Big West could be a better option than the WAC.

UND to Summit/MVFC, NMSU to Big West/MVFC?


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(09-13-2016 03:59 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  A Las Cruces column from April of this year. It was the first time the Big West was mentioned as a possibility for NMSU. Take it for whatever it's worth. As long as NMSU remains in limbo, the BW will be a possibility.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/sports/c.../83724144/

If FCS is truly the way to go for New Mexico State, the Missouri Valley or the Southland makes more sense. If NMSU wants to continue life with sports in multiple leagues or as a football independent, the Horizon League or the Big West could be a better option than the WAC.

What is the hold up on UCSD to the Big West?

There are some older conferences that were considered major conferences before the division of large and small universities like RMAC which Denver, Colorado, Colorado State, and Northern Colorado were founding members. Lonestar at D2 was considered a major conference back then as well. The Pacific Northwest of D3 was also founded by Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State and Idaho along with some of the schools that are still there like Pacific-Oregon, Willamette, Puget Sound and so forth. There are a couple of older California conferences at the lower divisions that were considered major at the time. Back then, you did not have the SEC, ACC, Big 12 or the PAC 12. Southern Conference, Missouri Valley Conference, RMAC, Border Conference, Big 10, Big 8 and the PCC. Southern Conference was the mega-conference at the time. Many of the schools today were independent at the time.

if RMAC stayed at the top level at D1? Would Denver move back there? RMAC sponsors LAX, and some schools could really helped out other conferences for sports like Colorado Mesa have sand volleyball.

(09-13-2016 04:30 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  

(09-13-2016 03:59 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  A Las Cruces column from April of this year. It was the first time the Big West was mentioned as a possibility for NMSU. Take it for whatever it's worth. As long as NMSU remains in limbo, the BW will be a possibility.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/sports/c.../83724144/

If FCS is truly the way to go for New Mexico State, the Missouri Valley or the Southland makes more sense. If NMSU wants to continue life with sports in multiple leagues or as a football independent, the Horizon League or the Big West could be a better option than the WAC.

What is the hold up on UCSD to the Big West?

Midmajormadness just did a writeup on UCSD. The Big West hasn't given them a formal invite yet, but it is presumed to be coming.

(09-13-2016 03:54 PM)SubGod22 Wrote:  I believe Denver was asked to start baseball and softball to join the MVC. They declined.

The WAC when it was down to Denver, Seattle, Idaho, and NMSU would have realigned with the Big Sky if Denver and Seattle had started football. Denver and Seattle see the Big Sky as an upgrade over their current situations even now, but fb is apparently a must.

(09-13-2016 07:24 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(09-13-2016 04:30 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote:  What is the hold up on UCSD to the Big West?

Midmajormadness just did a writeup on UCSD. The Big West hasn't given them a formal invite yet, but it is presumed to be coming.

I don't think the invitation is as guaranteed as some folks make it out to be. The last thing the BW wants or needs is another SoCal RPI anchor. There is a real concern about conference RPI and the damage UCSD would cause in the short and intermediate term. They should receive an invite but I won't be completely shocked if they are snubbed again.

The Big West is the UC/CSU conference, Hawaii notwithstanding.

UCSD is guaranteed in.

Nice to read all the Denver talk in here. As a 35+ year Pioneer fan, it's been interesting to watch the rise of the athletic program to become the top non-football athletic program in the country in seven of the last eight years. The Pios get great bang for the $28 million sports budget they have - 2016 Frozen Four in hockey, 2016 NCAA ski champ, 2015 NCAA men's lacrosse championship, 2106 NCAA tourney appearances for M Soccer, W. Volleyball, W. Gymnastics, Tennis, Golf, Swimming. etc, especially when you consider that 85% of DU away games are jet flights and consider our unique east-coast private school sports mix. The biggest remaining heavy lifts are to get the men's basketball program into an NCAA-tournament calibre program, which would help in the conference affilation game, which is still very tough lift for DU. The Summit was league #11 last year in mens hoops RPI out of 32, which is much stronger than many other conferences, so any delusions DU had about ever dominating the league are now gone. I still think the Pioneers would like to be in the WCC with the other privates, but even if DU did get in if BYU leaves for the Big 12, I don't think many of those WCC schools are going to draw any more fans in Denver than the Summit League schools do, outside of maybe Gonzaga.

It's also interesting that the Big East now has DU as an affiliate member in mens and women's lacrosse. Given Creighton is a full big East Member now, it's not out of the realm of possibility that if DU's hoops team can get to an NCAA calibre program, that conference might be an option someday (albeit a longshot). I am sure the Pioneers would love play in an elite private school league.

The Big West isn't really an option for DU right now, not so much for its sports prowess (which is is good) but given its primary role as a conference for California public schools, for which DU is not really a fit there culturally. Giiven DU's 15 long years as a cultural misfit in the Sun Belt, it is not something the school wants to sign up for again...

The other option that might someday happen is perhaps a bunch of conference-disgruntled privates could band together to do something together.

I don't see DU ever having football again. It's a financial game only a few schools can play to win these days, and DU wants to be nationally relevant in the sports it plays. Baseball/Softball are probably a $5-8 million lift to get started, and if a donor could be found to float that kind of incentive, I could see the Pioneers perhaps doing it in return for the right conference fit.

Denver is one of those funky schools that I think would be a fun conference member. They have decent academics. So do the Big West members. Denver has been strong in men's soccer recently, a Big West staple. They are starting to become regulars in the NCAAs in volleyball. Another top-100 program to go with Long Beach State and Hawaii. They wouldn't be that much of a misfit. The baseball / softball angle might be too much to overcome though.

Denver will improve any conference they can join. You just have to look past basketball and see the whole picture.

(09-22-2016 11:43 AM)jdgaucho Wrote:  Denver is one of those funky schools that I think would be a fun conference member. They have decent academics. So do the Big West members. Denver has been strong in men's soccer recently, a Big West staple. They are starting to become regulars in the NCAAs in volleyball. Another top-100 program to go with Long Beach State and Hawaii. They wouldn't be that much of a misfit. The baseball / softball angle might be too much to overcome though.

Denver will improve any conference they can join. You just have to look past basketball and see the whole picture.

I still think the best fit for DU is the WCC but we are happy to have them in the SLC for now. It will be fun to see what Billups can do in Men's BB. One thing is for sure, their style of play will be changing and they will be far more fun to watch, and to play.

Hey Puck, Denver's current home is comprised of public schools with the exception of Oral Roberts. And the WCC is mostly a California conference as well. Just saying

(09-22-2016 02:09 PM)jacksfan29 Wrote:  I still think the best fit for DU is the WCC but we are happy to have them in the SLC for now. It will be fun to see what Billups can do in Men's BB. One thing is for sure, their style of play will be changing and they will be far more fun to watch, and to play.

Denver is thriving in the Summit in non-basketball sports, especially volleyball and men's soccer. It's a decent fit for them geographically.