What if UTEP went independent in football and left CUSA? Then joined the WAC for all other sports.

Nope. C-USA isn’t a great fit but the WAC is a big step down

Right, because NMSU is super happy with their situation.

(02-13-2021 03:51 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Nope. C-USA isn’t a great fit but the WAC is a big step down

WAC basketball may be as strong or stronger than C-USA West. Certainly NMSU is better than or equal to any C-USA school in basketball. And travel would certainly be improved over trips to ODU, etc.

Why don't they join the Wac for football too?

(02-13-2021 03:54 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  Right, because NMSU is super happy with their situation.

Agreed. They would basically be volunteering to become NMSU.

Don't see that happening

Why do so many people on this forum think independence is the answer for everyone? It basically works great for one team, ok for another.... after that... ehh.. Do you think there is anyone outside of El Paso thinking “Well damn, now that UTEP is an Indy that’s my team. Can’t wait to watch them play UMass.”

(02-13-2021 05:09 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Why do so many people on this forum think independence is the answer for everyone? It basically works great for one team, ok for another.... after that... ehh..

I think Independence would work for east coast teams like Charlotte and ODU where there are multiple realistic options for annual games.

Out west its just NMSU and BYU and BYU isn't looking to just skimp by

(02-13-2021 03:45 PM)SMUstang Wrote:  What if UTEP went independent in football and left CUSA? Then joined the WAC for all other sports.

Seems like a horrible idea for UTEP. Trade Rice, N Texas, UTSA, LaTech, and S Miss for Sam Houston, SFA, Lamar, and Abilene Christian? I just dont see it.

The WAC has enough teams that are lucky to be considered for the CBI or CIT. Don’t really need them anymore. Before the new WAC5 joined, I wouldn’t have minded.

(02-13-2021 05:09 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Why do so many people on this forum think independence is the answer for everyone? It basically works great for one team, ok for another.... after that... ehh.. Do you think there is anyone outside of El Paso thinking “Well damn, now that UTEP is an Indy that’s my team. Can’t wait to watch them play UMass.”

This is NMSU's schedule for 2021. I don't see why UTEP couldn't do at least this well making a schedule as an FBS independent.

Date New Mexico St
D1 - FBS

Feb 20, 2021 Tarleton St
Feb 27, 2021 NM Highlands
Mar 6, 2021 Dixie St

Aug 28, 2021 UTEP
Sep 4, 2021 at SDSU
Sep 11, 2021 at New Mexico
Sep 18, 2021 open
Sep 25, 2021 Hawaii
Oct 2, 2021 at San Jose St
Oct 9, 2021 at Nevada
Oct 16, 2021 Dixie St
Oct 23, 2021 at Hawaii
Oct 30, 2021 open
Nov 6, 2021 Utah St
Nov 13, 2021 at Alabama
Nov 20, 2021 at Kentucky
Nov 27, 2021 UMass

(02-13-2021 05:09 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Why do so many people on this forum think independence is the answer for everyone? It basically works great for one team, ok for another.... after that... ehh.. Do you think there is anyone outside of El Paso thinking “Well damn, now that UTEP is an Indy that’s my team. Can’t wait to watch them play UMass.”

Most of the yahoo’s on this board think they know what’s best for teams they don’t even follow or care about. Everyone is an expansion candidate for any conference! Every D2 and NAIA could make the jump to D1 with a big time donor!

UTEP’s struggles are internal not external. It’s easy to blame C-USA or any conference for that matter but the problem lies somewhere else.

UTEP is the very rare G5 that is capable of averaging 45k/10k in football and basketball. At one point it averaged over 20k season tickets holders. It’s happened before and it can happen again. The basketball program has a proud history but it’s just been mediocre. Independence in football and basketball in the WAC won’t fix anything and if there’s any hope in bringing the fans back (a core fan base of 25k in football and 7k in basketball) then independence/WAC is the way to lose them forever.

(02-13-2021 07:10 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  UTEP’s struggles are internal not external. It’s easy to blame C-USA or any conference for that matter but the problem lies somewhere else.

UTEP is the very rare G5 that is capable of averaging 45k/10k in football and basketball. At one point it averaged over 20k season tickets holders. It’s happened before and it can happen again. The basketball program has a proud history but it’s just been mediocre. Independence in football and basketball in the WAC won’t fix anything and if there’s any hope in bringing the fans back (a core fan base of 25k in football and 7k in basketball) then independence/WAC is the way to lose them forever.

UTEP does have the advantage of being the only game within 250 or more miles. And a stadium that is famous and will hold that many fans. Having lived in El Paso, I think the fans would rather see UTEP play Texas Tech, New Mexico, NMSU, Air Force than they would playing North Texas and UTSA.

Of all the FBS schools that might consider independence, I'd probably put UTEP last or close to it on my list of schools that should.

(02-13-2021 05:14 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(02-13-2021 05:09 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Why do so many people on this forum think independence is the answer for everyone? It basically works great for one team, ok for another.... after that... ehh..

I think Independence would work for east coast teams like Charlotte and ODU where there are multiple realistic options for annual games.

Out west its just NMSU and BYU and BYU isn't looking to just skimp by

I think Independence will work just fine if two more in the west do it. The big issue is you need 8-10 independents to really make it work (not really counting ND here). That gives you enough teams in geographic areas to fill the last month of the schedule. BYU's biggest issue is there is no one near them but NMST to play in November and it's only close by western US standards.

UTEP and BYU have some history, they could easily make Independence work using NMST and New Mexico along with BYU as there base schedule. Now it may not be the best option for them, as a fan pointed out their issue seems internal at this time, but really any two teams going indy in the west makes the old school viable Independence a reality, if not as good as the mid eighties.

The only option besides staying in the CUSA as is would be MW all sports.

Id say staying with a group of the western CUSA schools would also be much more desirable than FB independence.

If UTEP left the CUSA now to seek independence, Im sure NMSU would try to take their spot.

Not too many FBS college football teams get to play in a big stadium and have no NFL competition for fans within 250 miles. To name a few: UTEP, NMSU, Texas Tech, Boise State, BYU, Utah, off the top of my head. Of course Hawaii too.

(02-13-2021 11:03 PM)SMUstang Wrote:  Not too many FBS college football teams get to play in a big stadium and have no NFL competition for fans within 250 miles. To name a few: UTEP, NMSU, Texas Tech, Boise State, BYU, Utah.

New Mexico too and I would put Fresno State on the list too. They're Central California's team and have "V" in the back of their helmets as of San Joaquin Valley.

(02-13-2021 07:10 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  UTEP’s struggles are internal not external. It’s easy to blame C-USA or any conference for that matter but the problem lies somewhere else.

UTEP is the very rare G5 that is capable of averaging 45k/10k in football and basketball. At one point it averaged over 20k season tickets holders. It’s happened before and it can happen again. The basketball program has a proud history but it’s just been mediocre. Independence in football and basketball in the WAC won’t fix anything and if there’s any hope in bringing the fans back (a core fan base of 25k in football and 7k in basketball) then independence/WAC is the way to lose them forever.

Very good points and I agree. I'm not sure if many posters on this board know the tremendous fan support that UTEP has enjoyed during many points of its history.