(02-18-2025 11:58 PM)UIWElite Wrote:  

(02-18-2025 09:35 PM)Itinerant Texan Wrote:  

(02-18-2025 08:41 PM)UIWElite Wrote:  

(02-18-2025 10:34 AM)BlueDragon Wrote:  Seriously, this guy is crowing about a conference of broke Louisiana schools that don't want to go FBS. Of course they don't. They are subsidized by the state to actually be D1 schools. The Southland is basically a D2 Conference posing as a D1.

I am in no way crowing about the SLC, only pointing out facts. If the SLC is basically a D2 conference, what does that say about the WAC? 3 schools left the WAC to join it and another backed out of joining.

Dude if Tarleton, ACU and UTA were to move to the SLC, they OWN the SLC. That's the difference. Level of competition is superior, more exposure and no Louisiana schools to pacify. I personally think the WAC will (and should) survive. WAC > SLC

East Texas A&M has only won 3 games this season and 1 of them was over ACU. ACU also lost to SFA. Pretty good job of ownage right there.

I notice how you conveniently left Tarleton football vs Southland schools out of your post.

Please tell me the last time a Southland school beat a transitioning Tarleton?

But, yeah great conference

The great irony of the WAC is that if you were to take away either the 4 West Coast schools or the 3 Texas schools, I think the league’s chance of survival jumps up:

Take away the West Coast teams and I think you could sell some Southland and Southland adjacent schools on a rebuilt Texas-centric FCS league.

Take away the 3 Texas schools and I think the remaining 4 might be able to find 4 D2 schools who don’t play football to join them.

In both scenarios, it’s the travel to the other “division” that’s the great detractor.

(02-19-2025 05:18 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  The great irony of the WAC is that if you were to take away either the 4 West Coast schools or the 3 Texas schools, I think the league’s chance of survival jumps up:

Take away the West Coast teams and I think you could sell some Southland and Southland adjacent schools on a rebuilt Texas-centric FCS league.

Take away the 3 Texas schools and I think the remaining 4 might be able to find 4 D2 schools who don’t play football to join them.

In both scenarios, it’s the travel to the other “division” that’s the great detractor.

Since this advice is coming from a fighting Muskie and not a generic pike, I must give your remarks great credence.

(02-19-2025 05:18 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  The great irony of the WAC is that if you were to take away either the 4 West Coast schools or the 3 Texas schools, I think the league’s chance of survival jumps up:

Take away the West Coast teams and I think you could sell some Southland and Southland adjacent schools on a rebuilt Texas-centric FCS league.

Take away the 3 Texas schools and I think the remaining 4 might be able to find 4 D2 schools who don’t play football to join them.

In both scenarios, it’s the travel to the other “division” that’s the great detractor.

I think that divisions was the plan before the departures
If i remember right,

Tarleton / ACU / SFA / Sam / Lamar / RGV / UIW

NMSU / GCU / CBU / SU / UTU / UVU / SUU

Texas focused division and a western division.

(02-19-2025 09:59 PM)chrisattsu Wrote:  

(02-19-2025 05:18 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  The great irony of the WAC is that if you were to take away either the 4 West Coast schools or the 3 Texas schools, I think the league’s chance of survival jumps up:

Take away the West Coast teams and I think you could sell some Southland and Southland adjacent schools on a rebuilt Texas-centric FCS league.

Take away the 3 Texas schools and I think the remaining 4 might be able to find 4 D2 schools who don’t play football to join them.

In both scenarios, it’s the travel to the other “division” that’s the great detractor.

I think that divisions was the plan before the departures
If i remember right,

Tarleton / ACU / SFA / Sam / Lamar / RGV / UIW

NMSU / GCU / CBU / SU / UTU / UVU / SUU

Texas focused division and a western division.

Again, no real leadership, combined with a lack of long-term commitment from a few institutions, killed the divisions idea. I don't think NMSU was ever a real contender to the above plan though. The travel distance was always an obstacle, but I think it could have been managed with divisions and better scheduling.

Lions1983 said our UNA message board that announcements are likely to come after March Madness. He says ACU and UTA are coming to the ASUN and Tarleton is trying to get into the MVC/MVFC. I was assuming Summit/MFVC for them but we shall see.

I, too, hope the WAC remains. But, it’s not looking good.

For me, if we don’t hire a commissioner, then we have our answer. If the presidents think/want this conference to continue, then a commissioner is a must. If the presidents believe this conference is on death watch, then we will continue with an acting.

(02-20-2025 01:24 PM)unalions Wrote:  Lions1983 said our UNA message board that announcements are likely to come after March Madness. He says ACU and UTA are coming to the ASUN and Tarleton is trying to get into the MVC/MVFC. I was assuming Summit/MFVC for them but we shall see.

I, too, hope the WAC remains. But, it’s not looking good.

That's what I'm hearing too as far as the ASUN goes.

Also rumored is UVU to the Big West and CBU getting a good look from the WCC.

The two southern Utah schools are getting little from what I hear.

Last one out, turn off the lights

https://x.com/brett_mcmurphy/status/1894...xOTIwaDS3Q

Full tweet>>>Brett McMurphy
@Brett_McMurphy
·
11m
Big West will vote Friday to extend an official invitation to Cal Baptist & Utah Valley in 2026, sources said. Big West officials recently visited both campuses. Big West adding Cal Baptist & Utah Valley to replacing departing members Hawaii & UC Davis to Mountain West.

Well we knew things were coming but it still is sad to me.

Not surprised and will probably be a good fit for them.

I think the WAC teams should link up with the Summit League, not only would it allow them to sponsor Football but would add alot more depth for Oly sports and help Basketball:

NDSU............SDSU
UND...............USD
SUU...............UT-Tech
ACU...............Tarleton State
*UTA..............*Omaha
*Denver.........*Kansas City
*ORU.............*St. Thomas

* = Oly Only

This would instantly be considered one of if not the top FCS Football Conference and a good basketball Conference. 6 out of the 8 teams made the Playoffs last year, and personally SUU should have been in over NAU as well. This is a golden opportunity for the Summit, they should take all the teams and improve in both Basketball and Sponsor Football.

Unless the WAC hires a new Commish it looks as if the teams will go to Summit or ASUN or some combo. Sad to see the WAC go but without real leadership it does not have much of a chance of survival. I guess we will find out soon enough

(02-19-2025 10:39 PM)Outsider Wrote:  

(02-19-2025 09:59 PM)chrisattsu Wrote:  

(02-19-2025 05:18 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  The great irony of the WAC is that if you were to take away either the 4 West Coast schools or the 3 Texas schools, I think the league’s chance of survival jumps up:

Take away the West Coast teams and I think you could sell some Southland and Southland adjacent schools on a rebuilt Texas-centric FCS league.

Take away the 3 Texas schools and I think the remaining 4 might be able to find 4 D2 schools who don’t play football to join them.

In both scenarios, it’s the travel to the other “division” that’s the great detractor.

I think that divisions was the plan before the departures
If i remember right,

Tarleton / ACU / SFA / Sam / Lamar / RGV / UIW

NMSU / GCU / CBU / SU / UTU / UVU / SUU

Texas focused division and a western division.

Again, no real leadership, combined with a lack of long-term commitment from a few institutions, killed the divisions idea. I don't think NMSU was ever a real contender to the above plan though. The travel distance was always an obstacle, but I think it could have been managed with divisions and better scheduling.

NMSU has always had to travel great distances and continues to do so today. Travel was never the issue. The WAC not being an FBS conference was the issue.

(02-25-2025 01:24 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  Unless the WAC hires a new Commish it looks as if the teams will go to Summit or ASUN or some combo. Sad to see the WAC go but without real leadership it does not have much of a chance of survival. I guess we will find out soon enough

They didn’t hire a commissioner because this was inevitable. That’s why they didn’t try to add anyone. How can they add schools when Tarleton is openly trying to leave? So stop with the commissioner bs.

WAC was so desperate, they even tried to get UIW to join.

(02-25-2025 03:16 PM)wewererebels Wrote:  WAC was so desperate, they even tried to get UIW to join.

That’s not the flex that you think it is.

Cal Baptist leaving isn’t a done deal.

(02-25-2025 07:44 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  

(02-25-2025 05:57 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  Matt,

What can you tell us about the Texas schools? Where is their most interest?

Well, lol, I WAS going to wait until Friday AM to publish something, because Cal Baptist might not actually have the votes (its going to be CLOSE), but McMurphy kinda forced my hand a little bit.

I'll write everything I know about the vote, and where the convos are for the remaining schools, on the newsletter this week. My guess is that the whole thing will drop Thursday AM. Want to give myself an extra day to make calls into the Southland/ASUN world

Pride Before the Fall: The WAC’s Decline and the Southland’s Rise headline on Dave Campbell's website.
"With reports of UVU & CBU's incoming departures, the WAC's demise is seemingly imminent.
With three Texas teams remaining, will they join the Southland Conference? Or will pride prevent a logical move?"