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(10-05-2026 01:22 AM)BroncoFilly Wrote:  Being in an established conference offers mid-major programs like Western a lot. The MAC may not be big-time, but we've had more schools wanting to come in than wanting to leave.

Regarding leaving-to where, exactly? Who is going to pay the travel budget if we moved to a new conference in another region? It's a lot more expensive to move football programs around than bball or even ice hockey. We don't have deep pockets-everyone proposes moving to a 'better conference', but when you bring up additional financial support they all remember an appointment they're supposed to be at-and disappear.

Like it or not, the MAC is probably our first, best situation. We have the guarantee of 7-8 conference games every season and we can line up some big names for OOC to keep it interesting. And we have the attraction of a championship game at the end of the season for our two best teams as well as 3-4 invitational bowl games. For those of us old enough to remember when it was the Cal Bowl or nothing, we've come a long way.

That doesn't even get into the NIL situation, were our cupboards are bare. We are what we are-and that ain't half bad. The MAC isn't going anywhere, there are 10 schools that need it.

It's no different than your job. You may like it there, it's a good fit, etc. But if the top talent starts leaving one by one and business turns south, the best path may be exploring what other options exist out there.

I would agree that there needs to be mutual interest for someone else to "hire" you, obviously.

I assume if (big if) schools like Miami, Toledo, Buffalo and/or Ohio follow NIU out the door over the coming years, the MAC either falls into further irrelevancy in some manner or recruits a bunch of mid FCS members to join, a la CUSA.

In MAC terms, our NIL cupboard is not bare and we do have relatively deep pockets

(10-05-2026 08:40 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  In MAC terms, our NIL cupboard is not bare and we do have relatively deep pockets

Details?

(10-05-2026 08:29 AM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  

(10-05-2026 01:22 AM)BroncoFilly Wrote:  Being in an established conference offers mid-major programs like Western a lot. The MAC may not be big-time, but we've had more schools wanting to come in than wanting to leave.

Regarding leaving-to where, exactly? Who is going to pay the travel budget if we moved to a new conference in another region? It's a lot more expensive to move football programs around than bball or even ice hockey. We don't have deep pockets-everyone proposes moving to a 'better conference', but when you bring up additional financial support they all remember an appointment they're supposed to be at-and disappear.

Like it or not, the MAC is probably our first, best situation. We have the guarantee of 7-8 conference games every season and we can line up some big names for OOC to keep it interesting. And we have the attraction of a championship game at the end of the season for our two best teams as well as 3-4 invitational bowl games. For those of us old enough to remember when it was the Cal Bowl or nothing, we've come a long way.

That doesn't even get into the NIL situation, were our cupboards are bare. We are what we are-and that ain't half bad. The MAC isn't going anywhere, there are 10 schools that need it.

It's no different than your job. You may like it there, it's a good fit, etc. But if the top talent starts leaving one by one and business turns south, the best path may be exploring what other options exist out there.

I would agree that there needs to be mutual interest for someone else to "hire" you, obviously.

I assume if (big if) schools like Miami, Toledo, Buffalo and/or Ohio follow NIU out the door over the coming years, the MAC either falls into further irrelevancy in some manner or recruits a bunch of mid FCS members to join, a la CUSA.

NIU tried life outside the MAC before and were eminently UNsuccessful. What makes them think this time will be any different? Their AD is a blockhead, IMO.

NIU will never be anything more than a mid-major in DeKalb, Illinois. They had some success in the MAC, they need to recognize that is their best fit. As a perimeter school, I understand their situation is not exactly the same as the Ohio and Michigan schools-but it's not that much different. One thing is almost certain, when NIU find out this was a mistake, they will NEVER be allowed back in the MAC again. There were several schools that didn't want them back in the last time they left the conference, they're a long trip for most of the schools and travel to DeKalb has always been expensive.

Football is not basketball or even ice hockey, it costs a lot more to operate a program and travel. For a mid-major in the midwest, the only real options other than the MAC are to go Independent-and that is almost always a mistake-or try to position yourself to attract Big 10 interest. And the Big 10 isn't interested in MAC schools, they're trying to get rid of Northwestern and Rutgers in football as it is.

Western is doesn't compare to Northern at all. Their AD is a tiny one hit wonder, and that hit has been on the decline for half a decade.

Hockey was elevated by joining the big boys in the NCHC, and if we were to join another conference I have full confidence we will thrive if given a chance.

(10-05-2026 06:32 PM)WesternDave Wrote:  Western is doesn't compare to Northern at all. Their AD is a tiny one hit wonder, and that hit has been on the decline for half a decade.

Hockey was elevated by joining the big boys in the NCHC, and if we were to join another conference I have full confidence we will thrive if given a chance.

Hockey isn't football, two totally different situations. Western can compete consistently at a national level in hockey, not in football. Program costs are way different.

I thought it was a gamble when WMU moved to the NCHA, rather than the far more budget friendly WCHA. I'm pleased to admit I was wrong-it was the right move and it has worked to our benefit. But football is a different story, I see no other options that would make more sense than our current MAC affiliation. If the MAC ceases, that's a different story-we'll have to adapt as best we can. Outside of that, it's not a move that would make sense or be beneficial to WMU football, IMO.

(10-05-2026 08:41 PM)BroncoFilly Wrote:  

(10-05-2026 06:32 PM)WesternDave Wrote:  Western is doesn't compare to Northern at all. Their AD is a tiny one hit wonder, and that hit has been on the decline for half a decade.

Hockey was elevated by joining the big boys in the NCHC, and if we were to join another conference I have full confidence we will thrive if given a chance.

Hockey isn't football, two totally different situations. Western can compete consistently at a national level in hockey, not in football. Program costs are way different.

I thought it was a gamble when WMU moved to the NCHA, rather than the far more budget friendly WCHA. I'm pleased to admit I was wrong-it was the right move and it has worked to our benefit. But football is a different story, I see no other options that would make more sense than our current MAC affiliation. If the MAC ceases, that's a different story-we'll have to adapt as best we can. Outside of that, it's not a move that would make sense or be beneficial to WMU football, IMO.

You say that about hockey now. But, there are people who legitimately believed we had no chance at competing at a national level in hockey either. Heck, some people continued to express that opinion deep into the season we won the Natty.

Football is obviously a much larger beast. But, I think there are some ways us getting out of the MAC would help us the way it helped us getting out of the CCHA. We were always going to be Michigan & Michigan State's in-state little brother in the CCHA. Going to the NCHC allowed us to re-write our story. I kinda feel like breaking away from the directional Michigan mindset in the MAC could help us. Let's say we moved to the American and had some success. I would guess we would get mistaken for Central Michigan a lot less often.

I had the good fortune to speak to Alex Gary at length at the Buffalo game last weekend. He told me about his fundraising at SMU and how he strategized that. How he could bring some of the same principles to WMU. Also I picked his brain about where he sees us down the road in conference play. Admittedly he's brand new and doesn't know everything but I flat told him that if the MAC falters, we need a plan. We don't want to be stuck in failing conference with Akron for example. He understands the situation and he also understands we don't have Miami's $30M to jump ship. But we could get close at some point with proper fundraising. He also outwardly mused about why our hockey isn't in the Big 10. I told him that we're in the best conference in the nation and that has raised our game. And that as long as that conference is solid we should stay there. We will have next year, the premier hockey/basketball venue in the country. I equated it to Northwestern's new football stadium. He totally agreed with that. We have a lot to offer and I'm confident that he will steer us in the right direction. He's all in and not springboarding to another job any time soon. He absolutely loves Russ and feels that, as a team, they will manage the schools athletic program properly.

(10-07-2026 12:21 PM)bronco1988 Wrote:  I had the good fortune to speak to Alex Gary at length at the Buffalo game last weekend. He told me about his fundraising at SMU and how he strategized that. How he could bring some of the same principles to WMU. Also I picked his brain about where he sees us down the road in conference play. Admittedly he's brand new and doesn't know everything but I flat told him that if the MAC falters, we need a plan. We don't want to be stuck in failing conference with Akron for example. He understands the situation and he also understands we don't have Miami's $30M to jump ship. But we could get close at some point with proper fundraising. He also outwardly mused about why our hockey isn't in the Big 10. I told him that we're in the best conference in the nation and that has raised our game. And that as long as that conference is solid we should stay there. We will have next year, the premier hockey/basketball venue in the country. I equated it to Northwestern's new football stadium. He totally agreed with that. We have a lot to offer and I'm confident that he will steer us in the right direction. He's all in and not springboarding to another job any time soon. He absolutely loves Russ and feels that, as a team, they will manage the schools athletic program properly.

Good advice on the NCHC. I want nothing to do with being a 2nd class citizen in the B1G.

(10-07-2026 12:21 PM)bronco1988 Wrote:  I had the good fortune to speak to Alex Gary at length at the Buffalo game last weekend. He told me about his fundraising at SMU and how he strategized that. How he could bring some of the same principles to WMU. Also I picked his brain about where he sees us down the road in conference play. Admittedly he's brand new and doesn't know everything but I flat told him that if the MAC falters, we need a plan. We don't want to be stuck in failing conference with Akron for example. He understands the situation and he also understands we don't have Miami's $30M to jump ship. But we could get close at some point with proper fundraising. He also outwardly mused about why our hockey isn't in the Big 10. I told him that we're in the best conference in the nation and that has raised our game. And that as long as that conference is solid we should stay there. We will have next year, the premier hockey/basketball venue in the country. I equated it to Northwestern's new football stadium. He totally agreed with that. We have a lot to offer and I'm confident that he will steer us in the right direction. He's all in and not springboarding to another job any time soon. He absolutely loves Russ and feels that, as a team, they will manage the schools athletic program properly.

I would vehemently oppose any move out of the NCHC, it's the right conference for a school our size and arguably the best hockey conference in the country. What would a move to the Big 10 offer us? We know all the schools in the NCHC now, we have good rivalries going-why mess it up so we can rub shoulders with schools like UM, Penn State, MSU and Wisconsin on a weekly basis? For one thing, I doubt they would ever offer us an invitation because-well-we're a 'directional school'. No matter how competitively we play hockey, that's too much of an image risk for the Spartans and Wolverines to go nose to nose with us on a weekly basis and risk losing. No upside for them. I prefer the 'workman's conference' in the NCHC, it just fits us right. Also, we don't have the kind of NIL funding they have. Fersch is a good recruiter and he brings in good talent, but the perception of going up against the Big 10 schools with their never-ending funding is just kind of onerous. Let's do it OUR way, not their way.

(10-07-2026 02:41 PM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  

(10-07-2026 12:21 PM)bronco1988 Wrote:  I had the good fortune to speak to Alex Gary at length at the Buffalo game last weekend. He told me about his fundraising at SMU and how he strategized that. How he could bring some of the same principles to WMU. Also I picked his brain about where he sees us down the road in conference play. Admittedly he's brand new and doesn't know everything but I flat told him that if the MAC falters, we need a plan. We don't want to be stuck in failing conference with Akron for example. He understands the situation and he also understands we don't have Miami's $30M to jump ship. But we could get close at some point with proper fundraising. He also outwardly mused about why our hockey isn't in the Big 10. I told him that we're in the best conference in the nation and that has raised our game. And that as long as that conference is solid we should stay there. We will have next year, the premier hockey/basketball venue in the country. I equated it to Northwestern's new football stadium. He totally agreed with that. We have a lot to offer and I'm confident that he will steer us in the right direction. He's all in and not springboarding to another job any time soon. He absolutely loves Russ and feels that, as a team, they will manage the schools athletic program properly.

Good advice on the NCHC. I want nothing to do with being a 2nd class citizen in the B1G.

Exactly, you said it better than I did.

Unfortunately, WMU leadership would join the BIG in a heartbeat if offered.

(10-05-2026 08:41 PM)BroncoFilly Wrote:  

(10-05-2026 06:32 PM)WesternDave Wrote:  Western is doesn't compare to Northern at all. Their AD is a tiny one hit wonder, and that hit has been on the decline for half a decade.

Hockey was elevated by joining the big boys in the NCHC, and if we were to join another conference I have full confidence we will thrive if given a chance.

Hockey isn't football, two totally different situations. Western can compete consistently at a national level in hockey, not in football. Program costs are way different.

I thought it was a gamble when WMU moved to the NCHA, rather than the far more budget friendly WCHA. I'm pleased to admit I was wrong-it was the right move and it has worked to our benefit. But football is a different story, I see no other options that would make more sense than our current MAC affiliation. If the MAC ceases, that's a different story-we'll have to adapt as best we can. Outside of that, it's not a move that would make sense or be beneficial to WMU football, IMO.

If we were to get into a new football conference I believe we would be competitive there and be a seasonal contender for the G6 spot. The MAC offers a spot but with many more caveats, (undefeated season, other leagues must have a 1 or 2 loss champion).

As for moving to the NCHC, I was concerned too. I didn't think the administration would support hockey at a level to be competitive, particularly after resigning Culhane well after it was time to move him elsewhere. Of course I am happy to be so unmistakably wrong, and I believe the current WMU administration would support a move elsewhere so we wouldn't look like Northern currently in the MWC.

(10-07-2026 06:27 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  Unfortunately, WMU leadership would join the BIG in a heartbeat if offered.

We all need to lobby extremely hard to make sure that never happens!!!

It's probably a moot point anyhow, I could see UM and MSU in particular trying to block our entrance as a third state member.

Strength comparisons aside, I like the NCHC because it helps expose our university "brand" more nationally, beyond the tight Midwest walls that our MAC sports are in.

I mean I wouldn't be as vehemently opposed to a hypothetical B1G invite as many others here are, but count me in as favoring the spot we are in now.

The NCHC is better simply because there is more trips to Minnesota.

(10-08-2026 11:02 AM)WesternDave Wrote:  The NCHC is better simply because there is more trips to Minnesota.

St. Thomas was an interesting add given we already had a presence of 2 teams in MN, so I assume there's some good upside with the college (and it's also downtown Minneapolis).

(10-08-2026 11:02 AM)WesternDave Wrote:  The NCHC is better simply because there is more trips to Minnesota.

And a trip to warm Arizona in the winter

(10-05-2026 01:03 PM)BroncoFilly Wrote:  

(10-05-2026 08:40 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  In MAC terms, our NIL cupboard is not bare and we do have relatively deep pockets

Details?

We have a $3M NIL budget for football.

(10-10-2026 04:00 PM)bronco1988 Wrote:  

(10-05-2026 01:03 PM)BroncoFilly Wrote:  

(10-05-2026 08:40 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  In MAC terms, our NIL cupboard is not bare and we do have relatively deep pockets

Details?

We have a $3M NIL budget for football.

Yeah. I’ve heard it’s even a little higher, but that sounds close. Of course, there’s no way to officially confirm NIL numbers, but I’m confident it’s well into the top half of MAC programs. On top of that, we have regular facility donations coming in and a $500M arena being built essentially in concert with the hockey program, without it coming out of the department budget. And Taylor is one of two coaches in the MAC making over 1M, I believe.

I’m not saying we’re in an amazing position going forward in the changing landscape, necessarily, but we’re a well funded program by MAC standards.