They seem to fit the profile being in a major metropolitan area.

I am ok with New Mexico but further down in the pecking order.

IMO, Air Force, Fresno State, BYU, and UNLV would all be better than New Mexico.

Also, as a person who has spent 56 years in California, when fans talk about teams in the West, I don't really consider New Mexico the West.

Anything East of Arizona, Idaho, and Nevada is not true West to me.

(Just a little West Coast thinking from view)

Terrible football program. Fifth-lowest per capita income of the 50 states. And if you're thinking basketball, despite having The Pit and annually one of the highest attendances in the west, UNM has never once gone to the Sweet 16.

Just say no.

BTW, however I managed to become the only person on this board with a negative reputation, I plan to wear it proudly.

I would much rather have UNLV. Come on a trip to Vegas trumps ABQ anytime. Specially if hey bing the bowl game with them. UNLV needs to get serious about their football program,lots of potential there

(03-18-2012 01:22 PM)Cubanbull Wrote:  I would much rather have UNLV. Come on a trip to Vegas trumps ABQ anytime. Specially if hey bing the bowl game with them. UNLV needs to get serious about their football program,lots of potential there

UNLV football just isnt a priority. So--no to UNLV.

I suspect we take one last run at BYU--if they say no. Then, one last run at Air Force---if they say no. Then Fresno State gets next up. I cant imagine Fresno would say no, but if you cant get them.....then you just stop. Theres nobody else thats really worth adding at this time out west.

(03-18-2012 01:33 PM)attackfrog Wrote:  

(03-18-2012 01:22 PM)Cubanbull Wrote:  I would much rather have UNLV. Come on a trip to Vegas trumps ABQ anytime. Specially if hey bing the bowl game with them. UNLV needs to get serious about their football program,lots of potential there

UNLV football just isnt a priority. So--no to UNLV.

I suspect we take one last run at BYU--if they say no. Then, one last run at Air Force---if they say no. Then Fresno State gets next up. I cant imagine Fresno would say no, but if you cant get them.....then you just stop. Theres nobody else thats really worth adding at this time out west.

Actually, for the first time in 20-30 years, UNLV is finally putting a priority on football...as they are jumping through hoops to get a beautiful on-campus stadium project/entertainment center built...which should have a positive impact on their program.

UNLV is stuck playing out in the middle of no where in a giant parking lot, far from campus and the strip.

Hope UNLV can get their stadium done...which would also move the bowl game much closer to the strip, which would be a lot better for visiting fans.

(03-18-2012 01:37 PM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(03-18-2012 01:33 PM)attackfrog Wrote:  

(03-18-2012 01:22 PM)Cubanbull Wrote:  I would much rather have UNLV. Come on a trip to Vegas trumps ABQ anytime. Specially if hey bing the bowl game with them. UNLV needs to get serious about their football program,lots of potential there

UNLV football just isnt a priority. So--no to UNLV.

I suspect we take one last run at BYU--if they say no. Then, one last run at Air Force---if they say no. Then Fresno State gets next up. I cant imagine Fresno would say no, but if you cant get them.....then you just stop. Theres nobody else thats really worth adding at this time out west.

Actually, for the first time in 20-30 years, UNLV is finally putting a priority on football...as they are jumping through hoops to get a beautiful on-campus stadium project/entertainment center built...which should have a positive impact on their program.

UNLV is stuck playing out in the middle of no where in a giant parking lot, far from campus and the strip.

Hope UNLV can get their stadium done...which would also move the bowl game much closer to the strip, which would be a lot better for visiting fans.

That new Stadium project is key. When they committed to that (at least verbally), I became convinced that UNLV is in D1 football for the long run.

(03-18-2012 01:39 PM)SteveAztec Wrote:  

(03-18-2012 01:37 PM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(03-18-2012 01:33 PM)attackfrog Wrote:  

(03-18-2012 01:22 PM)Cubanbull Wrote:  I would much rather have UNLV. Come on a trip to Vegas trumps ABQ anytime. Specially if hey bing the bowl game with them. UNLV needs to get serious about their football program,lots of potential there

UNLV football just isnt a priority. So--no to UNLV.

I suspect we take one last run at BYU--if they say no. Then, one last run at Air Force---if they say no. Then Fresno State gets next up. I cant imagine Fresno would say no, but if you cant get them.....then you just stop. Theres nobody else thats really worth adding at this time out west.

Actually, for the first time in 20-30 years, UNLV is finally putting a priority on football...as they are jumping through hoops to get a beautiful on-campus stadium project/entertainment center built...which should have a positive impact on their program.

UNLV is stuck playing out in the middle of no where in a giant parking lot, far from campus and the strip.

Hope UNLV can get their stadium done...which would also move the bowl game much closer to the strip, which would be a lot better for visiting fans.

That new Stadium project is key. When they committed to that (at least verbally), I became convinced that UNLV is in D1 football for the long run.

My understanding is that thus far, the proposed funding mechanisms for any stadium do not have enough support to pass. The reason---UNLV football is simply not a priority in Las Vegas. I wish them luck on getting the stadium built---it would help them a great deal, unfortunately, they have many hurdles to overcome.

Yall do understand that the next western team will be football only right?

That being said, what does UNLV or UNM bring us in terms of football?

If we invite either team we'll be the laughing stock of the BCS. I mean, even more so.

(03-18-2012 02:19 PM)attackfrog Wrote:  

(03-18-2012 01:39 PM)SteveAztec Wrote:  

(03-18-2012 01:37 PM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(03-18-2012 01:33 PM)attackfrog Wrote:  

(03-18-2012 01:22 PM)Cubanbull Wrote:  I would much rather have UNLV. Come on a trip to Vegas trumps ABQ anytime. Specially if hey bing the bowl game with them. UNLV needs to get serious about their football program,lots of potential there

UNLV football just isnt a priority. So--no to UNLV.

I suspect we take one last run at BYU--if they say no. Then, one last run at Air Force---if they say no. Then Fresno State gets next up. I cant imagine Fresno would say no, but if you cant get them.....then you just stop. Theres nobody else thats really worth adding at this time out west.

Actually, for the first time in 20-30 years, UNLV is finally putting a priority on football...as they are jumping through hoops to get a beautiful on-campus stadium project/entertainment center built...which should have a positive impact on their program.

UNLV is stuck playing out in the middle of no where in a giant parking lot, far from campus and the strip.

Hope UNLV can get their stadium done...which would also move the bowl game much closer to the strip, which would be a lot better for visiting fans.

That new Stadium project is key. When they committed to that (at least verbally), I became convinced that UNLV is in D1 football for the long run.

My understanding is that thus far, the proposed funding mechanisms for any stadium do not have enough support to pass. The reason---UNLV football is simply not a priority in Las Vegas. I wish them luck on getting the stadium built---it would help them a great deal, unfortunately, they have many hurdles to overcome.

Actually, the UNLV's Board of Regents have given the green light for this project, which is just one part of a $2 Billion mix-use project, which would include a stadium, new dorms, an entertainment center plus renovation of the Thomas & Mack Center.

The final plans for this project should be proposed/voted on at the Board's 2 day meeting at the end of May...and they hope construction to start in 2013.

Key for UNLV is for this to be mix-use...so that the school won't have to pay for everything...plus build new revenue streams for the school (new dorms/entertainment center, etc...).

One rendering of the new 50,000 seat UNLV on-campus stadium:

(03-18-2012 02:25 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  Yall do understand that the next western team will be football only right?

That being said, what does UNLV or UNM bring us in terms of football?

If we invite either team we'll be the laughing stock of the BCS. I mean, even more so.

This. I would love to see UNLV added to the BE. However, that's because I love visiting the Thomas & Mack for hoops.

For the uninitiated, Sam Boyd Stadium where the Rebels play is so far east of the Strip it's almost in Henderson, NV in a horrible neighborhood and last time I was there, the parking lot wasn't even paved. As to the new stadium, it would be great but they've been talking about that for a decade without being able to get it off the ground.

Football simply doesn't matter at UNLV. No better example of that than the facts UNLV pays its HC the lowest salary in the MWC and absolutely none of the best players in LV attend UNLV. In fact, more of them attend SDSU than UNLV.

Edit: How the heck did I now somehow get in the plus column on my reputation? I sure haven't said anything brilliant to warrant that.

I think New Mexico has tremendous upside. I also believe that Bob Davie will get that program turned around.

(03-18-2012 05:25 PM)Boisestate78 Wrote:  I think New Mexico has tremendous upside. I also believe that Bob Davie will get that program turned around.

I have zero doubt both comments were TIC. Certainly the second one.

(03-18-2012 02:35 PM)SleepingGiantsFan Wrote:  

(03-18-2012 02:25 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  Yall do understand that the next western team will be football only right?

That being said, what does UNLV or UNM bring us in terms of football?

If we invite either team we'll be the laughing stock of the BCS. I mean, even more so.

This. I would love to see UNLV added to the BE. However, that's because I love visiting the Thomas & Mack for hoops.

For the uninitiated, Sam Boyd Stadium where the Rebels play is so far east of the Strip it's almost in Henderson, NV in a horrible neighborhood and last time I was there, the parking lot wasn't even paved.

As noted before, football was always treated as an afterthought at UNLV...as Hoops was King...as football was just some sport that a few of their students played and even fewer of their fellow students and alumni bothered to attend.

Sam Boyd Stadium is in a wasteland...and its easy to see why UNLV has had a hard time recruiting good football players or had the money to pay for a top coach.

Boyd Stadium in the middle of no where.




New stadium for UNLV and their Bowl Game...just off the strip...that would easily make it one of the best bowl game and/or road trips to go to.

(03-18-2012 06:26 PM)KnightLight Wrote:  Boyd Stadium in the middle of no where.

Before I even went to the place, in flying by it as I was landing in Vegas from Burbank, I thought it must have been built for one of the CFL franchises that relocated to the States in the late eighties for a few years. The absence of anything around there can make the place a complete wind tunnel. Nothing like playing football in a sandstorm.

I haven't been there in a decade and it does look like they've now paved more than just the area immediately surrounding the stadium.

And I don't mean to mislead anybody. I love UNLV for hoops. However, they need to either decide to start caring about football or just drop that sport altogether. 22-73 the last eight years pretty much says it all.

One school that could have been attractive to both the Big East and Big 12 if they could get their football back on track is Colorado St. What a opportunity they let slip by. I agree it will be BYU, Air Force and then Fresno St in that order.

(03-18-2012 10:33 PM)RUfan03 Wrote:  One school that could have been attractive to both the Big East and Big 12 if they could get their football back on track is Colorado St. What a opportunity they let slip by. I agree it will be BYU, Air Force and then Fresno St in that order.

I see this Colorado State thing sometimes, but only from people in the East.

What is so attractive about Colorado State to people in the East. As a fan from the Far West I like Colorado State but I put them behind many programs in the West in actual/potential/and market (talking football and basketball)...

-Fresno State
-Air Force
-UNLV
-New Mexico
-Nevada-Reno
-And maybe even San Jose State in upside.

I may be in the big time minority on this comment, but I think Utah State has more to offer than Colorado State.

With the B-12 signing a contract extension for the current 10 teams for big bucks, BYU might be back in play for the BE. Take a run at BYU again then Air Force, then Fresno, then UNLV if their new stadium project becomes a reality for another western team.

(03-18-2012 10:33 PM)RUfan03 Wrote:  One school that could have been attractive to both the Big East and Big 12 if they could get their football back on track is Colorado St. What a opportunity they let slip by. I agree it will be BYU, Air Force and then Fresno St in that order.

The last 3 seasons, Colorado St Football has averaged in announced attendance (actual is much less) 22,637 fans per game.

Once you take into account Univ of Colorado and Air Force...there isn't much left in the Colorado TV market for Colorado State...as they don't have much presence in the state outside of the Ft Collins area.

NOTE: While strength/health of basketball programs for any potential West team is not a priority at this time...its probably something Big East is looking at long-term...and Colorado St had the 2nd lowest attendance in the MWC last season.

I think UNM is undervalued for sure. Large state school in a growing state, decent market that it dominates, and good West Texas recruiting nearby. Sure team has stunk lately, but lots of potential there. I think a toss up between UNLV and UNM (assuming AFA or BYU not an option) in terms of best western option for the BE. I like both better than Fresno.