Latest rumor on the MWC/CUSA merger and possibility of AF to the BE. It looks like MWC/CUSA merger might be on the rocks due to multiple complications.

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegespor...-sun-belt/

Quote:Multiple sources have told the Hotline that Air Force could leave the MWC and join the Big East now that Navy is headed to that conference in 2015.

Having two academies in the BE could really improve the new TV deal. AF also brings excellent academics.

Good news, if his sources are accurate. That's the best case for the Big East, other than BYU, perhaps.

Let's not jump the gun until Brett McMurphy says it is so.

8 FB now and 7 if they lose AF. They should just add the 5 remaining western WAC members. I mean why not? USU, SJ St, New Mexico St, Idaho and Texas st. Grow to 12 and have a championship game.

The WAC can then focus on forming a non-FB league.

Oh and AF would mean the divisions would most likely look like this.

East
Rutgers
UConn
Temple
USF
UCF
UofL
Cincy

West
Boise
SD St
AF
Houston
SMU
Navy
Memphis

(03-26-2012 12:25 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  Let's not jump the gun until Brett McMurphy says it is so.

Wilner's been pretty accurate, too. And if something changes, he makes corrections quickly, too.

(03-26-2012 12:01 PM)SF Husky Wrote:  Latest rumor on the MWC/CUSA merger and possibility of AF to the BE. It looks like MWC/CUSA merger might be on the rocks due to multiple complications.

I don't take it as the merger being on the rocks...just sounds like they can get more money out of the departing members if they merge than they could get in an increased TV contract if they dissolved and reformed.

I don't see anything good about adding Air Farce. I would rather have Colorado State if we are that desperate.
CJ

(03-26-2012 12:43 PM)CardinalJim Wrote:  I don't see anything good about adding Air Farce. I would rather have Colorado State if we are that desperate.
CJ

Maybe when Louisville leaves they will add CSU...

Sorry, couldn't pass that one up

(03-26-2012 12:43 PM)CardinalJim Wrote:  I don't see anything good about adding Air Farce. I would rather have Colorado State if we are that desperate.
CJ

CardinalJim. I feel like you do on this (except I add Fresno State before CSU).

Exactly what is the argument that Air Force should be the next school?

I get that it is a national name. But they don't draw good in person anywhere. They came to San Diego year after year with good teams and the attendance at Qualcomm was anywhere from 25,000 to 35,000. It isn't like they draw 50,000 everywhere they go.

Navy has also been to Qualcomm in San Diego a couple of times. Yes, the Poinsettia Bowl drew 50,000, but the other Navy appearance drew about 27,000, and that was in one of the biggest Navy towns in the United States.

With a serious question here for all. What is it that Air Force brings to the table that is so important?

(03-26-2012 12:43 PM)CardinalJim Wrote:  I don't see anything good about adding Air Farce. I would rather have Colorado State if we are that desperate.
CJ

I'd prefer Fresno honestly. Two teams in each of the three major FB hot beds. (FL, TX & CA)

Maybe that they can actually be competitive on the field? They have somewhat of a football pulse in addition to the national name already mentioned.

Plus they would get to foster some rivalries with SDSU/Navy in a BCS environment with much more exposure, instead of the previous....arrangement.

I like to call them Air Farce because they usually rank near the bottom of the country in throwing the football. 109th out of 120th in the country last season.

I can actually see the benefit of adding Fresno over AF. I can't say I'm not surprised the folks in Providence don't.
CJ

(03-26-2012 12:43 PM)CardinalJim Wrote:  I don't see anything good about adding Air Farce. I would rather have Colorado State if we are that desperate.
CJ

USAFA is way better than Colorado St. First, they will be happy with just FB only,second they have a national following and a better fan base. The BE academic profile would be much better too.

Plus if USAFA and Navy are in the BE...Army would probably follow soon.

(03-26-2012 01:11 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  Plus if USAFA and Navy are in the BE...Army would probably follow soon.

Army is not going in that direction. Its experience with C-USA will keep them out of a conference for another generation.

(03-26-2012 01:21 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(03-26-2012 01:11 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  Plus if USAFA and Navy are in the BE...Army would probably follow soon.

Army is not going in that direction. Its experience with C-USA will keep them out of a conference for another generation.

I'm fine with that. They didn't exactly do well in a group setting.

Aside from the "national audience" argument, adding the service academies might help hold off any Congressional inquiries about anti-trust issues. Hard to go after a group that two service academies participate in.

AFA still is going to have a national presense that Fresno State or Colorado State will never have. It is more than just attendance in the stands.

Although, AFA's attendance is about the same as Fresno State's and much better than Colorado State.

The opportunity to hold the tv rights for following games would probably trump anything Fresno State or Colorado State could bring to the table: Navy @ AFA, Army @ AFA and occasionally Notre Dame @ AFA.

The same probably goes for Navy and probably Army if the Big East could get them to change their minds. I don't think the Notre Dame relationship with the millitary schools cannot be overstated as to their value. I would suspect the ND @ Navy game will be the most valuable property under the new Big East unbrella. Probably more valuable than the ND @ Pitt game or the WVU-Pitt series.

As an aside, I am pretty sure an AFA game at USF or UCF would be much better attended than a Fresno State or Colorado State game due to the close proximity of MacDill and Patrick AFB nearby.

(03-26-2012 01:27 PM)TOGC Wrote:  Aside from the "national audience" argument, adding the service academies might help hold off any Congressional inquiries about anti-trust issues. Hard to go after a group that two service academies participate in.

I wouldn't worry too much about Congress, they always sell out to the highest bidder any way, the smaller conferences will never have enough cash to get past that.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...g-together

I thought the whole reason to "dissolve" in the 1st place was to get out of their crappy tv deals. So if they don't dissolve.....does that mean the MWC is still stuck with "The Mountain"?