(12-08-2020 11:58 AM)LUSportsFan Wrote:  

(12-08-2020 10:28 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  If it’s true the four Southland schools are “holding out” for one more FCS addition the whole deal could be at risk.

I can’t see NAU joining the WAC. The geographic fit is there but they’ve been in the Big Sky forever, the other Big Sky members are academic peers and there’s been no hint they’d entertain a move.

Northern Colorado? Probably not a popular choice even if they wanted to come. They’re outside the new WAC footprint and an FCS bottom-feeder with minimal fan support. Not an exciting basketball add either.

That leaves the current Southland schools. However the only Southland football-playing members left to choose from in Texas are UIW and HBU — the two bottom-feeders that ACU, SFA, SHSU and Lamar are supposedly trying to get away from. The more desirable final addition from the standpoint of the four defectors is probably McNeese State, but that would push the WAC footprint into Louisiana and I’m guessing that’s a line the current WAC members — especially the non-football schools — are loathe to cross.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

While an addition of McNeese State would put the footprint in Louisiana, it would be just barely.

Driving distance is only 32 miles from McNeese State to the Texas-Louisiana state line via IH10. Lake Charles has a regional airport which has daily flights to and from DFW and Bush Intercontinental (Houston). Driving distance to Houston's Bush Intercontinental is around 135 miles making it closer to a major airport than some current or prospective members.

I imagine the bigger question about McNeese is whether the can afford a move? State Funding for schools not named LSU has shriveled, and that was before COVID.