(02-17-2025 10:37 AM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(02-17-2025 03:07 AM)jimrtex Wrote:  AC swimming dissolving.

https://swimswam.com/mpsf-adds-seven-pro...26-season/

To be fair, only four of the women's teams are full members of the WAC, and two of those, Grand Canyon and Seattle are leaving. The WCC does not sponsor swimming, so Grand Canyon and Seattle are heading for the Big West.

The five WAC affiliates are schools whose conference does not sponsor women's swimming: Idaho, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, and UTRGV. NMSU and UTRGV recently left the WAC, but didn't move to a conference with swimming. UTRGV just added women's swimming this year to help balance their new football team.

On the Men's side, AFA, UNLV, and Wyoming have not announced a future affiliation. Could they be going to the Big XII?

The current Big XII schools are Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, BYU, TCU, Cincinnati, and West Virginia. AFA, UNLV, and Wyoming would fit in with the western group. The Big XII does have affiliates for wrestling.

You seem to think Grand Canyon is still going to the WCC. That's no longer the case. They're moving to the MW, at the latest by 2026. It's looking increasingly unlikely they'll be joining for next year, in which case they'll stay in the WAC for another season.

From Grand Canyon's announcement that they were joining the WCC.

https://news.gcu.edu/press-releases/gran...onference/

"The conference does not sponsor men’s volleyball, swimming and diving or track and field."

"GCU’s process of evaluating conference options for swimming and diving and track and field is well underway."

Grand Canyon's announcement that they will be joining the Big West for swimming and diving.

https://gculopes.com/news/2024/9/23/gene...-west.aspx

"Grand Canyon has accepted an invite to The Big West for its swimming and diving programs beginning in the 2025-26 season, joining the premier men's and women's swimming and diving conference in the West."

Grand Canyon announces that they are joining the Mountain West.

https://gculopes.com/news/2024/11/1/gene...rence.aspx

"Men's swimming and diving will continue on to The Big West as previously announced."

If the WAC is going to be around next season, why would the seven current women's swimming teams be announcing that they are moving to the MPSF?

(02-17-2025 02:46 PM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(02-17-2025 10:37 AM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(02-17-2025 03:07 AM)jimrtex Wrote:  AC swimming dissolving.

https://swimswam.com/mpsf-adds-seven-pro...26-season/

To be fair, only four of the women's teams are full members of the WAC, and two of those, Grand Canyon and Seattle are leaving. The WCC does not sponsor swimming, so Grand Canyon and Seattle are heading for the Big West.

The five WAC affiliates are schools whose conference does not sponsor women's swimming: Idaho, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, and UTRGV. NMSU and UTRGV recently left the WAC, but didn't move to a conference with swimming. UTRGV just added women's swimming this year to help balance their new football team.

On the Men's side, AFA, UNLV, and Wyoming have not announced a future affiliation. Could they be going to the Big XII?

The current Big XII schools are Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, BYU, TCU, Cincinnati, and West Virginia. AFA, UNLV, and Wyoming would fit in with the western group. The Big XII does have affiliates for wrestling.

You seem to think Grand Canyon is still going to the WCC. That's no longer the case. They're moving to the MW, at the latest by 2026. It's looking increasingly unlikely they'll be joining for next year, in which case they'll stay in the WAC for another season.

From Grand Canyon's announcement that they were joining the WCC.

https://news.gcu.edu/press-releases/gran...onference/

"The conference does not sponsor men’s volleyball, swimming and diving or track and field."

"GCU’s process of evaluating conference options for swimming and diving and track and field is well underway."

Grand Canyon's announcement that they will be joining the Big West for swimming and diving.

https://gculopes.com/news/2024/9/23/gene...-west.aspx

"Grand Canyon has accepted an invite to The Big West for its swimming and diving programs beginning in the 2025-26 season, joining the premier men's and women's swimming and diving conference in the West."

Grand Canyon announces that they are joining the Mountain West.

https://gculopes.com/news/2024/11/1/gene...rence.aspx

"Men's swimming and diving will continue on to The Big West as previously announced."

If the WAC is going to be around next season, why would the seven current women's swimming teams be announcing that they are moving to the MPSF?

Get a head start on the inevitable is my assumption. Men's swimming was going to fall below 6 next year with Grand Canyon and Seattle leaving so Cal Baptist needed a M Swimming home. And if you're going to move the Mens might as well move the Women's at the same time. With Cal Baptist making the move, it made sense for everyone else to do so too

I wouldnt be surprised if M and W Tennis is next

Seattle is definitely leaving after this year dropping M Tennis to 3 and W Tennis to 5

It would make sense for GCU to go to MWC a year early for M and W Tennis - its hard to see why anyone would object to that

Tarleton, UTA and ACU make sense as Southland affiliates for M Tennis (UTA and ACU only) and W Tennis (all 3) as that conference already has less regional affiliates
They may also start playing with whomever their ultimate new home is going to be

The only other impacted school would be Utah Tech's W Tennis program. Like with the Texas schools, whom they end up affiliating with for 2025 may provide insight to where they ultimately end up

(02-17-2025 09:27 AM)solohawks Wrote:  I wouldnt be surprised if the MWC ends up adding M Swimming

They will have 5. Im sure they can find a 6th

Qualification for NCAA championships in swimming is based on performance. A conference championship provides a last chance to qualify for the NCAA. The NCAA does have a time adjustment for altitude, but is apparently not enough.

The WAC and Mountain West swimming championships are both in Houston (on successive weeks). The Big West championships were at Houston this past week. The Big 12 championships will be at Federal Way, Washington.

Schools like Stanford and Cal simply did not go east during the regular season. Stanford has announced that they won't be competing the last 3 days of the ACC championship in Greensboro. They already have the NCAA qualifying times and want to get back on a workout and time schedule for the NCAA championship which will be at Federal Way.

(02-17-2025 11:15 AM)solohawks Wrote:  LOL

MWC will also be at 5 with Beach Volleyball
GCU, Hawaii, SJSU, UC Davis, UTEP

Boise State is currently in the Southland and would make a logical 6th...but with the bad blood that's another one like soccer where things could get weird

Since there is no D2 and D3 championships, there are independents out west that could fill spots since Beach Volleyball is an exemption until more schools add it.

CSU-LA
Chaminade
Hawaii Pacific
Concordia Irvine
Colorado Mesa
Kingsville
East Texas Baptist
Mary Hardin Baylor

Vangaurd is moving their Beach Volleyball from independent to MPSF.

(02-16-2025 11:54 PM)OhioBoilermaker Wrote:  

(02-16-2025 11:44 PM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 07:02 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  I'd honestly be surprised if it survives the next four weeks.

Surprise!!! They’re still here. The WAC is the conference that will never die.

In his newsletter, Matt was pretty clear that he expects the exodus to go down after conference tournament season.

Looks like I was a little early with the four weeks comment, but not THAT early. I SHOULD be the person to break it, but there will be a resolution before the start of the NCAA Tournament here, one way or another.

(02-21-2025 10:53 AM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  

(02-16-2025 11:54 PM)OhioBoilermaker Wrote:  

(02-16-2025 11:44 PM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 07:02 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  I'd honestly be surprised if it survives the next four weeks.

Surprise!!! They’re still here. The WAC is the conference that will never die.

In his newsletter, Matt was pretty clear that he expects the exodus to go down after conference tournament season.

Looks like I was a little early with the four weeks comment, but not THAT early. I SHOULD be the person to break it, but there will be a resolution before the start of the NCAA Tournament here, one way or another.

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLLLLLLLLSSS!

(02-21-2025 10:53 AM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  

(02-16-2025 11:54 PM)OhioBoilermaker Wrote:  

(02-16-2025 11:44 PM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 07:02 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  I'd honestly be surprised if it survives the next four weeks.

Surprise!!! They’re still here. The WAC is the conference that will never die.

In his newsletter, Matt was pretty clear that he expects the exodus to go down after conference tournament season.

Looks like I was a little early with the four weeks comment, but not THAT early. I SHOULD be the person to break it, but there will be a resolution before the start of the NCAA Tournament here, one way or another.

Any moves announced would be for the 2026-27 season right? No new schools will move immediately for the 2025-26 year?

(02-21-2025 12:19 PM)UIWElite Wrote:  

(02-21-2025 10:53 AM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  

(02-16-2025 11:54 PM)OhioBoilermaker Wrote:  

(02-16-2025 11:44 PM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  

(01-19-2025 07:02 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  I'd honestly be surprised if it survives the next four weeks.

Surprise!!! They’re still here. The WAC is the conference that will never die.

In his newsletter, Matt was pretty clear that he expects the exodus to go down after conference tournament season.

Looks like I was a little early with the four weeks comment, but not THAT early. I SHOULD be the person to break it, but there will be a resolution before the start of the NCAA Tournament here, one way or another.

Any moves announced would be for the 2026-27 season right? No new schools will move immediately for the 2025-26 year?

Right. I'm obviously not Matt, but I'd expect any announced moves to take place for '26-'27. There is no reason to rush things. That also gives men's soccer and baseball affiliates (like Sac State, who's currently in the WAC for that sport) time to find new homes.

If Utah Valley and Cal Baptist do join the Big West, I don't believe the league wants to be at 13 members overlapping with UCD and Hawaii for a year.

(02-08-2025 12:13 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(02-08-2025 03:17 AM)OilersTexansfan Wrote:  

(02-06-2025 03:10 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  The talk of Cal Baptist being "targeted" by the Big West certainly doesn't make sense if you consider the cultural differences between CBU on one hand and the CSU/UC schools on the other. However, the conference staff have their own motivation to maintain a healthy number of members, and they may not have as much in the way of scruples. That's the only thing I can really think of to explain why Cal Baptist would come up in discussions of Big West expansion.

You do know Pacfic, a private school in Stockton, CA was a long time BW member. They left for the money that Gonzaga brings, four or more shares a year, compared to one share a year.

I do know, thanks. Even if Pacific were as conservative as Cal Baptist, such a school joining the BW (then the PCAA) in 1969 (for FB) or 1971 (for all sports) is a much different scenario from joining the BW in 2026.

Well, well, well, CBU will be a Big West member on Friday!

(02-25-2025 05:29 AM)OilersTexansfan Wrote:  

(02-08-2025 12:13 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(02-08-2025 03:17 AM)OilersTexansfan Wrote:  

(02-06-2025 03:10 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  The talk of Cal Baptist being "targeted" by the Big West certainly doesn't make sense if you consider the cultural differences between CBU on one hand and the CSU/UC schools on the other. However, the conference staff have their own motivation to maintain a healthy number of members, and they may not have as much in the way of scruples. That's the only thing I can really think of to explain why Cal Baptist would come up in discussions of Big West expansion.

You do know Pacfic, a private school in Stockton, CA was a long time BW member. They left for the money that Gonzaga brings, four or more shares a year, compared to one share a year.

I do know, thanks. Even if Pacific were as conservative as Cal Baptist, such a school joining the BW (then the PCAA) in 1969 (for FB) or 1971 (for all sports) is a much different scenario from joining the BW in 2026.

Well, well, well, CBU will be a Big West member on Friday!

Your reference to Pacific still had no bearing on this scenario. That's all I said in response to you. As to the Big West's choice of new members, I can only shrug. My point stands as to the cultural gap, but evidently the Big West is more desperate and/or less exclusive than I thought.

Matt,

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

(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

(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

Sounds like Utah Valley is in, but not so much Cal Baptist? If they're a package deal, then uh oh!

(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

We need more information because the local newspaper out of Oklahoma City had an article last year that Central Oklahoma is looking to make the move to D1 if when the political leaders agreed to something in DC. I think that is smoke that a D2 school in the Texas schools might be interested in joining the WAC. They mentioned of putting their football in UAC with the WAC and ASUN's football schools.

David, I don't think there is anything I could tell you or write that would change your mind about Central Oklahoma, no matter how many times I directly talk to the people involved in WAC realignment.

Let’s say Cal Baptist doesn’t have the votes, and there isn’t a rush by the Big Sky/WCC/Summit/Southland/ASUN to claim them or the other 5. What’s plan B?

Is there anyone out there they can bring in to keep the WAC from collapsing?

(02-26-2025 09:11 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Let’s say Cal Baptist doesn’t have the votes, and there isn’t a rush by the Big Sky/WCC/Summit/Southland/ASUN to claim them or the other 5. What’s plan B?

Is there anyone out there they can bring in to keep the WAC from collapsing?

There is. Sac State

(02-26-2025 10:25 AM)jdgaucho Wrote:  

(02-26-2025 09:11 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Let’s say Cal Baptist doesn’t have the votes, and there isn’t a rush by the Big Sky/WCC/Summit/Southland/ASUN to claim them or the other 5. What’s plan B?

Is there anyone out there they can bring in to keep the WAC from collapsing?

There is. Sac State

That’s not a bad idea. I wouldn’t be shocked if Big West doesn’t help them out.

(02-26-2025 10:47 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(02-26-2025 10:25 AM)jdgaucho Wrote:  

(02-26-2025 09:11 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Let’s say Cal Baptist doesn’t have the votes, and there isn’t a rush by the Big Sky/WCC/Summit/Southland/ASUN to claim them or the other 5. What’s plan B?

Is there anyone out there they can bring in to keep the WAC from collapsing?

There is. Sac State

That’s not a bad idea. I wouldn’t be shocked if Big West doesn’t help them out.

What we're seeing right now may be attributable to Big West politics (I know, what a shocker). As most folks are aware, UCD's impending departure will give the Cal State schools in the conference a 5-4 voting advantage over the UC schools. Adding Sac State would make that a 6-4 advantage.

That could explain why CBU instead of Sac State is in the hunt to be invited into the Big West along with UVU, and also explain why CBU is at risk of not getting enough votes to join the conference. The UC schools may be pushing for CBU's addition with the intent of locking Sac State out, while the Cal State schools may be reluctant to agree for fear of locking Sac State out.

The ironic result could be that only UVU gets enough votes to join the Big West, CBU is forced to stay in the WAC, Sac State backfills for UVU by moving its non-football sports into the WAC (in conjunction with converting football to FBS independent status), and the WAC miraculously holds onto life for a little bit longer. Not likely IMHO but stranger things have happened.