I did read it. So if 10 years go by, and nothing has been decided on FBS, you think we'll have essentially the same membership. That's where we differ.

I'm not sure how much agreement there can be about where the conference wants to be with 4 different football statuses in the membership.

Why do think Seattle or Cal Bap are leaving?

Quote:I did read it. So if 10 years go by, and nothing has been decided on FBS, you think we'll have essentially the same membership. That's where we differ.

I do - because that is the situation we have now, and it seems to be enough to keep 13 schools together.

Quote:I'm not sure how much agreement there can be about where the conference wants to be with 4 different football statuses in the membership.

I think this is hyperbole. I think all of the football schools are at least FBS conference-friendly.

Quote:Why do think Seattle or Cal Bap are leaving?

I don't like to speculate on realignment, because it's impossible to predict. I just used these schools as an example. You are right that there will be some shuffling, and it wouldn't be much of a surprise for some of the schools on the fringes of the WAC to move in the interest of travel or identity. I have suggested that Seattle could move to the Summit because it is a a better institutional fit for them, but I don't that it's likely.

You may not like to speculate on realignment, but since joining a month ago nearly all your posts are about realignment.

Whatever bruh... Done.

(03-03-2021 12:20 AM)Todor Wrote:  You may not like to speculate on realignment, but since joining a month ago nearly all your posts are about realignment.

Whatever bruh... Done.

cheers mate. have a good night

EWU is not dropping FB.

Todor is right, the "best" WAC FCS program(s) will get poached whenever the FBS dominoes fall during the next TV deal triggered realignment by whatever bottom tier FBS conference needs a member. Thinking this new group of WAC FB members are committed indefinitely to the WAC is absurd...or that they are committed to the WAC until it is FBS is just ridiculous.

(03-03-2021 01:19 AM)SDHornet Wrote:  EWU is not dropping FB.

Todor is right, the "best" WAC FCS program(s) will get poached whenever the FBS dominoes fall during the next TV deal triggered realignment by whatever bottom tier FBS conference needs a member. Thinking this new group of WAC FB members are committed indefinitely to the WAC is absurd...or that they are committed to the WAC until it is FBS is just ridiculous.

I agree that Todor is right about top WAC FCS programs potentially moving on in the next round of conference realignment. What I don’t buy is the notion that the WAC is consequently unstable and should be open to adding more non-football members.

The minimum D1 conference membership count to retain a basketball auto-bid is 7. For that reason conferences with 9-12 members are generally viewed as stable. The WAC is on course to have 14. If a few of those get picked off four or five years from now that won’t put the conference at any existential risk. The only concern would be keeping the count of members playing FCS football at 6 or more, and that makes it even more of an imperative that the to-be-determined 14th member be a football-playing school.

No point in worrying much about FCS football until 2025 and after, when the possibility of having 6 full FCS conference members will factor in. Until then, its all speculation.

In other news, NAU has just chosen their new president:

https://ktar.com/story/4058165/regents-c...president/

This is pure speculation on my part but I think the WAC has delayed inviting West Texas A&M until it had an opportunity to pitch conference membership to the new NAU president. That could now happen in the next few months.

NAU joining the WAC is probably a longshot, but looking at Cruz’s resume I do notice two interesting things. The first is that there’s nothing to suggest building NAU’s athletic reputation will be a priority for him or that he’ll care about NAU’s history with the Big Sky. He’s spent most of his career at the University of Puerto Rico and City University of New York. The second is that he did serve as provost at Cal State Fullerton from 2012 to 2016, so to the extent he’s been exposed to D1 athletics it was at a school where minimizing travel costs mattered a lot. For those reasons I could see a WAC pitch based on geographic sensibility having some appeal to him.

I think you may be right about the delay. I also think if NAU was an absolute definite hard no, it wouldn't matter who the president was and we'd already have moved on.

Would the WAC accept an associate member for football only to get a sixth FCS playoff eligible team to achieve an AQ in 2022? I know several additional Big Sky members, such and NAU have been mentioned in this thread, but what does the new WAC FCS conference have to offer them immediately that they don't already have? Personally I don't think getting the AQ is that important, but assuming that is the driver until the transitioning schools achieve eligibility there are very few practical choices. One possibility if the conference is willing to accept an associate football only member might be San Diego. They play in the FCS Pioneer conference for football and are a member of the WCC for other sports. The Pioneer Conference appears to be a FCS Football only conference, made up of football playing members from strong primarily basketball conferences. Who ever is added must have a desire to move to FBS football.

Eastern Washington is not going to drop football. They get too much perverse pleasure from playing on their butt ugly red field.

(03-03-2021 09:19 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  In other news, NAU has just chosen their new president:

https://ktar.com/story/4058165/regents-c...president/

This is pure speculation on my part but I think the WAC has delayed inviting West Texas A&M until it had an opportunity to pitch conference membership to the new NAU president. That could now happen in the next few months.

NAU joining the WAC is probably a longshot, but looking at Cruz’s resume I do notice two interesting things. The first is that there’s nothing to suggest building NAU’s athletic reputation will be a priority for him or that he’ll care about NAU’s history with the Big Sky. He’s spent most of his career at the University of Puerto Rico and City University of New York. The second is that he did serve as provost at Cal State Fullerton from 2012 to 2016, so to the extent he’s been exposed to D1 athletics it was at a school where minimizing travel costs mattered a lot. For those reasons I could see a WAC pitch based on geographic sensibility having some appeal to him.

Thanks for sharing this. Personally, I would love to see NAU in the WAC. It gives GCU a natural in-state rival, and it helps the balance of power between Texas (6 schools) and Utah/Arizona/New Mexico (6 schools) with CBU and Seattle as outliers.

(03-03-2021 01:19 AM)SDHornet Wrote:  EWU is not dropping FB.

Todor is right, the "best" WAC FCS program(s) will get poached whenever the FBS dominoes fall during the next TV deal triggered realignment by whatever bottom tier FBS conference needs a member. Thinking this new group of WAC FB members are committed indefinitely to the WAC is absurd...or that they are committed to the WAC until it is FBS is just ridiculous.

While not impossible, I’m not 100% sure that the next major realignment in the P5 is going to trickle down to the point that FCS call ups occur.

Due to the rules for CFP revenue distribution, 10 is now the ideal size for a G5 league.

C-USA can lose 2 or 4 schools and stay put. If they lose 3, they replace with 1. If they lose 1, they replace with 1.

The MWC is at 12 for football. Lose 2–stay put. Lose 1, replace with 1.

Unless one G5 takes a super heavy hit, I only see the need for 1 or 2 schools to be added to the existing G5 and they could take their replacements from the ranks of the independents.

[quote='Fighting Muskie' pid='17301691' dateline='1614798656']

While not impossible, I’m not 100% sure that the next major realignment in the P5 is going to trickle down to the point that FCS call ups occur.

Due to the rules for CFP revenue distribution, 10 is now the ideal size for a G5 league.

C-USA can lose 2 or 4 schools and stay put. If they lose 3, they replace with 1. If they lose 1, they replace with 1.

The MWC is at 12 for football. Lose 2–stay put. Lose 1, replace with 1.

Unless one G5 takes a super heavy hit, I only see the need for 1 or 2 schools to be added to the existing G5 and they could take their replacements from the ranks of the independents.
[/quote

Assuming 10 team G5 conferences:
MAC could lose 2
MWC could lose 2
CUSA could lose 4
AAC could lose 1
Then you could have another G conference with 9 teams and maybe take in an independent for 10 teams.

(03-03-2021 12:44 PM)DZ1 Wrote:  

(03-03-2021 09:19 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  In other news, NAU has just chosen their new president:

https://ktar.com/story/4058165/regents-c...president/

This is pure speculation on my part but I think the WAC has delayed inviting West Texas A&M until it had an opportunity to pitch conference membership to the new NAU president. That could now happen in the next few months.

NAU joining the WAC is probably a longshot, but looking at Cruz’s resume I do notice two interesting things. The first is that there’s nothing to suggest building NAU’s athletic reputation will be a priority for him or that he’ll care about NAU’s history with the Big Sky. He’s spent most of his career at the University of Puerto Rico and City University of New York. The second is that he did serve as provost at Cal State Fullerton from 2012 to 2016, so to the extent he’s been exposed to D1 athletics it was at a school where minimizing travel costs mattered a lot. For those reasons I could see a WAC pitch based on geographic sensibility having some appeal to him.

Thanks for sharing this. Personally, I would love to see NAU in the WAC. It gives GCU a natural in-state rival, and it helps the balance of power between Texas (6 schools) and Utah/Arizona/New Mexico (6 schools) with CBU and Seattle as outliers.

if the WAC could get the southern BSC universities to defect to the WAC then...

BSC ===> WAC
UNC ===> WAC/Summit
NAU ===> WAC
*SUU ===> WAC (2022)

Western Athletic Conference
West Division
Seattle (non football)
Dixie State
Southern Utah (2022)
Utah Valley (non football)
CA Baptist (non football)
Northern AZ
Grand Canyon (non football)
NM State (FBS)
Northern CO
Southwest Division
Abilene Christian
Tarleton
Stephen F Austin
Sam Houston
Lamar
UTRGV (2023/2024)*
*UTRGV signed a letter of intent to start a program by 2023 or 2024...
UTRGV to continue exploring starting FCS football program
https://www.valleycentral.com/news/repor...l-program/

(03-03-2021 02:10 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(03-03-2021 01:19 AM)SDHornet Wrote:  EWU is not dropping FB.

Todor is right, the "best" WAC FCS program(s) will get poached whenever the FBS dominoes fall during the next TV deal triggered realignment by whatever bottom tier FBS conference needs a member. Thinking this new group of WAC FB members are committed indefinitely to the WAC is absurd...or that they are committed to the WAC until it is FBS is just ridiculous.

While not impossible, I’m not 100% sure that the next major realignment in the P5 is going to trickle down to the point that FCS call ups occur.

Due to the rules for CFP revenue distribution, 10 is now the ideal size for a G5 league.

C-USA can lose 2 or 4 schools and stay put. If they lose 3, they replace with 1. If they lose 1, they replace with 1.

The MWC is at 12 for football. Lose 2–stay put. Lose 1, replace with 1.

Unless one G5 takes a super heavy hit, I only see the need for 1 or 2 schools to be added to the existing G5 and they could take their replacements from the ranks of the independents.

Agree, but if some TV guy tells a 10 league conference that going to 12 would add TV revenue, then boom, WAC FCS is done.

(03-03-2021 09:19 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  In other news, NAU has just chosen their new president:

https://ktar.com/story/4058165/regents-c...president/

This is pure speculation on my part but I think the WAC has delayed inviting West Texas A&M until it had an opportunity to pitch conference membership to the new NAU president. That could now happen in the next few months.

NAU joining the WAC is probably a longshot, but looking at Cruz’s resume I do notice two interesting things. The first is that there’s nothing to suggest building NAU’s athletic reputation will be a priority for him or that he’ll care about NAU’s history with the Big Sky. He’s spent most of his career at the University of Puerto Rico and City University of New York. The second is that he did serve as provost at Cal State Fullerton from 2012 to 2016, so to the extent he’s been exposed to D1 athletics it was at a school where minimizing travel costs mattered a lot. For those reasons I could see a WAC pitch based on geographic sensibility having some appeal to him.

Interesting. I think their president pick not being tuned into athletics means he would be more inclined to not move. With the BSC going back to 10/12, travel will be decreased in conference, while also opening up non-con scheduling for more regional (WAC) opponents. I'm not seeing the driver for a move to the WAC for NAU.

(03-03-2021 08:41 PM)joeben69 Wrote:  

(03-03-2021 12:44 PM)DZ1 Wrote:  

(03-03-2021 09:19 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  In other news, NAU has just chosen their new president:

https://ktar.com/story/4058165/regents-c...president/

This is pure speculation on my part but I think the WAC has delayed inviting West Texas A&M until it had an opportunity to pitch conference membership to the new NAU president. That could now happen in the next few months.

NAU joining the WAC is probably a longshot, but looking at Cruz’s resume I do notice two interesting things. The first is that there’s nothing to suggest building NAU’s athletic reputation will be a priority for him or that he’ll care about NAU’s history with the Big Sky. He’s spent most of his career at the University of Puerto Rico and City University of New York. The second is that he did serve as provost at Cal State Fullerton from 2012 to 2016, so to the extent he’s been exposed to D1 athletics it was at a school where minimizing travel costs mattered a lot. For those reasons I could see a WAC pitch based on geographic sensibility having some appeal to him.

Thanks for sharing this. Personally, I would love to see NAU in the WAC. It gives GCU a natural in-state rival, and it helps the balance of power between Texas (6 schools) and Utah/Arizona/New Mexico (6 schools) with CBU and Seattle as outliers.

if the WAC could get the southern BSC universities to defect to the WAC then...

BSC ===> WAC
UNC ===> WAC/Summit
NAU ===> WAC
*SUU ===> WAC (2022)

Western Athletic Conference
West Division
Seattle (non football)
Dixie State
Southern Utah (2022)
Utah Valley (non football)
CA Baptist (non football)
Northern AZ
Grand Canyon (non football)
NM State (FBS)
Northern CO
Southwest Division
Abilene Christian
Tarleton
Stephen F Austin
Sam Houston
Lamar
UTRGV (2023/2024)*
*UTRGV signed a letter of intent to start a program by 2023 or 2024...
UTRGV to continue exploring starting FCS football program
https://www.valleycentral.com/news/repor...l-program/

I don't think you'd find any BSC fans worried about UNC leaving, in fact most would encourage it. Hell, some would even volunteer to help them pack.

What's wrong with UNC?

(03-04-2021 12:20 PM)OhioBoilermaker Wrote:  What's wrong with UNC?

They haven't invested in FB like most other BSC schools.