(01-13-2021 02:27 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  The WCC’s gripe with Seattle is they don’t want their men’s basketball team. Gonzaga doesn’t want them encroaching on their turf.

I agree that the WCC doesn’t want Seattle but Gonzaga’s got nothing to do with it. It’s a 4-hour trip from Seattle to Spokane. Not sure what turf would be encroached.

Gonzaga doesn't want anymore teams that will drag down the RPI. They fought to limit the number of WCC games at 16. I would think if Seattle were in the Big Sky, the WCC wouldn't care too much if Seattle's baseball and soccer, and any other non Big Sky sponsored sports, were hosted by Seattle.

It would be a way for Seattle to make inroads with the WCC. Alternatively Men's Baseball and Soccer could just stay in the WAC.

Seattle doesn't fit the current Big Sky profile, but geographically it makes a ton of sense and would give the Big Sky exposure in a big West Coast market they currently lack

(01-13-2021 07:50 PM)solohawks Wrote:  Gonzaga doesn't want anymore teams that will drag down the RPI. They fought to limit the number of WCC games at 16. I would think if Seattle were in the Big Sky, the WCC wouldn't care too much if Seattle's baseball and soccer, and any other non Big Sky sponsored sports, were hosted by Seattle.

It would be a way for Seattle to make inroads with the WCC. Alternatively Men's Baseball and Soccer could just stay in the WAC.

Seattle doesn't fit the current Big Sky profile, but geographically it makes a ton of sense and would give the Big Sky exposure in a big West Coast market they currently lack

I am not sure that the MWC are not giving up on BYU, Gonzaga and Saint Mary's to join them to bring their tv deal up with ESPN for men's basketball. It could give them the AAC money that way.

As someone who know the State of Washington well

Seattle U and WCC know each other very well. SU was a member of the WCC.

Zag's view the city of Seattle as their city even though they aren't worried about Seattle U stealing their thunder they want to make it a point that not even UW basketball owns Seattle.

Seattle U will be Pac12 affiliates before WCC affiliates b/c of the Zags.

(01-13-2021 07:50 PM)solohawks Wrote:  Gonzaga doesn't want anymore teams that will drag down the RPI. They fought to limit the number of WCC games at 16. I would think if Seattle were in the Big Sky, the WCC wouldn't care too much if Seattle's baseball and soccer, and any other non Big Sky sponsored sports, were hosted by Seattle.

It would be a way for Seattle to make inroads with the WCC. Alternatively Men's Baseball and Soccer could just stay in the WAC.

Seattle doesn't fit the current Big Sky profile, but geographically it makes a ton of sense and would give the Big Sky exposure in a big West Coast market they currently lack

I used to live in the Seattle metro area. From what I saw Gonzaga had a much larger following there than Seattle U. Unless it has changed I am not sure that if Seattle U were in either the WCC or the BSky it would move the needle very much for either conference. I suspect Gonzaga believes that if Seattle U were in the WCC it would decrease their following in Seattle. They appear unwilling to take that chance.

My first guess would be that Gonzaga has a lot of its graduates living in Seattle. Probably true. Although its really not a very large school, so its not that many people in absolute numbers.

Nothing gets attention like winning. Washington State has not done much for a long time. UW has been more spotty. So a consistent winner like Gonzaga is bound to be a regular in the news cycle.

Given some time, but more importantly success, Seattle U can carve out their niche. But even when SU does that, Gonzaga is not going to like it.

(01-13-2021 07:24 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 02:27 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  The WCC’s gripe with Seattle is they don’t want their men’s basketball team. Gonzaga doesn’t want them encroaching on their turf.

I agree that the WCC doesn’t want Seattle but Gonzaga’s got nothing to do with it. It’s a 4-hour trip from Seattle to Spokane. Not sure what turf would be encroached.

The answer is mind share. That's the turf they are worried about.

(01-13-2021 07:50 PM)solohawks Wrote:  Gonzaga doesn't want anymore teams that will drag down the RPI. They fought to limit the number of WCC games at 16. I would think if Seattle were in the Big Sky, the WCC wouldn't care too much if Seattle's baseball and soccer, and any other non Big Sky sponsored sports, were hosted by Seattle.

It would be a way for Seattle to make inroads with the WCC. Alternatively Men's Baseball and Soccer could just stay in the WAC.

Seattle doesn't fit the current Big Sky profile, but geographically it makes a ton of sense and would give the Big Sky exposure in a big West Coast market they currently lack

A nice reason to accept a program like Boise State.

Seattle plays most of their games in a 999 seat on campus arena (which they don't even consistently sell out). I don't think Gonzaga is too worried about them stealing recruits or encroaching on their turf.

However, until they upgrade their basketball facilities/support, there's no world where the WCC would want them.

In a follow up tweet he also adds that Chicago State will be out after 2022

I believe that would be June 2022, as has been mentioned a few times in this thread. Not a tremendous surprise as many have speculated this should happen, but it still feels weird that it is official now (or will be announced official soon).

Letter from Ryan Ivey to SFA fanbase.
===
Membership will be effective July 1, 2021, meaning, we will be in the Southland Conference for the next 6 months.

Our intention was to remain in the Southland Conference until June 30, 2022, but recent decisions by the remaining Southland Board of Directors have caused us to move that timeline up.

We are disappointed in these actions, but also understand and respect the nature of the situation.

The WAC will feature 13 institutions in two divisions: Southwest and West.

Southwest Division will include all the Texas institutions: SFA, Sam Houston, Lamar, ACU, Tarleton and UTRGV
West Division will include all the other institutions: Grand Canyon, New Mexico State, Cal Baptist, Seattle, Utah Valley, Southern Utah and Dixie State (located in St. George, UT)

Note: At this time, Southern Utah is still planning to join on July 1, 2022, and Chicago State will be exiting on June 30, 2022.

The two-division structure would maximize geographic proximity in the Southwest, while minimizing travel in non-football/basketball sports.

A significant part of that strategy is the formation of an FCS football conference
within the WAC that would include 6-9 schools.

Current football playing members will be Lamar University, Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State, Abilene Christian, Southern Utah, Tarleton State, Dixie State

New Mexico State will continue to play at the FBS level as an independent.

UTRGV has provided a letter of intent to begin an FCS program effective preferably with the 2023 season and no later than the 2024 season.

During the initial year of membership football-playing institutions will commit to an analysis of all implications of a move to FBS.

The Conference will seek a 14th member which will sponsor football and will align geographically with the Texas Division.

All members will be committed to consistent web streaming with applicable broadcast standards to maximize ESPN distribution (or other potential providers) of Conference content.

There will be a combined total of 20 Conference sports 10 men's and 10 women's.

The Conference basketball tournaments will be played in Las Vegas.

The basketball tournament field size will be determined based upon the available arena dates and other factors.

All other championship sites and field sizes will be determined by the new membership structure with the expectation for equal divisional geographic distribution and/or rotation.

I'm surprised they'd still do Vegas, but maybe they have existing contracts there. It seems like Houston or Dallas would make the most sense

(01-13-2021 07:09 PM)Todor Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 02:30 PM)joeben69 Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 12:28 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 12:10 PM)Foreverandever Wrote:  

(01-13-2021 11:24 AM)solohawks Wrote:  There you go spouting logical realignment again

This is the scenario that I brought up in the other WAC thread.

This actually makes sense and is the primary goal in this, I think. There are plenty of in between scenarios that work for almost everyone as well. The move isn't earth shattering like the Big Ten taking Maryland or the ACC getting into the Big East. But it's a move that could be a major positive, but really ends up being a positive no matter how it all shakes out.

From where they are now it's really just trading Seattle for NAU (as long as the schools do not object) because it makes more sense for everyone. With nine football schools they have enough that a few might make it FBS. Really as long as three of them can it means they along with NMST could fairly easily maintain FBS status by scheduling each other and their FCS home game (probably against the WAC FCS left back) in November and doing 2-1s or buy games September and October as pay days. Toss in a home and home with an eastern independent and they could make some decent schedules.

Ive mentioned this scenario too. Seattle to Big Sky, Northern Arizona to WAC, and Northern Colorado to Summit/WAC football just makes a ton of sense and allows all 3 conferences to solidify their footprint.

if this scenario like stated above plays out...

- Chicago State out ===> (MEAC)
- Northern Arizona ===> WAC
- Seattle ===> BSC
- West Texas A&M ===> WAC
- Northern CO ===> Summit (non-football)/WAC (football)

...would it be a reversal/comeback or bsc karma of former bsc commissioner doug fullerton's attempt to destroy the wac football from back in 2012???...initially fcs level but potentially fbs in the future???

Fullerton was a bum. He did all he could to shoot his mouth off and hurt the WAC. SUU joining the WAC has to be pain point to him. And North Dakota leaving after a short time. He'll hit the roof if the WAC could get Northern Arizona and/or Weber. His goal of the Big Sky as the only game in town didn't pan out at all lol.

Eh, no one in the Big Sky cared in North Dakota left - it was a pain in the ass to get to.

And the northern members never wanted SUU to begin with. NAU was the one pushing for them to get in.

I still don't understand the SUU move - I guess they think that the WAC Football will be easier and cheaper.

Here's the stream:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRkom3yXYSs

(01-14-2021 11:37 AM)TDenverFan Wrote:  I'm surprised they'd still do Vegas, but maybe they have existing contracts there. It seems like Houston or Dallas would make the most sense

It’s easy to get to for everyone

Chicago State confirms they're out.

https://www.gocsucougars.com/news/2021/1...-2022.aspx

They seem to say the move is voluntary due to increased travel costs, and that they want to remain D1.

I predict Cal Baptist will announce football within the next 5 years. There is no football in Southern California positioned between D3 and FBS, lots of athletes, and the closest FBS venue is the Rose Bowl, which is a hour away from Riverside on the best of days, and probably closer to 2.5 hours on game day.

(01-14-2021 12:24 PM)TDenverFan Wrote:  Chicago State confirms they're out.

https://www.gocsucougars.com/news/2021/1...-2022.aspx

They seem to say the move is voluntary due to increased travel costs, and that they want to remain D1.

Quote: The WAC's original expansion plan was to develop a Midwest division with Chicago State and UMKC as the anchors. UMKC left the conference in July 2020. Over time, the WAC has added members located in south and western regions of the country.

I wonder who they thought they could get to join them? UMKC bailed when they realized that wasnt happening.