The most logical choice (based on geography anyway) for the MWC is UTEP, so it won't happen.

(09-09-2021 07:51 PM)Beefer Wrote:  

(09-09-2021 07:24 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Translation: We will pursue Memphis and SMU, who will not be interested.

If the AAC presidents are thinking like posters here and start pushing atlantic seaboard and appalachian schools, then Memphis SMU and USF will be long gone.

LOL...where are they going to go?

For anyone who has followed realignment for any length of time, I think we all can guess the next domino likely to fall.

I think the AAC is probably going to go after Mountain West schools and try to cement itself as the number six conference. Honestly, in this environment, that approach makes a lot of sense to me.

Now, as to whether or not it would be worth Boise State, San Diego State, etc., to go to the AAC is another matter entirely.

I think the statement is the Mountain West reading the tea leaves and saying, “Whoa, wait a second! How about we are going to go after some of your schools? Without Cincinnati, Houston and UCF, you are no better than us.”

Honestly, I understand that rationale. However, the AAC has something that the Mountain West does not have and will never have, and that is a much more favorable time zone. That gets Boise State on TV in the east at 3:30 PM, rather than Saturday night at 10:30 PM.

If the American structures things well, I think that’s going to be hard for schools to turn down. I could be wrong but I think the AAC is going to try to consolidate power here – I know that’s absolutely what I would look to do were I in their shoes.

What are the alternatives? People are talking about Rice as a slam dunk candidate.

Rice!

If Rice is the alternative as a slam dunk candidate, then you really have no alternative but to go after the crème de la crème of the Mountain West.

Even UAB, who I agree is the best candidate out there. However, if they are the best candidate out there, what does that tell you? They didn’t even have a program five years ago! It tells me that they are going to follow Horace Greeley‘s advice and they’ll, “Go West, young man.”

If I were the AAC I would absolutely make a strong pitch to those schools for a massive westward expansion and my pitch would be that together, we could own the New Years Six game and if the playoff expands, we would be well positioned to own a spot in that. we would be a de facto “power conference.”

I would go after all the plums in the MWC and hope and pray that they would reciprocate interest.

That is the next move I am anticipating. Also, in looking at that oddly worded and timed statement, I think the MWC is anticipating that as well.

(09-09-2021 08:28 PM)topper1296 Wrote:  The most logical choice (based on geography anyway) for the MWC is UTEP, so it won't happen.

Why would anybody want UTEP?

(09-09-2021 08:38 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(09-09-2021 08:28 PM)topper1296 Wrote:  The most logical choice (based on geography anyway) for the MWC is UTEP, so it won't happen.

Why would anybody want UTEP?

MWC actually has history with them.

However they are at best a #14 or #16 when you have the other expansion targets picked

(09-09-2021 07:26 PM)goodknightfl Wrote:  would not put much into this statement, one way or the other.

The MW would have been better served saying "no comment".

(09-09-2021 08:46 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(09-09-2021 07:26 PM)goodknightfl Wrote:  would not put much into this statement, one way or the other.

The MW would have been better served saying "no comment".

As someone mentioned, might be a signal for candidates to reach out. Perhaps nobody has reached out yet about joining.

That's a weird and on its face pointless statement, but it tells me something is going on.

I agree the AAC will try to snag some MWC schools, but the conference membership is too volatile for it to make sense. The AAC is Sisyphus with this west coast expansion.

I think the MWC will end up with a couple Texas teams left out of AAC expansion. Probably UNT and either UTEP or UTSA. I still see the AAC peers of Rice voting for them. Why would a program want to play in Dallas/Denton every season when they could alternate Dallas/Houston?

Do you guys really think that Temple, ECU and USF want to be in a conference with San Diego State and other MWC schools. Think a little bit.

(09-09-2021 07:24 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Translation: We will pursue Memphis and SMU, who will not be interested.

I think Shizzle has a better translation, IMHO.

(09-09-2021 07:23 PM)shizzle787 Wrote:  

(09-09-2021 07:19 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  

Discuss.

They are 1) planning on getting raided by the AAC , 2) planning on raiding the AAC, 3) trying to poach Gonzaga, or 4) just putting out feelers.

I see the MWC going after teams in both the AAC and C-USA, as well as Gonzaga in the WCC. I'm pretty sure UTEP will be a candidate, and the MWC knows that they will accept, barring a very strange sequence of events.

(09-09-2021 10:11 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  Do you guys really think that Temple, ECU and USF want to be in a conference with San Diego State and other MWC schools. Think a little bit.

If the options are that or a conference with insert C-USA/Sun-Belt members with roughly half or less the TV revenue what do you think the answer would be?

Go for the jugular: SMU, Tulane, Memphis and Navy. Plus Wichita and Zags for Olys.

(09-09-2021 10:11 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  Do you guys really think that Temple, ECU and USF want to be in a conference with San Diego State and other MWC schools. Think a little bit.

Do SMU, Memphis or Tulsa want to be with Western schools?

(09-09-2021 10:19 PM)PicksUp Wrote:  

(09-09-2021 10:11 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  Do you guys really think that Temple, ECU and USF want to be in a conference with San Diego State and other MWC schools. Think a little bit.

Do SMU, Memphis or Tulsa want to be with Western schools?

No

(09-09-2021 10:24 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  

(09-09-2021 10:19 PM)PicksUp Wrote:  

(09-09-2021 10:11 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  Do you guys really think that Temple, ECU and USF want to be in a conference with San Diego State and other MWC schools. Think a little bit.

Do SMU, Memphis or Tulsa want to be with Western schools?

No

SMU and Tulsa literally made their choice on this 15 years ago, to join a lesser league than the AAC in C-USA 2.0.

(09-09-2021 10:24 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  

(09-09-2021 10:19 PM)PicksUp Wrote:  

(09-09-2021 10:11 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  Do you guys really think that Temple, ECU and USF want to be in a conference with San Diego State and other MWC schools. Think a little bit.

Do SMU, Memphis or Tulsa want to be with Western schools?

No

Then the AAC isnt poaching the MW and the MW isnt taking any AAC schools.

(09-09-2021 10:27 PM)PicksUp Wrote:  

(09-09-2021 10:24 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  

(09-09-2021 10:19 PM)PicksUp Wrote:  

(09-09-2021 10:11 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  Do you guys really think that Temple, ECU and USF want to be in a conference with San Diego State and other MWC schools. Think a little bit.

Do SMU, Memphis or Tulsa want to be with Western schools?

No

Then the AAC isnt poaching the MW and the MW isnt taking any AAC schools.

Sorry, I misread that as smu going west alone.


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(09-09-2021 10:17 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(09-09-2021 10:11 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  Do you guys really think that Temple, ECU and USF want to be in a conference with San Diego State and other MWC schools. Think a little bit.

If the options are that or a conference with insert C-USA/Sun-Belt members with roughly half or less the TV revenue what do you think the answer would be?

You're going to travel your golf team, track team, volleyball team, tennis team, women basketball team, soccer team and others clear to the Pacific ocean?

You will probably say yes, but the answer is NO.

It's going to be an interesting battle for supremacy. Which conference can raid the other?

Let me game out what I think each conference should be looking for...

If the AAC comes out on top...

Current members: Temple, East Carolina, USF, Tulane, Memphis, Tulsa, SMU, Navy, Wichita State*

We know they want Boise State, but they should also add Wyoming, Colorado State, Air Force, and New Mexico. They should also add Rice to get back into Houston.

These are flagship schools in new states that will appreciate Texas exposure and Eastern exposure. Everyone else is either too far or doesn't have any brand recognition. The addition of Air Force puts 2 service academies in the same league that's important going forward.

Now, the goal should be to go to 16. Maybe you can get Army in the East now that the other academies are in. Finish off with either Georgia State or UAB in order to access more Southern markets with quality facilities.

If the Mountain West comes out on top...

Current members: Hawaii, San Diego State, Fresno State, San Jose State, UNLV, Nevada, Utah State, Boise State, Wyoming, Colorado State, Air Force, New Mexico

They should go after SMU, Tulsa, Rice, and UTSA. They should also take Gonzaga.

Expanding into TX will help them considerably, but there's really no reason to go further East. After all, you still have Hawaii and the West Coast schools. The travel will get ridiculous because there's not really a core in the Mid-South you can take. The city of Houston is about as far East as you can reasonably go and stay cohesive.

Conclusion:

The core of Front Range schools and the typically disgruntled Boise State make for a good group to expand with. The Mountain West has a more uphill climb because there's not a close knit group of schools in the Midwest of Mid-South that might be interested in moving together.