(10-20-2021 01:59 PM)NMSUIndyAg Wrote:  

(10-20-2021 01:02 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(10-20-2021 12:45 PM)PojoaquePosse Wrote:  

(10-20-2021 12:40 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(10-20-2021 12:26 PM)PojoaquePosse Wrote:  You hit the nail on the head Indy. It is quite a dilemma. Go to CUSA if invited and maybe get burned? Or wait it out in the WAC hoping for FBS that may never come?

Sorry, I don’t see how you get burned going to CUSA . . . you only get burned if the conference implodes, and that ain’t going to happen . . .

Everyone will want to get out of CUSA and will be constantly exploring options. CUSA is clearly the weakest FBS conference remaining. CUSA won't like outliers like UTEP and NMSU. There are a lot of scenarios where CUSA implodes. Who could have envisioned the WAC imploding and dropping FBS FB?

There are too many FCS programs that CUSA can call up to prevent a WAC like implosion, regardless of what some of their current members may or may not do.

. . . and what, CUSA is going to kick UTEP out? I don’t think so, so you’ve got a travel partner and ready made rival what 35 or 40 miles from you. I wish our closest conference mate was that near.

Look, I ain’t trying to talk y’all into anything . . . NMSU gonna NMSU. But what I see for y’all is an Opportunity . . . And those don’t come along everyday. jus’ sayin’, we’re I You, I’d grab it.

Good luck to y’all in any event.

I do see your point, and in the end, I would find it really hard to say no to CUSA if an invite were offered. It would need to be a full invite, as you state. Given that we see a lot of smoke out there that both Marshall and USM are headed to the SBC...does that change the equation at all?

I just don't know if it is as easy a decision as we make it out to be. I don't have all the information that I would hope our president would have available.

GO AGGIES!!!

. .. jus me, but I think So. Miss., and Marshall to the Belt helps your case. It knocks CUSA down to 6, and puts them in a position where filling with all FCS programs is less preferable than filling in with a combination.

Right now, on the CUSA board, they’re all angry and butt hurt (about the losses) . . I think once some time passes, and they calm down & look across the landscape, there will be folks in CUSA who think (like me) that NMSU looks like a pretty good addition.

(10-20-2021 02:24 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  What about NMSU going to CUSA with an under-the-table agreement with the WAC to come back for FBS and will bring UTEP with them?

. . . OK

First, why would CUSA agree to that . .

Second, what if the WAC doesn’t return to FBS football? (It’s a goal/it ain’t a given).

(10-20-2021 03:05 PM)PojoaquePosse Wrote:  

(10-20-2021 02:24 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  What about NMSU going to CUSA with an under-the-table agreement with the WAC to come back for FBS and will bring UTEP with them?

Now you are talking. On the Aggie board, the mods recently put up a poll regarding NMSU conference options. The three options were:

1) Take MWC offer
2) Take CUSA offer
3) Stay in WAC and hope for FBS

The majority of the fans chose option 3. I think the new WAC has better basketball than CUSA and that is NMSU's bread and butter. I also like the thought of growing with the new schools if they go FBS.

That’s just sad.

(10-20-2021 03:27 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  NMSU would be dumb at this point to join an unstable league. Not to mention increased travel that everyone wants to leave or is unhappy with.

WHO DARES WINS

(10-20-2021 03:42 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(10-20-2021 02:24 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  What about NMSU going to CUSA with an under-the-table agreement with the WAC to come back for FBS and will bring UTEP with them?

. . . OK

First, why would CUSA agree to that . .

Second, what if the WAC doesn’t return to FBS football? (It’s a goal/it ain’t a given).

I see you went to Texas State so I’ll type slower.

One, an under the table agreement implies CUSA doesn’t know about the deal.

Second, again implied NMSU doesn’t come back if there is no WAC FBS.

And I kid about the typing slower.

(10-20-2021 04:16 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  

(10-20-2021 03:42 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(10-20-2021 02:24 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  What about NMSU going to CUSA with an under-the-table agreement with the WAC to come back for FBS and will bring UTEP with them?

. . . OK

First, why would CUSA agree to that . .

Second, what if the WAC doesn’t return to FBS football? (It’s a goal/it ain’t a given).

I see you went to Texas State so I’ll type slower.

One, an under the table agreement implies CUSA doesn’t know about the deal.

Second, again implied NMSU doesn’t come back if there is no WAC FBS.

And I kid about the typing slower.

OK . . that’s fair . . First time I read through it, I went too fast.

I thought that NMSU got a lousy deal from The Sun belt Conference. I, personally, didn’t like the way it went down. Now technically, The SBC did stand by the terms as stipulated in the Contract between themselves and NMSU. But again, both parties knew and agreed to the terms when the contract was signed. (All above board).

I would hope that NMSU is better than what you’re suggesting.

Which BTW, I still see problems with . . . Like, What if UTEP doesn’t want to come with them to the WAC

. . and then who pays the Exit Fees for leaving CUSA? Tarleton? and are you gonna pay UTEP’s exit fees should they decide to come to the WAC?

I don’t think that subterfuge, and under the table agreements are really the way to go. . .

IF CUSA extends an invite to NMSU, it would be as a full member, and it would give both parties what they’re looking for, which really makes what you’ve suggested unnecessary. IMO

New Mexico State has spent years on the struggle bus.
They finally have a situation setup where the league is stable. It is the geographic center of the WAC universe and has an establish path the NCAA tourney.

Fans on here have said, time and again that this school is a Western school in a Western League. Conference USA gives them exposure in Nashville, Miami, Virginia and Massachusetts. Where as the current league is Phoenix, Seattle, Utah, Texas and Cali.

I have to feel like you gamble on the WAC but ride out that storm.

Look assuming the league calls all FBS indys, CUSA looks like
NMSU / UTEP
Middle Tennessee / Western Kentucky
Florida International / La Tech
Liberty
UMASS (football only)
UCONN (football only)

I couldn’t agree more that NMSU would need to understand what the Texas FCS teams would do before making a decision. I would hate to say “no” only to have them leave.

GO AGGIES!!!

(10-20-2021 08:52 PM)NMSUIndyAg Wrote:  I couldn’t agree more that NMSU would need to understand what the Texas FCS teams would do before making a decision. I would hate to say “no” only to have them leave.

GO AGGIES!!!

CUSA could target WAC Texas FCS schools by saying, "Can start the process to FBS sooner instead of waiting for other D2 to FCS WAC schools." Wouldn't be the first time Texas schools only joined the WAC for one season.

The fact that I've had to go look up who is in CUSA after the defections says a lot. Its far flung. And disjointed. And most likely full of members who don't want to be there and are looking elsewhere, or at minimum VERY open to other options. That is a conference that is one realignment round away from looking very different than it does now.

I have no major problem being in an eastern based conference, but they, at some point for sure, are going to question what THEY are doing in a conference with UTEP and NMSU and be unhappy. And its mostly a matter of perceptions.

The further east you go, perceptions of what makes a conference changes and becomes a lot smaller. Even if we are good with 10 trips east for whichever Olympic sports, they will most likely end up balking at the 1 trip west. Its just 2 different perceptions of time and distance. NMSU is wide open and goes anywhere. Others are not so open.

I could be wrong but my guess is every football school in the WAC knows at this time what they plan on doing as to FBS and hopefully they have shared it with all of the schools. Therefore, if correct, NMSU knows what the direction of the conference will be and until the feasibility studies are released, nothing can be made public.

My guess is the WAC is going FBS.

If all true, then NMSU could decide if the timeline is acceptable or are they willing to listen to offers from other conferences if any are making offers.

And we have really gotten off the topic of the thread.

(10-20-2021 10:12 PM)CrimsonPhantom Wrote:  

(10-20-2021 08:52 PM)NMSUIndyAg Wrote:  I couldn’t agree more that NMSU would need to understand what the Texas FCS teams would do before making a decision. I would hate to say “no” only to have them leave.

GO AGGIES!!!

CUSA could target WAC Texas FCS schools by saying, "Can start the process to FBS sooner instead of waiting for other D2 to FCS WAC schools." Wouldn't be the first time Texas schools only joined the WAC for one season.

. . . if you’re talking about the departures of utsa and TXST, that’s not only a cheap shot, but also disingenuous . . . as neither program made the decision to leave after one year.. The conference suspended football after our 1year in the conference.

What the hell were we supposed to do?

Here's a fun idea... just because we're all having fun in making a new C-USA...

All sports (9 schools, presuming UTRGV approves football)

Abilene Christian
Florida International (they can play the Chicago State role until they find their way out and/or are replaced)
Lamar
La Tech
New Mexico State
Sam Houston
Stephen F Austin
UTEP
UTRGV

Non-football (2 schools - let's take the pressure off the Sun Belt and bring in their non-football members)
Little Rock
UT-Arlington

Can add one more school - Tarleton, you ready to make the jump too?

(10-21-2021 11:46 AM)TexasTerror Wrote:  Here's a fun idea... just because we're all having fun in making a new C-USA...

All sports (9 schools, presuming UTRGV approves football)

Abilene Christian
Florida International (they can play the Chicago State role until they find their way out and/or are replaced)
Lamar
La Tech
New Mexico State
Sam Houston
Stephen F Austin
UTEP
UTRGV

Non-football (2 schools - let's take the pressure off the Sun Belt and bring in their non-football members)
Little Rock
UT-Arlington

Can add one more school - Tarleton, you ready to make the jump too?

Yep. Let’s go.

(10-21-2021 11:30 AM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(10-20-2021 10:12 PM)CrimsonPhantom Wrote:  

(10-20-2021 08:52 PM)NMSUIndyAg Wrote:  I couldn’t agree more that NMSU would need to understand what the Texas FCS teams would do before making a decision. I would hate to say “no” only to have them leave.

GO AGGIES!!!

CUSA could target WAC Texas FCS schools by saying, "Can start the process to FBS sooner instead of waiting for other D2 to FCS WAC schools." Wouldn't be the first time Texas schools only joined the WAC for one season.

. . . if you’re talking about the departures of utsa and TXST, that’s not only a cheap shot, but also disingenuous . . . as neither program made the decision to leave after one year.. The conference suspended football after our 1year in the conference.

What the hell were we supposed to do?

UTA also decided to leave and they don't have football.

Hypothetical Possible watershed scenario:

NMSU and Texas 4 join CUSA. As does JMU and Liberty. (Only works if no more leave CUSA)

Southern Utah decides to stay in Big Sky.

Tarleton leaves for Southland to go FCS.

Chicago State could then stay to help maintain membership of the conference.

This also could effect the Commissioner search. If there is great membership loss then some could pull their names. (Also the search could be accelerated and someone could be promoted from within to try to hold the WAC together.)

Also GCU could try to buy its way into BWC, possibly bringing CBU along.

Regardless of what happens. If your school is not having discussions internally about an exit strategy or how to keep the WAC together then they are not doing their due diligence.

With the two scenarios proposed, I would still choose the current WAC if we go FBS.

Us to the Southland is a step down from where we are currently. But beggars can’t always be choosy.

It ain’t over. There will be individual schools and conferences that emerge as winners while others will lose out. Do be a winner. Don’t be a loser.

Those are my keen insights into the realignment wars.