(11-11-2021 02:01 AM)All4One Wrote: (11-10-2021 08:28 PM)Bhaddawgy Wrote: (11-10-2021 06:14 PM)Blue Raider Dave Wrote: https://twitter.com/brett_mcmurphy/statu...90594?s=21
So WKU either stays or goes independent or finds another conference home. That puts us to nine if they stay, I only want them to stay if they want to be here, not just a placeholder with one foot out the door all the time.
Western Kentucky is staying.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/st...oining-mac
Yep.
The final sentence of the article was also interesting :
"
The commissioner also said C-USA would be "deliberate and strategic in exploring any potential additional expansion."
Reading the tea leaves, it sounds like there is probably an inclination to expand, but that any expansion would be deliberated thoughtfully and would be strategic in nature.
In other words, they probably want to add at least one more school, but aren't going to add a school that wouldn't be likely to advance the conference's strategic objectives.
From a strategic perspective, NDSU (~1,000 mi. from LTU) and SDSU (~850 mi. from LTU) might be the strongest candidates, if the travel distance wouldn't rule them out.
Others that have been mentioned have included Missouri St. (enrollment: ~23,000; ~325 mi. from LTU) and Stephen F. Austin St. U. (133 mil from LTU).
Distances, in miles, from LTU:
LTU to Miami (FL) (FIU): 883
LTU to NDSU ~1,000
LTU to SDSU: 850
LTU to NMSU: 823
.
However, if the main concern is distance from the westernmost CUSA school is the main criterion:
Distances from NMSU, in miles, to:
UTEP: 39
SHSU: 668
SFAU: 710
Missouri St: 836
NDSU: 1138
SDSU: 952
From this standpoint, NDSU and, particularly SDSU, wouldn't necessarily be viewed as too far away from NMSU or UTEP.
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The most extreme distances in miles:
FIU to NMSU: 1662
FIU to NDSU: 1719
FIU to SDSU: 1581
FIU to UTEP: 1641
FIU to SHSU: 994
Liberty to NMSU: 1597
Liberty to NDSU: 1112
Liberty to SDSU: 1034
Liberty to UTEP: 1598
Liberty to SHSU: 1044
SDSU is closer to Liberty U. than SHSU is.
NDSU is only 68 miles further from Liberty U. than SHSU is.
Thus, from Liberty's perspective, the Dakota schools probably wouldn't be considered too far away.
From WKU (in miles):
SHSU: 678
UTEP: 1196
NDSU: 865
SDSU: 740
NDSU and SDSU are a lot closer to WKU than UTEP and NMSU are, and they aren't that much father away than SHSU is.
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