Conference Realignment 2012

[dgcrow]

Originally Posted by Thacher_H_Guild

Well, you were right that they aren't planning to stay in the WAC long!

The WAC could be on life support....

[Dan]

Utah State and San Jose State done deal to the Mountain West Conference, multiple sources tell the Salt Lake Tribune...Story to come

http://twitter.com/TonyAggieville

[Shief]

Sounds like the WAC is on life support and about to have the plug pulled. With Fresno St, Hawaii, and Nevada leaving for the Mountain West; Texas-San Antonio now joining C-USA instead; and Utah St. and San Jose St. possibly going to the MW who is left? Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico St; sounds like a power conference lol. Maybe the Big East will take them lol.

[Serious Late]

Utah State and San Jose State just continue to drag down the quality of a formerly solid conference. The MWC is officially a shell of its former self now. Too bad the Big East had to kill other conferences on its way to a slow death...

Too bad the MWC schools that bailed on the conference for the Big East hadn't thought more about the long-term implications. That's okay, I am sure that Cincinnati, Rutgers, UConn and Louisville aren't looking for their first chance out of the conference or anything. They will remain solidly committed to the conference and all the schools that just left Geographically logical conferences for the Big East won't one day regret the decision... :rolleyes:

[OlivetNaz]

Originally Posted by Shief

Sounds like the WAC is on life support and about to have the plug pulled. With Fresno St, Hawaii, and Nevada leaving for the Mountain West; Texas-San Antonio now joining C-USA instead; and Utah St. and San Jose St. possibly going to the MW who is left? Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico St; sounds like a power conference lol. Maybe the Big East will take them lol.

Idaho will more or less be forced to drop back down to FCS status. They have the smallest stadium in FBS and lose more money per year than almost every other FBS football school. San Jose State really needs to make that drop, too - but they are in a large metro area, so their TV potential (unrealized) makes them a viable option, even though no one can remember the last time they were good.

The Big East took Boise State, Houston, SDSU, etc. in a bid to keep their AQ status, which now looks like it will go away. Either way, it's still a better football conference than the MWC - which now has to rely on former WAC contenders Fresno State and Nevada as banner carriers.

Even if/when the Big East falls apart, the basketball-only schools will go off and form their own league. Louisville and maybe Cincy MIGHT get scooped up by someone, but I wouldn't count on it. The schools that are left really wouldn't have any other viable options in terms of relative conference strength - so even though it makes absolutely ZERO geographical sense, they all also have nowhere better to go.

With the WAC dead (let's face it...no one is jumping at the opportunity to join the WAC - they've been turned down by every viable option in the west and even some non-viable options. You know it's bad when Montana, Montana State, and Eastern Washington all tell you "thanks, but no thanks"), non-football sports for Boise State probably wind up in the Big Sky until the Big East falls apart), which, except for wrestling and a couple other minor sports that compete in the PAC-12 (which is why the PAC-12's arguments against having Boise in football is, honestly, ridiculous), is probably where they should be in terms of geography.

[OlivetNaz]

Originally Posted by Serious Late

Utah State and San Jose State just continue to drag down the quality of a formerly solid conference. The MWC is officially a shell of its former self now. Too bad the Big East had to kill other conferences on its way to a slow death...

Too bad the MWC schools that bailed on the conference for the Big East hadn't thought more about the long-term implications. That's okay, I am sure that Cincinnati, Rutgers, UConn and Louisville aren't looking for their first chance out of the conference or anything. They will remain solidly committed to the conference and all the schools that just left Geographically logical conferences for the Big East won't one day regret the decision... :rolleyes:

Too bad the Big 12 had to kill the Big East by poaching West Virginia first. :rolleyes:

The MWC schools that bailed for the Big East did so because there was more financial benefit to doing so. SDSU and Boise State also have incentive clauses in their contract that enable them to leave the Big East with no penalty and no notice if certain events transpire - such as AQ status being eliminated, or certain members of the Big East (Louisville, Cincinnati, Rutgers) fleeing for other conferences.

The MWC would jump at the chance to have BSU and SDSU back, as they would add some credibility to a now weak conference. BSU would be less than enthused, because they felt that the MWC gave them the bait-and-switch treatment the past 18 months.

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by OlivetNaz

Idaho will more or less be forced to drop back down to FCS status. They have the smallest stadium in FBS and lose more money per year than almost every other FBS football school.

UIdaho (UI out here) never had the fan base or infrastructure to make that move.

Originally Posted by OlivetNaz

With the WAC dead (let's face it...no one is jumping at the opportunity to join the WAC - they've been turned down by every viable option in the west and even some non-viable options. You know it's bad when Montana, Montana State, and Eastern Washington all tell you "thanks, but no thanks"), non-football sports for Boise State probably wind up in the Big Sky until the Big East falls apart), which, except for wrestling and a couple other minor sports that compete in the PAC-12 (which is why the PAC-12's arguments against having Boise in football is, honestly, ridiculous), is probably where they should be in terms of geography.

The Northern Rockies FCS schools have only to look at Idaho to see the pitfalls associated with making a move to FBS football. Though Idaho had some early success, they can't compete financially.

[Dan]

C-USA adding UNT, FIU, LaTech, UTSA, Charlotte & ODU in 2013, sources tell @CBSSports http://cbsprt.co/JQoDJo

http://twitter.com/McMurphyCBS

[Shief]

Ok WAC also losing La Tech, they are DOOMED! Looking up the WAC on Wikipedia(so take with a grain of salt), only Idaho and NM St. will be playing WAC football after the 2012 season. Do they try to join MW or do they go to FCS until they can maybe come back? Independence? End teams?

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by Shief

Ok WAC also losing La Tech, they are DOOMED! Looking up the WAC on Wikipedia(so take with a grain of salt), only Idaho and NM St. will be playing WAC football after the 2012 season. Do they try to join MW or do they go to FCS until they can maybe come back? Independence? End teams?

New Mexico State hasn't been to a bowl game since 1960?

9-29 last three years
11-38 previous 4 seasons under Mumme

This might be the very worse BCS program in the country.

[dgcrow]

Originally Posted by OlivetNaz

Idaho will more or less be forced to drop back down to FCS status. They have the smallest stadium in FBS and lose more money per year than almost every other FBS football school.

You may be correct. But U of Idaho takes a great deal of pride in its athletics and has gone through many hoops in the past to maintain its FBS status. My guess is that even if the WAC is dead the school will continue to try to make that effort (which may or may not succeed), perhaps by attempting to re-join the Sun Belt Conference, of which it was a football only member for four years (2001 through 2004).

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by dgcrow

You may be correct. But U of Idaho takes a great deal of pride in its athletics and has gone through many hoops in the past to maintain its FBS status. My guess is that even if the WAC is dead the school will continue to try to make that effort (which may or may not succeed), perhaps by attempting to re-join the Sun Belt Conference, of which it was a football only member for four years (2001 through 2004).

Idaho was D-II (now FCS) through 1995. As a D-I (FBS) team they have a record of 65-122 (0.348) with three winning seasons. They seat 16,000 for football games and the school is located far from any metropolitan area. And they lose money every year.

The Vandals had some glory years with Dennis Erickson, Keith Gilbertson, and John L. Smith in succession all getting their first HC jobs and turning Idaho into a D-II powerhouse in the 1980's and early 1990's. But it seems pretty clear 17 years into this experiment that Idaho can't compete at the FBS level. They would be better off in the Big Sky competing against Montana, Montana State, Utah State and Eastern Washington, regional schools with similar financial means.

[dgcrow]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

Idaho was D-II (now FCS) through 1995. As a D-I (FBS) team they have a record of 65-122 (0.348) with three winning seasons. They seat 16,000 for football games and the school is located far from any metropolitan area. And they lose money every year.

The Vandals had some glory years with Dennis Erickson, Keith Gilbertson, and John L. Smith in succession all getting their first HC jobs and turning Idaho into a D-II powerhouse in the 1980's and early 1990's. But it seems pretty clear 17 years into this experiment that Idaho can't compete at the FBS level. They would be better off in the Big Sky competing against Montana, Montana State, Utah State and Eastern Washington, regional schools with similar financial means.

Don't disagree with you. But I do know that those 17 years staying in the FBS has always been very important to the school -- more than just an "experiment". Whether or not it will be able to continue that status now, of course, is another question. And yes, they did have a very good rivalry with Montana for many, many years. In addition, of course, if it did rejoin the Big Sky, Idaho State would once again be another natural rival for them. (By the way, Utah State is in the WAC and apparently headed for the MWC.)

[Dan]

Source: Butler will leave Horizon for Atlantic 10 http://espn.go.com/college-sports/st...ts-source-says

http://twitter.com/ESPNAndyKatz

[asuato]

Also Texas State and Texas-Arlington to the Sun Belt. Look for the Belt to also add App. State and Ga. Southern soon. New Mexico State very likely added to the Sun Belt. As for Idaho...best bet is to drop back to FCS and join the Big Sky.

[asuato]

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

New Mexico State hasn't been to a bowl game since 1960?

9-29 last three years
11-38 previous 4 seasons under Mumme

This might be the very worse BCS program in the country.

I think New Mexico is actually worse than NMSU.

[dgcrow]

Originally Posted by asuato

Also Texas State and Texas-Arlington to the Sun Belt. Look for the Belt to also add App. State and Ga. Southern soon. New Mexico State very likely added to the Sun Belt. As for Idaho...best bet is to drop back to FCS and join the Big Sky.

Idaho is obviously discouraged by the latest developments, given the following statements:

http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-footbal...wac-statements

[Dan]

By end of day tomorrow, 25 percent of this year's FBS membership -- 31 schools -- will have changed conferences since 2010.

http://twitter.com/slmandel

[Dan]

Conference USA Adds Five New Members. http://bit.ly/IOTr7F #FB

http://twitter.com/ConferenceUSA1

The Mountain West adds @SJSUAthletics, @USUAthletics for 2013-14. Release at http://bit.ly/JYjQ8y #mw

http://twitter.com/TheMWC

[dgcrow]

Always thought that Louisiana Tech belonged in Conference USA. But it looks like another nail in the WAC coffin.

[Dan]

A handy realignment cheat sheet: 31 schools later, which teams wound up where http://bit.ly/IAXCYX

http://twitter.com/slmandel

[katu06]

Big East added UCF and Navy!? Good thing they will be getting rid of the AQ stuff, what a horrible football conference.

[dgcrow]

Looks like Idaho is seriously considering expanding its domed stadium, assume as part of its effort to remain in the FBS:

http://idaho.scout.com/2/1182373.html

[Ander1345]

Not a big fan of SI, but that article that summarizes the movement of schools really sort of hit home. I mean I always knew schools were moving around, but wow the entire landscape of college football is changing and I'm really not sure it's for the best.

I can't emphasize how very glad I am that the Illini have a stable home in the B1G. It has to be tough to be a fan of outlying schools right now, and maybe even schools that are moving up. How do they know they won't just be a punching bag for the other conferences for a couple years and then the conference just implodes?

[jackman404]

Originally Posted by katu06

Big East added UCF and Navy!? Good thing they will be getting rid of the AQ stuff, what a horrible football conference.

Navy has had some very solid football seasons lately. They weren't good last year, but they are capable of competing in the Big Least.