Boise to Mountain West Rumors

[EastStang]

Sorry, I thought it was a 6 year cycle for some reason. My bad.

[West Coast Johnny]

In conference realigment, it is every college for themselves. I am fairly confident that SMU to the Mountain would get a lot of support from TCU. The MWC schools have wanted a "travel buddy" for TCU since we were added to the conference. IMO, if the MWC decides to expand, they will add a school in Texas. I believe that TCU would whole heartedly advocate for SMU in this scenario - and the MWC would listen considering TCU's roll in improving the conference. There is a lot of common ground between TCU & SMU. There is no love for Houston in Fort Worth.

The love-fest between TCU & SMU ends where the Big 12 begins. TCU will throw SMU under the bus to get into a BCS conference and visa versa.

[Garret]

Sorry, I thought it was a 6 year cycle for some reason. My bad.

There are actually 2 overlapping BCS evaluation cycles going on at all times. The whole process used to confuse me, but I've been researching it due to my concern for Hawaii's Athletic future and have written mini-thesis about it for Hawaii fans. The media has just started publishing articles (past few months) about the evaluation period that could result in a new AQ conference in 2012 and just last week they noticed that a WAC team has to make a decision to leave by July 1. Sadly, I've been telling Hawaii fans about that and about the Boise State implications for more than a year now...to me, everything is moving in slow motion and there is nothing that Hawaii fans can do to fix the problem.

Winning in 2008 and 2009 is essential, or at least winning in one of those years and being projected to win in 2010 and 2011 would be useful. I wish that Hawaii could count 2006/2007 also, a 6-year cycle would be nice!

[Stallion]

Very good point West Coast Johnny

But keep in mind that everything I read about TCU's move to the MWC indicated that TCU's administration was lukewarm to the MWC move in the first place but basically relented after significant pressure from alumni and other athletic interests. I think while the TCU institutional leaders may support SMU in MWC negotiations they may face a great deal of pressure to drive a stake into SMU from these other interests. So when you refer to "TCU" realize that there very well could be differing voices at TCU. (Just like there are so many at SMU that seem to think that SMU should have a handshake agreement with schools Rice and Tulane to stay together which I think is and always has been one of the stupidest ideas I've ever heard.). As I said when TCU went to the MWC-I thought it was a calculated gamble but I knew EXACTLY what they were doing(trying to distance from privates) and the idea had definite merit that wasn't well understood on this board.

[EastStang]

I also think that some folks at the MWC were all but promising TCU that the MWC would be an auto-bid conference and that was another aspect of all this. Also the prospect of home games with AFA and BYU probably meant more than home games with Tulane and Tulsa. But I agree with Stallion that there are voices at TCU for leaving SMU (and other Texas private schools) behind. Of course BYU and AFA are essentially private schools with a national following (like ND, BC, Miami and USC). I for one thought at the time that the move would blow up in the face of TCU.

[Mexmustang]

I only wonder what the move has done (cost) to TCU in sports other than football. Also, I don't necessarily agree that their football success would have been any greater or lesser had they remained in CUSA. They had a pretty difficult non-conference scheldule that helped in either scenario. Their first "attention getter" was the upset of OU in Norman, not beating Utah in Ft. Worth. They would have swept the table in CUSA and maybe played in two BCS bowls. It certainly hasn't hurt Boise to remain in the WAC (sorry Frogs!).

[Corp]

Very good point West Coast Johnny

But keep in mind that everything I read about TCU's move to the MWC indicated that TCU's administration was lukewarm to the MWC move in the first place but basically relented after significant pressure from alumni and other athletic interests. I think while the TCU institutional leaders may support SMU in MWC negotiations they may face a great deal of pressure to drive a stake into SMU from these other interests. So when you refer to "TCU" realize that there very well could be differing voices at TCU. (Just like there are so many at SMU that seem to think that SMU should have a handshake agreement with schools Rice and Tulane to stay together which I think is and always has been one of the stupidest ideas I've ever heard.). As I said when TCU went to the MWC-I thought it was a calculated gamble but I knew EXACTLY what they were doing(trying to distance from privates) and the idea had definite merit that wasn't well understood on this board.

Spot-On!

Stallion, you undoubtedly have a mole in TCU's Board of Trustees.

[Topper]

Good point Callenstang. But you have to realize who you're talking to. Sometimes our rival (& others) takes the "rivalry" too seriously & forgets about the dollar & cents of the issue.

I can imagine a lot of teams don't want SMU to return to 'dominence' & that is what the bcs-BS would allow. Where they have us now is where most would like us - particularly the shorthorns.

On the nose Navy Crimson. In the 80s, UT AD DeLoss Dodds was given a huge bonus package as a reward for their kissy face relationship with the NCAA. UT, DeLoss Dodds, and Fred Akers blamed U of H and SMU for all of their problems and started the ball rolling to destroy our programs. When TCU showed a little bit of promise in the early 80s they went after them too. UT has always chafed at the talent they lose to us, U of H, etc. Money was not the only factor that led Dodds to orchestrate the break up of the old SWC. They want to hold as many schools as possible down so they can control recruiting.

[Stallion]

You are delusional

[Bergermeister]

As I said when TCU went to the MWC-I thought it was a calculated gamble but I knew EXACTLY what they were doing.

Of course you did.