MWC/BYU/TCU article - less than flattering

[Sewanee Stang]

Ouch

http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/243042/3/

[George S. Patton]

What a rip job!

[SMU Football Blog]

That article was a tad harsh. I wonder if that writer is going to get a bunch of comments about TCU's business school's ranking in the WSJ from a year ago or the size of its endowment.

[BrianTinBigD]

I enjoyed the cooment at the end:

As the bastard child of the conference, stuck in an isolated time zone with no real benefit to being part of something called the Mountain West, (TCU) has no one that cares about its little outfit.

[jkflamebo]

byu is pretty good, they crushed oregon last year in their bowl game. their coach will get a huge job somewhere

[DiamondM75]

I enjoyed the cooment at the end:

As the bastard child of the conference, stuck in an isolated time zone with no real benefit to being part of something called the Mountain West, (TCU) has no one that cares about its little outfit.

Can someone please explain why TCU went to the MWC, without using the words BCS?

[MustangStealth]

Because they saw the direction CUSA was heading in: a bunch of mediocre teams, many with attendance problems.

The MWC is consistently the 7th rated conference, and as such they are (in theory at least) in a better position to negotiate bowls, TV, etc.

[SMU Football Blog]

The MWC is in terrible TV markets and that is the engine that drives everything. It has always been a problem for those schools, whether they were in the WAC or the MWC. It will continue to be a problem. It doesn't matter how good they are.

[Stallion]

because an SMU-Rice Classic end of season shootout in which the two teams that hadn't been to a bowl in a combined 66 years drew 12,000.

[EastStang]

I guess there were three things that did it for TCU. (1) They did have visions of MWC becoming a BCS conference and bought the hype from Thompson. (2) They liked being in a conference with BYU, UT and AFA. (3) They heard about the CSTV contract and got stars in the eyes. (4) Saturday games in lieu of midweek games. (5) A bowl schedule which would not interfere with final exams. Obviously, BCS did not come calling. The CSTV contract did not give them the exposure they thought would be forthcoming. The MTN network is not getting on cable systems because no one watches the MWC. They did have to start playing midweek games for CSTV and VS. And the bowl schedule does interfere with finals. So, really, they just got the schedule with BYU, Utah and AFA. If the MWC expands further by adding three teams say, Nevada, Hawaii and Boise, I suspect that TCU will be in the red-eyed step-child division since we know that Wyo., CSU, BYU, UT, AFA, want to be in the same division. My guess is that they would add UNLV to their division to have a patsie they could beat, and then relegate UN, Hawaii, Boise, UNM, SDS and TCU to the south division. Sor of like being in the WAC all over again.

[George S. Patton]

I guess there were three things that did it for TCU. (1) They did have visions of MWC becoming a BCS conference and bought the hype from Thompson. (2) They liked being in a conference with BYU, UT and AFA. (3) They heard about the CSTV contract and got stars in the eyes. (4) Saturday games in lieu of midweek games. (5) A bowl schedule which would not interfere with final exams. Obviously, BCS did not come calling. The CSTV contract did not give them the exposure they thought would be forthcoming. The MTN network is not getting on cable systems because no one watches the MWC. They did have to start playing midweek games for CSTV and VS. And the bowl schedule does interfere with finals. So, really, they just got the schedule with BYU, Utah and AFA. If the MWC expands further by adding three teams say, Nevada, Hawaii and Boise, I suspect that TCU will be in the red-eyed step-child division since we know that Wyo., CSU, BYU, UT, AFA, want to be in the same division. My guess is that they would add UNLV to their division to have a patsie they could beat, and then relegate UN, Hawaii, Boise, UNM, SDS and TCU to the south division. Sor of like being in the WAC all over again.

All that and TCU is building an $8 million suite setup on the south end of its stadium. It's a program that has clear direction and will do what it takes to succeed.

Our program is lacking direction and has lacked it since 1989. This next hire will show if this school wants it to be part of the pulse.

I'm sick and tired of the wishy-washyness. GET A FREAKIN' PLAN!!

[EastStang]

And now the 300 lbs. gorilla (or Cougar) in the MWC is making noise about leaving:

WAC WOULD "STRONGLY CONSIDER" BYU WITHOUT FOOTBALL
Breaking news first on 1320, K fan.

Karl Benson, the WAC commissioner, just told 1320, K-Fan's David Locke that "we would give strong consideration" to BYU's other sports joining the WAC if they went independent in football.

Benson continues, "I would hope our Athletic Directors and Board of Directors would make the best business decision."

Benson called BYU a "charter member of the WAC."

If you would like to hear the entire conversation into 1320, K'Fan's locked on Sports Today at 3:30 for the conversation between Locke and Karl Benson. We will re-run the interview at 6:15 during the BYU vs TCU pre-game show.

Yesterday on 1320, K-FAN and http://www.thefanssports.com, Locke revealed that BYU is losing in the range of 5 to 8 million dollars a year of potential revenue by keeping their football program in the Mountain West Conference.

[Nacho]

TCU would have to come back on their knees if BYU left.

[EastStang]

And guess what, its not in CUSA's interest to expand. TCU will not bring one more $ of TV money to the table. So you're talking the feeding of one more mouth without any additional revenue except possibly the Ft. Worth Bowl. Unless CUSA is looking to shore up its flank, if the BE raided again, it would pass. TCU would certainly be welcome again in the WAC. Or they could follow their leaders and declare their independence. 4 home games per year, no tv, and a Ft. Worth Bowl tie in. They'd love that.

[MustangStealth]

Karl Benson, the WAC commissioner, just told 1320, K-Fan's David Locke that "we would give strong consideration" to BYU's other sports joining the WAC if they went independent in football.

Karl Benson just won the 2007 "No Duh Award". That's like saying CUSA would accept Miami for all other sports if they decided to go independent in football again.