PonyFans.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5279018

my favorite quote...

"But Baylor isn't considered a candidate to join the conference"

from jayhawks coach ......

"We are gonna be in a BCS conference," Self said, according to the newspaper.

But count Self among those who still believe in the viability of the Big 12.

"If this league is held together," Self said, "we'll go get two teams or six teams and this league will be better than it ever has been."

------------------------

Does this sound like he wants to join someone else or be in charge?

I jumped the gun saying this means SMU won't join the MWC.
Reading the article itself, it seems TCU's anti-Baylor stance has everything to do with the fact that Baylor joined the Big 12 when TCU got excluded. I'm not sure I like that stance on their part, but it does say that perhaps they would be more welcoming of a fellow former outcast in SMU.

In my opinion, the MWC would be well-advised to become another mega conference (16 teams) with former Big 12 members and teams in larger TV markets like DFW and Houston. I think their little mtn TV network would all of the sudden get a lot more carriage if they did that. I also think their next TV deal would not be with someone like Versus (although that's not a bad network anymore) but might be more interesting to an ESPN/ABC or Fox Sports type of operation.

TCU wants SMU and UH over Baylor also.

They want kans and mizz, but might get the heisman and be on the outside hoping to be part of what kans and friends puts together with baylor lobbying to keep tcu out

SMU89 wrote:from jayhawks coach ......

"If this league is held together," Self said, "we'll go get two teams or six teams and this league will be better than it ever has been."

wow this guy is a jokester. what is he smoking?? yea buddy. losing texas, ou etc will make the big 12 better than ever. good call.

But Baylor isn't considered a candidate to join the conference, with TCU standing staunchly in its way, the Fort Worth newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources.

TCU would mount a lobbying effort against Baylor if the Bears are left out of the conference-realignment mix, the Star-Telegram reported.

TCU is blackballing Baylor. Baylor's colors are green, like a certain NTSU, which is all too familiar with being blackballed.

my dislike for TCU just went down a few notches. Love it, love it, love it.

Anyone ever notice those Baylor alums with the fake deep Texas accent (usually litigators who like to lay it on thick) pronounce Baylor 'Bye-lor'? How apropos...(usually also the same folk who refer to the legislature as the legisl-lie-ture, which is similarly appropriate)

While the 16 team Super Conference makes some sense by adding schools like UT and A&M-does it make sense for the MWC. Will adding any combination of schools to get to 16 bring more revenue than the loss from have to split that money 16 ways? That in a nutshell is the issue

Stallion wrote:While the 16 team Super Conference makes some sense by adding schools like UT and A&M-does it make sense for the MWC. Will adding any combination of schools to get to 16 bring more revenue than the loss from have to split that money 16 ways? That in a nutshell is the issue

It would all depend on whether a good enough TV deal could be negotiated to carry 16 teams at an equal or higher rate each than they can get with 10 or 12 teams. Shoring up the DFW market and adding the Houston market along with the Kansas and Missouri markets might work, but that is not a sure thing either.

while I like TCUs attitude about Baylor, i can't believe they will get the opportunity to blackball them. I see KU, KSU and Mizzou trying to control a new league. Gotta think they would wanna shed Wyoming, SDSU and maybe even UNLV. In this scenario, gotta think the locks for being included are: Kansas, Kstate, Mizzou, Iowa State, Baylor, TCU, BYU, Utah, Colo State, Air Force, Boise State, and either New Mexico/UNLV. That would make 12. If they go beyond 12, i would see the 13th being New Mexico or UNLV. #14 would probably be Houston.

If they go beyond 14: SMU, Tulsa, Fresno. And pray.

Pretty much what I think-but UNLV is no lock whatsoever. I can see SMU getting in before UNLV because of Dallas. Match UNLV with any of those Big 12 Leftovers. Appetizing? I posted on anther board:

Kansas Roster: 29 Texans
Missouri Roster: 27 Texans

to be more specific and in order of selection:

Big 8 Division

Kansas
Missouri
K State
Iowa State
Baylor
TCU
Houston
SMU (over Tulsa by a nose)

Mountain Division

BYU
Utah
Colo State
Air Force
Boise State
New Mexico
UNLV
Wyoming (because of history with first four)

Bottom line, what's the TV value of that group.

If Texas and A&M bolt for the PAC 16 as is being discussed, the MWC is in a pretty strong position to invite the suddenly homeless Kansas and Missou, which would add KC & St Louis to their "network" and bring the conference to 12 members. I like the fact that 14 years later, TCU has positioned themselves to shaft Baylor...but I also hope CUSA looks to add Baylor.

Future MWC:

Mountain: BYU, Utah, Boise, SDSU, UNLV, Wyoming
Plains: KU, Missou, TCU, NM, CSU, AF

Future CUSA:

West: SMU, KSU, Tulsa, UTEP, Baylor, Houston, Rice
East: Tulane, Memphis, USM, UAB, ECU, UCF, Marshall

We have only one road football game with the eastern division every year and I would suggest a 19 game bball schedule playing your own division twice and other division once.