TCU and the Mountain West

[Hoop Fan]

Taking a glance at the Froggy board, it looks like they are coming to the conclusion that joining the Mountain West might be the most viable hope for BCS access down the road. Bingo. I was saying last week that SMU better be swallowing its pride, polishing its resume and be willing to buy its way into the MWC. Its a longshot, but a package deal with TCU might allow SMU to beat out one of the following: Fresno (BYU hates their academics), Hawaii (travel costs) or Nevada (low profile program). Its not ideal, but BYU and company still have the best shot of getting included in the BCS. Basketball is good too.

[Water Pony]

I like the teams in the Mountain West but:

1. Their ethics in expanding the WAC and then dumping it makes you wonder if we would not only be swallowing our pride, but our integrity at the same time.
2. Geography, geograhy, geograhy: With only TCU close, our costs would accelerate for all sports and no regional rivalries, which we need to fill Ford.
3. The question then is can CSU, BYU, Utah, AFA, etc. fill the stadium better than a Conf. USA-West or WAC East.

[AusTxPony]

If we were asked to join the MWC, I'd say 12 teams if the only way.
Central Division:
SMU
TCU or TULSA
UTEP
NEW MEXICO
COLO STATE
AIR FORCE
Western Division:
WYOMING
BYU
UTAH
SDSU
UNLV
FRESNO, BOISE, NEVADA, or HAWAII
Now that might make it viable with a 5/2 playover in football.

[Nacho]

Just say no to the MWC. They need us more than we need them. There are no other big TV markets besides DFW and Houston that they can remotely enter. Don't let them into our recruiting area. Keep them out. They are lying SOBs. If TCU or Houston goes to the MWC they are fools. I would rather not play football than play with those scums again. They aren't going to be a BCS conference with the western WAC. Make them take those schools. Show a little spine.

[SWC Grey Hair]

If we had a choice of joining the MWC Conference or forming a regional conference without TCU, it would be a tough decision. Since football is king and even though the MWC would not receive an automatic BCS slot,they would be likely to have a much better chance at an at large slot to the BCS than our regional conference. At the end of the day, we have to go with the highest profile football schools to insure our future in Div.IA football and that would be the MWC in this case.

[Water Pony]

Nacho:

Tell us what you really think? Don't hold back

[Nacho]

I would love to see the MWC take:

Hawaii--get that monkey off our back. The travel expense is a killer.

Fresno--no academics whatsoever, only jucos, partial and non-qualifiers. Their integrrity fits right in with the MWC.

Nevada--whatever

Boise--the only real loss.

SJSU--get real



[This message has been edited by Nacho (edited 06-04-2003).]

[EastStang]

Would Wyoming draw better than SJS?
Would UNLV draw better than Fresno State.
Would San Diego State draw better than Boise State?
Would Utah draw better than Hawaii?
Would New Mexico draw better than Nevada?
Get the picture. BYU, AFA and Colorado State are the football names. Would CSU put more fans in the stands than So. Miss.? Would AFA put more fans in the stands than UH? Would BYU put more fans in the stands than TCU? A regional conference with TCU, Tulsa, UH, Rice, UTEP, La. Tech, USM would be vastly superior to the MWC with almost no travel costs. Even CUSA (if diminished) would have ECU (=SDS), Army (=AFA), TCU, UH, Tulane, UAB (=UNM), Memphis, and USM, and would be better for us in my view than MWC.

[Hoop Fan]

Hey Nach, its one thing to be spineless, its another to be foolish. Unless I am naive to the realities of things, how can you say that SMU is in a position of strength regarding the Mountain Goats? Granted, without BYU, they would be nothing, but dont count on the Pac 10 expanding. BYU fills a 70,000 seat stadium regularly, is a tv commodity and a credit to any league academically. Yea, they burned us once, but thats not half as bad as what they did to Hawaii and Utep, and those schools would go back with them in a minute. Lets not kid ourselves, this is survival we are talking about and even though I am "hoop fan", I would rather play football at a fairly high level than be forgotten forever due to pride.

[Nacho]

Speaking as someone who is both spineless and foolish I vote for the regional thing. No personal attack intended.

[Hoop Fan]

Eaststang, thats a good analysis and very true in many respects. But the opportunity to form a regional bus league will always be there. There is one chance left to join the BCS party and it looks like the MWC will be the only league left with a decent chance to get some kind of access. I honestly dont think SMU's chances of joining are good at all, but a spade is a spade. SMU would be crazy not to explore this and every option.

[Nacho]

Reading the MWC board I don't see any mention of SMU. TCU was brought up but essentially shot down because of the distance problem. I think they want to concentrate in the west and especially in California.

That said, how do you guys feel SMU will be affected if the BE goes to 8, 9 or 12 teams. How does that affect us?

I am getting the feeling that ND MAY enter into some kind of football arrangement with the BE. That would probably throw some things for a loop.

[Water Pony]

I'll concede that UTEP and Hawaii got more of the short end than us, but the Mtn. West is a long shot for us and only works, if TCU is in the mix. Geography remains the biggest obstacle. Ideally you would want at least two more SW oriented teams; otherwise, Conf. USA-West or WAC-East address the geography/rivalry issue better.

A weakend Conf. USA with the assumed departure of Louisville and one or two others, would make Mtn. West the best of the Mid-Majors. They still won't break in as an offical BCS conference. The six (soon to be five) BCS conference will not permit it. Their only gift will be an extra at-large when the BE loses its role in the BCS. It's better than nothing since they do run the "flying wedge" of collegiate sport finances.

[Hoop Fan]

Maybe I am paranoid, but I think that if TCU is left out of the BE/CUSA merger, they will have serious discussions with the MWC. They will not just settle for a bus league. The MWC's only reason to go to 12 teams is to attract BCS attention. To do that, they need to add good football teams in good markets. TCU is both of those right now. I don't see TCU quietly joining a regional league and giving up on the BCS just yet, they believe they deserve better than that with their recent success. SMU better pony up so to speak and make sure its not left thinking small again.

[Water Pony]

Question: Will Mountain West be "a First Mover" in conference realignment. Their AD's appear to want to go after four more schools.

<A HREF="http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/canepa/20030604-9999_1s4canepa.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/canepa/20030604-9999_1s4canepa.html</A>

Which schools?

If two is would be Boise State and Nevada. Fresno State is a tough sell.

If four, I would add TCU and SMU, in order to get into DFW and the Texas talent pool. Only problem is we would be Central Time zone, which isn't their market our desireable for us geographically. If offered, we would jump.