WAC puts expansion plans on hold

[GrapevineMustang]

Commish Karl Benson says league will operate with eight teams in 2011-12.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5341257

[SMUstang]

I wonder if this means Montana and/or Montana State are not ready to convert to FBS?

[RGV Pony]

can you imagine the travel costs from Honolulu to Bozeman? Football might charter but how would the Rainbow Wahine get up there? Seems like it would be logistically impossible.

[ponyboy]

Why? Bozeman's got a fine airport. Honolulu to Seattle. Seattle to BZN.

[Stallion]

that league is really in trouble-feel kind of sorry for them because there are no good alternatives-not enough decent programs in the West. Actually no real alternatives left.

[RGV Pony]

Why? Bozeman's got a fine airport. Honolulu to Seattle. Seattle to BZN.

you're right. $641 on Delta. That, and 14 hours.

[ponyte]

Agree with Stallion. The WAC has had consistent strong teams (BSC participants) and now has hard times.

Too bad the WAC put expansion on hold. Guess UNT (formally NTSU) will have to wait with baited breathe another year before getting that coveted WAC invitation.

IF CUSA has to poach to expand or replace teams, any from the WAC that might fit?

[EastStang]

I've heard some chatter suggesting that CUSA add some teams to get to 16. Its usually the eastern schools talking and they mention schools like Troy, Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State (yuk). However, if invited, I suspect that Fresno, Nevada, Hawaii and La. Tech would jump at an invite. That would leave NMS, Utah State, SJS, and Idaho looking to go back to FCS. I bet JJ would love for us to add Hawaii. The east schools would go ballistic on this. My view on this is that Fresno, Nevada would not draw well in Dallas, Tulsa, Houston or anywhere east. La. Tech did travel well. Hawaii would probably draw well in Dallas as long as JJ is coach. I am not real thrilled with this idea But the question is whether adding those four schools would strengthen our TV and Bowl negotiations and RPI? Fresno is in the Bay area. Hawaii is a monopoly of a whole state. La. Tech and Nevada are the strongest teams available among the rest and fit the best.

You could go to four divisions: East with ECU, Marshall, UCF and UAB. South: Tulane, Memphis, La. Tech, and USM. Midwest: SMU, Rice, UH, Tulsa; West: UTEP, Fresno, Nevada and Hawaii. You'd have to figure out one wildcard game each year for each team to get to 8 conference games. Also remember away games at Hawaii allow you to add another game. Again, not my suggestion or my recommendation.

[Stallion]

that CUSA board is filled with unending stupid expansion threads for a CUSA16 which makes absolutely no sense. Schools will only expand past 12 now if it brings value that offsets the pie being cut more ways. Those expansion candidates don't-so the entire idea is DOA. I don't think CUSA should expand even if we lose 2-3 teams because the candidates are awful. If we had a gun to our head forcing us to expand I think I would consider going west rather than pick up the Troys, MTSU etc. Does anyone think that SMU, Rice, Tulsa and Tulane would accept these wannabe Junior Colleges. I think the West would splinter before that happened.

[couch 'em]

-Troy,
-Western Kentucky
-Middle Tennessee State
-Fresno,
-Nevada,
-Hawaii
-La. Tech.

NO!

-Adds nothing,
-Adds nothing,
-Adds nothing,
-May drop football (Financial problems - California)
-May drop football (financial problems)
-About to fade to obscurity again, expensive to get to, biased island refs, no recruiting NO NO NO
-Adds nothing.

None of these schools add recruiting. None add TV. None draw in Dallas (or elsewhere), none are trying to win except maybe Nevada. None bring in BCS bowl money. None bring prestige.

They all might as well be NTSU or Dallas Baptist.

[Longtime]

Shocking revelations in this thread:

Fresno is in the Bay Area?

Um, like Waco is in the Dallas area? Or maybe Lubbock is?

And UNT turned down the WAC? Really?

[PonyKai]

It was a stellar decision, I mean how could one not want to be in the Sun Belt? It has a whole one bowl tie in!

[NickSMU17]

Roy,

Go away...

Love,

ponyfans.com

[PonyKai]

It had one five years ago. It had one this year. So, speaking about the decision to "spurn the WAC" five years ago basically makes no sense, whatsoever, at all. What is NTSU waiting for SMU to stop blackballing it so it can join CUSA?

[mustangxc]

The only 2 schools on CUSA's radar should be TCU and Lousiana Tech, other than that as Stallion said I would rather stick with our current schools even in the case of attrition.