Patterson Suggests More Dominos to Fall

[deepellumfrog]

So I went to several BYU boards to gauge interest in Independence even after MWC expansion. Strong consensus is that BYU still goes Independent. Does SMU sneak in as several suggest? How do these MWC Divisions grap you:

TCU
Houston
SMU
New Mexico
UNLV
Nevada

Air Force
Colorado St
Boise
Wyoming
Fresno
San Diego St


The bottom 2 teams might be realigned but the North will probably want access to California. Air Force might consider going South to its more fertile recruiting ground but tradition might keep them North

Issue I am trying to figure out is is what is BYU's interest in Independence if WAC is no longer viable? Can BYU latch on somewhere else for all sports but football? Or would they go crawling back to the MWC? If WAC adds NTSU and a Louisiana school, does BYU still have interest in it for sports otehr than football?

This was as good a move that the MWC could have made to try and c0ck-block BYU.

If BYU is dead set on independence, the WCC would be the next best move. Since football would be out of the equation, the hoops with Gonzaga, St. Mary's, Santa Clara, etc would be as good as, if not better than the WAC.

[JasonB]

I agree with others that Patterson's statements allude to a lot of rework going into the MWC. There are a subset of teams within that conference who just aren't interested in competing at the national level, and really should be in the WAC. TCU isn't going to move to an existing BCS conference. They don't have enough of an alumni base or following to financially justify a share of big conference revenue. That for sure will keep them out of the Big 12 discussions.

I think that BYU is kind of driving all this, similar to how UT drove everything with the Big 12. The MWC lost Utah already, they have to make moves so that they do not lose BYU. They just finished poaching the WAC of its most competitive schools. Losing Utah and gaining Boise, Nevada, and Fresno make it an 11 team conference. My guess is that they will find a way to get rid of New Mexico, Wyoming, and San Diego State, who will then join the WAC. That leaves a Western Division of Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, UNLV, Fresno State, Nevada, Boise. Start with TCU, then add the top 6 CUSA teams for the Eastern Division and you have yourself a 14 team conference of teams looking to go to the next level. I would suggest TCU, SMU, Houston, ECU, Southern Miss, UCF, Tulsa/Memphis. Maybe they make it a 16 team conference by keeping SDSU in the West and adding both Tulsa and Memphis in the East in order to gain access to more markets and keep travel costs down by allowing basically a full schedule of games within a division. Stallion could be right, maybe they form something smaller and wait for the Big 12 to explode, but I am guessing that they will have to act right now in order to keep BYU in the fold, not wait. And if they lose BYU, the dream of the BCS is over.

[Dooby]

It seems to be a logical move, though I would note BYU would dwarf the other schools. It is the size of the WCC's 5 largest schools combined.

[Stallion]

Ha! Jason you would have to form a new conference to accomplish all that or there would be about 10 breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, conspiracy claims filed by the teams stuck in the WAC against the double dealing teams by midnite.

[MustangStealth]

TCU isn't going to move to an existing BCS conference. They don't have enough of an alumni base or following to financially justify a share of big conference revenue.

And USF did? I still think the Big East is not out of the question.

Maybe they make it a 16 team conference by keeping SDSU in the West and adding both Tulsa and Memphis in the East in order to gain access to more markets and keep travel costs down by allowing basically a full schedule of games within a division.

The current MWC left the WAC-16 because they didn't want to be in a huge conference with Eastern and Western team. Why would they go back to that now?

[Stallion]

the concept of a large MWC or CUSA misses the potential bonanza of a Big 12 breakup. Note that MWC has always remained small for this reason and amost pulled off a huge coup last spring. Cut out the riff-raff and stay small

[BRStang]

More and more I get the feeling BYU is going to stay put and that the MWC is going to add Houston to get to 12. Bad scenario for SMU. I don't think there's any chance that the MWC is going to kick out SDSU, Wyoming and NM in favor of adding the likes of us, Tulsa, UTEP, etc.

There is scant information on what is transpiring right now over the internet, but every place I've been seems to suggest Houston followed by UTEP are on the target list for the MWC.

The question - What is SMU doing to be proactive in all of this??

[couch 'em]

The easier solution is to have TCU grab Boise and join CUSA. Work out a deal where there is no west/east play. Easiest best solution for now. When the big 12 folds, we all can leave deadweight like Rice and join with big 12 leftovers.

[ponydawg]

TCU won't join CUSA, that would seem like defeat to them. Would have to be a newly formed conf. Conf USA is tainted in their eyes.

[West Coast Johnny]

Since everyone has a two-bit oppinion as to what will happen, here's another 2 bit oppinion from a TCU fan.
1. BYU has made a terrible mistake. They are going to back down from their independence movement and crawl back to the MWC on their hands and knees. If they are stupid enough to go independent, how are they going to schedule 12 games, 6 at home? They will play four wac teams a year (barf). They think they can schedule Notre Dame every year. I don't think ND will be likely to help out "the Notre Dame of the west". Utah won't play them. Who's left to play? Webber State three times a year?
2. I don't think TCU wants to be the only Texas school in the MWC. I think the fans want some local rivalry games. Unfortunatley for SMU, I would say that Houston has the lead now. I personally would prefer SMU over that glorified community college.
3. TCU to the Big East is very plausibly. The Big East is in the same possition as the Big 12 with better conferences like the ACC & Big 10 cherry picking their best teams. The Big East is desperate to add quality football programs and while TCU isn't in their geographic footprint, they are closer than other available teams like BYU, Boise, etc. It remains to be seen if the Big East is stable enough or even an upgrade as to whether TCU considers it. I would think that if the Big East asks, TCU takes it considering the unstable ground they are on now.
4. TCU isn't getting invited to the Big 12. Deloss Dodds is stupid enough to take an inferior team like Colorado State or Air Force to re-open up lost markets like the state of Colorado before they pick TCU.

[Stallion]

Hey Johnny. What''s the deal with the Frog Forum being off line on such a big day. Blackout? Conspiracy?

[birddogger]

Where's Thad?

[Stallion]

Fresno Coach Pat Hill claiming MWC expansion talks have been going on for months-not necessarily an overnite deal.

[HB Pony Dad]

Where's Thad?

In Venice here in socal.

[smupony94]

Where's Thad?

In Venice here in socal.

Has he asked for your daughter's hand in marriage yet? Hope I did not ruin the surprise.