TCU's move to the MWC ... good or bad for them?

[UConn/SMU]

I don't lie awake at night concerned about TCU's football program, but I'm wondering about their future. Before they made the announcement, most "experts" said TCU wasn't going to the MWC because: 1) they would be the only school in the central time zone, 2) they would have no natural rivals, and 3) the distances involved were too great. I think those are valid concerns.

The only good reason for the move would be if the MWC were to become a BCS conference, and that is ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE (we all know how much criticism the Big East Conference has endured and their average ranking is about 45; the MWC's average ranking is over 70!!!).

I think TCU will do okay in the MWC, but most TCU fans will regret this move.

[SWC2010]

Can't tell you much about MWC. But, IMO, TCU & SMU will be in the same conference by 2008 (C USA).

[GoRedGoBlue]

HOw so?

The move was done in haste and without regard for what was truly best for TCU....they would have been much better off going 8-0 in CUSA and adding 2 top non-conf opponents than having to travel way out west and in the mountains to maybe go 5-3 in conference...for a slight chance that MWC would be in the BCS...

When UTAH falls flat in 2005, MWC to the BCS won't make any sense.

[UConn/SMU]

The MWC will *NEVER* go the the BCS. It is vastly inferior to the Big East, and even the Big East's membership in the BCS has been questioned repeatedly.

The average rankings (a good way to judge overall strength) for the six BCS conferences is topped by the ACC, with an average ranking of 35. The worst BCS conference is the Big East with an average ranking of about 45. They're barely hanging on. The MWC has an average ranking that exceeds 70. There is no possible way that the MWC will ever be considered for membership in the BCS. If that's what lured TCU to the MWC, they made a foolish mistake.

[EastStang]

TCU is like Elizabeth Taylor. Pretty at times, but never seems satisfied with her husband. After a while, she moves on to the next guy. The economics of the deal made no sense. The MWC TV deal is reportedly modestly better per year than the CUSA deal (per team), but has no ESPN part to it and after extra travel costs nets TCU less per year than CUSA. There were reports that TCU did not want to be in the same conference with SMU no matter what (which of course doesn't make sense since they will continue to play us every year). Apparently, they figured getting BYU and AFA to play them at home every other year would give them better attendance than playing USM and Memphis every four years which is probably correct. They will however see a slipping fan base over the years. Wyoming, UNLV, SDS, UNM and CSU are not great draws. After Utah returns to earth, they will not be a great draw either, just as Boise (a great team) only drew 10,000 in Dallas. These are not marquee names in Texas. Either way, it appeared to me to be a lateral move at best and one that in the long run they may come to regret. I don't see CUSA taking them back, unless a team leaves. ECU is itching to get out because they are geographically alone out there, but they are not that attractive right now to a BCS conference like the Big East, so I don't see them moving for quite awhile. I think they are stuck out west for quite awhile. If they don't like it, maybe the MAC or SBC will take them.