Ponies tell MWC to shove it

[Cougar King]

. The remaining Big East athletic directors will meet in Dallas on Jan. 11 to discuss their latest moves, including the update on the television negotiations. Tulsa and UMass have been discussed as possible additions if the Big East decides to expand, according to multiple sources. Rice and Southern Miss were also tossed around. Meanwhile, the Mountain West expects to move on San Diego State by the end of this week, according to a league source. The MWC has to decide if it will go to 12 or 14. The MWC has interest in SMU and Houston, but SMU has let it be known to the MWC it has no interest as the Mustangs and Cougars are set to go to the Big East. UTEP desperately wants to be in the MWC, according to a source, and is on the MWC list. BYU is the first choice for the MWC but at this juncture the Cougars want to remain independent in football, WCC in other sports.


http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketba ... rik-murphy

[SMUfrat]

Will UH tell SMU to shove it? Or do y'all at CoogFans think we will continue to act in unity?

[dcpony]

Makes sense. I imagine SMU doesn't trust the old MWC schools after the way they left the WAC-16.

[Cougar King]

Will UH tell SMU to shove it? Or do y'all at CoogFans think we will continue to act in unity?

Not sure. Our Pres and AD have been pretty vague and hush-hush lately. I do think we will block Rice from the nBE assuming we stay and they actually come up for a vote.

[SMUfrat]

Rice should go to the MWC with UTEP... for 14.

[ponyscott]

Rice should go to the MWC with UTEP... for 14.

Agree...we have Tulane and don't need another anchor small private school with limited following, especially in Houston as we have a school there now. No offense, Rice fans

[westexSMU]

THE MWC does not produce enough TV money (are enough TV sets) to provide us with any security in a TV contract. So why change from some sort of eastern conference arrangement ? Whatever is left from the Big East should produce a TV contract at least double the revenue produced from the MWC. CUSA had a better TV contract/Bowl arrangement than the MWC had the last few years. Boise is the only advantage the MWC has and they have a different revenue situation than the rest of their members.

[SMU 86]

BE is best for us imo.

[Stallion]

I am so sick and tired of hearing teams like UTSA, UMass, and Charlotte being brought up in Big East discussions. There are only 2 candidates that have any resume if a) there is expansion and b) no western wing. Those 2 schools are Tulsa and Southern Miss. If any other schools get in SMU should change course and head west. At some point you got to forget about TV sets and put the best programs in the conference because we will be competing with the MWC on the field not in the Nielsen ratings

[ponyte]

One might consider some alternative programs besides MWC or CUSA. Like Northern Illinois or one of the Michagan or Ohio MAC schools.

Agree with Southern Miss but not sure about Tulsa.

[MustangStealth]

One might consider some alternative programs besides MWC or CUSA. Like Northern Illinois or one of the Michagan or Ohio MAC schools.

Agree with Southern Miss but not sure about Tulsa.

Rice has better attendance than 9 of the teams in the MAC. The top attendance (Ohio) is one spot above SMU. The entire conference has a TV contract in the $1-2 million dollar range. There is no good option in the MAC (with Temple already gone).

[PSCA]

I would not pass off UNC-Charlotte as a low-life University ... or nothing to offer. This school has gone from about 11k students in 1981 to its current 25k in the booming Charlotte and surrounding markets. They have a top-notch Accounting, Nursing, IT, and Architectural departments to name a few … and for you NASCAR Fans … a state of the art design and engineering program.

All their facilities (athletic, buildings, campus life etc), are first rate. They start football in 2013 at 1AA level. But, the Baseball, Softball, Golf, soccer (Men’s/women’s), I think the guys played in the NCAA finals last year, and track are very good. They all play in front of big & loud home crowds. The basketball team the last 2-3 years has been off, but they have been to the NCAA tournament within the last 10 years and are off to a solid start this year (11-2). The program has a lot of history. No doubt the Football program is not going to be a factor for a few years. The BE obviously is familiar with members that have no football. I know the AD (Judy Rose) very well; she has been there for 30 years and has done an excellent job growing the programs and their success. Charlotte has as much to offer as some of the current BE members and those in consideration IMO.

[Water Pony]

ECU would oppose Charlotte, as UH opposes Rice (who I like, btw).

BE needs to consider net new markets or some other strategic reason, such as a western partner for SDSU, if we are able to demonstrate to them that their leaving with Boise State for their MWC conference mates would be a mistake. I like in this order: BYU (ideal, but unlikely), Air Force (Front Range of CO), San Jose State (Bay Area), Fresno (Central Valley), Southern Miss, and Tulsa (OK). No new, eastern school brings measureable benefit.

[LHS81]

The Big East realignment is the undercard. Once Maryland/ACC lawsuit gets settled, that's when the "REAL REALIGNMENT" begins, and there will finally be an "END GAME" as far as conference realignment goes.

[EastStang]

I think that UNCC, UMASS, would be good additions for hoops. I also think that for football, UMass would be great travel partner for UConn and would solidify any footing we have in New England particularly the Boston/Providence markets. There are lots of TV sets up there. I would give UMass a look for that reason only. Another team in the NE that might be worth talking to is Delaware. They have a pretty good following and would be a good travel partner for Temple. Again, Wilmington is for all intents and purposes a suburb of Baltimore and Philly. But I would caution that any decisions should focus on what will increase our TV contract value.