Boise staying in MWC

[NY Pony]

And the wheel keeps turning...

[Comet]

As much as I prefer looking west, I think SMU's administration prefers looking east. This isn't a bad conference:

UConn
Cincinnati
Temple
Memphis
ECU
Houston
SMU
Tulane
USF
UCF

Most of those teams have gone dancing in basketball in the last few years and still have promise to continue being a threat. Football isn't as strong, but still stronger than CUSA and the MWC. The problem of course is that UConn and Cinci have been lobbying to get out for a while and will do so as soon as the B1G, Big XII, and SEC raid the ACC in the coming year. Perhaps we even end up in a new ACC. Who knows, but its clear to me that our university is set on looking eastward.

[Warbow]

Besides the possibility of losing San Diego State, sources told ESPN that Houston and SMU, scheduled to join the Big East next season, are among four possible teams the Mountain West may target along with Tulsa and UTEP. The Mountain West will look to add a 12th member by 2014, sources said.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... ources-say

[GiddyUp]

Well, I assume that TV contract isn't looking so great.

[Water Pony]

I agree that we are now the likely, western edge of the NBE. This gives San Diego State an out, but do not be surprised if they stay committed to the NBE. Also, BYU has no choice but to remain independent.

Add Navy to the BE and you have 11 teams by 2015. Stay small or add more?

[mustangxc]

As much as I prefer looking west, I think SMU's administration prefers looking east. This isn't a bad conference:

UConn
Cincinnati
Temple
Memphis
ECU
Houston
SMU
Tulane
USF
UCF

Most of those teams have gone dancing in basketball in the last few years and still have promise to continue being a threat. Football isn't as strong, but still stronger than CUSA and the MWC. The problem of course is that UConn and Cinci have been lobbying to get out for a while and will do so as soon as the B1G, Big XII, and SEC raid the ACC in the coming year. Perhaps we even end up in a new ACC. Who knows, but its clear to me that our university is set on looking eastward.

At this point I hope San Diego State opts for the Mountain West, and Navy remains independent. That way all of our members are in for all sports and we build a stronger membership. I'd be happy staying at 10 with the strongest membership possible without adding to dilute the strength of the league, but if they want to add Tulsa, Southern Miss, or UMASS I'd be ok with that too.

[The PonyGrad]

I guess home football rights was there last offer.

[EastStang]

MWC, back to games with Fresno, UNLV, SDS, Wyoming, CSU, UNM and Boise. Or a CUSA heavy schedule with Cincy, Temple and USF added (perhaps Navy). I personally would prefer the eastern look. The question is whether exposure in the MWC might get us a look from the PAC 12 which right now seems to have the only openings.

[gostangs]

The MWC is too depressing. There is no reason to go that route.

Lets hope the ACC gets raided soon and we are a back fill candidate. that is out best shot at relevance unless the PAC wakes up and comes to the conclusion they can expand their pie if they get into Texas.

[Warbow]

It's official...

http://www.themwc.com/genrel/123112aab.html

[SMU 86]

MWC, back to games with Fresno, UNLV, SDS, Wyoming, CSU, UNM and Boise. Or a CUSA heavy schedule with Cincy, Temple and USF added (perhaps Navy). I personally would prefer the eastern look. The question is whether exposure in the MWC might get us a look from the PAC 12 which right now seems to have the only openings.

I still like the eastern look as well.

[Stallion]

Both alternatives suck-neither maximize attendance or exposure. Do late nite games starting at 9:30 p.m. and ending at 1:00p.m. help? Quite frankly, neither side will be a shoo-in for that BCS spot, if any, instead the better season will get in. But if the Big East tries to add schools like UMASS and Charlotte over a program like Southern Miss then I'm done with Big East. Markets aren't everything. I actually would love a Southern Division playing in the South with SMU, UH, UCF, USF, Southern Miss, Tulane and maybe Tulsa or Memphis but I doubt that happens because Eastern schools will want Florida recruiting access

[GreenbeltPony]

So what happens when UConn and Cincy bolt? I wouldn't be surprised at all if they're preemptively invited by the ACC just to further destabilize the nBE. We'd be stuck with this:

Temple
Memphis
ECU
Houston
SMU
Tulane
USF
UCF
Navy (?)

It all comes down to being in a bloated WAC out west that has a chance of weathering a few good teams bolting vs. being in a eastern conference that has a constant risk of losing two of its "brand-name" teams.

I really hope SMU and UH are working together to form some kind of attractive package deal for the Pac-12, ACC, etc.

[Hoop Fan]

i don't see how this is preferable to Boise than the national coast to coast thing, but this really screws things up. We can't win here but if Cincy and Uconn really are most likely gone and we know it, we might have to go west. we look stupid at this point and cannot promote whatever new league we fall into, we just have to stay quiet and hope something sticks.

[Stallion]

pretty good analysis. The best of the East and West was the one hope for a nationally prominent conference for the near future-I'm a little pissed they couldn't make that work