Conference Realignments

[dakotadan]

There are people reporting that UMass will be making an announcement as early as this afternoon.

Edit: Apparently it is the CAA that is having some sort of press-conference this afternoon. No word on what it is about yet.

[Smoggy]

Here's some news related to realignment that actually has nothing to do with the WAC or Mountain West.........................

UMass eyes move to join BC in FBS

This would bring MAC football membership to 14, and probably quell much more speculation about Youngstown St. having the desire (real or percieved) of moving up to the MAC.

Does the gargantuan Big East growing more with TCU stabilize it or destablize it? Is the MAC pre-emptively looking to add members if they foresee a Big East split coming that may result in the FB playing Big East members looking at MAC teams in order to get enough to hold a championship game? With all that has taken place this summer, isn't the Big East going to be the only BCS conference that doesn't hold a lucrative title game?

Big 12 no longer will. They are moving to the old Pac 10 model.

I really can't imagine that the non-football schools of Big East are happy with TCU but maybe they'll split division along football lines. Haven't checked to see how split now.

[coach daddy]

How about a Big Sky and WAC merge into one big FBS conference? Does that excite anyone?

[WYOBISONMAN]

It will be interesting to see if the MWC goes after Utah State. I kind of hope they don't......

[star2city]

Here's some news related to realignment that actually has nothing to do with the WAC or Mountain West.........................

UMass eyes move to join BC in FBS

This would bring MAC football membership to 14, and probably quell much more speculation about Youngstown St. having the desire (real or percieved) of moving up to the MAC.

Does the gargantuan Big East growing more with TCU stabilize it or destablize it? Is the MAC pre-emptively looking to add members if they foresee a Big East split coming that may result in the FB playing Big East members looking at MAC teams in order to get enough to hold a championship game? With all that has taken place this summer, isn't the Big East going to be the only BCS conference that doesn't hold a lucrative title game?

UMass formerly was a more significant national institution than UConn. UConn investments in academics, athletics, and on it's campus have totally changed New England's view of both schools.

UMass would have been a natural choice for the Big East now if they had moved up five years ago. It's getting now or never for UMass, as the Big East still intends to move to 12 teams later in the decade. Winning in the MAC and playing a number of games at Gillette Stadium would significantly increase the popularity of UMass football in eastern Massachusetts. WhenUMass announced plans play football at Gillette Stadium, almost a year ago, the writing was on the wall. Getting over 30,000 for a UMass/UNH game proved that the venue would be popular. UConn/UMass or UMAss/BC games would be a sellout there.

Watch if the MAC goes after James Madison, Appy State and/or Delaware too (for football only). Appy State would probably prefer a more southern conference (Sunbelt or CUSA), but to move to FBS has to have a conference invite.

Youngstown State is an FBS untouchable. The MAC has no interest as it already has two teams - Kent State and Akron - in close proximity.

[GeauxSioux]

Can Anyone Save The WAC? I found it over on the WAC Message Board. British Columbia, Interesting.

Star2City, you need to clean out your message box.

[star2city]

Can Anyone Save The WAC? I found it over on the WAC Message Board. British Columbia, Interesting.

A number of internet news services - like Bleacher Report and Boxscorenews - are notoriously bad at understanding NCAA rules and grasping conference alignment issues (same goes for the mainstream media, too).

UBC can only become a full DII member - with select DI sports where DII doesn't sponsor a championship (like hockey and men's volleyball).

UBC won't be a savior for the WAC, but it's still possible it could replace Wisconsin in the WCHA.

(cleaned out my message box! )

[star2city]

Honolulu Advertiser: 3 schools seek Big West membership

UHawaii and Cal State Bakersfield have talked openly of their desire for membership, and speculation is that UC San Diego may also seek a place in the conference.

The Big West lifted its moratorium on expansion Nov. 16. The conference, which is composed entirely of California-based schools, last added a member in 2007-08, and commissioner Dennis Farrell said prospective members have been asked to have their paperwork in by Wednesday for review when the Big West Council meets Dec. 8.

Somewhat surprised Sac State didn't submit an application. If the Big West admits all three schools, the Big West would likely be full with 12 members.

That would mean Sac State stays in the Big Sky and that San Jose St's only option may be the Big Sky if the WAC degrades further.

[The Sicatoka]

That would mean Sac State stays in the Big Sky and that San Jose St's only option may be the Big Sky if the WAC degrades further.

I'm not too surprised to see Sac and SJSU staying aligned with "all sport" conferences for the time being.

For either it'd be bad to jump to a split alignment (FB in one conference, rest of sports in other) and find FB left out in the cold later for whatever reasons.

[GeauxSioux]

Does TCU To The Big East Give Kansas Options?

The best scenario and a great option for Kansas if all else fails might be a jump to the Big East with their rival schools. Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri all elect to join the Big East. The three schools allow for a 12 team football conference divided into East/West divisions and a 20 team basketball superconference that only gains credibility by adding three teams currently holding a top 10 status. Can you say basketball juggernaut?

Kansas to the Big East??

[star2city]

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/50808891-77/conference-hawaii-football-west.html.csp

[dakota fairways]

The WAC office & Benson sure have been quiet lately... Do they have a last second rabbit in their hat or do they see the handwriting on the wall?

[dakota fairways]

Hawai'i announcing they are joining the Big West Conference in non-football and their football team is joining Mountain West at this moment .

WAC is down to 5 old teams (Idaho, Utah St, San Jose, New Mexico St & La Tech) and 3 new ones (Texas St, UT SA, Denver). Sure has become a southwest conference.

Who will be next?

[bincitysioux]

So at what point does the WAC start looking more closely at Seattle, and then even Utah Valley and UT-PanAm? It seems to me they are approaching a point where they just need any warm bodies to join. Lamar has to be in the cross-hairs now don't they?

[dakota fairways]

So at what point does the WAC start looking more closely at Seattle, and then even Utah Valley and UT-PanAm? It seems to me they are approaching a point where they just need any warm bodies to join. Lamar has to be in the cross-hairs now don't they?

To survive what has gone on with the WAC, they should be pleading with Sacramento St, Portland St & Seattle U. Add those 3 markets and the conference may be able to survive. Also, for those schools, FBS level should help them elevate their coverage in their cities. Yes, the U of Washington is in Seattle and Oregon St is only half an hour out of Portland, but moving the commuter schools to FBS may give them a chance to compete for a little media coverage. On top of that, the divisional breakdown should be to Sac St & Portland's liking, since they are complaining about UND. Then add Lamar and you have an easy conference divisional split.

[star2city]

Hawai'i announcing they are joining the Big West Conference in non-football and their football team is joining Mountain West at this moment .

WAC is down to 5 old teams (Idaho, Utah St, San Jose, New Mexico St & La Tech) and 3 new ones (Texas St, UT SA, Denver). Sure has become a southwest conference.

Who will be next?

Hawaii to Big West and Hawaii football to Mountain West is official

Utah State fans have supposedly inside information that they too will be joining the Mountain West. UTEP may be going too, giving the MWC 12 football teams and a conference championship game.

La Tech then goes to CUSA, filling UTEP's slot.

The WAC would be down to:

San Jose St

Idaho

N Mexico St

Denver

UTSA

Texas St

[dakota fairways]

The WAC would be down to:

San Jose St

Idaho

N Mexico St

Denver

UTSA

Texas St

more likely, huh?

[star2city]

To survive what has gone on with the WAC, they should be pleading with Sacramento St, Portland St & Seattle U. Add those 3 markets and the conference may be able to survive. Also, for those schools, FBS level should help them elevate their coverage in their cities. Yes, the U of Washington is in Seattle and Oregon St is only half an hour out of Portland, but moving the commuter schools to FBS may give them a chance to compete for a little media coverage. On top of that, the divisional breakdown should be to Sac St & Portland's liking, since they are complaining about UND. Then add Lamar and you have an easy conference divisional split.

That's probably the WAC's best option.

Another option is to become a higher level basketball league (and let Idaho and SJSU leave) in the Southwest. Adding Oral Roberts, UALR, A&M Corpus Christi and maybe Tex-Arlington (or even Houston Baptist in a pinch) would give a decent basketball league.

On the WAC board, there is some chatter about adding the strongest FBS possiblities in the CAA and SoCon teams as a separate eastern division (like Delaware, James Madison, Appy St, Charlotte, Ga State, Ga Southern) and then cut Idaho and SJSU loose. Under new NCAA rules, such a move would be possible. That would actually make a stronger conference than the Sunbelt.

All three are real stretches. The WAC/Big Sky merger could yet happen.

[FargoBison]

Only a matter of time until USU and La Tech leave...

[star2city]

more likely, huh?

Ironically, with the WAC likely down to just six schools (including UTSA, TXSt and Denver), if UND had not received or accepted a Big Sky offer, the WAC probably would have to consider talking with UND for both's mutual survival (as discussed here UND needs to be talking with the WAC).

As stated in that thread, FBS would have been premature for UND, but UND football had to have a conference. If the WAC and Big Sky merge, it's all immaterial.

[nodakvindy]

If the WAC is down to the following:

San Jose St

Idaho

N Mexico St

Denver

UTSA

Texas St

an ideal scenario would be to get the Dakota and Montana schools, along with one other (Idaho St. maybe). Then get San Jose St. a Hawaii-like setup in the Big West.

That would give you

East

North Dakota

North Dakota State

South Dakota

South Dakota State

Texas State

Texas-San Antonio

West

Montana

Montana State

Idaho

Idaho State

New Mexico State

San Jose State (football only)

Denver (all sport except football)

It would struggle at first, but you have a large number of flagships (admittedly small states, but only BCS conferences would have a similar number of such schools). This new WAC could quickly rebuild into a pretty legit Mid-major conference in short order.

Virtually no likelihood of happening, but it would make a lot of sense and have a ton of good rivalries built in and created.

[nd1sufan]

The Asst Comish of the BIg Sky Conference was just on WDAY and he said they weren't too upset that USD didn't accept their invite to the BSC. He said the distance between Vermillion and Grand Forks made them less than ideal travel partners for UND. He said in the next 6 months, they may be looking to add another school. It sounds like they would still like a travel partner for UND. Any ideas on who that would be?

[star2city]

The Asst Comish of the BIg Sky Conference was just on WDAY and he said they weren't too upset that USD didn't accept their invite to the BSC. He said the distance between Vermillion and Grand Forks made them less than ideal travel partners for UND. He said in the next 6 months, they may be looking to add another school. It sounds like they would still like a travel partner for UND. Any ideas on who that would be?

Omaha. Travel partner by plane. The DI moratorium on move-ups will be over later in the year, but any DII school would need a conference invite to move up.

Unless NDSU is reconsidering, which I highly doubt.

[star2city]

SWAC invites Tennessee State

This link speculates that the OVC will go after Western Illinois to compensate for the loss of Tennessee State, giving it three schools in Illinois (EIU, WIU, and SIUE). OVC may also lose Jacksonville St to FBS - if anyone will take them. The OVC almost certainly goes after North Alabama.

The SWAC probably also adds Tuskegee from DII - and then goes to a championship game. MEAC may do the same, and then have a HBC championship game between the SWAC and MEAC - taking the MEAC out of the FCS playoffs.

Should the OVC seek to expand, the conference could look to potential Division 2 upgrades like North Alabama, or to other Division 1 schools such as Belmont and Lipscomb. The OVC could also try to get WIU to leave the Summit League and MVFC for all-sports membership in the OVC.

[SIOUXFAN97]

Omaha. Travel partner by plane. The DI moratorium on move-ups will be over later in the year, but any DII school would need a conference invite to move up.

Unless NDSU is reconsidering, which I highly doubt.

I don't think its any suprise that BSC wants NDSU, Idaho, and SJSU....