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Conference Realignments - Take 2


The Sicatoka

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When Cincinnati and USF were left if what was now the Big East, they didn't offer CAA teams, but CUSA teams.  If Baylor, Iowa State, and Kan St are left, they are not going to be inviting MVC teams, but American and MWC teams.  Maybe the MWC would then be forced to add Big Sky teams, but that is way out there.  The other P4 conferences would make sure the Big 12 is totally dead.

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A little critical thinking tells me perhaps he is thinking maybe Boise State and Colorado State move to a P5 conference and Idaho gets a MWC invite. I know that is not in SiouxVolley's plan and it is extremely far fetched compared to conference with 2 or 3 schools that  could possibly qualify or have a chance to be successful at the FBS level moving up at once, but I will go with that theory.

This piece seems timely to this discussion.. Conference Expansion: Idaho to Wait for a Call from the MWC

Idaho was invited by the Big Sky Conference in all sports earlier this year, but giving up FBS status has been something the university has been reluctant to do. Instead, they have applied to both the Mountain West and Sunbelt conferences for membership only to be turned down. But Idaho is not going to take NO for answer even after the Mountain West Conference commissioner told them emphatically to "go to plan B, wherever that is." Idaho is second-guessing Thompson. They are gambling that if and when the MWC does add one or more teams then Thompson will come knocking. That would be a longshot, considering that New Mexico State with New Mexico already pulling for them, would get that knock first. Further, the MWC would be looking to expand back into the Texas media markets and the fertile recruiting grounds there, not the north Idaho panhandle.

This is not about bashing the University of Idaho and their desire to remain relevant in an FBS world, but about reality. Considering Idaho's size, location and athletic record, being in the Big Sky would be a competitive and economic advantage and a move back to their roots. The Big Sky is a quality conference that wants Idaho, and there is certainly no shame playing teams like Montana, Montana State and Eastern Washington. The only things stopping that appear to be Idaho’s pride and coach Robb Akey's ego.

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What catches my eye (in that article from 2012 about Idaho) is ... where are the extra 4000 seats they said they'd be adding to Kibbie Dome? It's still at 16000 from everything I see. 

When you average only 12k what's the point of making it a 20k dome.

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When you average only 12k what's the point of making it a 20k dome.

Getting a crowd of 20k makes it easier to make the 15k average and gives greater flexibility to host Boise St and Washington St, which would be sellouts.  Granted, Idaho probably needs a 30k stadium before either of those teams would travel to Moscow.

Edited by SiouxVolley
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  • 1 month later...

One rumor on the USCHO Fan Forum is that ASU is going to the B1G.

I saw that.  Im mot sure what the benefit of them playing as an affiliate member of a conference with virtually no voting rights would be? Also, they may be a Pac-12 school but they hardly fit the academic profile of the Big 10.  Not to mention the additional travel costs to play in empty arenas of Big 10 schools.  It would be nice to see them in the conference but we definitely don't need them and they're in for a rude awakening if they think Big 10 hockey fans travel well.

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One guess one guess could be that ASU sees themselves as more similar to the B1G schools than a conference made up of a Big Sky, a couple MAC, a couple Summit, a couple Northern Sun and a D-III schools. The rust belt residents would probably enjoy a trip to Arizona during the winter, so may travel better to Tempe than to Madison.

 

That, plus, it will be much easier to win in the B1G than in the NCHC. (see Penn State). :)

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One guess one guess could be that ASU sees themselves as more similar to the B1G schools than a conference made up of a Big Sky, a couple MAC, a couple Summit, a couple Northern Sun and a D-III schools. The rust belt residents would probably enjoy a trip to Arizona during the winter, so may travel better to Tempe than to Madison.

 

That, plus, it will be much easier to win in the B1G than in the NCHC. (see Penn State). :)

not to mmention I'm sure plenty of b1g grads/fans live in Arizona.

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If Arizona St thinks other PAC12 schools like Arizona, Stanford, USC etc will start hockey, that would be a consideration to go with the NCHC.  Otherwise, for the money and prestige, the BTHC almost certainly wins.

Nebraska is building a 700 seat practice arena neXT to Pinnacle Bank arena, which has ice capability.  Why would Nebraska fund a practice arena?   Appears they want to duplicate another Big Red program in the BTHC.

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If Arizona St thinks other PAC12 schools like Arizona, Stanford, USC etc will start hockey, that would be a consideration to go with the NCHC.  Otherwise, for the money and prestige, the BTHC almost certainly wins.

Nebraska is building a 700 seat practice arena neXT to Pinnacle Bank arena, which has ice capability.  Why would Nebraska fund a practice arena?   Appears they want to duplicate another Big Red program in the BTHC.

Pinnacle Bank Arena doesn't have ice making equipment but it does have the piping in the floor. It sounds like Nebraska would have to add both men's and women's hockey, because of Title IX issues. The Breslow Ice Center is suppose to have two sheets of ice, but I've heard it will only have one.

Arizona has a NCAA caliber arena already, they just need a arena to practice in when the TCC is being used.

USC and UCLA could share The Forum that isn't being used that MSG owns.

Arizona State wants to play against the best competition, sounds like they would like to be in the NCHC. 

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Pinnacle Bank Arena doesn't have ice making equipment but it does have the piping in the floor. It sounds like Nebraska would have to add both men's and women's hockey, because of Title IX issues. The Breslow Ice Center is suppose to have two sheets of ice, but I've heard it will only have one.

Arizona has a NCAA caliber arena already, they just need a arena to practice in when the TCC is being used.

USC and UCLA could share The Forum that isn't being used that MSG owns.

Arizona State wants to play against the best competition, sounds like they would like to be in the NCHC. 

It will boil down to the company that the president of the university would prefer to keep, which would likely be the BTHC. 

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If Arizona St thinks other PAC12 schools like Arizona, Stanford, USC etc will start hockey, that would be a consideration to go with the NCHC.  Otherwise, for the money and prestige, the BTHC almost certainly wins.

Nebraska is building a 700 seat practice arena neXT to Pinnacle Bank arena, which has ice capability.  Why would Nebraska fund a practice arena?   Appears they want to duplicate another Big Red program in the BTHC.

Maybe they could join the NCHC and try to 1 up UNO.

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  • 2 weeks later...

After the flock of teams moving up to DI, moving to difference conferences, it seems like the brakes have been applied and not much news about movement in DI, does anyone have any info on teams switching either next year or the year after? Also is there any talk about team in our area thinking about moving up to DI like Mankato, St. Cloud St, U of Mary, etc. 

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After the flock of teams moving up to DI, moving to difference conferences, it seems like the brakes have been applied and not much news about movement in DI, does anyone have any info on teams switching either next year or the year after? Also is there any talk about team in our area thinking about moving up to DI like Mankato, St. Cloud St, U of Mary, etc. 

:silly:

The only school in the region that should think about going D1 is St. Thomas.  The Minnesota state schools will not get funding.  

Also, I didn't know that two is a flock.

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Can forsee Augustana and Mary getting into the Slummit if the rest of the Dakotas leave for the Big Sky. 

St Thomas would have to spend years in DII before they could move to DI. 

Incarnate Word and Abilene Christian and Grand Canyon were the last DIi's to move to DI, and those are all private.  Expected DIIS in Fla and Ga to move into the ASun, but that never happened.

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After the flock of teams moving up to DI, moving to difference conferences, it seems like the brakes have been applied and not much news about movement in DI, does anyone have any info on teams switching either next year or the year after? Also is there any talk about team in our area thinking about moving up to DI like Mankato, St. Cloud St, U of Mary, etc. 

I didn't mean just teams moving up to DI in this area.

Are you serious right now?   

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