Conference Realignments - Take 2

[Risky]

I am not to up on this conference stuff. How would the Boise and San Diego St. changes affect the Big Sky?

[homer]

I am not to up on this conference stuff. How would the Boise and San Diego St. changes affect the Big Sky?

They are joining the Big East for football only. Boise St. will more than likely be looking for a home for the rest of its sports. The Big Sky, while maybe a long shot has been mentioned. Won't benefit the conference for football but will be a nice name to have in the conference for other sports if it happened. Probably won't but its worth talking about.

[UNDColorado]

The effects will come after Boise, SDSU (MTN West) and Houston, central florida, and SMU (conference USA) join the Big East. The MTN West will add Utah State and San Jose from the Wac. Possibly even UTEP from C-USA.

C-USA will also be doing some poaching from the Wac and sun belt; L tech is a big prospect.

Long story short the WAC and sun belt will get raided. As Star has pointed out the WAC may have to turn into a non-football conference because the only teams that will be left after all of this will be Idaho and a couple low level Texas teams (Texas State and UTSA).

My question at this point is what is Idaho going to do? back to the Sky?

If Utah State is gone and only Idaho is left than that is not appealing at all for the Montana teams to jump.

[IrishSiouxFan]

Well, CBSsports and ESPN are reporting that an announcement is coming Wednesday that Boise and San Diego St. will join the Big East for football only. Could the Big Sky benefit from this now seemingly official shakeup?

Boise getting slighted out of a BCS game that was rightfully theirs must have been a huge deciding factor, if not, it is now.

[IrishSiouxFan]

The effects will come after Boise, SDSU (MTN West) and Houston, central florida, and SMU (conference USA) join the Big East. The MTN West will add Utah State and San Jose from the Wac. Possibly even UTEP from C-USA.

C-USA will also be doing some poaching from the Wac and sun belt; L tech is a big prospect.

Long story short the WAC and sun belt will get raided. As Star has pointed out the WAC may have to turn into a non-football conference because the only teams that will be left after all of this will be Idaho and a couple low level Texas teams (Texas State and UTSA).

My question at this point is what is Idaho going to do? back to the Sky?

If Utah State is gone and only Idaho is left than that is not appealing at all for the Montana teams to jump.

If they were going to jump they would have done it by now.

[UNDColorado]

If they were going to jump they would have done it by now.

My thoughts exactly, but what does Idaho do?

[IrishSiouxFan]

My thoughts exactly, but what does Idaho do?

If push comes to shove, I'm guessing they have to suck it up and head back to the sky. They honestly haven't done much with their program or facilities, not sure how they would sell themselves to another FBS conference?

[bincitysioux]

The Utah State beat writer for the Salt Lake Tribune has tweeted that Boise St. is sending their other sports back to the WAC............

[UNDColorado]

The Utah State beat writer for the Salt Lake Tribune has tweeted that Boise St. is sending their other sports back to the WAC............

Makes sense- This could be the beginning of the Wac's transition to a non football conference...

[star2city]

If they were going to jump they would have done it by now.

If Montana and Montana State had announced their move to WAC/FBS before the FCS playoffs were announced, both schools would have been instantly ineligible. Not saying that either school is moving up, but that NCAA rules now prevent a FCS-to-FBS reclassifying school from qualifying for the playoffs.

UMass and Texas St, although both wouldn't have been selected this year due to their records, were both ineligible. USA and UTSA aren't playoff eligible either, although both were technically FCS independents.

Appalachian State has expressed an interest in FBS, but because ASU hasn't been accepted into an FBS conference, Appy St was still playoff eligible.

The ideal time to announce a move to FBS is immediately after the season while recruiting is still going: that way the current team doesn't lose out on playoffs and the coaches can hit the recruiting road with additional scholarships and the "excitement" of the FBS label. The FCS to FBS transition is only two years, not like going DII to DI. FIU, when it was transitioning, made it to the FCS playoffs a number of years back and won several games. After that the other FCS schools petitioned the FCS to ban transitioning schools from the playoffs.

[star2city]

The Utah State beat writer for the Salt Lake Tribune has tweeted that Boise St. is sending their other sports back to the WAC............

Some WAC posters are stating that SDSU won't be accepted into the Big West, and must join the WAC too.

SDSU might actually want the WAC, as WAC basketball is quite a bit better than the Big West's. San Diego St is becoming a basketball power in its own right. SDSU is probably also demanding that the Big East schedule it in basketball a certain number of times / year.

But if SDSU obtains Big West membership, the Big West would almost certainly go to 12 members. That would likely open a spot for Sacramento St, assuming that San Jose St gets in the MWC replacing SDSU.

The Big Sky would likely allow Sac St to keep football in the Big Sky.

If Boise St (and likely later Air Force and possibly San Diego St) all are WAC-bound, that means Idaho won't move to the Big Sky, except possibly in football. If the WAC can't survive as a football conference (its survival as a basketball conference seems more secure for the next few years), Idaho might be asking to place it's football in the Big Sky (as an FCS team, of course) but staying in the WAC otherwise.

[star2city]

Cincinnati.com: NKU will join DI Atlantic Sun

http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20111207/NEWS0103/312070129/NKU-will-join-D-Atlantic-Sun

Commissioner Douple having trouble getting dates again.

Northern Kentucky University will accept an invitation Thursday to join the Atlantic Sun Conference, putting NKU in the ranks of big-time collegiate sports.

This move into the Ohio Valley also makes Bellarmine and Southern Indiana as viable Atlantic Sun options, possibly removing them from among the Summit's options.

[star2city]

Big East formal announcement: Adding UCF, SMU, Houston, Boise, SDSU

http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/229956/BIG-EAST-CONFERENCE-GOES-WEST,--ANNOUNCES-THE-ADDITION-OF-FIVE-UNIVERSITIES.aspx

Boise St to join WAC for non-football, SDSU to join Big West for non-football

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/story/_/id/7326221/sources-boise-state-broncos-wac-san-diego-state-aztecs-big-west-non-football-programs

The Big West will need to add one more of: San Jose St, Sac St, UC-San Diego, or, less likely, Cal St-Bakersfield

Air Force and Navy may still be forthcoming as Big East football members, but with a one year delay because of existing football contracts.

If AFA and Navy don't join, sounds like the Big East adds two others: possibly Temple, Memphis.

[MplsBison]

Can't see how the Big Sky can tell Davis and Poly that it's ok for them to be football only and Big West bball while then denying that same opportunity to Sac St.

Also can't see Idaho football in the FCS, too much pride and investment to take a step back to a DII level (in their eyes).

[bincitysioux]

The Big West will need to add one more of: San Jose St, Sac St, UC-San Diego, or, less likely, Cal St-Bakersfield

I hope it is Sac St....................

[RD17]

As I said two months ago:

What is interesting to me is that no one in the national media understands what is really happening with all of this realignment: The only real net effect of this conference shuffling is that it will create more BCS schools.

The Big 12 and Big East are not going away. Even in emasculated form, those conferences will survive for this reason: The $ disparity between the Big 12/Big East is still going to be huge in comparison to the "feeder" conferences like CUSA and MWC. Schools will still move up into the Big 12/Big East because of this. So, even though the Big 12/Big East have become labeled "unstable", they still provide overwhelming monetary incentive for schools like TCU, BYU, Boise State, UCF, Air Force, Tulane etc. to join if invited.

As long as the Big 12 and Big East survive, there can be no super-conference playoff system. Plus, with several more previously marginalized schools now members of BCS conferences, the political pressure for a playoff won't be as heavy until the next Utah, TCU, or Boise State comes along in one of the lesser leagues.

[The Sicatoka]

RD17, can I take your statement:

The only real net effect of this conference shuffling is that it will create more BCS schools.

and think out loud, namely, "Could this be why there's some noise about scrapping the non-1-versus-2 BCS games in favor of going back to more negotiated bowl-team provider agreements with the conferences?"

If there are more BCS teams, there are more BCS mouths to feed at the bowl trough, and we know the biggest of the bigs (B1G, SEC, Pac) don't want to risk having to share any portion of "their money" with any lesser schools. If the Pac and the B1G can lock up the Rose Bowl (money) without risk of an interloper (like Boise) qualifying for it, why wouldn't they?

[RD17]

RD17, can I take your statement:

and think out loud, namely, "Could this be why there's some noise about scrapping the non-1-versus-2 BCS games in favor of going back to more negotiated bowl-team provider agreements with the conferences?"

If there are more BCS teams, there are more BCS mouths to feed at the bowl trough, and we know the biggest of the bigs (B1G, SEC, Pac) don't want to risk having to share any portion of "their money" with any lesser schools. If the Pac and the B1G can lock up the Rose Bowl (money) without risk of an interloper (like Boise) qualifying for it, why wouldn't they?

Yep, I think you are spot on in this assessment... the big boys don't share well with others and this is a way to make sure the lesser leagues don't infringe on the money.

I think a secondary motive to this is that the college football "aristocracy" is tired of being exposed by these upstarts in the big BCS bowls. It's OK and even "cute" for an 11-1 Boise State to pound Arizona State in the Las Vegas Bowl. But Utah taking it to Bama in the Sugar Bowl or TCU beating Wisco in Pasadena or Boise State beating OU in Tempe... that stuff ain't cool.

[star2city]

Rumors are that CUSA and the Mountain West have entered into a full merger agreement, with the MWC's Thompson as Commissioner.

This new merged league will stretch from East Carolina to Fresno St. Apparently, the Central and Mountain Time Zone schools are pleased, but the EST schools (East Carolina and Marshall), as well as the PST schools (Nevada, Fresno St, UNLV) have issues.

Nevada and Fresno St both have to pay the WAC substantial penalties to leave the WAC this summer - but for what? No Boise St, no SDSU, and possibly no Air Force.

Nevada is denying that it has an interest in staying in the WAC, but of course they will initially make a denial. But the exit fee from the WAC will cost Nevada dearly. Unless the CUSA-MWC merged league TV contract is substantial, going to that league may not make business sense.

http://www.rgj.com/a...xt%7CSports%7Cs

WAC Commissioner Benson is openly stating that he is making a play for Hawaii, Nevada, and Fresno to stay, and he's probably reaching out to UNLV to move from the MWC to the WAC.

http://m.lcsun-news....ll=true#display

"I traveled to Fresno two weeks ago, met with (school president John Welty) and asked if he'd reconsider," Benson said. "The following week, I traveled to Reno...asked them the same question. I've had correspondence with Hawaii asking them the same (question). (The) collective answer was until they knew what would happen with the Big East piece, that they weren't prepared to give me an answer....Now that the Mountain West has lost two high-quality programs....Now (they're) joining a league that is void.

UTSA and La Tech may be getting interest from CUSA, so those two may leave the WAC, giving the WAC a footprint mostly west of the Rockies. (WAC schools could end up being Idaho, Utah St, NMSt, UNLV, Nevada, Fresno, San Jose St, Texas St plus BB members Boise St, Seattle, Denver, and UTArlington. A league like that could actually be very appealing to Montana and Montana St.) New Mexico, Colorado St, Wyoming, could end up merged with the CUSA schools, which could include Tulsa as well Texas schools UTEP, UTSA, North Texas, and Rice in a western division.

[Cratter]

I wish there was more FBS schools closer to UND.

[IrishSiouxFan]

I wish there was more FBS schools closer to UND.

We don't have the facilities or the attendance an FBS conference is looking for Unfortunately, the Sky is probably our permanent home conference, which isn't bad until the Montana schools make the next jump (which is likely at some point).

[darell1976]

I wish there was more FBS schools closer to UND.

According to one Bison fan (starts with an "L") NDSU is already set to move up to the FBS because they have beaten Kansas and Minnesota (BCS teams)!!

[MplsBison]

Rumors are that CUSA and the Mountain West have entered into a full merger agreement, with the MWC's Thompson as Commissioner.

This new merged league will stretch from East Carolina to Fresno St. Apparently, the Central and Mountain Time Zone schools are pleased, but the EST schools (East Carolina and Marshall), as well as the PST schools (Nevada, Fresno St, UNLV) have issues.

Nevada and Fresno St both have to pay the WAC substantial penalties to leave the WAC this summer - but for what? No Boise St, no SDSU, and possibly no Air Force.

Nevada is denying that it has an interest in staying in the WAC, but of course they will initially make a denial. But the exit fee from the WAC will cost Nevada dearly. Unless the CUSA-MWC merged league TV contract is substantial, going to that league may not make business sense.

http://www.rgj.com/a...xt%7CSports%7Cs

WAC Commissioner Benson is openly stating that he is making a play for Hawaii, Nevada, and Fresno to stay, and he's probably reaching out to UNLV to move from the MWC to the WAC.

http://m.lcsun-news....ll=true#display

UTSA and La Tech may be getting interest from CUSA, so those two may leave the WAC, giving the WAC a footprint mostly west of the Rockies. (WAC schools could end up being Idaho, Utah St, NMSt, UNLV, Nevada, Fresno, San Jose St, Texas St plus BB members Boise St, Seattle, Denver, and UTArlington. A league like that could actually be very appealing to Montana and Montana St.) New Mexico, Colorado St, Wyoming, could end up merged with the CUSA schools, which could include Tulsa as well Texas schools UTEP, UTSA, North Texas, and Rice in a western division.

Throw in the fact that there will no longer be automatic qualifying criteria for the champions of these ridiculous cross country leagues to the Rose, Orange, Sugar and Fiesta bowls and it makes it even more ridiculous.

In that case, if you're in the FBS and not in a conference that will be able to sign deals with major $$$ bowls, you're screwed. So why not at least stick to a regional conference and save money on travel. Save it up for a mid or lower tier bowl game that will still get 10x the marketing and general public interest than the FCS playoffs.

[star2city]

Throw in the fact that there will no longer be automatic qualifying criteria for the champions of these ridiculous cross country leagues to the Rose, Orange, Sugar and Fiesta bowls and it makes it even more ridiculous.

In that case, if you're in the FBS and not in a conference that will be able to sign deals with major $$$ bowls, you're screwed. So why not at least stick to a regional conference and save money on travel. Save it up for a mid or lower tier bowl game that will still get 10x the marketing and general public interest than the FCS playoffs.

The programming needs for the NBC, CBS, and Fox sports cable networks have a voracious appetite for college football. ESPN has many of the best conferences, and those three want to eventually step up. Their programming appetite is what is driving the CUSA/MWC merger (a merger minimizes the number of leagues available so the bidding price goes up), not the bowls or BCS system. The MWC can also get out of its current poor contract by merging.

[star2city]

Wayne St (Mich) made it to the D2 football finals. Never thought that would happen.

Douple needs to work out a deal with the Northeast Conference to add Wayne St and Grand Valley St for football only, and then add those two schools to the Summit. Since the Northeast Conference limits scholarships, that type move wouldn't cost Wayne or Grand Valley much extra in football costs and the Northeast Conference could split into divisions to save travel costs.