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Move to the FBS(I-A)

I always thought the only real reason the WAC invited La Tech was their women's basketball program.
 
When the WAC invited Louisiana Tech, it was mostly because the WAC had an "Eastern Bloc" at the time (SMU, Tulsa, Rice, and "sort of" UTEP) that insisted that the WAC have a balanced expansion and otherwise replace the departing Texas Christian. Boise State was a clear favorite to join, La Tech became the easy travel school for the eastern folks. Their women's basketball didn't hurt, but recall that Tech actually won the WAC in football their first year in the league (Boise State has won every year since).

La Tech figures that they will lose a LOT of prestige by joining the Sun Belt, which is why they don't go there. They'll take C-USA in a heartbeat, but they have to wait for C-USA to get raided IF the Big East splits into two conferences as is often rumored. That cannot happen before 2010, some think it's a foregone conclusion, others think the current unwieldly 16-team Big East can be made to work.

There are rumblings among the UTEP fan base that they were better off in the WAC. Not sure if the AD shares that sentiment, and there's slight reason to believe that they have a shot at getting into the Mountain West. That's not a hot issue right now, but something to check back on once in a while. Them leaving C-USA obviously opens a spot up... but recall that C-USA chose UTEP over a very-hard-lobbying La Tech a few years ago, and some think C-USA would have other preferences if they had to replace a school.
 
Pounder said:
When the WAC invited Louisiana Tech, it was mostly because the WAC had an "Eastern Bloc" at the time (SMU, Tulsa, Rice, and "sort of" UTEP) that insisted that the WAC have a balanced expansion and otherwise replace the departing Texas Christian. Boise State was a clear favorite to join, La Tech became the easy travel school for the eastern folks. Their women's basketball didn't hurt, but recall that Tech actually won the WAC in football their first year in the league (Boise State has won every year since).

La Tech figures that they will lose a LOT of prestige by joining the Sun Belt, which is why they don't go there. They'll take C-USA in a heartbeat, but they have to wait for C-USA to get raided IF the Big East splits into two conferences as is often rumored. That cannot happen before 2010, some think it's a foregone conclusion, others think the current unwieldly 16-team Big East can be made to work.

There are rumblings among the UTEP fan base that they were better off in the WAC. Not sure if the AD shares that sentiment, and there's slight reason to believe that they have a shot at getting into the Mountain West. That's not a hot issue right now, but something to check back on once in a while. Them leaving C-USA obviously opens a spot up... but recall that C-USA chose UTEP over a very-hard-lobbying La Tech a few years ago, and some think C-USA would have other preferences if they had to replace a school.

Great post, pounder. Forgot they came in with Boise.

The big rumors is that UTEP might be trying to join the MWC eventhough a lot of their fans are still upset at the way the WAC-16 ended with the the 8 schools that started the MWC left.
 
ManOfVision said:
I think UTEP would be a good fit in either the MWC or the WAC. I have a very low opinion of C-USA, though, so I'm biased.

I have a super low opinion of C-USA. I can barely put up with the WAC. Love Hawaii but as for the rest of the WAC.....
icon_rolleyes.gif


I have mixed feelings about the MWC. Love it since Wyoming is in it along with traditional rivals; Air Force, Colorado State, the Maggots from Provo (BYU), New Mexico, and Utah.

I hate the MWC iin that the leadership in the conference has made some really bad decisions...case in point, our stupid T.V. deal. Only a small percentage even gets the channel out west! Plus, it'll take probably another year to get everyone in the west to have the Mtn. channel.

Only bright spot: inviting TCU to join in 2005.
 
ManOfVision said:
In my opinion, the MWC is easily the best of the non-BCS leagues. Wyoming has it pretty good, even with the TV deal.

Try explaining that to the WAC fans.
icon_rolleyes.gif
 
ManOfVision said:
In my opinion, the MWC is easily the best of the non-BCS leagues. Wyoming has it pretty good, even with the TV deal.

According to ESPN they are not even the third best non-BCS conference. Its tough to back up the MWC. What have they done? Underachieve? They are great at that.

TCU- Good team, loses to someone bad every year
Utah- Great BCS win, nothing much since, except losing to BSU by 36 in SLC
BYU- Good win against Oregon, first 10 win season in awhile
Wyoming- 1 wining season this decade, no notable wins
New Mexico- We are PSU fans, need I say more?
UNLV- So bad they considered a home and home deal with Montana
Air Force- O.k team, will struggle with new coach though
San Diego State- Struggling as well.
Colorado State- Bad year last year, should recover.

The only stat that matters is the win column, and last season the WAC won the series against the MWC by a land slide. Even the national media is recognizing this. I'll quote ESPN saying "They are just the all around better conference" They are better on and off the field, just reality now. The MWC now has nothing on them, and the day TCU leaves the conference is when they are screwed.
 
Wyokie said:
Except the MWC has the better record in BOWL games over the past few years than the WAC.

Last year the MWC beat....Northern Illinois, Tulsa, and Oregon, and lost to San Jose State

The WAC beat...Oklahoma, Arizona State, and New Mexico...and lost by 1 to Miami
 
My take:

Putting 25-30K fans in seats and winning games means much more to me then moving from D1AA to D1A.
 
cut41 said:
My take:

Putting 25-30K fans in seats and winning games means much more to me then moving from D1AA to D1A.

The problem is maintaining attracting fans and attendance with the kind of home schedule we have. What comes first 25k in the stands or an attractive home schedule?
 
25-30k would move PSU up.

What do you mean by an attractive home schedule? Who would be on it? Obviously a UM season, but who else? I think that the only way they bring in big time programs is through steady improvement, and an eventual move to FBS. They don't need 25k to bring in a good team. McNeese and the like will come, and so will UC-Davis.
 
What I mean is it is hard to get people excited about Eastern Washington, Sacramento State, Northern Colorado, Weber State, Northern Arizona, or Idaho State.
 
PSUVikings said:
ManOfVision said:
In my opinion, the MWC is easily the best of the non-BCS leagues. Wyoming has it pretty good, even with the TV deal.

According to ESPN they are not even the third best non-BCS conference. Its tough to back up the MWC. What have they done? Underachieve? They are great at that.

TCU- Good team, loses to someone bad every year
Utah- Great BCS win, nothing much since, except losing to BSU by 36 in SLC
BYU- Good win against Oregon, first 10 win season in awhile
Wyoming- 1 wining season this decade, no notable wins
New Mexico- We are PSU fans, need I say more?
UNLV- So bad they considered a home and home deal with Montana
Air Force- O.k team, will struggle with new coach though
San Diego State- Struggling as well.
Colorado State- Bad year last year, should recover.

The only stat that matters is the win column, and last season the WAC won the series against the MWC by a land slide. Even the national media is recognizing this. I'll quote ESPN saying "They are just the all around better conference" They are better on and off the field, just reality now. The MWC now has nothing on them, and the day TCU leaves the conference is when they are screwed.

I'm talking about the whole picture. When you look at on field history, school reputation, athletics facilities, etc, the MWC is far better off than the WAC. If ever given the choice (and they won't be), PSU would be better off in the MWC than in the WAC.
 
ManOfVision said:
PSUVikings said:
ManOfVision said:
In my opinion, the MWC is easily the best of the non-BCS leagues. Wyoming has it pretty good, even with the TV deal.

According to ESPN they are not even the third best non-BCS conference. Its tough to back up the MWC. What have they done? Underachieve? They are great at that.

TCU- Good team, loses to someone bad every year
Utah- Great BCS win, nothing much since, except losing to BSU by 36 in SLC
BYU- Good win against Oregon, first 10 win season in awhile
Wyoming- 1 wining season this decade, no notable wins
New Mexico- We are PSU fans, need I say more?
UNLV- So bad they considered a home and home deal with Montana
Air Force- O.k team, will struggle with new coach though
San Diego State- Struggling as well.
Colorado State- Bad year last year, should recover.

The only stat that matters is the win column, and last season the WAC won the series against the MWC by a land slide. Even the national media is recognizing this. I'll quote ESPN saying "They are just the all around better conference" They are better on and off the field, just reality now. The MWC now has nothing on them, and the day TCU leaves the conference is when they are screwed.

I'm talking about the whole picture. When you look at on field history, school reputation, athletics facilities, etc, the MWC is far better off than the WAC. If ever given the choice (and they won't be), PSU would be better off in the MWC than in the WAC.

EXACTLY!!!!!! If you're talking about now, the WAC is better but you HAVE to look at the big picture. Most people do look at the big picture including the eastern media and they have most of the voting power when it comes to Top 25 and Heisman voting.
 
Another way to look at the MWC/WAC issue, is to ask how many schools could ever dream of moving up to the Big 12 or Pac 10. In my opinion, I could see several schools in the MWC conference being considered for one of those BCS conferences within the next generation or so (I feel like I could make a decent argument for everybody but SDSU and New Mexico, and yes I realize the Pac 10 doesn't like BYU's church influence). How many schools in the WAC could muster similar credentials? None. Most would be laughed at if they approached one of the BCS conferences with an expansion bid.
 
ManOfVision said:
Another way to look at the MWC/WAC issue, is to ask how many schools could ever dream of moving up to the Big 12 or Pac 10. In my opinion, I could see several schools in the MWC conference being considered for one of those BCS conferences within the next generation or so (I feel like I could make a decent argument for everybody but SDSU and New Mexico, and yes I realize the Pac 10 doesn't like BYU's church influence). How many schools in the WAC could muster similar credentials? None. Most would be laughed at if they approached one of the BCS conferences with an expansion bid.


actually SDSU has all the tools to go up. Here are the schools that can make the PAC-10 academically, attendance wise, all around athletics. The PAC-10 will not what a military academy, nor a church school, nor a team in Fort Worth Texas.

MWC
Utah
San Diego State


WAC
Hawaii
Fresno State
Boise State

The rest in the MWC wouldn't make it

TCU-To far away
Air Force- Doubt Pac-10 will negotiate with a school or academy of that type
Colorado State- not enough attendance, does not do well out side of football
Wyoming- No support in any sports, program is bad
BYU- No church schools
New Mexico- Small chance but they have most of the credentials.
UNLV- not enough attendance

As for the WAC a few could make it, most have no hope

Hawaii- If traveling was no issue they have the attendance, support,a nd the all around sports
Boise State- Fan support is league, politics support it, fail in all around sports
FSU- They have the attendance and the support, and are in California

The rest can forget it

No MWC team would ever have a chance, its the Pac-10, all teams are on the West Coast, not the rocky mountains. For the WAC they have only 1 team that can make it on the West Coast, but the top 3 in the WAC would be more qualified then any MWC team.
 

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