For the latest on what the MWC lack of expansion means, check here:
http://wasatchswagger.blogspot.com/2011/01/mwc-is-not-expanding-furtherfor-now.html
Montana to the Mountain West?
I have found a few web sites stating that the MWC at this time is currently eying Texas schools and that Utah State is not on the radar at this time. There are plenty of schools in Texas to choose from, but will any take? The C-USA TV deal is better than the MWC TV deal, so it is doubtful that any C-USA school will accept an MWC invite unless the MWC TV deal can be sweetened a bit.
This could be why now the San Jose Mercury News is reporting that San Jose State is being looked at by the Mountain West Conference. This is curious. The only reason is because of their TV market. It's a large market, but the Spartans are way down the list in favorite football teams in the area. You have 2 NFL teams and 2 PAC-12 teams in the Bay Area. Plus there are 2 Major League Baseball teams, an NBA franchise, an NHL franchise and even a successful MLS team. It's a crowded market. This would also give the MWC another football program that is...shall we say...near the bottom rung of college football. This is a move which would purely be to stick it to the WAC and get them out of California. Otherwise, there is little logic to it. At least Utah State has a good basketball program. The last thing the MWC needs is another bottom-feeder program.
Cal Poly or UC Davis would be a better additions than San Jose State for the MWC if they could resolve their stadium issues. These two schools have quality academic programs and are in markets that are not so saturated with sports programs. Montana would also be a fair choice for the MWC if they really wish to go to 12 schools. The Big East is adding an FBS school (in Villanova) why wouldn't the MWC add Utah State and Montana instead of USU and San Jose State?
Have found out the at MWC presidents will meet on Monday.
Speaking of WAC expanion.
I have heard that the WAC is considering a basketball-only approach. After all, they are having more trouble finding some football programs that want to join. The WAC is going to lose their access to the BCS no matter which way they go, but a basketball only approach will ensure that they keep their NCAA automatic bid. But another site contradicts that argument stating that the WAC is considering some Sun Belt Conference, Southland Conference and Big Sky Conference teams. It is hard to know which direction the conference is taking at this point. They are in a desperation stage, after all.
One new intriguing possibility that I found on another site is North Dakota State. Fargo is not so far out of the WAC footprint to be considered. It is a larger market than some of the other cities on the list and would open up the WAC to recruits in Minnesota.
Yes, Fargo is on the North Dakota side of the ND/MN border. Minnesota has 5 million people and only 1 FBS program. The Fargo/Morehead metro has about 200,000 people. That is larger than current WAC cities Moscow, Logan, Las Cruces and Ruston. The more I read about NDSU, the more I think that WAC will consider them. They have good facilities, a good size student body, sponsor 14 scholarship sports and are ranked as a tier 1 academic school by US News and World Report. In most ways, this school would lift the WAC. Yes, there are some travel problems, but the WAC does not have the "Hawaii problem" any longer. The other problem is that they are in North Dakota and there are only two states with a smaller population: Vermont and Wyoming.
It has been reported that UC Davis and Cal Poly have said no. Cal Poly has been trying to get into the WAC for years, but can not find funding for a stadium expansion. It does not seem like a possibility in the current economy. It has been said that the academic profile of the Big Sky is better than what the WAC will become. This is only because Cal Poly and UC Davis make it so. Cal Poly and UC Davis could lift the academic profile of just about any conference. If Cal Poly and UC Davis join the WAC it will likely only be for football, they will likely insist that their other athletic programs remain in the Big West. This will reduce travel costs. They will also likely insist that they get to host new bowl games to help with their athletic revenue. After all, it has been reported that the only people who make money on bowl games are the hosts. Both cities would make fair bowl sites.
What is the WAC waiting for? An interesting article is here.
MWC Expansion Short List
Utah State
San Jose State
Montana
WAC Expansion Short List
1. Louisiana Lafayette (Sun Belt)
2. Lamar (Southland -- FCS)
3. Sam Houston State (Southland -- FCS)
4. North Dakota State (Missouri Valley/Summit -- FCS)
5. Portland State (Big Sky -- FCS)
6. Northern Arizona (Big Sky -- FCS)
7. UC Davis (Big Sky/Big West -- FCS) (Football only)
8. Cal Poly (Big Sky/Big West -- FCS) (Football only)
9. Weber State (Big Sky -- FCS)
Basketball Only Possibilities
Utah Valley
CS Bakersfield
No comments:
Post a Comment