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Post by HighNTight on Jul 30, 2014 8:42:01 GMT -8
Is there any reason the MW can not show a tentative schedule to the coaches and give them a week to get back to them about the schedule and possible problems . Especially considering the students going to classes . Mid terms .... To quote the musical group Animals "We gotta get out of this place" We're not the only school with mid terms, etc. It's the same for all the schools so why would it matter when we have classes/out on break? The conferences cannot & will not take that into account. NYE is NYE, no matter what city you're in. Although it sucks that a few of the games are while on break or happen to be on NYE, I think SDSU actually holds an advantage over many of the other teams. We're a CITY, not a college town. When a college town has students on break there is NO ONE around. It's a tougher sale than in a town like SD with the support we have. There's no way for a conference not to "screw over" most of the teams & schedule games during break, not without taking a 2-week long sabbatical from the schedule overall. That's never going to happen. Fresno St got the short end of the stick with the January 3rd game against us; we got the short end on a couple. The difference is WE will still sell out those games & have at least 9k in attendance for both. Since school is technically still in session on NYE I'd expect there to be at least a few students still around, and others to fill their spots. Fresno - I doubt it. Curious - why does the Air Force game say "San Diego, CA" while the others say Viejas Arena? Are they holding that game somewhere else???maybe they are looking into a carrier game? LoL As to the bit about mid-terms and the start of classes etc., it is not too hard to enter the parameters that the first week of the semester not have 2 away games. 1 home and 1 away would be allowed as well as 2 home games -- would not be hard to accomplish. I mean according to the NCAA the education of the student-athlete is the priority, right? Time and again we see the TV/ Media deal being the guiding principle of scheduling and the student athlete is merely an afterthought. As to the "screwing over" of teams on the schedule ... I have not looked at the entire schedule, but when are the games between UNLV at UNM, UNM at UNLV taking place? SDSU on the Road: Feb. 18: at New Mexico March 4: at UNLV It sure looks like we're getting screwed over in terms of "rivalry" games on the road late in the season and while classes are in session for maximum home advantage. A more equitable schedule would have seen the top 3 all having a home and away against the others before the start of the semester then the return games after the semester has begun.
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Post by sdcoug on Jul 30, 2014 8:42:05 GMT -8
This is THE TIME and CAUSE for the Presidents of the schools ,to get involved and demand this gets changed and Now . This is an issue back to back road games , without a bye , after school starts . Aztecs have 3 of them ,6 of our 9 road games. Why not schedule them if needed before school starts The worst as mentioned the trip @ AFA and @ CSU . Do they have commercial airports to fly direct or should schools that do not pay for charters . Does the MW require the visiting school arrive a day early . So Aztecs fly out Tuesday , play Wednesday , fly back Thursday for hopefully classes and practice then fly out Friday - or do they just fly to the next game - miss classes , pay for hotels . I hope the SDSU President gets involved now . Seriously? This happens EVERY OTHER WEEK in the big conferences, and specifically the P12. Every other week they play 2 road games, whether a Weds/Saturday, Thursday/Saturday, Wednesday/Sunday or whatever. It's common place, and the norm, and has been for years. The 2 game stretch you reference has both games in the same general vicinity - Colorado. That's hardly an issue. Neither are Laramie - it's not hard to get to either location. My guess is they'll charter the first trip - AF, have the kids back by Thursday AM, and then commercial back into Denver Friday late afternoon/early evening. They can hit classes Thursday/Friday. If not, and they decide to stay, that's what study halls are for, and why they have an academic adviser traveling with the team, etc. IMO, the worst trip is by far Nevada/BSU, but still nothing from the norm on the west coast. Is it the BEST for the kids academically? NO, not at all, but it's the NORM in today's basketball world. IMO the MWC is easier better for this type of travel than some, as SDSU really only has 2 bad trips - the 2 mentioned above. NM & SJSU are both REALLY easy trips - returns after the game, and short trips at that. Wyoming can be bad, but in this case it's a single game before returning home. Most conferences will have 4-5 of these duel game trips, if not more. If you think this is bad you haven't seen what other schools go through. Trying being OSU or WSU & playing a 8 PM game on Wednesday in Arizona & 3 PM on Saturday. I've seen them play a 3 PM game in Tucson on Sunday & not have the kids back in Pullman until 3 AM on Monday.
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Post by Fishn'Aztec on Jul 30, 2014 8:48:20 GMT -8
It sure looks like we're getting screwed over in terms of "rivalry" games on the road late in the season and while classes are in session for maximum home advantage. A more equitable schedule would have seen the top 3 all having a home and away against the others before the start of the semester then the return games after the semester has begun. Read more: www.aztecmesa.proboards.com/thread/38968/2014-conference-basketball-schedule-released?page=3#ixzz38yHAQMHrBe nice when they flip flop the UNM games & have UNM in Viejas for the season finale rather than in February.
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Post by HighNTight on Jul 30, 2014 8:50:46 GMT -8
It sure looks like we're getting screwed over in terms of "rivalry" games on the road late in the season and while classes are in session for maximum home advantage. A more equitable schedule would have seen the top 3 all having a home and away against the others before the start of the semester then the return games after the semester has begun. Read more: www.aztecmesa.proboards.com/thread/38968/2014-conference-basketball-schedule-released?page=3#ixzz38yHAQMHrBe nice when they flip flop the UNM games & have UNM in Viejas for the season finale rather than in February. why does it feel like we are playing UNLV at the T&M the 1st week of March every year?
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Post by standiego on Jul 30, 2014 8:55:08 GMT -8
How many times have we seen School Presidents get involved in AD issues, this is the place for them to get involved and now . Concerning the 3 sets of back to back road games (66 % of our conference road games), including the terrible flights/ bus trip to AFA/CSU ,then have a home game on Tuesday night. Missed classes for students . There are three weeks of games before school starts where the back to back could have been used and is not. Also the 2 byes each school gets , use them correctly. The point is allow each school to submit notes BEFORE and then within a week after before it goes out as a done deal . What is the problem with making the effort . The home conference games before school starts . My guess SDSU takes advantage of and sells the extra tickets for the Lobos and Rebels as "Premium Games $$$ ".AFA on NYE hard to say - . For other schools not our problem if they can not get enough fans to attend from their own arena . If Fresno has a decent team ,should not be difficult to market the SDSU game .
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Post by AzTex on Jul 30, 2014 8:58:11 GMT -8
The New Year's Eve game against AF is a real problem for me personally. I hate the thought of missing a game, but I don't get on the road on NYE after about 3:00 p.m. Too many drunks on the road.
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Post by HighNTight on Jul 30, 2014 8:58:23 GMT -8
How many times have we seen School Presidents get involved in AD issues, this is the place for them to get involved and now . Concerning the 3 sets of back to back road games (66 % of our conference road games), including the terrible flights/ bus trip to AFA/CSU ,then have a home game on Tuesday night. Missed classes for students . There are three weeks of games before school starts where the back to back could have been used and is not. Also the 2 byes each school gets , use them correctly. The point is allow each school to submit notes BEFORE and then within a week after before it goes out as a done deal . What is the problem with making the effort . The home conference games before school starts . My guess SDSU takes advantage of and sells the extra tickets for the Lobos and Rebels as "Premium Games $$$ ".AFA on NYE hard to say - . For other schools not our problem if they can not get enough fans to attend from their own arena . If Fresno has a decent team ,should not be difficult to market the SDSU game . doing this would indicate the conference cares about the student athlete ... the MWC is determined to prove otherwise
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Post by AztecBill on Jul 30, 2014 9:01:18 GMT -8
Having UNLV and UNM during semester break gives the Aztecs a chance to make some extra money. Last year they sold extra student tickets in a package for $75 for 5 games. This year with UNLV and UNM being during that time frame the Aztecs can sell those games at a premium. If they offer the same $75 package...buy, buy, buy...(stock tip from me). If you don't professional scalpers will. Bruce is drooling right now.
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Post by sdcoug on Jul 30, 2014 9:03:41 GMT -8
How many times have we seen School Presidents get involved in AD issues, this is the place for them to get involved and now . Concerning the 3 sets of back to back road games (66 % of our conference road games), including the terrible flights/ bus trip to AFA/CSU ,then have a home game on Tuesday night. Missed classes for students . There are three weeks of games before school starts where the back to back could have been used and is not. Also the 2 byes each school gets , use them correctly. The point is allow each school to submit notes BEFORE and then within a week after before it goes out as a done deal . What is the problem with making the effort . The home conference games before school starts . My guess SDSU takes advantage of and sells the extra tickets for the Lobos and Rebels as "Premium Games $$$ ".AFA on NYE hard to say - . For other schools not our problem if they can not get enough fans to attend from their own arena . If Fresno has a decent team ,should not be difficult to market the SDSU game . You'd NEVER get a schedule done. Everyone would be asking to avoid the same dates. This is big boy basketball. This is the norm when it comes to scheduling across ALL CONFERENCES. If our fans actually want to be part of the B12 or another P5 conference they better learn this is the norm, and they'd get "screwed over" a lot more than this. I look at the SDSU schedule & it's complexities & actually think it's a piece of cake compared to what I've seen elsewhere. Fans will always whine about the schedule, as is their right. Just realize when you look at what many other schools & conferences face this isn't all that bad.
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Post by sdcoug on Jul 30, 2014 9:12:27 GMT -8
How many times have we seen School Presidents get involved in AD issues, this is the place for them to get involved and now . Concerning the 3 sets of back to back road games (66 % of our conference road games), including the terrible flights/ bus trip to AFA/CSU ,then have a home game on Tuesday night. Missed classes for students . There are three weeks of games before school starts where the back to back could have been used and is not. Also the 2 byes each school gets , use them correctly. The point is allow each school to submit notes BEFORE and then within a week after before it goes out as a done deal . What is the problem with making the effort . The home conference games before school starts . My guess SDSU takes advantage of and sells the extra tickets for the Lobos and Rebels as "Premium Games $$$ ".AFA on NYE hard to say - . For other schools not our problem if they can not get enough fans to attend from their own arena . If Fresno has a decent team ,should not be difficult to market the SDSU game . Those aren't "terrible flights/bus trip" at all. That's the norm in college basketball. It's a relatively short flight to either location, and if they stay & bus it's only a 2.5 hour bus trip. That's NOTHING. During that entire week I would expect the kids to miss ONE day of classes (Wednesday); nothing more, as I'm sure Fisher will use this as a charter trip for the first game. As for the following Tuesday - they're at home & not missing any classes. That's an advantage, and the time between games is more than adequate, especially considering they follow it up with another home game 4 days later.
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Post by haleiwaaztec on Jul 30, 2014 9:22:31 GMT -8
Wow....how 'bout some good news! Every Aztecs MW Game will be accessible to be viewed on TV or Internet and we are the only MW school that can say that.
Also, sdcoug brings up a good point about the P12 teams basically heading to a city and playing two games (typically Thur/Sat but also Thu/Sun). Sure missing school is not great but seems like the first week would be the time to miss compared to any other time in the school year. I would be surprised if they come home between games since how many classes could they possible have on a Thur/Fri.
The attendance for the UNLV/NM games will be still be a sell out, the Show will still be there, the arena will still be rockin' - it would actually be worse if it were lesser teams coming in when the student are on break. In reality, the UNLV game is the Saturday before school starts - right? - so I would think most students are back in town.
As far as the Air Force game on New Year's Eve, it will not be an evening game I'm sure. In the past they have been afternoon games.
Anyway, sorry for trying to be positive!
(OK, something to complain about...game on valentine's night at home...as if the wife was not already a big fan of me being gone for all these games!)
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Post by sdsudevil on Jul 30, 2014 9:24:56 GMT -8
sdcoug, do they not swing regional weeks for the road? Last I remember, they road up one week in a regional area, and stay in the area. Then they are home for a week. A couple buddies who work with a PAC team say this is a better method when it comes to studying and not going back and forth and all of that. PAC12 devised a better system that works which some have seen to better the opportunities. Further, our semester dates do not line up, there are differences of 14 days in the conference between the beginning of the semester, which likely translates to similar difference in regards to spring break, midterms and the like. For a coach (and probably coaches) to recognize that, and offer constructive criticism, only to get a closed-door decision doesn't address anything. Essentially, the PAC 12 was the proactive conference in this regard. And I am familiar with other big boy conferences, the disparity isn't so great as you make it seem with travel, from observation. I know a few players, but I never actually discussed that part with them, so I can't give an answer from their perspective.
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Post by MontezumaPhil on Jul 30, 2014 9:26:04 GMT -8
Having UNLV and UNM during semester break gives the Aztecs a chance to make some extra money. Last year they sold extra student tickets in a package for $75 for 5 games. This year with UNLV and UNM being during that time frame the Aztecs can sell those games at a premium. If they offer the same $75 package...buy, buy, buy...(stock tip from me). If you don't professional scalpers will. Bruce is drooling right now. True, but probably not enough to make it worth playing our two most vital games of the home season with few students in attendance. Dave L is right that it can't be a coincidence the league scheduled those games for when The Show would be out of town. And you don't have to be paranoid to believe Sterk is still in Thompson's doghouse.
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Post by Fishn'Aztec on Jul 30, 2014 9:32:05 GMT -8
Can they move the Wyoming games to the OOC schedule and get those over with before the snow F's up all the travel?
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Post by sdcoug on Jul 30, 2014 9:44:56 GMT -8
sdcoug, do they not swing regional weeks for the road? Last I remember, they road up one week in a regional area, and stay in the area. Then they are home for a week. A couple buddies who work with a PAC team say this is a better method when it comes to studying and not going back and forth and all of that. PAC12 devised a better system that works which some have seen to better the opportunities. Further, our semester dates do not line up, there are differences of 14 days in the conference between the beginning of the semester, which likely translates to similar difference in regards to spring break, midterms and the like. For a coach (and probably coaches) to recognize that, and offer constructive criticism, only to get a closed-door decision doesn't address anything. Essentially, the PAC 12 was the proactive conference in this regard. And I am familiar with other big boy conferences, the disparity isn't so great as you make it seem with travel, from observation. I know a few players, but I never actually discussed that part with them, so I can't give an answer from their perspective. Not sure I get your point. The P12 USED to play Thursday/Saturday or Thursday/Sunday every week but that's not the case any more. There are just as many Wednesday games as Thursday, so they are in the same situation as MWC teams. Most, at least those with budget, charter the Wednesday up & then head back after the game, and then fly back to the state on Friday. Just like WE can do. It's no different. We only have 2 bad trips, and they (AF/CSU & Nevada/BSU) aren't any worse than what the P12 does. Really, the latter is the only trip that is semi bad all year. Also, the P12 has both Semester & Quarter schools, and the schedules are similar. It's no different. So not sure what your "differences of 14 days in the conference..." statement means? Other than Laramie, which shouldn't be an issue as we follow it up with a home Saturday game, travel isn't that bad. MONEY dictates scheduling and always will. ANY issues the MWC, and especially SDSU, face is no different than what other schools & conferences face. BTW, the AD's do have input. Unfortunately, since the schedule impacts ALL SCHOOLS all their wishes do not get met. This isn't that bad, and frankly is a piece of cake compared to what some schools must face. Believe me, I've seen 10x worse. Try busing 2 hours just to get to an airport, fly an hour, then bus 2 more hours just to get to a Wednesday night game. Bus back 2 hrs to the airport, fly back late, late Wednesday to an airport & bus another 2 hours back home. Then turn around & do it all over again on Friday.
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Post by AztecBill on Jul 30, 2014 9:45:45 GMT -8
Games skipped we know so far (for a team, read across and then down) AFA | AFA | | | | | | | | | | | BSU | | BSU | | | | | | | | | | CSU | | | CSU | | | | | | | | | FSU | X | | | FSU | | | | | | | | Nev | | X | | | Nev | | | | | | | SDSU | | | | | | SDSU | | | | | | SJSU | | | | | | X | SJSU | | | | | UNLV | | | X | X | | | | UNLV | | | | UNM | | | | | X | | | | UNM | | | USU | | | | | | X | | | | USU | | Wyo | | X | | | | | | | | | Wyo | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Post by AzTex on Jul 30, 2014 9:50:19 GMT -8
As far as the Air Force game on New Year's Eve, it will not be an evening game I'm sure. In the past they have been afternoon games. Anyway, sorry for trying to be positive! (OK, something to complain about...game on valentine's night at home...as if the wife was not already a big fan of me being gone for all these games!) I hope you're right about the early NYE game. I've got about 1 1/2 hour drive each way. Maybe I'll be able to make the game then. I don't drink (much), smoke, gamble or chase women. So my wife allows me to indulge in my one vice -- the Aztecs. I won't have a problem getting the evening off for the Valentine's game. Of course, I'll have to get her something nice as a gift. But, I would anyway.
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Post by sdcoug on Jul 30, 2014 9:55:02 GMT -8
As far as the Air Force game on New Year's Eve, it will not be an evening game I'm sure. In the past they have been afternoon games. Anyway, sorry for trying to be positive! (OK, something to complain about...game on valentine's night at home...as if the wife was not already a big fan of me being gone for all these games!) I hope you're right about the early NYE game. I've got about 1 1/2 hour drive each way. Maybe I'll be able to make the game then. I don't drink (much), smoke, gamble or chase women. So my wife allows me to indulge in my one vice -- the Aztecs. I won't have a problem getting the evening off for the Valentine's game. Of course, I'll have to get her something nice as a gift. But, I would anyway. As an FYI, the last time SDSU hosted a NYE game it was a Friday with a tip off of 1 PM. I'd expect this game to be a 3 PM, 4 PM or 5 PM tip, but just guessing. I REALLY doubt it'll be a 7 PM tip, but in the end TV dictates the start time. Not the Aztecs.
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Post by standiego on Jul 30, 2014 10:12:16 GMT -8
YES The PAC has set up a schedule that does road swings for every school with their traveling school i.e UCLA /USC , Stanford /CAL , ASU/ U of A , W/WSU, O /OSU , Colorado/Utah ..... That is a Wednesday / Thursday and then Saturday/Sunday . PAC schools also get at least 20 million per school from their TV deal to help on Private planes as needed ,there is not that much for each MW school . Do think the MW could use some input from each school about the schedule in June , get early possibility of schedule back to the school for comment and then release it end of July . My issues are the academics/travel not who we play at home. Maybe use one or two of the first three weeks as the back to back road games . Maybe the AFA/CSU swing would be correct or others . Additional problems MW has how many schools that do not have an airport within 30 minutes of the arena or direct flights .
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Post by HighNTight on Jul 30, 2014 10:24:22 GMT -8
I suppose the number of Pac-12 schools that are located near each other: USC - UCLA, Stanford - Cal, AZ - ASU make it easier to schedule them back to back without excessive travel between games.
I am at work and really don't have time to look up relative distance between Washington - WSU & Oregon - OSU; but I definitely know the distance between Utah and CU are more akin to the distances between most MWC schools (CSU - AFA being the one exception)
I still believe it would not be too difficult for the MWC to account for the first week of classes in scheduling or to schedule back-to-back away games in before the semester begins. I also agree with the poster who said bye games in an unbalanced conference of 11 teams could be better used to avoid consecutive away games in a short period for the benefit of student-athletes not to miss class time.
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