June 2010 was just the start...

[hoobs]

I don't think this expansion/realignment thing is done, not for a longshot. Most likely, Utah to the Pac-12 (assuming it happens) will be the one last thing to happen this summer.

Within three years or so, I think we are going to see the 'mega-conference' movement take shape. How that plays out, however, I think will be determined by... no surprise, Texas.

If Texas wants to run their own conference (which, in essence, is exactly what just happened), then they need to expand WEST to survive. There is no room to expand into SEC territory, the Midwest has very little to offer, and the misc Big East schools 'nearby' (e.g., Louisville) wouldn't really add much.

So, I say... they have to poach the MWC. The question is who. My hunch: TCU is a non-starter, we won't even bother considering that move by a Austin-dominated conference. So... the best football programs will be Boise & BYU. Done, offered and accepted (BYU under same terms, get to keep BYUtv). Then, and I know I'm biased, but since the Big-Texas Conference's ("BTC") main rival is the Pac-whatever... SDSU & UNLV would be a stroke of genius -- grabbing a slice of the California TV market and Vegas as well, also a growing market. Then I think it comes down to moving OU & OK St to the "BTC-North" and grabbing maybe UNM & AFA to join the 4 TX schools + SDSU & UNLV in the "BTC-South" or going with Louisville & Cinci (or something like that) to add to the current leftovers from the Big-12 North. Personally, I see the former being much more likely... Texas and Oklahoma each taking the reins of their own division, North & South, so they can maximize the opportunities for the 2 'flagship' programs in the conference.

Or... Texas doesn't care about running their own conference and eventually joins either the Pac-something or the Big-X eventually. If they were ever going to join the Pac-something, why wouldn't they have done so yesterday? So I think the Big-X would be the only, pardon my pun, 'X-factor' in the equation.

Thoughts??

[Fred Noonan]

Whew.

I definitely agree that Utah to the PacWhatever is not the final curtain call. This is classic market manipulation being played out and there is too much $$ left on the table at this point. The rush for control of the market is on.

Your options are certainly within the realm of possiblity. I think there is a whole lot out there we don't know about which could yield even wilder scenario's. Although SDSU and UNLV would be a "stroke of genius" I just don't see it happening in my lifetime. I rate the chance of being in the Big Texas Conf. a very slim chance, but compared to being invited to the PacWhatever it's a hundred times more realistic.

The Fred Noonan School of Navigation.

[Deleted]

Boise won't be added to any BCS conference, even the Big 12-2, until it attains major research university status. They knew that, which is why they didn't hesitate at all to go ahead and join the MWC even when rumors were flying - mainly via some TCU fans - that the five leftovers would keep the Big 12 alive by adding others.

Even though SDSU IS a major research university and even though the Pac WAS willing to take two current Big 12 schools which aren't any higher rated academically than SDSU, unless our football program improves dramatically in the next few years, nobody is going to want us.

[greysuit]

Jun 15, 2010 11:21:31 GMT -8 @sleepinggiantsfan said:

Boise won't be added to any BCS conference, even the Big 12-2, until it attains major research university status. They knew that, which is why they didn't hesitate at all to go ahead and join the MWC even when rumors were flying - mainly via some TCU fans - that the five leftovers would keep the Big 12 alive by adding others.

Even though SDSU IS a major research university and even though the Pac WAS willing to take two current Big 12 schools which aren't any higher rated academically than SDSU, unless our football program improves dramatically in the next few years, nobody is going to want us.

Meh I don't think thats true, look at CUs football record over the past 5 years, they still got an invite to the pac-10. Its all about market size.

[goaztecs]

I think the main post here is a little far fetched but who knows what will happen.... its amazing what theories have been flying around the past week.

[83aztec]

Np new contract for the Big 12 for a few years, Their current deal ends 2015. They get the same $ minus 2 schools plus split (some schools I hear) the exist fees. So I don't see much happening for a few years

[Deleted]

As Stuart Mandel, an EXCELLENT writer puts it, now that the smoke has cleared, the MWC is still at the "kiddie table":

sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/stewart_mandel/06/15/expansion-wrap/index.html

However, at least we're in the house with the grownups. There was a chance we could have been shuffled outside to sup in the backyard on benches with the WAC, CUSA and the others.

This REALLY, REALLY needs to be a wakeup call for the dregs of the Mountain West. You can't make money without spending money and there are going to be millions upon millions of dollars of potential profits for our conference if the five of us step it up. And us fans need to do our part through donations to the AAF and butts in the seats.

[choop]

The Western expansion saga is not completely over, and the Eastern expansion saga has not yet begun. It almost started with Texas A&M to the SEC. Obviously, the SEC was very interested in Texas A&M. They also are looking at some ACC schools. Until the PAC-10 started looking at the 6 Big 12 schools, I thought expansion would hit a fever pitch next year. Now I'm not sure. Moves can be made this year, but I doubt very strongly that expansion is over.

[HAM]

The pac-fine conference would be smart to add San Diego State University to its conference. Eliminating the ability for the Mountain West Conference athletic programs from traveling to San Diego, limits or reduces substantially their recruiting from the hot bed of San Diego and Southern California.

If the Pac Ten were smart...

HAM

[hoobs]

Jun 15, 2010 17:43:55 GMT -8 @HAM said:

The pac-fine conference would be smart to add San Diego State University to its conference. Eliminating the ability for the Mountain West Conference athletic programs from traveling to San Diego, limits or reduces substantially their recruiting from the hot bed of San Diego and Southern California.

If the Pac Ten were smart...

HAM

Or the Big Texas Conference could be smart. Either way would be fine by me.

How ya doin' HAM?!?