Conference Realignment thread

[Jack Bauer]

On 9/4/2023 at 11:13 PM, wolfpack1 said:

I wouldn't call it lucky, really the only conference that would have an eye on our schools would be Pac-12 and they weren't interested in them. The big boys, want the big names and those big names were in other power conferences. And that is what kind of happened since that is mostly what was left. Other than maybe SMU there isn't anyone in the AAC conferences want, same with MAC, Sun Belt, C-USA and MWC really. If they did, they would have been gone a while ago. I think being a stable western conference is what helped them.

But all this isn't over either. 

They weren't interested in anyone.

[Jack Bauer]

On 9/5/2023 at 7:43 AM, SteedLaw said:

Yep. that is my point entirely. Everyone knows this…and that was exactly my point. 

My point, for clarification, was exactly what you just said—it is nothing personal, we just don’t care.

And as a result, the athletic departments of both BYU and Utah will sacrifice anything and everything to win — including all integrity, just to say the “won”. And, people outside the state just don’t realize how sick and toxic this has become.

All the lying, misrepresentation, and cheating—it’s nothing personal— just par for the course for how your AD’s administration works—and has worked from the beginning.

And, to be clear, I do NOT extend this behavior to the Church, BYU’s administration, its athletes, its fans, it’s alumni, or its students—those are all very good people. I actually like those guys a lot—nor does it even extend to your coaching staff. Believe it or not, but I’ll cheer for Sitake and the Cougars so long as they don’t play the Aggies. (I know Sitake and I like the guy.)

Rather, however, it is this elitist culture of “who-cares-win-at-all-costs-no-matter-the sacrifice” and “what-does-integrity-matter-when-winning-is-at-stake” attitude comes strongly into play.

And don’t get me wrong either; the Utes athletic departments have it too. Which is why I posted that article earlier this year stating it was actually President Young who who tipped off Craig Thompson on “The Project”.

Wait, President Young? The Utes? What did he care? The Utes had already left for the PAC and were poised to make bucko bucks. What was in it for them to tip off the MWC? That is what we call in M&A a high risk and no reward situation.

Nah, President Young just wanted to win. It was nothing personal; he just didn’t care about BYU or USU. He just wanted to win-at-all-costs just for the sake of “winning”. And, he was willing to sacrifice his reputation, integrity, and the reputation of his entire institution — just know that he WON.

Think about how messed up that is for a moment? President Young was willing to do ANYTHING to win, including screwing over the other two largest research and educational institutions in the state. Heck, one was even OWNED by the state!

All lot of people would say it is because he hated BYU and USU…but, as you just put it, we know that is not true. It was because he simply didn’t CARE about BYU or USU and nothing NOTHING was going to get between him and “winning”. 

Look, I don’t care who you cheer for or who you Alma Mater is—but Utah and BYU should care more about the institutions of higher learning and the teams that represent them in the state of Utah. The may not think it, and that is the problem, but they have a fiduciary duty to external stakeholders in this state and their myopic “win-at-all-costs” attitude is hurting the state.

Another example, a lot of people think the absolute vitriol and hatred that exists between BYU and Utah is about religion—you know that isn’t true. So what is it about? Why is the Holy War the most heated and hated rivalry in all of college football?

It is because both schools athletic departments have become all about winning at all costs no matter the sacrifice, and it has gone WAY too far.

The Utes, the Aggies, and the Cougars may not have to cheer for each other—but the desire to “win” needs to be tempered with some level of “concern” and “care” for how their actions could negatively affect others involved. And, in my opinion, the culture of winning at all costs has become so toxic at Utah and BYU’s athletic departments that only an entire gutting and replacement of those offices would any effect on positive change.

https://www.vanquishthefoe.com/platform/amp/2023/2/13/23598029/in-retirement-craig-thompson-reveals-utahs-call-stopped-byu-and-utah-states-project-mike-young

I don't agree with most of this at all.

BYU was in total survival mode during independence.

[Jack Bauer]

On 9/5/2023 at 9:50 AM, bornontheblue said:

We can go get a cookie at Crumbl afterwards. 

It's crazy to see the number of cookie shops around here.

[Jack Bauer]

On 9/5/2023 at 11:20 AM, Subcanis said:

I hate that this is what CFB has become.  

It's not

robe doesn't know what's  best for BYU. Nobody in their league is in california. They can still recruit it without playing there.

[Jack Bauer]

On 9/5/2023 at 1:53 PM, wyo 1 said:

Maybe President Young had some respect for the other institutions in the MW and didn’t like how byu and byu lite were trying to destroy the MW? The fact that you’re upset that he was “willing to sacrifice his reputation, integrity, and the reputation of his entire institution” and screwing over byu/lite tells me a lot about you. Hypocrite much?

 

L

O

L

[Jack Bauer]

On 9/5/2023 at 2:19 PM, sean327 said:

All that complaining about the Utah AD being underhanded by blowing up "The Project" , and whining about integrity ? How can he say integrity with a straight face? Defending "The Project" won't get him any sympathy here, it will likely get rocks thrown at him. "The Project" was by far the the most despicable underhanded thing BYU has ever done. Utah St's role in was also just as underhanded, and is the major reason why I never root for them in out of conference play.

BYU didn't do anything. Ya'll are funny. You should be super mad at SDSU for leaving and coming back like three times, yet here we are. They even tried to reform the PAC under your noses, no shits are given because BYU tried to put their olympic sports in the WAC, and Mr Peanut tried to hurt the league by his own accord.

[bornontheblue]

On 9/5/2023 at 5:32 PM, Jack Bauer said:

It's crazy to see the number of cookie shops around here.

My daughter used to work at the crumbl by Best Buy. I think I gained 25 pounds from all the free cookies she brought home. 

[TrueAg]

On 9/5/2023 at 4:50 PM, bornontheblue said:

My daughter used to work at the crumbl by Best Buy. I think I gained 25 pounds from all the free cookies she brought home. 

We good at making people fat! As if Aggie Ice Cream wasn't enough? https://www.usu.edu/aggiemade/members/crumbl

[trvitmvnz]

If Oregon State keeps Smith around for awhile they will wreck havoc here 

[EvilPoke]

When this thread reaches 2000 pages, it deserves its own 30-for-30 from ESPN.

[wolfpack1]

On 9/5/2023 at 2:22 PM, CPslograd said:

The NW Twins are going from Growing Pains/The Cosby Show to Roseanne.  I suspect it will take some getting used to for them.

I don't know kind of see us like Married with Children. 

[bigd]

On 9/5/2023 at 5:51 PM, trvitmvnz said:

If Oregon State keeps Smith around for awhile they will wreck havoc here 

Yeah, honestly their path to the playoff will be easier in the MW. If they were in the MW this season, they'd have a very high chance at a NY6. In the Pac 12 it will be really difficult. 

[BSUTOP25]

On 9/5/2023 at 6:57 PM, EvilPoke said:

When this thread reaches 2000 pages, it deserves its own 30-for-30 from ESPN.

[Spaztecs]

On 9/4/2023 at 5:58 PM, Headbutt said:

When you cobble together a conference, you have a conference full of teams that have proven their willingness to leave their conference mates in the lurch, as opposed to investing in success where they are.  There is no stability in that.  Nobody in this conversation is going to the B1G or SEC.  End of story.  As CFB evolves, conference stability will be a paramount quality.  I'm not saying we shouldn't get a little bigger (even though I don't like it) in order to prepare for those schools that will chase fools gold, but we really should focus on having a stable conference so that we all have a home in 10 - 15 years.

Nobody in this Conference will ever be in the P5.

[kingpotato]

On 9/5/2023 at 8:29 PM, Spaztecs said:

Nobody in this Conference will ever be in the P5.

Unfortunately, this is true.

[Spaztecs]

On 9/4/2023 at 8:53 PM, RebelRobert said:

I am fine with this option also. I just think it is worth waiting it out a few years to be rid of a few of you who add nothing.

 

UNLV adds value ?

Outside of being in Vegas, where's the value ?

 

[Gonzagafan2021]

On 9/5/2023 at 10:34 PM, kingpotato said:

Unfortunately, this is true.

San diego state thinks they do

[Spaztecs]

On 9/4/2023 at 9:32 PM, Brew_Poke said:

Have you heard of AFA scheduling priorities?

They may be an exception.

11 other Schools would make that move and the MW would no doubt allow for OOC scheduling in Oct and Nov.

It's a win-win for the Pac-2, individual Schools, and the MW as a whole.

[sactowndog]

On 9/4/2023 at 7:09 PM, Kirbycreekpoke said:

I’m not seeing a huge windfall here. The PAC has assets but it also has obligations including figuring out severance packages for all the current staff, the loss of corporate sponsor contracts that can no longer be fulfilled, any debt and lease agreements that will be terminated or bought out. So no crap it’s going to take a while to figure this out. 
 

If there is a windfall I think the lawyers will get most of it. 

If you have a reverse merger you keep staff.   

Having just subscribed to the MWC network on Roku I think the possibilities of the equipment is endless.  I would think hard about a streaming TV alliance with the WCC none of which have a football team. Not to mention for some Olympic sports like Water Polo we are in the same conference.  

it will help make WCC fans MWC football fans…..

[Spaztecs]

On 9/4/2023 at 11:13 PM, wolfpack1 said:

I wouldn't call it lucky, really the only conference that would have an eye on our schools would be Pac-12 and they weren't interested in them. The big boys, want the big names and those big names were in other power conferences. And that is what kind of happened since that is mostly what was left. Other than maybe SMU there isn't anyone in the AAC conferences want, same with MAC, Sun Belt, C-USA and MWC really. If they did, they would have been gone a while ago. I think being a stable western conference is what helped them.

But all this isn't over either. 

 

But, but, what about Boise ? !