Conference Realignment thread

[renoskier]

On 3/6/2024 at 4:17 AM, NorCalCoug said:

St. Mary’s????  The conference would regret that long term.  They’re one HC retirement away from being completely irrelevant.  Some will ignorantly say “But what about Gonzaga….”.  At least Gonzaga has the history, tradition, profile, investment, facilities, fanbase, etc. that they will always maintain at least semblance of success. St Mary’s has none of that.  

I agree...don't really see the need or desire to add either one.

[SteedLaw]

On 3/5/2024 at 9:05 PM, Headbutt said:

@SteedLaw's plan is full of holes, but he nailed one thing.  At this point the twins should be working on how they're going to get absorbed by the MWC, not deciding if they're willing to associate with us.  They can't afford to do anything different, and stringing us along is elitist and stupid.  They do one thing better than the MWC, recruit.  That's a temporary thing now.  The Pac fell apart a while ago, they should be past denial by now.  I suppose that since the Pac isn't really disbanded until July 1, they may be waiting to make their intentions known but any assumptions they have of leading the charge to a new power conference are fools gold.  If they're everything they seem to think they are, they should've just taken that Big 10 offer.  Oh, wait.....

Bingo. And, I agree.

[AztecSU]

On 3/5/2024 at 11:04 PM, BacksThePack said:

Who wants them to join the MWC anyways? Pretty sure we all want to wear that new P12 skin clothing. Saying we're in the P12 because of it's former associations will still mean more than saying your in the MWC ever will.

What if its the only way to kill the Boise side deal?

[Brew_Poke]

On 3/4/2024 at 10:02 PM, utgrizfan said:

I mean in terms of fan base, not counting the Playoffs, Montana beat the following 8 MWC schools in Average attendance in 2023:

SDSU, UNLV, Wyoming, Utah State, Nevada, SJSU, New Mexico, *Hawaii

 

These schools are already in the MWC, so not sure the point you're trying to make with this.

[Billings]

On 3/4/2024 at 9:02 PM, utgrizfan said:

I mean in terms of fan base, not counting the Playoffs, Montana beat the following 8 MWC schools in Average attendance in 2023:

SDSU, UNLV, Wyoming, Utah State, Nevada, SJSU, New Mexico, *Hawaii

(*Hawaii new Stadium may/should change this, side note Montana State would also beat the last 5 teams on this list*)

https://www.d1ticker.com/2023-fbs-attendance-trends/

It's one of our greatest selling points, having great attendance (even during our last losing season) and also traveling well to away games, MSU to a lesser extent but they still do well. Both Montanas would also fit perfectly in the MWC geographical footprint.

That being said I'm still well aware the best chance we have to move up is if the MWC is only partially raided, and we all know how unlikely that is to happen. Plus unfortunately the biggest shortcoming, lack of eyeballs which translates to little to no TV $$ value is an issue.

I don't think the UM admin has shown any interest in moving up to FBS.   UM can't afford to double coaching salaries nor the additional costs by their own studies.    Most griz  fans I know don't want to move up.  The want the G5 to collapse and fall back to them

[SalinasSpartan]

On 3/5/2024 at 8:05 PM, Headbutt said:

@SteedLaw's plan is full of holes, but he nailed one thing.  At this point the twins should be working on how they're going to get absorbed by the MWC, not deciding if they're willing to associate with us.  They can't afford to do anything different, and stringing us along is elitist and stupid.  They do one thing better than the MWC, recruit.  That's a temporary thing now.  The Pac fell apart a while ago, they should be past denial by now.  I suppose that since the Pac isn't really disbanded until July 1, they may be waiting to make their intentions known but any assumptions they have of leading the charge to a new power conference are fools gold.  If they're everything they seem to think they are, they should've just taken that Big 10 offer.  Oh, wait.....

Yea I mean I feel like a broken record, but I’ve said since Calford bailed the best financial option for the Pac-2 is a full merger with the MWC. I know they don’t want to “settle” for that, but the numbers are not going to change. They are going to wait around and hope for a miracle where the ACC is raided within the next 15-18 months, but unless that happens they are going to be left with the reality that a full merger with the MWC is the best financial option for them.

Once it gets to summer 2025 the leverage the MWC has will start to grow significantly with each passing week due to that hard deadline the expiring MWC TV deal represents. 

[OzzyOzz]

Ok listen clearly, is WSU better placed to win a natty in bball and fb in the Big 12/ACC or the MWC?

Will Calford just fall, already? Maybe the mwc should take any acc team to start those falling dominos. Then Calford can come back. 

But the only way that is true is if the pac is grandfathered in, into whatever it will be. 

It's about power. 

Is there a future where Calford side with a post pac? 

Or will they weasel their way into the big 10? Or even the SEC.. because at this point, why not? 

Or...

Why not make it come back full circle, a post pac with all the old schools, plus all the new schools. Pac A and Pac B. 

Seems like a lost war to me. 

All of this because of...what exactly? 

I guess it's a power trip or a popularity contest. Funny thing is, aren't the cougs popular though? 

It's a fun team to follow. A good school to have gone to. I mean, it's not easy and it's not worth the stress...as in, we either suck or we almost don't suck. Those are two states usually..

The thing is, if a natty does come our way...I mean, it'd be like a coming of age thing. 

As in, it's something cougs can't even dream of happening.. because it'd be a nightmare having to watch us fumble the bag, as we've seen over and over. 

Please don't coug this...wooosahh

I don't even know if there is another team like us, anywhere..

We're pretty much worse than the Detroit Lions..that's usually just bad timing and bad luck. 

For us it's like a total lack of self belief that it can actually ever happen. It's not even bad luck. Bad confidence maybe. 

Klay is a good example. 

What is coug nation going to do?

I've already said they just build their hockey program... maybe we can get lucky there. 

This war is lost. 

They win.

We lose. 

Good game.

Someone hold me.

[OzzyOzz]

With all due respect though, the MWC is actually a really good conference. I'd say for what it is...going forward, even as is, sans pac2, it's rep would be expected to grow more and more, especially post pac. 

We'll see what happens. 

This world isn't about love. It's about money/power/popularity/in groups and out groups/tribalism/racism/classism..all that. Quite clear, obvious.

Hey, I don't care. I didn't build this society..

[Headbutt]

On 3/9/2024 at 5:32 PM, OzzyOzz said:

Ok listen clearly, is WSU better placed to win a natty in bball and fb in the Big 12/ACC or the MWC?

Will Calford just fall, already? Maybe the mwc should take any acc team to start those falling dominos. Then Calford can come back. 

But the only way that is true is if the pac is grandfathered in, into whatever it will be. 

It's about power. 

Is there a future where Calford side with a post pac? 

Or will they weasel their way into the big 10? Or even the SEC.. because at this point, why not? 

Or...

Why not make it come back full circle, a post pac with all the old schools, plus all the new schools. Pac A and Pac B. 

Seems like a lost war to me. 

All of this because of...what exactly? 

I guess it's a power trip or a popularity contest. Funny thing is, aren't the cougs popular though? 

It's a fun team to follow. A good school to have gone to. I mean, it's not easy and it's not worth the stress...as in, we either suck or we almost don't suck. Those are two states usually..

The thing is, if a natty does come our way...I mean, it'd be like a coming of age thing. 

As in, it's something cougs can't even dream of happening.. because it'd be a nightmare having to watch us fumble the bag, as we've seen over and over. 

Please don't coug this...wooosahh

I don't even know if there is another team like us, anywhere..

We're pretty much worse than the Detroit Lions..that's usually just bad timing and bad luck. 

For us it's like a total lack of self belief that it can actually ever happen. It's not even bad luck. Bad confidence maybe. 

Klay is a good example. 

What is coug nation going to do?

I've already said they just build their hockey program... maybe we can get lucky there. 

This war is lost. 

They win.

We lose. 

Good game.

Someone hold me.

Get help.

[Nevada Convert]

On 3/6/2024 at 4:17 AM, NorCalCoug said:

St. Mary’s????  The conference would regret that long term.  They’re one HC retirement away from being completely irrelevant.  Some will ignorantly say “But what about Gonzaga….”.  At least Gonzaga has the history, tradition, profile, investment, facilities, fanbase, etc. that they will always maintain at least semblance of success. St Mary’s has none of that.  

Yeah, and small St. Mary’s is a college (not a university) with small resources with less than 4,000 students. It just doesn't fit the big school, big arena university MWC thing.  

[lobo-tomy]

On 3/9/2024 at 6:20 PM, Nevada Convert said:

Yeah, and small St. Mary’s just doesn't fit the big school, big arena MWC thing.  

[OzzyOzz]

On 3/9/2024 at 4:55 PM, Headbutt said:

Get help.

With regards to what?

[utgrizfan]

On 3/6/2024 at 10:43 AM, renoskier said:

I agree...don't really see the need or desire to add either one.

Unfortunately personal feelings don't matter, TV $$ is what will matter at the end of the day, hence the MWCs desire to add them.

[SteedLaw]

On 3/10/2024 at 12:14 AM, utgrizfan said:

Unfortunately personal feelings don't matter, TV $$ is what will matter at the end of the day, hence the MWCs desire to add them.

Neither St. Mary’s nor Gonzaga will get a MWC invite. In the era of the new super conferences and NIL, I am afraid the WCC BB teams have had their day in the sun already. 

The highest levels of college athletics moving forward will be all about the big (primarily public) universities with large state or federal assigned budgets, research dollars, and LOTS of alumni donors.  There are some large private universities that obviously fit this mold, but either they are already on the “in” (Stanford, Vandy, Baylor, Norte Dame, TCU, SMU, etc.) or they are not.

The smaller private universities and colleges (especially the non-research and/or non football private colleges) are going to STRUGGLE in this new era to the point where you are going to see a lot of them dropping D1 status or even athletics altogether.

If there is to be a future for the MWC (and I believe there is), it is doubling down on adding large, primarily public (state and federal) research universities that, over time, have real potential to become powerhouses in all areas of research, academics, and athletics. And, yes, I would also put the three FBS federal military academies in this same category due to (a) their insane federal budgets and, (b) the global backing of the military branches they represent. 
 

In short, I don’t see an invite in the cards for Gonzaga or St. Marys.

[Destiny Dutch]

I like St Marys and Gonzaga included in the new PAC... and I like this logo...

Embroider this patch AND commence the process of uniting a "Western Big East" Gloria... Do it,

[Gonzagafan2021]

On 3/10/2024 at 1:07 PM, SteedLaw said:

Neither St. Mary’s nor Gonzaga will get a MWC invite. In the era of the new super conferences and NIL, I am afraid the WCC BB teams have had their day in the sun already. 

The highest levels of college athletics moving forward will be all about the big (primarily public) universities with large state or federal assigned budgets, research dollars, and LOTS of alumni donors.  There are some large private universities that obviously fit this mold, but either they are already on the “in” (Stanford, Vandy, Baylor, Norte Dame, TCU, SMU, etc.) or they are not.

The smaller private universities and colleges (especially the non-research and/or non football private colleges) are going to STRUGGLE in this new era to the point where you are going to see a lot of them dropping D1 status or even athletics altogether.

If there is to be a future for the MWC (and I believe there is), it is doubling down on adding large, primarily public (state and federal) research universities that, over time, have real potential to become powerhouses in all areas of research, academics, and athletics. And, yes, I would also put the three FBS federal military academies in this same category due to (a) their insane federal budgets and, (b) the global backing of the military branches they represent. 
 

In short, I don’t see an invite in the cards for Gonzaga or St. Marys.

Gonzaga has a good fanbase though 

[Spaztecs]

On 3/9/2024 at 5:55 PM, Headbutt said:

Get help.

He comes here to blow off steam and take a break from his tough situation..

Get yourself some help.

[Nevada Convert]

On 3/9/2024 at 4:36 PM, OzzyOzz said:

With all due respect though, the MWC is actually a really good conference. I'd say for what it is...going forward, even as is, sans pac2, it's rep would be expected to grow more and more, especially post pac. 

We'll see what happens. 

This world isn't about love. It's about money/power/popularity/in groups and out groups/tribalism/racism/classism..all that. Quite clear, obvious.

Hey, I don't care. I didn't build this society..

Yeah, but Jesus does love you.  

[Brew_Poke]

 

[HawaiiMongoose]

On 3/13/2024 at 10:41 AM, Brew_Poke said:

 

Not buying what Canzano has to sell.  And for sure, he is selling, all the time.