MWC and CUSA adding teams this week. WAC's life support about to be pulled

[SpanaBaller]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...urphy/18873583

Looks like the shoe is about to drop effectively killing off the WAC

CUSA will invite Texas-San Antonio. IN addition they will add North Texas, Florida International, and Louisiana Tech. Essentially creating a 12-team league

The MWC will be adding Utah State and San Jose State bringing out total to 10.

Unclear how this affects NMSU. Quite frankly I don't care. They will either land in the SunBelt again or simply fold. Either case it benefits UNM as UNM can get a larger share of state allocated funds with NMSU irrelevant now.
-------

IMHO I like how this is working out. This move kills off the WAC and the soft landing Boise St was expecting for their olympic sports. By only inviting 2 teams, the MWC now is a 10-team league. It leaves open 2 spots. Maybe a grace option for SDSU/Boise St. With the WAC gone, now Boise will have to decide to utilize BIGWEST/BIGSKY for their olympics or do the best thing overall and return to the MWC.

If for some reason Boise St/SDSU proceed with their BIGEAST intentions. MWC-CUSA can go forward with the merger and allow UTEP to join the MWC division to even out the divisions at 11 each.

[Digital Lobo]

The Sunbelt didn't kill off the Aggholes before. Not sure why it would now. Arguably it's a better conference than the current state of the WAC even before the latest defections.

[Digital Lobo]

Miner football coach Mike "Lap Dance" Price seems to imply that UTEP is joining the WAC. Check the end of this interview after the two minute mark:

http://siriusxmsports.posterous.com/...s-injuries-sch

[TheLoboMan]

Miner football coach Mike "Lap Dance" Price seems to imply that UTEP is joining the WAC. Check the end of this interview after the two minute mark:

http://siriusxmsports.posterous.com/...s-injuries-sch

OOPs I think you mean the MWC.

[JulieG]

UTEP has wanted Texas opponents all along so Conference USA adding them would make them move to the MWC? I would love to see it. I do believe that adding SJSU and Utah State makes the MWC more likely to exist into the future. No matter what happens I do not expect nor do I want NMSU to disappear. For all the complaining about the Aggies, they provide us with a home and home schedule and generally a decent football opponent. Many of us complain about our basketball schedule, but without playing them we would have a rather big hole in it.

[LoboKnight]

What would be great is if the Sun Belt didn't take NMSU. Then they will be forced to drop down a division or two(hopefully). It would be better if they went to D2, then we play them in football as our D2 game and in Basketball as an exhibition once a year. Then we pick up more money from the state, because it is not being wasted on the Aggies.

[jupiter2]

Please say no to San Jose State!

Bring in UTEP, if they want to make the move. I'm not so sure they would even accept an invite.
This may not be a popular point of view but adding NMSU makes sense. It sure makes more sense than SJSU. The State of New Mexico needs to have two vibrant universities.

Jupiter Out

GO LOBOS!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

[lovelobos]

Let's see...SJS averaged 1655 attendance in their 5000 seat gym. And we want them...why?

[SpanaBaller]

Let's see...SJS averaged 1655 attendance in their 5000 seat gym. And we want them...why?

Don't like it either. But it looks like it is a strategy to kill off the WAC and make BoiseSt/SDSU life a little more miserable. It leaves a door open for SDSU/Boise to return for all sports like the way it should be. And if they don't return....we can also go forward with the merger with CUSA after all

The MWC has limited options in terms of expansion. It appears Tulsa/UTEP/etc. don't want to separate completely away from CUSA. And if SDSU is really leaving we need another Cal school since Alford recruits California. SJSU fills that void somewhat. So not all is lost.

[jupiter2]

SDSU and Boise State made their choices. I don't want to see them back in the league....ever!

Jupiter Out

GO LOBOS!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

[AceAndTwo]

MWC should have went after the Texas schools. Craig Thompson fails again. He should have never signed a long deal sorry tv contract that most of you love but destroyed the MWC and he should have expanded in the early 2000's. He destroyed the MWC with his lack of leadership. I'm not happy with this water down version of the WAC.

[the_pole_28]

There were talks of having 4 divisons in the new conference. If this is true which is a big if I could see the MWC adding 2 to make it 24 total with 4 6 team divisons

[rick7g]

MWC should have went after the Texas schools. Craig Thompson fails again. He should have never signed a long deal sorry tv contract that most of you love but destroyed the MWC and he should have expanded in the early 2000's. He destroyed the MWC with his lack of leadership. I'm not happy with this water down version of the WAC.

Texas schools would prefer conference usa over mwc

[loboray]

I just don't want NMSU in our conference. There would be no benefit for UNM if that were to happen. UTEP would be fine, just not sure they are interested.

[MichLobo]

does any one else not want San jose State to de invited at all? I am down with Utah State they are getting better in football and have some pretty good basketball tradition going on. but what does SJSU bring to the table? Fresno already has us in northern Cali. To me SJSU is like the NMSU of California.

[Burro lobo]

I still have relatives in El Paso and the thought I get from them is that UTEP will happily move to the MWC from the CUSA side. Less travel and a lot of old rivalries that still mean something to UTEP fans. Just what I'm hearing out of EP.

[loboray]

The Bay area is a pretty darn good place to recruit, not to mention there's a lot of potential TV sets. Depends on whether SJSU has plans to upgrade their sports programs, I guess. Check with David Sabolchik, he would know. Have you ever been to Logan, Utah. Makes Las Cruces look classy.

[Digital Lobo]

OOPs I think you mean the MWC.

Right. I wrote that post in haste as I was heading out the door. Mah bad.

Sent from my iPhone

[txlobo95]

The Bay area is a pretty darn good place to recruit, not to mention there's a lot of potential TV sets.

You're right, there are TV sets, but only a select few of them are actually watching anything related to San Jose St. Aren't they more of a community college than a D1 uni?

They added ZERO when they were in the old WAC and there is no reason to add them now, just to leach off every other team in our conf?

Utah St. at least has a very solid MBB program and had a top 25 football team recently, so they at least add something of relevance.

North Texas is a team the MWC should have targeted. Basically, you have 3 "major" colleges here in the DFW area, and until recently it was considered TCU, SMU and then on another level down, North Texas. However, with North Texas building a new football stadium and an upgrade in conf affiliation will upgrade their attractiveness locally. With their ties to the DFW metro area, it's an attractive acquisition. Thompson has really missed the boat by not getting North Texas to the MWC side of the ledger.

I would have gone hard after North Texas, Tulsa and UTEP to shore up the MWC side of the affiliation and can see how Utah St makes sense if you can't get Tulsa.

Please say NO to San Jose!!!

Maybe he's holding the door open in case SMU and/or Houston don't stay long with their Big East affiliation? Or Boise St. and/or SDFU?

[isaac]

SDSU and Boise State made their choices. I don't want to see them back in the league....ever!

Jupiter Out

GO LOBOS!!



GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

Jupiter, you're killing me... Where is this third person???

[KingNoodles]

I lived in San Jose area a bit, no one there cares, don't see what they would bring, do schools like that rally make a big difference in tv money ??? if not I'd rather see us stay smaller but quality than grow just to grow

[loborick]

MWC should have went after the Texas schools. Craig Thompson fails again. He should have never signed a long deal sorry tv contract that most of you love but destroyed the MWC and he should have expanded in the early 2000's. He destroyed the MWC with his lack of leadership. I'm not happy with this water down version of the WAC.

The school presidents are the ones that actually run the conference. They vote on TV contracts, expansion, etc.

[txlobo95]

The school presidents are the ones that actually run the conference. They vote on TV contracts, expansion, etc.

That's not really an accurate way to portray it. Thompson is like the CEO or really the high ranking manager. His office has to do all the due diligence, back-round work, etc. and the Uni Presidents are like the board of regents who have the final vote, once a measure is presented to them. However, the Uni Presidents don't go out and do all the due diligence.

[JCB Lobo]

Id rather have San Jose State then Utah State. Are you serious people? Its not BYU/Utah its UTAH STATE for crying out loud. Cmon seriously? Your talking about Logan Utah vs The San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose area.

Lets not forget that STDSU was a door mat until the MWC let them build up. There is a ton of talent up in that area and that would help with recruiting and excited and perhaps develop a fan base for San Jose. We should include a stipulation that they can not act like STDSU fans if they happen to get good in time, or there gym will explode.

[dtrain34]

I just don't want NMSU in our conference. There would be no benefit for UNM if that were to happen. UTEP would be fine, just not sure they are interested.

I'm a newcomer to the mutual UNM-NMSU whining and, for full disclosure, an Aggie supporter at that but "no benefit?" What it seems like to me is that UNM is juuusssst barely far enough ahead of the Aggies to think they need to "exterminate" NMSU to be secure in their domination of the state, rather than face annual tests of that superiority, as in the recent football matchups. Along the West Coast, where I have lived all my life, the situation you have down there is unthinkable. No Apple Cup? No Civil War? No Big Game? No Alphabet Bowl? No Territorial Cup? "No benefit" to an in-state, in-conference rivalry? No sense to that concept.

Lastly, NMSU wouldn't "go away" in basketball even if they dropped football to FCS (the NCAA doesn't allow D-Is to drop football alone to D-II anymore and there's no way NMSU is going to drop its entire program to D-II in the midst of basketball, baseball successess, etc.).

Also, I second the opinion of the other former and current Bay Area residents who have posted per San Jose State. There was a time when the Jack Elway-coached Spartans could give his son's Stanford team a battle; years when SJSU swept Cal and Stanford in football. But those days are over. As much as Lobos love to mock the Aggies which is really more beneficial? A new conference opponent you clearly hate and despise, bringing even more meaning to an already hysterical rivalry or a random schedule-filler bringing yawns to MWC fans from Fort Collins to Fresno?

[Digital Lobo]

... what does SJSU bring to the table? Fresno already has us in northern California.

A more desirable road trip destination than Fresneck.

Sent from my iPhone

[Digital Lobo]

I just don't want NMSU in our conference.

Quote of the day!

NMSUcks =



Sent from my iPhone

[Ltlf]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...urphy/18873583

Looks like the shoe is about to drop effectively killing off the WAC

CUSA will invite Texas-San Antonio. IN addition they will add North Texas, Florida International, and Louisiana Tech. Essentially creating a 12-team league

The MWC will be adding Utah State and San Jose State bringing out total to 10.

Unclear how this affects NMSU. Quite frankly I don't care. They will either land in the SunBelt again or simply fold. Either case it benefits UNM as UNM can get a larger share of state allocated funds with NMSU irrelevant now.
-------

IMHO I like how this is working out. This move kills off the WAC and the soft landing Boise St was expecting for their olympic sports. By only inviting 2 teams, the MWC now is a 10-team league. It leaves open 2 spots. Maybe a grace option for SDSU/Boise St. With the WAC gone, now Boise will have to decide to utilize BIGWEST/BIGSKY for their olympics or do the best thing overall and return to the MWC.

If for some reason Boise St/SDSU proceed with their BIGEAST intentions. MWC-CUSA can go forward with the merger and allow UTEP to join the MWC division to even out the divisions at 11 each.

Do you really believe this????

NMSU > SJSU. At least for State of New Mexico residents who want the best for our state. Dtrain makes good sense. A hated rival is better than a yawner.

Having said all that. NMSU will not be invited to the MWC.

[jupiter2]

Jupiter, you're killing me... Where is this third person???

Let me spell it out for you Isaac. I, as a fan of the Lobos and Mountain West Conference would prefer not see SDSU and Boise return to the league. They made their choice to leave the MW. Good for them. Geez. Lighten up.

Jupiter Out

GO LOBOS!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

[SpanaBaller]

Do you really believe this????

NMSU > SJSU. At least for State of New Mexico residents who want the best for our state. Dtrain makes good sense. A hated rival is better than a yawner.

Having said all that. NMSU will not be invited to the MWC.

Simple mathametics. Right now the state government of NM probably divides up allocation of funds equally between UNM and NMSU. With NMSU gone.....UNM can get close to if not the entire 100%. Community colleges such as CNM, Northern NM, Eastern NM, Western NM, and Highlands only get a small percentage while UNM and NMSU get the majority. With NMSU gone....UNM becomes the flagship.

We don't have to worry about NMSU being a road block in our pathway to success anymore.

I don't see how having NMSU around and being successful helps UNM in a way. And I have been thinking about it hard and I still can't see the positives to having NMSU around.