Thompson/Banowsky Pact Hurt the MWC

[MWCfan]

The pact made between these two, Commissioners of the MWC and C-USA, has hurt the MWC. Going back almost 2 years now, they decided they would not raid each others conferences. At the time, the MWC held the upper hand. But since then, losing TCU, BSU and SDSU has dropped the MWC to a version as weak as the 2008 WAC. The MWC should have done like everyone else and acted to protect itself. Grabbing Houston, SMU and a few other C-USA teams when the MWC was still attractive might have staved off defections to the Big East. TCU might have still left for the B-12, but the MWC wouldn't be looking at San Jose State and Utah State to save their conference. This "gentlemens agreement" between good ole boys helped the MWC to become second rate. Thanks Hair Thompson! In trying to save both conferences, the MWC went down the tubes.

[lobophil85]

Utah State and Nevada look good for the MWC, i would rather have them vs BSU and TCU

ONLY TALKING BASKETBALL RIGHT NOW

[COLOLOBO]

For basketball you are correct but for $$$$$$ I not so sure!

[AceAndTwo]

The college realignment is not over. ACC and Big 12 will expand meaning they will raid the Big East and rest. The Big East will have to raid the MWC and Conf USA again. And with our football in dire condition we might be left out in the cold again. I've heard through rumors that the Big East is looking at Fresno St and UNLV of a current expansion.

[ABQJack]

If the Economy continues to contract, so too will all sports, pro and college. Already there is moaning and hand-wringing by Big Bowl officials about dwindling attendance.

Perhaps the day will arrive when "regional rivalries" will resurface due to CONSTANT assault on the very hammered wage-earners who have less to spend on ANY sort of media, teched-to-high-heaven, or not. Comcast costs. Satellite costs. Everything is going up even though Gov't claims it ain't. Well, My50 less so. But, when more and more and more folks gotta decided between food/medicine and sporting events, well, not too hard to imagine which choice they'll make eh?

OTOH, sporting events are integral to any individual or group's "internal well-being." Satisfies ancient hungers & needs. So, it won't go away, but... likely we will see some gradual and necessary alterations to the sporting landscape. Probably within 4 or 5 years. City/State dwellers just won't stand for immense outlays for lavish sport complexes for very long. Such as how the Maloof Boys are holding a scimitar to the throat of the great Cali city of Sacramento. Ah, sure... assuming we have little-d democracy yet intact, I mean to say.

Upshot? I wouldn't worry about it a whit. And I don't. We'll end up with more regional interest and less slavish attention to Pro and Semi-Pro (20-30 universities). IMHO.

[the_pole_28]

The college realignment is not over. ACC and Big 12 will expand meaning they will raid the Big East and rest. The Big East will have to raid the MWC and Conf USA again. And with our football in dire condition we might be left out in the cold again. I've heard through rumors that the Big East is looking at Fresno St and UNLV of a current expansion.

If the AQ statuses are taken away than I don't see UNLV joining unless they get a full sports membership offer. Which wont happen

[blacklab101]

UNLV wont be going to the BE, it just makes no sense for us.

[Digital Lobo]

@ABQJack: parents can still send their sons and/or daughters to State to get a fine education and have an independent and/or FCS athletic program (or both) to root on and if they want to spend their well-earned kopeks to watch the only legit D-1 team in the state, they can come and watch los Lobos. See win-win for everyone!

Sent from my iPhone

[ABQJack]

@ABQJack: parents can still send their sons and/or daughters to State to get a fine education and have an independent and/or FCS athletic program (or both) to root on and if they want to spend their well-earned kopeks to watch the only legit D-1 team in the state, they can come and watch los Lobos. See win-win for everyone!

Sent from my iPhone

Sure, I get that. Haven't asked my son yet how he feels about it, because! I don't have to. He's sick about it. Well, he has plenty of other worries anyhow. He roots for the Bears (one side of the family) and the Cleveland Browns (my side of the family) and he's screwed blued and tatoo'd same as many others in that regard. I am masochistic. In one way. I yet root for the Cleveland Indians, and they haven't won a World Series since I was a tottering tot.

Sure, could be FCS in FB. But maybe they can land in a better spot for BB. [hmmm... since Hawaii only is FB member of whatever MWC becomes next, why not stick the Ags in there for BB only?) As others have correctly stated, IMO, we do need a good strong and fiercely contested rivalry. In BB, at least.

Well, I don't mind yer ragging on the Ags all that much, since, you know, we all got a "blind spot." Mine is "stormin" Norm Ellenberger. I knew him, liked him and still do. Very many others would object to that sort of enduring faithfulness -- because! Of, we know what. No matter, I'll still say he was as good a coach as there was anywhere in the USA in the mid-to-late 70s. Nolan Richardson didn't even KNOW what "40 minutes of hell" was all about until he watched Norm's teams. Say la Vie, so it goes.