Conference Shake Up 2.0

[SubGod22]

Appears that the Colonial may be reaching out to App State, CoC and Davidson. ASU is still looking at getting into an FBS conference and that seems to depend on what the WAC decides to do as CUSA isn't interested and the Sun Belt doesn't seem to be expanding any more at the moment. Davidson and CoC would both benefit from a better basketball conference. But the question would be, is the CAA stable or will the lose more? And aparently the SoCon has given the schools until July 4 to make a decision...

[1972Shocker]

And aparently the SoCon has given the schools until July 4 to make a decision...

And if they don't make a decision what is the SoCon going to do?

[SubGod22]

And if they don't make a decision what is the SoCon going to do?

That I'm not sure of. Is it possible that they get a larger buyout fee if they wait longer? I haven't completely figured that one out yet.

[shockmonster]

And if they don't make a decision what is the SoCon going to do?

They will probably say that they give them one more week and this time the really mean it.

[SubGod22]

Some interesting talk going on here about some sort of merger/alliance between the Big Sky and the WAC. Word is, the Big Sky is considering shifting some of the Olympic sports over to the WAC to save it as a nonfootball conference while keeping the Big Sky FCS football. Under what has been said so far, NMSU and Idaho would become Independent for FBS football and if that didn't work out, would be accepted into the Big Sky as FCS football schools. I'm still reading the thread and there are links to some interviews and Twitter comments about it. Sounds like it would be two separate conferences of 8 or 9 for basketball with all football in the Big Sky. This would save the WAC autobid and keep it in the West. The Big Sky only wants the death of WAC football. If the WAC doesn't go East to try and get football schools, this appears to be about the only way to save it from complete death.

[_kai_]

Eric tweeted this out http://winthropintelligence.com/2012/07/rri/

[SubGod22]

An Eastern Block of FCS teams may still be in play for the WAC. Lately I've been reading about some sort of deal between the Big Sky and WAC to keep the WAC alive so the four or five Big Sky schools who may eventually want to move up to FBS have a conference to go to when they're ready. But it sounds like the WAC is keeping open the possibility of adding schools like Jacksonville State, Appalachian State, Liberty and others. I believe there's been some talk of Delaware, Lamar and Georgia Southern as well. I've seen a few people throw out the idea of Illinois State if need be. The WAC needs to add six schools that play football to remain an FBS conference. Although, if they don't within the next year or so, I believe they can still become an FBS conference in the future according to the NCAA rules. They state something along the lines of any FBS conference, even if it loses it's status as such, retains the rights to call up FCS teams to FBS and sponsor football. I believe the WAC is the only conference that could do it if it were to lose FBS status for a few years.

[SubGod22]

CoC discussing move to CAA

I've heard lots of rumors. CAA needs/wants three additions. The favorites seem to be CoC, Davidson and Stony Brook. But there's word that Hofstra has a couple of schools willing to block Stony Book. I've also heard that the CAA, in order to be more appealing to SB, is willing to bring in Albany and I forget the other northern school for football only. However, if DC and CoC fall through, I could see full membership being offered to all three of SB, UA and the other. Some question how strong Hofstra's alliance really is.

[SubGod22]

MWC will NOT be inviting NMSU or Idaho

LAS VEGAS — Idaho and New Mexico State are the only football-playing members of the Western Athletic Conference but unlike many of their former conference mates, the Vandals and Aggies won't be invited to join the Mountain West.

"We've informed them that they will not be members of the Mountain West. Go onto Plan B whatever Plan B may be," Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson said during his annual state of the conference address at football media days.

The commissioner did indicate that the league might be interested in adding a Texas school or schools. He said the league visited with UT-San Antonio, which is joining Conference USA, and received material from Texas State. Conference USA member Texas-El Paso is also an intriguing candidate for the Mountain West.

"If, for whatever reason, they tire of traveling to Miami and Charlotte and Norfolk, Virginia, we would have conversations with them," Thompson said, referencing the locations of several new Conference USA members.

"I don't want to put any pressures or false hopes that we're having conversations with UTEP. We are not."

[SubGod22]

Southland is bringing in Incarnate Word and possibly also adding Abilene Christian and New Orleans. UIW and Abilene Christian would be additions from the DII Lone Star Conference that has recently lost Texas State, UTSA and Arlington in recent years.

[SubGod22]

WAC announces it will drop football after 2012 season. Still no word on who they may add to keep up with NCAA membership requirements. I'd be OK with the MVC adding Denver and NMSU, but that won't happen.

[SubGod22]

Abilene Christian has received an invite to join the Southland now. I know they've been preparing to move up the last few years. New Orleans continues to wait.

Official release from the Southland conference over UIW

[ShockTalk]

WAC announces it will drop football after 2012 season. Still no word on who they may add to keep up with NCAA membership requirements. I'd be OK with the MVC adding Denver and NMSU, but that won't happen.

However, for basketball anyway, eastern schools would only need to travel to 3 western schools each year (currently traveling to at 4 "western" schools now). I'm assuming that with 12 teams, a school would play 10 home and away games within the division and 3 away, 3 at home against the other division.

[SubGod22]

It would be less travel due to divisional breakup. Both Denver and NMSU are top 100 teams. The west could be pretty tough with us, CU, NMSU, Denver, MSU and Drake. Could be some concern that Denver and Las Cruces aren't close enough to be ideal travel partners. I think it's about 650 miles or so.

[DoubleJayAlum]

It would be less travel due to divisional breakup. Both Denver and NMSU are top 100 teams. The west could be pretty tough with us, CU, NMSU, Denver, MSU and Drake. Could be some concern that Denver and Las Cruces aren't close enough to be ideal travel partners. I think it's about 650 miles or so.

Interesting; I hadn't considered that before. Is UTEP still in the WAC? I can't even keep things straight anymore.

The problem with expansion for the "poorer" teams is not just the travel; it is that the money the conference receive for NCAA tourney units. The more the teams, the smaller each team's proportional share becomes. They need every penny now... But, limiting their travel expenses might help make expansion work...

BTW, does it appear to anybody else that Bradley went from one of the "haves" to one of the "have nots" rather suddenly? They vote against the Dallas Baptist decision, they won't agree to pay Les his buyout (and he has to sue) and they refused to pay Ford's buyout when they pulled him from Kent St, which is pretty customary nowadays, resulting in Kent St suing Ford. Seems like they are penny pinching galore like so many of their eastern MVC brethren. Unlike many of the schools that are broke, Bradley has good attendance (3rd in the conference year after year) and donor support (at least I thought they did), so I don't understand what the problem is there.