Why UTEP should join the Mountain West
by TowerPower on Dec 1, 2010 11:58 PM MST
Email
PrintBump'd From the FanPosts- Conference Realignment isn't going anywhere and this is a nice perspective on why UTEP might be interested in the MWC. - AM
Sorry I haven't been around as much, bitching about UT has taken up the majority of my time lately, couple that with the chaos in the Mountain West, and finals I haven't kept tabs over here.
First let me be frank, the MWC's TV contract is HORRIBLE they must do something to change it to have a prayer at taking ANY Conference USA team.
Second lets make some assumptions:
1st Hawaii and a non-football school (like Denver) join the Mountain West
2nd Utah St joins to keep the Mtn. on in Utah and the SLC market and adds excellent basketball
3rd another team WILL be added either from CUSA or the dieing WAC
That leaves the Mountain West with only a few reasonable options because adding anyone (besides UTEP) in the state of Texas will only increase travel costs and have little market saturation. TCU has been great but people in Texas don't watch, and yes I blame some of that on the TV contract.
Most MWC fans want UTEP, for their kick ass basketball, El Paso media market, history with WAC/MWC schools, great attendance numbers, and their improving football program.
That leads me to why I think UTEP should join the Mountain West Conference.
1st the MWC (after expanding) will be more solid than CUSA which could get picked apart by the Big East either to just get to 10 or 12 by taking any number of candidates like UCF (for USF), Memphis (for basketball), ECSU (as football only) , Marshall (geographically close), Houston or SMU (for TCU).
The Big East could also be picked apart by the Big 12 (Louisville and Cinncy), Big Ten (Rutgers, Syracuse) and ACC (UConn, Pitt, WV) which could cause CUSA to lose all of the members listed above to the the dieing Big East. In my opinion after the WAC, CUSA and the Big East are the conferences MOST in danger of extinction. CUSA's only hope is that ALL of the Big East's members join other conferences (which will probably not happen) because if they don't the Big East will be a stronger more powerful version of the WAC grabbing at any school to stay alive like a drowning cats gasping for air.
Now look at the Mountain West, the most likely candidates to be poached are Boise St (for football), New Mexico (for basketball and market), and Air Force (for military following). The only conference that would take them is the Big 12 which would take BYU first and then possibly one of these but they are all at the bottom of their wish list behind Notre Dame (not as crazy as it sounds with the Big 12's uneven revenue distribution and allowing individual schools to have networks but still a longshot), Arkansas (who could make more in the Big 12 than the SEC), Louisville, and Cinncy. The Mountain West is under little or no threat of being poached unlike CUSA who has a hungry Lion at the door ready to pounce.
Also take a look at the possible replacements to CUSA, Troy, LA Tech, and North Texas; while these schools have decent athletics it will not nearly makeup for the loss of any of the schools.
So why after looking at these two conferences do people think the MWC is in more danger than CUSA?
2nd the MWC is still a very well rounded conference even after the loss of the big three (TCU, Utah, BYU).
Compare CUSA football with the New MWC (UTEP omitted)
UCF-Boise St winner MWC
ECSU-Nevada winner CUSA for now
Houston-Hawaii winner MWC
SMU-Air Force winner MWC for now
Tulsa-San Diego St winner CUSA for now
So Miss-Fresno St winner MWC
The rest are all about even, so the MWC to me appears to be the strongest especially with Boise St who isn't at risk of going anywhere.
Basketball is basically just Memphis, UCF and UAB vs UNLV, New Mexico, and Utah St.
CUSA wins this one at the moment, Memphis is the obvious powerhouse but besides that they are about even, other schools like Boise St and ESCU may be good every so often but they aren't really basketball schools. But once again I give the longterm edge to the MWC because Memphis and UCF are begging for Big East invites while UNLV, NM, and USU have no where else to go.
Media Markets-
MWC-Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Reno, Fresno, and San Deigo
CUSA-Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Memphis, and Orlando
CUSA wins this one, but again Memphis, Orlando, Dallas, and Houston are all possible additions for the Big East. Also the MWC markets are only shared with the PAC12 and the WAC while the CUSA markets are split between Big 12, SEC, ACC, Big East, and the Sun Belt so their product is more diluted than the Mountain West's. Also ESPN love those late night games and with just the Pac12 and the MWC on the tube you know more people would see the MW games than CUSA games (especially if their TV contract is reworked).
Overall the conferences seem pretty even, MWC wins in football (which is the most important now it seems) while CUSA win with Memphis in basketball and has a slight edge in media markets.
3rd the Mountain West Conference is just a better brand than Conference USA. The MWC's footprint is more consolidated, and their teams are more recognizable than CUSA. People were confusing the WAC with the MWC but now it will be more simplified and easier to follow, which will bring more interest to the conference and more eyes to the TV sets. Meanwhile CUSA is a mess, while most of us here can name the schools in it, many others can not. I have many friends who actively watch college football but often don't recognize a CUSA school even when watching the games. They see Marshall and think MAC, and that UAB is in the Sun Belt. CUSA is all over the place from West Virginia to El Paso, and Oklahoma to Florida. CUSA just doesn't have the same appeal that the Mountain West does.
Also the football excellence has put the MWC on the map, people know the Mountain West, ESPN constantly talks about them, therefor more people recognize that it is a good conference. So even if CUSA is the same as the Mountain West or better in all aspects, it will not be recognized as a "elite mid-major conference" until its has had successful teams like Utah, BYU, TCU, Boise St, and Hawaii in it; Houston and ECSU have gotten close but this takes multiple years before people will consider them a "good" conference.
Finally the elephant in the room, the TV contract. This is the reason BYU left, TCU and Utah got their AQ bids so their was no stopping them. The MWC commissioner Thompson is working on expansion to not only add more schools and get a conference championship game but also to get out of the bad contract that relegates the top ranked TCU/Utah game the CBS College Sports and others to the obscure Mtn. or Versus. If they can prove that this contract should be null and void with the massive 10 school shift (TCU, BYU, Utah, Boise St, Nevada, Fresno St, Utah St, UTEP, Hawaii-football only, and Denver-non football) and the addition of the CCG then they could easily start a bidding war between ESPN (who had the WAC's contract) FoxSports (who is losing conference contracts) CBS (who had the MWC) and even NBC (who is expanding their weekend sports coverage). This could get the MWC plenty of late coverage with ESPN, daytime coverage with NBC, and national coverage with Fox, and still their own network (which is slowly growing) with CBS. There are possibilities galore but I guarantee you something will happen before 2012 when the MWC is hoping to have its first CCG. However if the MWC expands to 12 without UTEP, they may again be on the outside looking in and be cursed to watch their most successful conferencemates leave them for greener pastures and ultimately be in a league that is just the Sun Belt 2.0.
That is basically all of my arguements, let me know what you think.
38 comments
|
2 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I would like to join the MWC...
but I didn’t know their TV contract was that bad, however I do see CUSA getting raided again like they did in 2005.
Does anyone know if the Conference U.S.A. and Mountain West merger has any legs?
I do like that UTEP has options unlike many other schools, this shows how well our school is growing and improving. UTEP and New Mexico would be a killer conference game.
From what I've heard...
If the MWC gets a CCG, both of the CCG winners from CUSA and the MWC would play each other for an automatic BCS bid (a bi-CCG or play in game for a BCS bid if you prefer). This is a proposal being tossed around between these two conferences, but it has not been approved by the BCS. The first step would be for the MWC to get a CCG then this could be discussed more.
This wouldn’t be a merger of the conferences but I think they would commit for each team to play 1 OOC game against the other conference each year. Some people think this has a high chance of of getting approved but other think it would open the door to a playoff (which the BCS would shoot down) or for a MAC/Sun Belt joint bid which may hinder this going through since those conferences are not at the same level that the MWC/CUSA are.
Don’t get me wrong I like CUSA but I think the MWC is where UTEP belongs, LA Tech could easily takes its place in CUSA West which would consolidate the conference (and reduce their travel cost) a little more, while CUSA won’t be happy since it chose UTEP over LA Tech, I doubt it would stop them from trying to get joint bid with the MWC.
DirecTv
if you can get DirecTv that is the best way to see the teams. Dish does not have The Mtn. and Versus i on an upper tier and cable who knows, if you have Time Warner you are out of luck.
Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!
Follow me on twitter!
by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 6, 2010 11:09 AM MST up reply actions
Affect on recruiting?
I agree w/ a lot of your points, esp. that the MWC will be a better FB conf. than C-USA.
UTEP recruits heavily in Dallas and Houston. How would recruiting suffer, if at all, if UTEP joins the MWC and has no regular road games in Houston and Dallas?
Valid concern...
I left this one out on purpose for a few reasons…
The recruiting meme is way over stated, these games UTEP plays in Houston every year and Dallas every other year doesn’t make a huge difference in my opinion.
The biggest reason to add major recruiting areas into conference is to get into the high school coaching network, which UTEP is already a major part of. UTEP is typically behind Houston and SMU already in recruiting because those schools can convince the DFW/HOU recruits to stay close to home and El Paso isn’t exactly like driving to Waco.
But yes, this move may marginally affect their recruiting however I could also claim that by joining the MWC their recruiting could get a boost since it is considered (like I laid out in the post) the best of the mid-majors.
I really like one of your points- that the C-USA's replacement candidates are so weak right now
If UCF or ECU get the nod to the Big East which is very possible if Villanova persists to stay at FCS in football, then who would the C-USA add? Would Banowsky try to get New Mexico to pair with UTEP as a travel partner? Would UNM leave?
If not the Lobos, we’d have Temple (not a great geographic fit), Florida International, North Texas, Louisiana Tech (might be best option), Middle Tennessee State, and Florida Atlantic. Slim pickings…
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
That is the most concerning to me too....
New Mexico while weak at football has a great media market and basketball, and like Trey pointed out would be a great in-conference game. This is just a guess but I think it would all boil down to money and basketball for them, if CUSA’s TV contract pays out more money than the MWC and they keep Memphis then I could strongly see them considering defecting to CUSA. However New Mexico has so much history with the MWC schools that there is a good chance that they would stay loyal, also I believe their travel cost for non-revenue sports would definitely go up if they joined CUSA (with trips to Marshall and UCF).
If CUSA loses some schools I would definitely try for Temple if you can get them in all sports and only if Marshall is still around, but this would only expand the already loosely knit footprint that is CUSA like you pointed out, but I think they are the biggest non-AQ not in the MWC or CUSA.
If I was CUSA I would look to consolidate the league by adding schools in the Texas/OU to the Alabama/Tennessee area. This would give the conference a more well defined and recognizable footprint (like the new MWC or MAC) and greatly reduce travel costs so schools can spend more on facilities and coaches to better develop their athletics.
My list would include LA Tech, Troy, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, UTSA, Texas St, and Arkansas St (as a last resort); I would purposely stay away from the South Florida schools which would only bring a little benefit but large increase to travel cost. While I know this goes back to the old school way of thinking about conferences I truly believe that many of the reasons the Big East, WAC, and CUSA are in danger of being poached is that they go after large media markets outside their footprints which makes the conference seem less strong, nobody is trying to take anyone from the MAC now are they? (football only school Temple excluded).
As far as UTEP is concerned, (and this is a big sticking point for me) why not move to the more stable and prestigious conference if given the chance? The history and geography both make perfect sense. The MWC’s TV contract (read the Cowboys Altitude article in the above comment which talks about the expansion I mentioned in the post) is going to improve but I think UTEP has got to join now or be left out because the MWC will go to 12 members with or without the Miners.
Why shouldn't UTEP move to the MWC? Loyalty and Pride has something to do with it.
UTEP fans still hate the MWC for dropping the Miners the first time around. UTEP was a huge part of the WAC’s success in the 1980’s and early 1990’s when the league became known as a good basketball league (BYU, UTEP, Utah, New Mexico all had strings of great success). Then, the MWC formed and left UTEP to play with a bunch of schools nobody in EP cared about (ironically these schools are now in the MWC).
UTEP formed something of an alliance with the SWC castoffs (Rice, UH, SMU). I’m not saying that Houston wouldn’t leave UTEP and the others behind tomorrow if a better deal came their way, but we have finally started to see the 10-1515 years these schools have been together form some true rivalries. Mike Price and football loves having games in Dallas and Houston and CMP has expanded UTEP’s recruiting presence throughout CenTex with highly successful satellite camps.
$ wise as you’ve pointed out, there isn’t a huge difference between the C-USA and MWC right now- if UTEP can make more $ after the MWC revamps their TV deal- then that would obviously change some minds. Also- the MTN’s new presence in Texas will help, but unfortunately the new coverage areas are in SuddenLink coverage areas (Panhandle, Permian Basin) which are not really close to the EP Metropolitan area. It will be interesting to see if the MTN can get a deal with U-Verse or Time Warner Cable in El Paso.
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
Great points....
The grudge of being left behind is understandable, but like you pointed out Houston and I’d add in SMU too, would leave for another conference in a heartbeat.
I get the major points of the points but the overall picture seems pretty clear to me.
Either stay in CUSA with yalls new Texas rivals who could leave at any moment and watch the conference be picked apart by the Big East and replaced with below average Sun Belt squads, all the mean time hoping to become an elite mid major like the MWC; or put old grudges aside, restart old rivalries, and take a chance on getting a better TV in the more stable and prestigious MWC.
Not a slam dunk either way but overall I prefer the MWC to CUSA for UTEP.
You've got it right
The MWC is crap without their big three. The TV contract sucks, they’re turning back into the WAC, literally, and if they were only close to getting an AQ bid with UTAH, BYU, and TCU what make them any closer now. Think about it the football presence in the MWC are WAC teams. Boise, Fresno, and Nevada are the MWC’s only legs to stand on in football. God knows the WAC was nowhere near AQ status, and neither is C-USA so how would a merger all of the sudden make the conferences worthy of an AQ bid? Not to mention the only people that think this will fly are from the MWC. Its garbage.
The MWC offers nothing to C-USA or UTEP. Sure C-USA might get poached down the road, but it gonna happen no matter what. A MWCUSA merger doesn’t all of the sudden keep that from happening. What schools, like UTEP, need to do is continue to pump money into their athletic programs and continue to improve them so when it is poaching time, we might have a shot to be the one poached. We can’t always look at ourselves as victims who will get left in the dust. Do something and you wont.
For UTEP, what does joining the MWC do after the losses of BYU and UTAH. Those two schools provided some of the most heated rivalries we’ve ever seen. Why go now? For UNM? We already roll them almost every year in football, and a bball game is pretty much a phone call away. To be honest who cares about going back to play Colorado St, Wyoming, and others? C-USA is fine. They havn’t been poached from yet, have better TV deals, and more rivalries in SMU, Houston, Memphis, and Tulsa for us to go anywhere.
Please cut the cord. The MWC didn’t want us then, and we shouldn’t want them now.
I understand your POV but...
The MWC is crap without their big three.
That is absolutely false, explain how the MWC is any worse than CUSA.
Yes they lost the big 3 but gained Boise St, also the biggest complaint about the MWC was that they lacked depth but now with the WAC additions they have depth.
The MWC offers nothing to C-USA or UTEP.
The MWC is still the conference most likely to get an AQ from the BCS, CUSA would be idiotic to not try to partner with them, and as far to what they offer UTEP just read the post, the MWC is more prestigious and stable longterm than CUSA appears to be.
No disrespect tower but
I’m gonna to try to answer both you’re questions in a little bit of a rant here.
The MWC is more prestigious and stable? The MWC has been around for about 12 years, they are the youngest conference, and just lost the two schools that formed that league in the first place. BYU and UTAH were the reasons the MWC came into existence and they aren’t even there any more so what prestige do they have. And stable? Again they just lost their best three schools how is that stable? They are in the midst of a major shift and are still trying to get the pieces together. That’s not very stable. In fact, C-USA has not only been around longer, but has not been touched by this latest round of expansion. That sounds like greater stability to me. Sure, it’s only a matter of time, but its always only a matter of time. For everybody.
The MWC is nothing in football now. Let me ask you something. Was the WAC a good football conference? (Unless you’re on crack, you say other than Boise, no not really). So why is the MWC and better now? Its the top of the WAC followed by crapshoot programs like UNM, Wyoming, Colorado St, and UNLV. I’d throw SDSU in there but they finally had a decent season so I’’ll leave them out of that. Air Force is the only other decent program. C-USA has ECU, Tulsa, SMU, Houston, UCF, So. Miss, and because I know we should be a better program UTEP. That’s 7 out of 12 schools.
Basketball isn’t even a question. UNM had a good season, but will not even come close to that this year. San Diego St, UNLV, and Nevada will be decent programs, but CUSA has them beat again. Memphis, UTEP, Tulsa, UAB, ECU, UCF, and So Miss are all decent to good programs. Again, 7 out of 12 programs.
Dont even get me started on media markets. Granted C-USA’s big markets are watered down because of bigger programs in those markets, but it doesn’t change the fact that we have presences in those markets. MWC biggest market was SLC and without UTAH or BYU it has no chance there. Utah St is not the answer to getting that market back.
TV deals. Everyone knows how stupid the MWC is for going and trying to create their own network. Who do they think they are the Big 10? I’ll take our CBS and ESPN deals over the bs in the MWC.
And you are completely wrong about the MWC being the closest to gaining AQ status. They were the closest to AQ status. They’re sinking in the same boat as everyone else now. And, It’d be idiotic to partner with a conference that’s sinking so fast it’s looking for any life support to grab onto. Seriously, the MWC has just transformed themselves into everything they ran away from back in 1998. They’re crap and no partnership will gain AQ status. It’s time people wake up and smell the coffee. The BCS doesn’t want us. We’re like the ugly step child to them.
Maybe saying the MWC is nothing in football
Is a little overboard. Of course, Boise is a great program, and Fresno, Nevada, and Hawaii are good programs, but that’s it. They’ve got the WAC shools as their entire football presence. That’s pretty weak.
I'm gonna take these one at a time...and don't worry I love a good debate
MWC more prestigous-because people know it, its brand has become popular unlike CUSA, the MWC IS the MOST recognizable mid-major conference.
MWC more stable-like I listed above there are ZERO schools in real danger of being poached unlike CUSA which most people agree that its only a matter of time before yall lose many of your member like in 2005.
The MWC like you admitted below is still the best of the mid-majors in football, CUSA is up there too don’t get me wrong but they really have had a break out team like Boise St to set them apart.
I give CUSA basketball but if Memphis leaves it is going to be a toss up.
Once again I give CUSA media markets but the don’t laugh at the MWC’s markets they are still strong in Nevada, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and yes still some share of SLC. I also give that the TV deal is bad, read the first line of my post.
As far as closest to AQ status you are completely wrong, the MWC was the closest to AQ status and the WAC was 2nd, while the MWC lost BCS vets TCU and Utah, they gain Boise St and Hawaii, so the MWC is still the conference best suited to get an AQ bid (and sidenote TCU’s stats will count toward the MWC in the AQ evalutations after the 2011 season so they may still get the bid).
If I missed something let me know.
You didn't miss anything but
I just don’t agree about the prestige. We’re not talking about name brand recognition here. I mean I’ve got a marketing degree, I know what you’re trying to say, but this is something where both conferences, imo have equal footing. Especially with the losses of the big three. No one out there knows the MWC because of Boise St and Nevada, they know them for BYU and UTAH.
Football may be the best mid-major but only because of Boise. Conference USA teams can stand up to any other team in the new MWC.
I don’t see how the MWC will gain this AQ status. Even with TCU’s stats. Look, there are three criteria to qualify for AQ status. I just want to focus on no. 3, so for the sake of argument let’s say the MWC has no. 1 and 2 covered.
So no. 3 says that the conference must also have at least 50% the amount of teams in the top 25 BCS standings that the no.1 conference has. That’s the SEC which consistently has 6-8 teams in the top 25. That means the MWC would have to finish, consistently, with 3-4 teams in the top 25. The MWC conference has never had 4 teams finish in the top 25 and if I’m correct have only had 3 in the final top 25 during the period being evaluated.
Now, if the conference does fulfill criteria 1 and 2 but not 3 they can also submit some kind of petition of some sorts to be considered. Undoubtedly, if it were to reach this point the fact that UTAH and TCU have left would doom them.
So yes, maybe they are the closest because of what departing members have done, but without them they are only as close as the WAC was. And that’s all Boise St. No way they get AQ status.
Agree...they would need an exemption...
which they are unlikely to get however you can’t deny that they are closer to a BCS bid than any or mid-major.
FINE!...lol
They are closest. But look person A makes 30,000 dollars a year, person B makes 35,000. Person B is closer to making a million dollars but it doesn’t mean he’s anywhere close to be a millionaire.
by asalom on Dec 2, 2010 5:55 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
touche....good talk
I would just like to state for the final time that UTEP could join the conference that is currently the closest and not in danger of losing members and hope that eventually an AQ could come or wait around with CUSA who (besides Boise St) is close to even with the MWC but may watch as all the best teams leave it in the ranks of the Sun Belt. To me its a no brainer but one of the reasons I wrote this was to get some of the opposing side’s views and you’ve stated your points quite well.
UTEP
Has major ties with New Mexico, Colorado State, Wyoming, Air Force, Fresno State and San Diego State when they were with the original WAC.
Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!
Follow me on twitter!
by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 6, 2010 11:14 AM MST up reply actions
BTW imagine the football divisions of the new MWC
East
Hawaii
Fresno St
San Diego St
UNLV
Nevada
Boise St
West
Utah St
Wyoming
Colorado St
Air Force
New Mexico
UTEP
UTEP could do very well in the West, in basketball they won’t need division just replace Hawaii with Denver or Utah Valley St or Gonzaga or Seattle.
Why didn't Hawaii just become a complete MWC member? WHy only football?
Was it travel differences?
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
Yeah travel in non revenue sports...
Hawaii is going to join the Big West in all other sports, this reduces the travel cost for both the MWC and Hawaii who will only have to fly to California to play conference games in non revenue sports. Hawaii was looking at football independence but decided the scheduling would be too difficult. There has also been some talk about getting BYU’s non football sport back in the MWC to offset Hawaii. So the MWC gets Hawaii’s good football programs and the benefit of the 13th game rule, all without the major burden of the increased travel cost in non-revenue sports..
BTW everyone pretty much agrees that if UTEP left CUSA for the MWC their replacement would be LA Tech in CUSA West right?
I would say yes on Lousiana Tech- makes sense to increase C-USA
Footprint in Louisiana and Tulane would finally have a true conference rival.
Does this mean MWC team will get the 13th game if they travel to Hawaii? That’s a very nice bonus for teams- an extra home game every other year is a lot of money in the long haul.
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
Yes, that is what it means...
the West member would have the option of a 13th game every other year while the East would every four years.
You see- that's a very big deal for schools with limited resources (like UTEP)
That’s a nice bargaining chip- it makes bowl eligibility that much easier- it adds more money to university coffers.
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
Also about the WAC...
The destruction of the WAC is in the best interest of the Pac12, and ALL MID-MAJOR CONFERENCES.
By eliminating a competitor from the TV contract negotiations everyone’s conferences will be become more valuable, its simple supply and demand.
The Western Conferences Pac12 and MWC’s TV contracts will be even more valuable since they are the only teams that will play in ESPN’s/Fox Sport’s late night time slots.
The mid-majors will benefits since it is one less mouth to feed, when the BCS distributes money they will get a larger portion. Also the WAC bowl tie-ins would be distributed among the other mid-majors which would guarantee them more spots for their 6-6 teams and thus more money. This would also allow for the MWC and CUSA to further separate themselves from the Sun Belt and MAC.
The only negative to the WAC dieing is that their will be no ‘development league’ for upgrading FCS teams in the West (like the Sun Belt is in the East), however there have been rumors that the entire Big Sky Conference looking to upgrade which would solve this problem.
To kill the WAC the MWC should take Denver, Utah St, and UTEP. CUSA will then take LA Tech as a replacement. The Sun Belt could then expand to 14 (like the MAC is doing by taking UMASS) and take UTSA, Texas St, and NM St. This will only leave Idaho and San Jose St in the WAC, both of which would probably drop down to the FCS and join the Big Sky. San Jose St may even disband its football program (due to budget issues) and join the Big West.
The MWC is starting to look very appealing.
I honestly think the Football would be better for UTEP, and the Basketball too. I know everyone hates the schools that ditched us, but does it really matter anymore? This is about what’s better for the Athletics as a whole.
New Mexico is going to get better at Football, they usually have pretty solid teams, with exception to the last few years. Air Force is a good football school, Wyoming is on the rise. Hawaii is always exciting, Fresno St. is solid, and Nevada and Boise are very good.
UNLV, San Diego State, New Mexico, and Utah State are all great BBall programs as well. Another HUGE factor in my opinion is the proximity of all of those schools. If you don’t think travel wears down on the players, you’re crazy. In the MWC we would only have one big trip every few seasons to Hawaii, which I am sure is fine with the players.
I like being able to play Houston and SMU every year, but if we stay in CUSA, eventually Houston and SMU will be gone anyway.
finally, someone with some sense.
Houston is looking jump and so is smu. Lets worry about what is best for utep. This makes sense. Plus i’d welcome a trip to hawaii to see my miners and my wife’ s warriors play…
by MinerManiax on Dec 2, 2010 2:41 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
Thats the nightmare- that Houston and/or SMU move on and leave UTEP behind
But right now- I don’t see either of those schools leaving. Is the MWC dead set on a 12 team league? Is expansion just a matter of time? — asking TowerPower
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
Most of us think so...
there is the possibility that they wait and see if they are denied by the BCS for AQ status in 2012 (since they can still count TCU’s stats), and the backup plan is the joint bid with CUSA which would require 12 teams and a CCG. But most of us think the MWC will need an exemption for an AQ which now they are extremely less likely to get with the loss of the Big 3. So the feeling is why not go ahead and pull the trigger. Commisioner Thompson has been meeting with Hawaii and Utah St about their possible membership and I assume UTEP will be in talks soon enough (whether or not they eventually decline). The other big reason to add schools is to rework the TV deal, the more the MWC changes the more leverage they have to nullify the contracts. But I can garuntee you that in 2014 the MWC will have 12 schools if not sooner.
Real quick about Houston/SMU, I could see the Big East going to 12 and adding Houston or SMU and UCF to establish travel partners for these outlying schools. Memphis would also liekly be added if Nova declines in my opinion. ECSU will only get a football only invite if they could get Temple to accept one too.
Also look at the possible divisions that I listed above...
UTEP would be in competition with Air Force and Colorado St for the MWC East tile each year, thats pretty good odds. UTEP could easily establish its football dominance and participate in many MWCCGs.
I won't mind that but...
they would need to add another school to get to 16, I bet the Texas state legislature would push hard for Rice.
Now the reasons why they wouldn’t do it,
If everyone else goes to 16 the MWC may benefit from the destruction of the Big 12, Baylor, Texas Tech, Oklahoma St, and even TCU in the Big East may end up homeless and the MWC would love to take them, however if they went to 16 too early there would be no room.
Also a 16 team MWC would resemble the old 16 WAC a little too closely which people may laugh at them for doing it first, I think 12 is the prefered option for all connference at the moment, but I think the Sun Belt and MAC should go to 14.
The more I think about it- the more I like a merger first-
Two 10 team leagues, one shared conference title game, round robin schedules. C-USA East (Most of it) would go off into the sunset and the current MWC schools plus the Texas schools (and Tulsa?) would form the East division.
I’m dreaming of course- will never happen.
But, i do appreciate TowerPowers points here.
Ill also add this TP- The current AD at Houston is Mack Rhoades, formerly the Associate AD at UTEP under Bob Stull- they go back years- If Houston is going to make a move- UTEP will know about it and I think the schools will move together- or stay together (unless the Big East comes- then Mack’s hands will be tied of course and understandable so- but no way does UH in its current state gain admission anyway).
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
Good info about Houston's AD...
the merger isn’t a horrible idea at all…still, I see partnering with the Texas schools specifically SMU and Houston as a bad longterm plan.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Miner Rush
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
