Colorado back to Big XII

[NTXDawg]

Confused? You wrote: all the smaller schools behind to do their own regional conferences. It's odd, but it seems like the circle back to 1A and 1AA is happening.

Then I commented there's a fellow who longs for the days all state schools are together in 1-AA. Seems pretty clear to me

Didn't say I wanted this to happen. You confuse making an observation with what I want to happen. I wish Tech would compete for National Titles at the highest level of competition in all of our sports, there was a time when that could have happened. WE should be the Boise State of the G5. We were kicking their ass in the late 90s. But as has been noted by others, poor leadership and decision making left that train at the station 20 years ago. Since then, there has been a monumental(earth shaking) shift in college athletics that I believe (I could be wrong) will preclude that from ever happening for football, probably basketball too. The shifts to Super Conferences, NIL, the transfer portal etc. NONE of of this is good for Tech. In 2022 we were 45th out of 53 G5 schools for our football budget. The super conferences are basically gonna be NFL lite. Others have voiced the opinion that they believe Supers will eventually break away. I think that is likely true in the next 15-20 years. What then? I guess regional conferences for those that remain. It's an observation and prediction, not a desire.

As a side note. I've read of disgruntled coaches of other sports start to complain about this realignment. Fine for football with 5 road games a year. These far flung conferences are brutal on basketball, baseball and the other minors in regards to travel. A choice that might be made in the future is to separate football completely from NCAA and let the other sports form up in smaller footprints.

[dawg80]

I am NOT confused. I never said YOU wanted that to happen, I clearly stated that someone else longs for all state schools, sans LSU, to be lumped into a state conference at the 1-AA level. That's all. Carry on.

[THEarmada]

SMU, Cal, and Stanford to the ATLANTIC Coast conference.

I doubt this is the domino that’ll help us out.

[revf]

SMU, Cal, and Stanford to the ATLANTIC Coast conference.

I doubt this is the domino that’ll help us out.

I’m surprised SMU didn’t take Tulane with them.

That is a domino that might have affected us.

My guess is the AAC fills with another big “market” team.

Good thing we signed a grant of rights. 🙄

[Dawgonit]

SMU, Cal, and Stanford to the ATLANTIC Coast conference.

I doubt this is the domino that’ll help us out.

I’m surprised SMU didn’t take Tulane with them.

That is a domino that might have affected us.

My guess is the AAC fills with another big “market” team.

Good thing we signed a grant of rights. 

I do not see us moving conferences with this move.

The AAC might just stay at 13. They also may take TXST to keep four teams in Texas to appease Navy. Georgia State and ODU are both big market teams that fit the AAC model but they seem happy in the Sun Belt.

If any team is taken from the Sun Belt, I bet WKU would get the nod to move to the Sun Belt. It's a good institutional fit and fits a hole in that conference's geography.


I also could be completely wrong. Who could have predicted all these moves for the past few years.

[techman05]

When does University of Alaska-Fairbanks get their Big 10 invite? At this point, that move makes perfect sense.

[sportdawg]

Barrett Sallee ����
@BarrettSallee
Statement from AAC commissioner Mike Aresco:


"SMU has shared our pursuit of competition at the highest level throughout its time in the American Athletic Conference. President Gerald Turner and Athletic Director Rick Hart have been among our strongest advocates and leaders both internally and externally. We wish them well.


We have known that today’s move was a possibility, which has allowed us time to investigate a number of options, including consideration of the larger group of institutions in the Pacific time zone. We have concluded, however, that the best way to proceed for our outstanding student-athletes is to not look westward. Instead, we plan to focus any expansion efforts on schools that allow for sensible and sustainable competition and student-athlete well-being within our strong geographic footprint. We look forward to continued success as a leading FBS conference."

[inudesu]

When does University of Alaska-Fairbanks get their Big 10 invite? At this point, that move makes perfect sense.

They're headed to the Big East.

[inudesu]

I do not see us moving conferences with this move.

The AAC might just stay at 13. They also may take TXST to keep four teams in Texas to appease Navy. Georgia State and ODU are both big market teams that fit the AAC model but they seem happy in the Sun Belt.

If any team is taken from the Sun Belt, I bet WKU would get the nod to move to the Sun Belt. It's a good institutional fit and fits a hole in that conference's geography.


I also could be completely wrong. Who could have predicted all these moves for the past few years.

There are ways that it could pay off, but neither is very likely (we'd be happy to just slide over and replace SMU, but #marketz makes that unlikely, if they took Texas State, that opens something in the SB-West, but who knows how that whole situation would work for us).

If they do nothing, the GOR was pointless (but doesn't hurt either). If we get a ticket out, that GOR was REALLY bad for us to have agreed to. If we lose another CUSA team, the GOR gets us a little more money and would anyone really be broken up about losing any one or two current CUSA teams? Heck, if the right (err - wrong) ones go we get better, right?

It'll be interesting. I've been a Tech fan long enough to not completely say "it can't get any worse" but I am not a fan who wants "stability" with our current situation. The more movement the better.

[techman05]

They're headed to the Big East.

Makes even more sense.

[THEarmada]

“I understand it seems like you’ve locked yourself in and kept yourself from other opportunities, but at the same time I think people forget that you’re not guaranteed that invitation,” Wood said. “ You don’t just apply to be a part of another conference and so it may appear we’ve locked ourselves away to other opportunities, but like I said, we want this to be a time where we stay together and get stronger and be able to add if necessary. Because it’s so uncertain you get an innovation, there is some sense of stability.”

Anybody else find this quote about the CUSA Grant of rights underwhelming? Attempting to lower expectations is an interesting approach.

[inudesu]

“I understand it seems like you’ve locked yourself in and kept yourself from other opportunities, but at the same time I think people forget that you’re not guaranteed that invitation,” Wood said. “ You don’t just apply to be a part of another conference and so it may appear we’ve locked ourselves away to other opportunities, but like I said, we want this to be a time where we stay together and get stronger and be able to add if necessary. Because it’s so uncertain you get an innovation, there is some sense of stability.”

Anybody else find this quote about the CUSA Grant of rights underwhelming? Attempting to lower expectations is an interesting approach.

I have several issues with that quote.

I mean, if you know, like really know that Tech has no shot in the next five years, you can't really say that (because how heartbreaking would that be) but you might as well sign the GOR and keep hammering the talking points about sticking together and the benefits of "stability" just for the sake of stability and "no limits on us!' and all that. And maybe the GOR keeps things from getting a little worse or a lot worse or at least we get a little cash back if someone else leaves.

But if there is any hope (and I would argue this even if it's a tiny amount - you don't want to get fan's hopes up unfairly and you have to be circumspect about how you talk about "we'd love to get out" but you try to leave that door open as much as you can). I've said for two years (mostly tongue in cheek) that we should be voting to lower the exit fees. Because why make things harder for yourself?

The obvious answer is hedging against other schools leaving easily instead, and my reply to that is - so what? Yeah, if like 3-8 schools leave that's awful. But is there any one school (or two, or three, or nine) in CUSA that any Tech fan would be distraught over losing?

I don't really care if we ever play a single game against KSU, do you? SHSU is close by. I respect WKU on the field. We have some history with UTEP. MTSU is fine as your 6th favorite conference-mate (someone has to finish in the middle of the pack). NMSU helps with UTEP travel. Liberty has money and fans and so they ought to be decent overall on the field. I'm not saying I'd be happy to have to replace one of those schools with another FCS team (or to just stay at nine). But I'm also not saying I'd be sad about it.

In several cases, the geography and travel improve. In others the average conference strength improves. In some - both would improve.

Probably Tech fan interest is a wash, right? Big difference in interest between UTEP/NMSU/Liberty/WKU/MTSU/FIU/KSU/JSU and like SFA or EKU or something? Is there a big drop-off there? Is there any drop off there? Not much, not for most of them (now maybe the tv deal suffers, depending on how it's written, and that's supposed to be the origin of the GOR anyway).

I guess my bottom line issue with that quote is this part:

we want this to be a time where we stay together

because I'm not sure who "we" is supposed to be there (I assume the CUSA leadership collectively) but it ain't me. I don't want this to be a time that we stay together. I don't care if we (CUSA) stay together. Not past just continuing to exist so Tech doesn't have to be independent. You want it to be the best it can be so long as we're there. Sure. I guess it's somewhat better to have WKU than EKU. Yeah. Ok. But "we want to stay together?" Do we? Really?

[inudesu]

Having said all that, it's one thing for a Tech message board blow hard to say this in writing.

The AD has to stick to the talking points and sing kumbaya. So I can see that he's in a tough spot because he really shouldn't be saying what we fans would probably rather hear. It's a fine line.

[THEarmada]

Having said all that, it's one thing for a Tech message board blow hard to say this in writing.

The AD has to stick to the talking points and sing kumbaya. So I can see that he's in a tough spot because he really shouldn't be saying what we fans would probably rather hear. It's a fine line.

I’ve just read countless generic quotes about “our program is striving for excellence” and “committed to _____ conference” but “hey, do t forget we probably won’t get anything better” is something I’ve never read.

[sportdawg]

The Towel Rack
@TheTowelRackWKU
·
23m
CUSA’s GOR is not going to prevent an interested school, whoever that school possibly could be!, in bouncing for the AAC.


Todd Stewart said as much the day the news broke & @MattBrownEP’s explainer made me believe it even more so.