MWC Expansion Candidates

[CKS007]

On 10/24/2024 at 10:20 AM, Spaztecs said:

The new Coast to Coast leagues have boosted interest. There is more interest in Wisconsin-UCLA than there is in UCLA - Colorado.

 

[Spaztecs]

On 10/24/2024 at 2:04 PM, CKS007 said:

 

 

The  interest is in playing Schools that you normally wouldn't.

100 years of the same Schools you have historically dominated gets stale.

[B_Lootz]

On 10/23/2024 at 1:46 PM, UNLV2001 said:

Makes an even 8 game conference schedule is main thought 

Plus NMSU is a geographical fit and BB can be pretty decent 

We’ve already got a footprint in that TV market. Another is just overkill.

[OldPac10Fan]

On 10/24/2024 at 9:20 AM, Spaztecs said:

The new Coast to Coast leagues have boosted interest. There is more interest in Wisconsin-UCLA than there is in UCLA - Colorado.

I have to say I could not disagree with this more.  I will agree there is a novelty to what has happened right now, and fans in Wisconsin might be curious about UCLA.  But in the long run, UCLA not playing Cal is bad for the sport.  Northwestern at USC instead of Stanford at USC is not what people want to see.  I get the Ohio State game vs. Oregon was huge.  That should be an OOC game that gets scheduled.  But not every game is against Michigan or Ohio State.  The rest are Washington vs. Rutgers. Oregon vs. Maryland, USC vs. Minnesota.  Those games are simply not as interesting as USC vs. Cal, Washington vs. Oregon State, Oregon vs. Washington State.  It's a shame that we are losing the traditions that made college football great.  It's heart breaking what has happened to the west coast in college football. 

[jdgaucho]

On 10/24/2024 at 9:06 AM, Spaztecs said:

Sorry, but the MW Soccer Schools will be joining the Pac, WCC, or BW.

No one but GCU is joining the MW for it's Olys.

 

Men's soccer arrangement gets interesting. I can't see the WCC keeping Gonzaga, GCU and OSU as affiliates.

The Pac with SDSU, OSU and Gonzaga are still three short. And if UNLV spurned them before, there's no way the Pac will bring them (and Air Force and SJSU) in just for one sport.

The BW is full at 10 MSOC members. No need for anybody. Especially if Utah Valley and/or Utah Tech get called up.

[jdgaucho]

On 10/24/2024 at 9:06 AM, Spaztecs said:

Sorry, but the MW Soccer Schools will be joining the Pac, WCC, or BW.

No one but GCU is joining the MW for it's Olys.

 

The MW still lacks a presence in SoCal. Someone like UCSD, UCSB, UCI or LBSU could slide right in 

Oh, that reminds me. UCSB's chancellor is retiring after this school year. Certainly possible his successor will look more favorably towards athletics and GCU. 

[UNLV2001]

On 10/24/2024 at 2:07 PM, B_Lootz said:

We’ve already got a footprint in that TV market. Another is just overkill.

Not sure "TV markets" matter in the lower levels of college sports

LV is in a top 40 TV market yet no major conference has come calling for UNLV

 

[nvspuds]

On 10/24/2024 at 2:14 PM, jdgaucho said:

 

The MW still lacks a presence in SoCal. Someone like UCSD, UCSB, UCI or LBSU could slide right in 

Oh, that reminds me. UCSB's chancellor is retiring after this school year. Certainly possible his successor will look more favorably towards athletics and GCU. 

I thought you said you did not want to give up those nice BW trips.

[AztecAlien]

Bring back The Beach Football. 

 

[B_Lootz]

On 10/24/2024 at 3:16 PM, UNLV2001 said:

Not sure "TV markets" matter in the lower levels of college sports

LV is in a top 40 TV market yet no major conference has come calling for UNLV

 

They absolutely do matter to TV execs, otherwise we wouldn’t be considering NIU and Toledo.

To your point, I think our lack of success in the major sports, dwindling fan support, lack of any national cachet, low TV ratings, and mediocre budget have played more into the major conferences decisions to not take UNLV than location in a top 40 TV market.

[jdgaucho]

On 10/24/2024 at 2:34 PM, nvspuds said:

I thought you said you did not want to give up those nice BW trips.

 

I don't. But the new chancellor might.

[Wolf from 73]

Interesting that he says GCU was offered by the Pac-12 before they put the breaks on expansion.

 

[Chalsean]

On 10/24/2024 at 4:03 PM, Wolf from 73 said:

Interesting that he says GCU was offered by the Pac-12 before they put the breaks on expansion.

He also said for two years that Gonzaga had an invite to the B12.  They also said MWC "won" UTEP from PAC, even though there were no reports of PAC being interested in UTEP.  They like to throw stuff at the wall to see what sticks and drives viewership.

Having said that, I still contend that neither conference should be entertaining GCU.

[UtGrizfan]

On 10/24/2024 at 9:33 AM, NorNevLifer said:

GCU would be a solid add for olys. I think I read at some point that they were interested in trying to start football, so maybe being in the MW would accelerate that.

I think Sac State would still be worth taking a shot if they can pay for everything needed to make the jump. Still not a fan of the NIU and Toledo football idea, but if it helps strengthen our football side and media deal then I'll live with it. I just remember in college going to a Nevada vs. LA Tech game and thinking WTF is a Louisiana/Eastern school doing in a Western conference. I have a feeling their fans will feel the same, but geography doesn't matter in this new cutthroat era.

I think if the CTZ is a must have for the new MWC I still like NDSU and SDSU over Toledo in particular. Get them with NIU and you'd have a solid 3 team Eastern wing for Football.

[nvspuds]

On 10/24/2024 at 3:41 PM, UtGrizfan said:

I think if the CTZ is a must have for the new MWC I still like NDSU and SDSU over Toledo in particular. Get them with NIU and you'd have a solid 3 team Eastern wing for Football.

You have mentioned that before.  Though there are ongoing discussions there has been no reported offer to either NIU or Toledo.  It is unknown at this time if NDSU or SDSU are looking to move up to FBS.  They might be but it is very expensive to do so and they would both be subject to a two year transition period, keeping them out of post season play until the 28/29 season.  Those are certainly considerations for the MW and the Dakota schools.  

The other factor, is the MW doesn't have to do anything to be a recognized FBS conference  which gives them plenty of time to observe the landscape and see what works or not.  Things could look a whole lot different in a few months as the Pac Who has to find another full member.  Target schools are looking at that situation, too.

[UNLV2001]

On 10/24/2024 at 2:42 PM, B_Lootz said:

They absolutely do matter to TV execs, otherwise we wouldn’t be considering NIU and Toledo.

To your point, I think our lack of success in the major sports, dwindling fan support, lack of any national cachet, low TV ratings, and mediocre budget have played more into the major conferences decisions to not take UNLV than location in a top 40 TV market.

It matters for those teams that, even in small markets bring massive fan bases -- there's no MWC/PAC2/MAC teams that bring eyes like the B12/B10/SEC/ACC even though schools are out in remote small cities 

LV is the #40 TV market, yet UNLV is a blip on the CFB scene to viewers in this market - And lack of success combined by playing in small non-national conferences is a major problem 

Put UNLV in the B12 or better & you can bet the #40 LV TV market would play a big role for UNLV........but in the MWC it's just small time 

[KingSpartan]

I think the MW needs to copy what other conferences have done when they're raided, raid weaker conferences. I'd like to see Pacific added as a non football member.

[SalinasSpartan]

On 10/24/2024 at 9:00 AM, Spaztecs said:

GCU is currently in the WAC. If they accept an MW invite, I doubt they spend one year in the WCC.

I know what conference they are in. Didn’t you guys have to pay some “exit fees” to the Big East/AAC when you backed out after agreeing to join?

[SalinasSpartan]

On 10/24/2024 at 2:41 PM, AztecAlien said:

Bring back The Beach Football. 

 

Won’t happen, but that’d be awesome. My stepdad played football there so I always kinda pull for them unless they’re playing SJSU.

[AztecAlien]

On 10/24/2024 at 6:04 PM, SalinasSpartan said:

Won’t happen, but that’d be awesome. My stepdad played football there so I always kinda pull for them unless they’re playing SJSU.

Back in the day, the Aztecs and the Beach, or 49ers back then had a pretty good rivalry going in football.