NCAA Conference Musical Chairs

[Rudy]

I would disagree about that Jeff. I know everyone looks at how it wouldn't add a new TV market but TCU is a top notch program. Losing Nebraska hurt and adding TCU would help. What's to stop the Big 12 from booting Iowa St and adding TCU to strengthen the conference and not have to share any extra money with people? Everyone is looking to expand but I wonder if some conferences may look to contract or replace in the future. When the top few football teams are bringing in the money, the shared revenue model will be under greater scrutiny if you want to expand or change.

[JeffHCross]

In the situation where I could still believe that perception (of the strength of your conference) was part of the equation, and not just money, I'd agree with you. The only way I could see the Big 12 adding TCU is if TCU starts consistently outperforming the Big 12 champion. If TCU actually looked stronger, and had a better chance at BCS/MNC, than anybody in the Big 12 -- then the Big 12 would be interested. But while Texas holds all the cards in the conference, I just can't see it. Because it's really not just about whether or not TCU is strong -- the Big 12 has to believe that TCU would be strong against Big 12 competition.

Obviously it's possible that they would kick out Iowa State and add TCU. But, when you look at the money line ... they'd lose Iowa and gain nothing.

[Rudy]

But TCU would add bowl money to the equation since Iowa St. blows. I know it wouldn't add any extra TV sets in Texas but I have to think a Texas-TCU matchup would generate greater TV revenue nation wide than Texas-Iowa St. It would certainly get more national viewers and the big conferences are largely dependent on their national TV deals. The Big 10 makes a lot of money with the BTN but ABC's TV money is still their money maker. The Big 12 losing Nebraska really hurt. I think they would benefit from adding another strong team.

I remember hearing an analyst state that if Congress ever forced the big schools to do some playoff they hated or shared more money that they would even consider leaving the NCAA and creating their own organization with schools of their choice and not share any money at all. I know that's extreme but I think these schools are willing to look at anything in terms of generating revenue. We might hate the things they do but the almighty football dollar drives everything.

It's just a shame that a few of these smaller schools have built up really good programs and could easily be considered a quality BCS team but can't get in a BCS conference. Utah is in the PAC 10 now but Boise St and TCU have shown themselves to be worthy of joining a BCS conference. I think it would be a much easier solution to just find a spot for those two teams in a BCS conference and give themselves a shot at the title as opposed to some of the crazy playoff scenarios out there.

[JeffHCross]

I still hope/believe that the MWC will be a BCS conference sooner rather than later. I hate that Utah and BYU leaving may have negatively influenced that, but I think the MWC deserves to be a BCS conference.

[Rudy]

I may have to stop dissing Iowa St. Nebraska just escaped yesterday.

[JBHuskers]

I may have to stop dissing Iowa St. Nebraska just escaped yesterday.

Iowa State has been tough lately, and did beat Nebraska on the road last year. I wonder if that fake PAT was a parting gift for us

[cdj]

Link

The Utah State Aggies are getting new neighbors as the Western Athletic Conference moved Thursday to ensure its long-term survival — just not the ones they might have wanted most.

While the WAC added Texas State, Texas-San Antonio and Denver to its ranks starting in 2012 to make up for the pending loss of Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada to the Mountain West Conference, it learned Thursday that cherished target Montana has rejected overtures and decided not to move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision.

“I’ll have to admit, we were expecting that the University of Montana would be part of the WAC,” league commissioner Karl Benson said.

But with the Grizzlies planning to stay in the lower-level Big Sky Conference, the WAC might eventually invite Seattle University in all sports except football — which is how Denver is joining the league, since it doesn’t have a football team and doesn’t plan to create one.

Only Texas State and Texas-San Antonio are bringing football teams to the WAC.

But Benson said the WAC will continue to look for other prospective new members, in addition to Seattle, though he did not name any. Ideally, he said, the league would include nine teams in football and 10 in all other sports.

“We still have options, and we still have time,” he said.

Barring other additions, the new-look WAC figures to feature eight teams in football and nine in men’s and women’s basketball, starting in 2012-13.

Its three new schools will join San Jose State, New Mexico State, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Hawaii and the Aggies in a conference that has survived seemingly constant upheaval during the last 15 years. It’s possible, though, the new football team from Texas-San Antonio might not play a full league schedule until 2013.

The Roadrunners don’t play their first season until next fall under former Miami coach Larry Coker, and both they and Texas State plan to move to the Football Bowl Subdivision level from the lower-level Southland Conference in 2012.

Denver will join from the Sun Belt Conference.

“I’ve said often that when schools join the WAC, they get better,” Benson said. “And over the past 10 years, we have a track record to prove it.”

The Aggies praised the expansion, even though they soon will have to travel farther for some of their conference road games.

Football coach Gary Andersen noted the opportunity to increase recruiting in Texas, while men’s basketball coach Stew Morrill said “the new additions will prove they belong” and make the WAC stronger.

“These programs have the right plan and have committed resources in place to back them up and be successful in the WAC,” athletic director Scott Barnes said. “Collectively, their academic and athletic success is impressive.”

[JBHuskers]

It'll be pretty cool to see some new smaller schools in the video game to try to build up to powerhouses

[cdj]

It'll be pretty cool to see some new smaller schools in the video game to try to build up to powerhouses

Last time they added a new school (WKU) we had the roster editing glitch where after X teams had edits, the game would soft freeze. Just saying.

[JBHuskers]

Last time they added a new school (WKU) we had the roster editing glitch where after X teams had edits, the game would soft freeze. Just saying.

Well maybe one of the entries in the tournament (full customizable conferences) along with their catching of that bug this time around will be in the game.....

[JeffHCross]

Texas State, Texas-San Antonio, Denver and Seattle?

Bye, bye, WAC.

[jaymo76]

Texas State, Texas-San Antonio, Denver and Seattle?

Bye, bye, WAC.

My initial reaction as well.

[souljahbill]

At least LA Tech will be able to play a team "relatively" close now. Travel is gonna suck even harder for Hawaii though.

[cdj]

TCU rumored to have accepted all-sports Big East invite to start play in 2012.

[morsdraconis]

Woot! A worthy opponent in the Big East again!

[SmoothPancakes]

Woot! A worthy opponent in the Big East again!

I wouldn't actually be saying there are no worthy opponents in the Big East when WVU only goes 4-2 in conference play, with UConn about to be your Big East champion if they beat South Florida. Though I am still not sure if I agree with this. Adding TCU is going to make for some long ass trips. TCU to everyone, Syracuse/Rutgers/UConn the farthest out of everyone there now in trips to TCU, etc. It's a good pickup football team wise. I don't know enough about TCU's other sports to know if it's a good move. Travel-wise, I'm more convinced that it's a bad move in those regards.

And poor Boise State. You go from the WAC to WAC Jr. With TCU leaving for the Big East, Utah bailing for the Pac 10, BYU going indy, basically all Boise State is doing is trading some WAC bottom feeders for some MWC bottom feeders with Nevada/Fresno tagging along from the WAC and Air Force and San Diego State making some decent opponents.

[JBHuskers]

Uhhhhhhhhhh a fairly legit rumor going around that Miami is fielding some interest in joining the Pac 10....

[JBHuskers]

I said this on Twitter....the NCAA should just rename all the conferences after colors. Or just numbers. The One Conference, The Two Conference, The Gray Conference....

[JBHuskers]

Uhhhhhhhhhh a fairly legit rumor going around that Miami is fielding some interest in joining the Pac 10....

No truth on this apparently (thank god).

[HWill]

I said this on Twitter....the NCAA should just rename all the conferences after colors. Or just numbers. The One Conference, The Two Conference, The Gray Conference....

How about this way instead? http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...ce_realignment