(03-18-2016 12:40 PM)PA-GAMECOCK Wrote:  

(03-18-2016 12:09 PM)DoubletapWolf Wrote:  

(03-18-2016 08:45 AM)PA-GAMECOCK Wrote:  Thought they would extend both schools for another 4 years for FB only. Guess the conference decided on condensing rather than staying status quo for a while and wait for the next wave of realignment if it comes with B-12 expansion. The Belt saves on travel and has less mouth to feed with Idaho and NMST gone. It kind of a real burn though since both were charter members at one time and help to form the conference. If both had not left for greener pastures in the WAC at one time, and had stayed in the Belt and built the conference around them rather than let the conference expand east as it did, neither of those school would be in the jam they are in today and some of the schools that voted them out would still be in FCS at this time.

Karma is a real ***** . . if those two full members of the SBC with full voting privileges had remained in the Conference, their Votes would have helped to shape the SBC and it would have remained more a Southwest/South alliance. They did it to themselves and have no one but themselves to blame.

And your conference president - Benson I think. He was heading the WAC when he invited them to join. He was heading up the WAC when it disintegrated under his leadership when he tried to stick it to the MWC which crushed his moves. Then he invited NMST and Idaho back to the Sunbelt after they were left holding the bag in the WAC with no football options when everyone else left for the MWC. Finally he sticks it to these to schools again when the are ushered out the door and left swinging in the wind again thanks to NO help from him.

Yes you are correct in the fact that Benson was commissioner of the WAC when the wheels came off and that Benson was commissioner of the Sun Belt when NMSU and Idaho were offered a home for 4 years in the Sun Belt. Benson as conference commissioner was the mouth piece for the conferences and ran the day to day operations of the conference. The conference member schools invite new members not the commissioner. If Benson as the conference commissioner made the decision on what new schools to invite, Liberty would already be a member of the Sun Belt.

If your Idaho or NMSU, you're nuts not to accept an invite to the WAC last decade. To go from huge geographical outliers to in the middle of the footprint, not to mention more conference revenues is a no-brainer.

Looking back with 20/20 hindsight is dumb, like saying Germany was dumb to invade Europe in the '30's at the conclusion of WWII.

(03-18-2016 02:55 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  If your Idaho or NMSU, you're nuts not to accept an invite to the WAC last decade. To go from huge geographical outliers to in the middle of the footprint, not to mention more conference revenues is a no-brainer.

Looking back with 20/20 hindsight is dumb, like saying Germany was dumb to invade Europe in the '30's at the conclusion of WWII.

Don't know if they were "Dumb" to, as you put it: invade Europe. But they were certainly Dumb to invade Russia. . . .

Even Napoleon saw that as a Dumb move . . . .

(03-18-2016 02:55 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  If your Idaho or NMSU, you're nuts not to accept an invite to the WAC last decade. To go from huge geographical outliers to in the middle of the footprint, not to mention more conference revenues is a no-brainer.

Looking back with 20/20 hindsight is dumb, like saying Germany was dumb to invade Europe in the '30's at the conclusion of WWII.

100% right. For both NMSU and Idaho the move to the WAC was the right choice. Heck, at the time the move was made, UTEP was still in the WAC. NMSU officials would have been roasted alive along with our green chiles for turning down an offer from the WAC.

And its not like NMSU didn't let the Sun Belt know ahead of time of its intentions to secure a western based conference home.

It obviously didn't work out - but it was a good choice at the time.

As for Germany... not so sure.

Benson gets a lot of blame on here for a ton of stuff, but the reality is he can't do anything school CEO's won't allow him to do.

(03-18-2016 05:34 PM)AppManDG Wrote:  Benson gets a lot of blame on here for a ton of stuff, but the reality is he can't do anything school CEO's won't allow him to do.

He does plenty to screw things up with what little things he does have control of.

Right after Idaho and NMSU joined the WAC, the conference also put teams into three BCS bowls in a span of four years. The fact that undefeated '07 Hawaii got a shot at the Sugar Bowl should give an idea of how respected the conference was at the time. It looked like a great place to be until the dominoes started falling.

(03-18-2016 02:55 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  If your Idaho or NMSU, you're nuts not to accept an invite to the WAC last decade. To go from huge geographical outliers to in the middle of the footprint, not to mention more conference revenues is a no-brainer.

Looking back with 20/20 hindsight is dumb, like saying Germany was dumb to invade Europe in the '30's at the conclusion of WWII.

Maybe you shouldn't use history in your analogy. WW II ended in 1945 and Germany's biggest mistake was invading the USSR.

(03-19-2016 10:22 PM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  

(03-18-2016 02:55 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  If your Idaho or NMSU, you're nuts not to accept an invite to the WAC last decade. To go from huge geographical outliers to in the middle of the footprint, not to mention more conference revenues is a no-brainer.

Looking back with 20/20 hindsight is dumb, like saying Germany was dumb to invade Europe in the '30's at the conclusion of WWII.

Maybe you shouldn't use history in your analogy. WW II ended in 1945 and Germany's biggest mistake was invading the USSR.

But they did bomb Pearl Harbor....right?!

(03-19-2016 10:22 PM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  

(03-18-2016 02:55 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  If your Idaho or NMSU, you're nuts not to accept an invite to the WAC last decade. To go from huge geographical outliers to in the middle of the footprint, not to mention more conference revenues is a no-brainer.

Looking back with 20/20 hindsight is dumb, like saying Germany was dumb to invade Europe in the '30's at the conclusion of WWII.

Maybe you shouldn't use history in your analogy. WW II ended in 1945 and Germany's biggest mistake was invading the USSR.

Had they not invaded anyone, which started in the '30's, none of the European Theater of WWII would have happened. Likely Japan would have stayed pat too had Germany not done anything. Therefore the bloodiest war in human history would have been avoided, which was my point.

As an aside, I see your still a spiteful piece of work.

(03-18-2016 05:48 PM)Pounce FTW Wrote:  Right after Idaho and NMSU joined the WAC, the conference also put teams into three BCS bowls in a span of four years. The fact that undefeated '07 Hawaii got a shot at the Sugar Bowl should give an idea of how respected the conference was at the time. It looked like a great place to be until the dominoes started falling.

“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”.

As an Aggie fans, I believe the move to the WAC was a bad decision (at the time). Many of the school that were in the WAC when NMSU, Idaho, and Utah State joined that conference where the same schools (Fresno State, Nevada, Boise State, San Jose State) that caused Big West football dissolved; and, left NMSU, Idaho, Utah State scrambling for a new 1A conference. Commissioner Waters came to the rescue with the newly established Sun Belt football.

Only North Texas was smart enough to not entertain overtures from the WAC when Benson came calling for new teams to save the WAC and his job.

Now, NMSU and Idaho are once again on the outside and left wanting. The only problem is there is no Waters to come to the rescue. And, Benson has raided the chicken coupe that these two once called home.

It may have been a closer call for NMSU back then, but for Idaho in 2005 the WAC was a no-brainer. We reunited with 2 of our biggest historic rivals in Nevada & Boise, we have more in common as a school with Utah St. than just about anybody in FBS, and travel logistics for oly sports were way easier in the WAC. I blame Idaho's athletic leadership for many stupid things over the years, but definitely not for that.

(03-20-2016 12:41 AM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(03-18-2016 05:48 PM)Pounce FTW Wrote:  Right after Idaho and NMSU joined the WAC, the conference also put teams into three BCS bowls in a span of four years. The fact that undefeated '07 Hawaii got a shot at the Sugar Bowl should give an idea of how respected the conference was at the time. It looked like a great place to be until the dominoes started falling.

“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”.

As an Aggie fans, I believe the move to the WAC was a bad decision (at the time). Many of the school that were in the WAC when NMSU, Idaho, and Utah State joined that conference where the same schools (Fresno State, Nevada, Boise State, San Jose State) that caused Big West football dissolved; and, left NMSU, Idaho, Utah State scrambling for a new 1A conference. Commissioner Waters came to the rescue with the newly established Sun Belt football.

Only North Texas was smart enough to not entertain overtures from the WAC when Benson came calling for new teams to save the WAC and his job.

Now, NMSU and Idaho are once again on the outside and left wanting. The only problem is there is no Waters to come to the rescue. And, Benson has raided the chicken coupe that these two once called home.

Hmm. Didn't realize there was potentially already some writing on the wall.

(03-20-2016 06:18 PM)Pounce FTW Wrote:  

(03-20-2016 12:41 AM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(03-18-2016 05:48 PM)Pounce FTW Wrote:  Right after Idaho and NMSU joined the WAC, the conference also put teams into three BCS bowls in a span of four years. The fact that undefeated '07 Hawaii got a shot at the Sugar Bowl should give an idea of how respected the conference was at the time. It looked like a great place to be until the dominoes started falling.

“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”.

As an Aggie fans, I believe the move to the WAC was a bad decision (at the time). Many of the school that were in the WAC when NMSU, Idaho, and Utah State joined that conference where the same schools (Fresno State, Nevada, Boise State, San Jose State) that caused Big West football dissolved; and, left NMSU, Idaho, Utah State scrambling for a new 1A conference. Commissioner Waters came to the rescue with the newly established Sun Belt football.

Only North Texas was smart enough to not entertain overtures from the WAC when Benson came calling for new teams to save the WAC and his job.

Now, NMSU and Idaho are once again on the outside and left wanting. The only problem is there is no Waters to come to the rescue. And, Benson has raided the chicken coupe that these two once called home.

Hmm. Didn't realize there was potentially already some writing on the wall.

At the time, no more than elsewhere in the non-MAC G5. The Sun Belt hasn't exactly been a rock of stability over the past decade either. It faced some scary times too -- just ask StAte & ULL fans. But while the FCS powers in the southeast were willing to move up and keep the Belt afloat, it turned out that the good FCS teams in the WAC footprint were content to stay where they were, and a perfect storm killed the WAC.

Idaho/NMSU fans,

I hope you get this all figured out and are able to remain FBS. We know what it's like to be left behind and it's not good. We were demoted from the Big East, which was a power conf. to a non power conf. Some would say due to our own making, but I won't get into that now.

How about re-inventing the WAC? Has anyone at your schools given serious thought to that? You'd have your 2 schools. UTRGV is already in WAC and will add football soon, maybe they can speed up process. Then add a Wichita St. and a Liberty, and get one or 2 other current WAC members to add football. You may need to get a few waivers from NCAA for a few years to play with 5-7 members, but the NCAA may allow this temporarily.

I'm surprised no one is seriously pursuing this. I posted this on the realignment board and it was basically shot down, but I think it's a good idea.

(03-21-2016 01:30 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  Idaho/NMSU fans,

I hope you get this all figured out and are able to remain FBS. We know what it's like to be left behind and it's not good. We were demoted from the Big East, which was a power conf. to a non power conf. Some would say due to our own making, but I won't get into that now.

How about re-inventing the WAC? Has anyone at your schools given serious thought to that? You'd have your 2 schools. UTRGV is already in WAC and will add football soon, maybe they can speed up process. Then add a Wichita St. and a Liberty, and get one or 2 other current WAC members to add football. You may need to get a few waivers from NCAA for a few years to play with 5-7 members, but the NCAA may allow this temporarily.

I'm surprised no one is seriously pursuing this. I posted this on the realignment board and it was basically shot down, but I think it's a good idea.

This has been discussed at great lengths on the WAC board. My take on it is the conference would be used as a stepping stone conference as is tradition in the WAC. It would not last long. There is no guarantee that a new FBS conference would get access to CFP money. No guarantee of bowl bids. A lot of right things would need to fall into place for this to happen.

Idaho has a deadline of May 4th of this year to say they will join the Big Sky in football by 2018. They will decide what is best for them.

NMSU will decide in the next 9-12 months what to do about football. Only choices being discussed are FBS Independence and dropping to FCS. I do not see NMSU doing away with football with all that has been invested into facilities by donors. From our presidents point of view he has watched since he was a student at NMSU in the 60's till now as football has wallowed. He is interested in getting football situated where it no longer is a constant issue. AlsoNMSu is looking at what to do with its oly sports.

Most WAC members are currently looking at other conferences to join. Each school is only interested in keeping the WAC alive until something better comes along for that school.

UMKC came to the WAC with the promise that it could host the WAC basketball tournament. There are currently no plans to allow them to. To keep UMKC happy they hosted three other sports tournaments this year. That is expected to continue to keep them happy. They are seriously looking at going back to the Summit League.

Chicago State cancelled Spring break this year, so the school could close a week early. Because of budget constraints there is a strong possibility that CST will not be open in the fall. All employees at CST have been put on notice that they may be let go. CST athletics went from a budget of 6 million to 2 million. Coaches can now only skype with potential recruits. They are limiting there OOC scheduling to only bus rides. They are operating as cheap as they can to survive. That may not be enough.

CSUB has been putting together a nice resume to join the Big West. Successful in basketball and baseball. I can see that happening in the next few years.

GCU is trying to figure out how getting non profit status did not work for them. There goal is WCC conference or Big West. They want to be top 25 in as many sports as possible.

UTRGV is the only school in the WAC willing to add football. They have access to the funds and a community that would support it. They want to go FBS, they only need a path (conference) to make that happen.

Seattle wants back into the WCC conference, but they have not accomplished enough to do so, especially in MBB.

UVU is probably the only school happy to be in the WAC. They may want to get into other conferences. UVU fans are scarce, so do not know much about what they want to do.

During the WAC Tournament in Vegas the WAC Comish Jeff Hurd sat by himself for the games and did not look happy about being there. Didn't attend the pep rallies as he did in the past. Would mingle with the fan bases but not this year. Overall he is acting like the membership of the WAC, no one wants to be in it.

Most of the WAC fans, at least those on the internet have decided that if the conference is still in existence after 2 year it will be a miracle. No one is looking at the WAC as a long term solution. It has turned to hope and prayer that it gets to the next year.

Man, sounds like a sad place over there in WACland.

The fact that NMSU can't seem to get the same olympic sports deal from the Big Sky that Idaho has is one of many reasons why I hope we don't get any more entangled with that conference than we already are. There are some good programs in the Big Sky, but by and large it's a swamp full of small schools that are happy to be irrelevant.

(03-21-2016 03:56 PM)CrimsonPhantom Wrote:  

(03-21-2016 01:30 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  Idaho/NMSU fans,

I hope you get this all figured out and are able to remain FBS. We know what it's like to be left behind and it's not good. We were demoted from the Big East, which was a power conf. to a non power conf. Some would say due to our own making, but I won't get into that now.

How about re-inventing the WAC? Has anyone at your schools given serious thought to that? You'd have your 2 schools. UTRGV is already in WAC and will add football soon, maybe they can speed up process. Then add a Wichita St. and a Liberty, and get one or 2 other current WAC members to add football. You may need to get a few waivers from NCAA for a few years to play with 5-7 members, but the NCAA may allow this temporarily.

I'm surprised no one is seriously pursuing this. I posted this on the realignment board and it was basically shot down, but I think it's a good idea.

This has been discussed at great lengths on the WAC board. My take on it is the conference would be used as a stepping stone conference as is tradition in the WAC. It would not last long. There is no guarantee that a new FBS conference would get access to CFP money. No guarantee of bowl bids. A lot of right things would need to fall into place for this to happen.

Idaho has a deadline of May 4th of this year to say they will join the Big Sky in football by 2018. They will decide what is best for them.

NMSU will decide in the next 9-12 months what to do about football. Only choices being discussed are FBS Independence and dropping to FCS. I do not see NMSU doing away with football with all that has been invested into facilities by donors. From our presidents point of view he has watched since he was a student at NMSU in the 60's till now as football has wallowed. He is interested in getting football situated where it no longer is a constant issue. AlsoNMSu is looking at what to do with its oly sports.

Most WAC members are currently looking at other conferences to join. Each school is only interested in keeping the WAC alive until something better comes along for that school.

UMKC came to the WAC with the promise that it could host the WAC basketball tournament. There are currently no plans to allow them to. To keep UMKC happy they hosted three other sports tournaments this year. That is expected to continue to keep them happy. They are seriously looking at going back to the Summit League.

Chicago State cancelled Spring break this year, so the school could close a week early. Because of budget constraints there is a strong possibility that CST will not be open in the fall. All employees at CST have been put on notice that they may be let go. CST athletics went from a budget of 6 million to 2 million. Coaches can now only skype with potential recruits. They are limiting there OOC scheduling to only bus rides. They are operating as cheap as they can to survive. That may not be enough.

CSUB has been putting together a nice resume to join the Big West. Successful in basketball and baseball. I can see that happening in the next few years.

GCU is trying to figure out how getting non profit status did not work for them. There goal is WCC conference or Big West. They want to be top 25 in as many sports as possible.

UTRGV is the only school in the WAC willing to add football. They have access to the funds and a community that would support it. They want to go FBS, they only need a path (conference) to make that happen.

Seattle wants back into the WCC conference, but they have not accomplished enough to do so, especially in MBB.

UVU is probably the only school happy to be in the WAC. They may want to get into other conferences. UVU fans are scarce, so do not know much about what they want to do.

During the WAC Tournament in Vegas the WAC Comish Jeff Hurd sat by himself for the games and did not look happy about being there. Didn't attend the pep rallies as he did in the past. Would mingle with the fan bases but not this year. Overall he is acting like the membership of the WAC, no one wants to be in it.

Most of the WAC fans, at least those on the internet have decided that if the conference is still in existence after 2 year it will be a miracle. No one is looking at the WAC as a long term solution. It has turned to hope and prayer that it gets to the next year.

Thanks for the breakdown. I didn't realize things were that bad in WACland. Best wishes and I hope you find a FBS home.

The Summit League might be the best bet for New Mexico State if they need home for all sports sans football. Denver would be the travel partner. Solid basketball, state schools.