mweb.cbssports.com/ncaaf/writer/dennis-dodd/25576548/wichita-state-interested-in-joining-mountain-west-may-bring-back-football

"Individuals representing Wichita State’s athletic interests have approached the Mountain West Conference about membership, multiple sources told CBS Sports...The 12-member Mountain West only has 11 basketball-playing members as Hawaii plays basketball in the Big West. Wichita State may value its basketball on a larger stage with momentum created by highly successful coach Gregg Marshall...Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said he did not have direct contact with Bardo or Wichita State officials. He added that if Wichita State plans to park its basketball program in a new conference, “It ain’t going to be us.'...Other possibilities for the Shockers, including the American Athletic Conference and Conference USA, have been mentioned by various sources."

That was a strange response from Craig Thompson. You have probably the top basketball program in the mid-majors (better than 3/4 of the "majors"), seemingly express interest in you conference and you respond with, “It ain’t going to be us".
Are we sure that was his response to 'giving WSU a place to land'? or possibly a response to 'will WSU choose to pursue the MWC'?
Is he really that bad of a liar or is he really that undiplomatic? Because to me, it appears there is something to it now. The commissioner doth protest too much, methinks.

(05-04-2016 06:53 AM)ChooChoo Wrote:  That was a strange response from Craig Thompson. You have probably the top basketball program in the mid-majors (better than 3/4 of the "majors"), seemingly express interest in you conference and you respond with, “It ain’t going to be us".
Are we sure that was his response to 'giving WSU a place to land'? or possibly a response to 'will WSU choose to pursue the MWC'?
Is he really that bad of a liar or is he really that undiplomatic? Because to me, it appears there is something to it now. The commissioner doth protest too much, methinks.

Definitely an odd quote. Even if true why be so blunt about it? I could see them not wanting an upstart football team but their basketball would be a solid addition. Maybe they think they don't need them though.

I think Craig is realignmented out. Remember he guided the American South - Sun Belt merger and has been with MWC since day 1.

Let's be realistic though.

Wichita State's value is hoops. The MWC has 11 hoops members. MWC has 12 football members and they are likely to be a regular contender for the access slot. Wichita makes sense to be their 12th hoops member and the MWC has never bothered to add them. Bringing a start-up football team that will weaken the average strength of MWC football is a liability and makes them less attractive to MWC than they currently are.

(05-04-2016 10:36 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  I think Craig is realignmented out. Remember he guided the American South - Sun Belt merger and has been with MWC since day 1.

Let's be realistic though.

Wichita State's value is hoops. The MWC has 11 hoops members. MWC has 12 football members and they are likely to be a regular contender for the access slot. Wichita makes sense to be their 12th hoops member and the MWC has never bothered to add them. Bringing a start-up football team that will weaken the average strength of MWC football is a liability and makes them less attractive to MWC than they currently are.

well they wouldnt be a startup program as they played football before. they are pretty competitive in all the sports they offer now and have more support and money to spend now than when they last fielded a team so it doesnt seem like too crazy an idea. because of the success of their hoops and baseball they may feel like they would be stepping down a little to play in the sbc or cusa, so the mwc would be the most likely conf. to target.

Other than history, they would be a startup. Baseball in the SBC has historically been solid, beating some P5 conferences in some years. The last few years have been kinda dry. The newcomers in UTA and TXST share that blame as they haven't played where they've been before. With USA starting to get back where they have historically been, Louisiana stating where they've been the last few years and the addition of CCU next year, there's little doubt the SBC will get back to where it normally has been.

Basketball is legit, bit seeing what Little Rock and Georgia State dis in the tourney, plus where UTA looks like their going in two years, basketball may be rising all over.

(05-06-2016 02:01 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  Other than history, they would be a startup. Baseball in the SBC has historically been solid, beating some P5 conferences in some years. The last few years have been kinda dry. The newcomers in UTA and TXST share that blame as they haven't played where they've been before. With USA starting to get back where they have historically been, Louisiana stating where they've been the last few years and the addition of CCU next year, there's little doubt the SBC will get back to where it normally has been.

Basketball is legit, bit seeing what Little Rock and Georgia State dis in the tourney, plus where UTA looks like their going in two years, basketball may be rising all over.

I'd say the sports programs at uta overall are trending upward. there is more staff and it seems that more money is being spent and with facilities upgrades the recruiting should get better. this season baseball has under performed and the recruiting class doesnt look that impressive but softball has signed a really good group for next season so they are really looking up and both basketball teams look good for next season.

Well Sunbelt needs to make a push for Wichita State, and Missouri State. Put us back to twelve, and would help us put our basketball on the map, and make baseball a world class conference. The big question mark would be the most important of them all Football.

West:
ULM
UL
TxSt
Ark St
WSU
MSU

East:
GaSo
GSU
USA
App St
CCU
Troy

I think I'd be alright with that lineup.

And then put the football championship game in Jackson, MS, right in the middle of the conference.

(05-07-2016 08:12 AM)Usajags Wrote:  I think I'd be alright with that lineup.

And then put the football championship game in Jackson, MS, right in the middle of the conference.

Isn't Jackson really ghetto? Never been but that's what I've heard. Also what sites (cities plus stadiums) would be good for a SBC championship game to be played? I honestly think we should make it a priority to be less than 40k seats because it's not likely to sell more than that and I would hate to seen a 75% empty stadium on national television. Thoughts? What about Alabama States stadium?

What about Shreveport independence stadium?

Could always do it at the Cramton Bowl, only 20k seats, so should be easy to fill, but also be a home game for Troy or us. Could do it at the Superdome, just open the lower bowl. Or wait until Birmingham opens their new stadium(nothing started yet) and play there. There are options out there.

(05-07-2016 08:38 AM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(05-07-2016 08:12 AM)Usajags Wrote:  I think I'd be alright with that lineup.

And then put the football championship game in Jackson, MS, right in the middle of the conference.

Isn't Jackson really ghetto? Never been but that's what I've heard. Also what sites (cities plus stadiums) would be good for a SBC championship game to be played? I honestly think we should make it a priority to be less than 40k seats because it's not likely to sell more than that and I would hate to seen a 75% empty stadium on national television. Thoughts? What about Alabama States stadium?

This is the new stadium being built in Jackson, 50,000 seat stadium.

(05-07-2016 09:44 AM)Bigtom12 Wrote:  

(05-07-2016 08:38 AM)Ewglenn Wrote:  

(05-07-2016 08:12 AM)Usajags Wrote:  I think I'd be alright with that lineup.

And then put the football championship game in Jackson, MS, right in the middle of the conference.

Isn't Jackson really ghetto? Never been but that's what I've heard. Also what sites (cities plus stadiums) would be good for a SBC championship game to be played? I honestly think we should make it a priority to be less than 40k seats because it's not likely to sell more than that and I would hate to seen a 75% empty stadium on national television. Thoughts? What about Alabama States stadium?

This is the new stadium being built in Jackson, 50,000 seat stadium.

It's nice but how is the city? Would it be a good place to travel to from, say, SC?

Fans from SC will fell right at home in MS, plenty confederate flags.

Um, what are they building a 50,000 seat stadium in Jackson? There's no college there except Jackson State. There will definitely be no NFL team there.

What games would be played there at all?

(05-07-2016 05:09 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  Um, what are they building a 50,000 seat stadium in Jackson? There's no college there except Jackson State. There will definitely be no NFL team there.

What games would be played there at all?

Well Jackson State would play in this dome stadium, idk how many people go to Jackson State games but the stadium they play in now holds 60,500 people. Idk if they plan on tearing it down or not?

(05-07-2016 05:26 PM)Bigtom12 Wrote:  

(05-07-2016 05:09 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote:  Um, what are they building a 50,000 seat stadium in Jackson? There's no college there except Jackson State. There will definitely be no NFL team there.

What games would be played there at all?

Well Jackson State would play in this dome stadium, idk how many people go to Jackson State games but the stadium they play in now holds 60,500 people. Idk if they plan on tearing it down or not?

The way I understand it is the current stadium is owned by the city, this new one will be Jackson St's and they will use it for football, basketball, concerts, etc.

The current city owned stadium will probably meet the wrecking ball.

(05-06-2016 07:33 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 10:36 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  I think Craig is realignmented out. Remember he guided the American South - Sun Belt merger and has been with MWC since day 1.

Let's be realistic though.

Wichita State's value is hoops. The MWC has 11 hoops members. MWC has 12 football members and they are likely to be a regular contender for the access slot. Wichita makes sense to be their 12th hoops member and the MWC has never bothered to add them. Bringing a start-up football team that will weaken the average strength of MWC football is a liability and makes them less attractive to MWC than they currently are.

well they wouldnt be a startup program as they played football before. they are pretty competitive in all the sports they offer now and have more support and money to spend now than when they last fielded a team so it doesnt seem like too crazy an idea. because of the success of their hoops and baseball they may feel like they would be stepping down a little to play in the sbc or cusa, so the mwc would be the most likely conf. to target.

They would be a start-up.

You realize that if/when they start football that not one player will have been alive when Wichita State had football and they will almost certainly have people on the football staff who were not born when they had football.

(05-07-2016 11:40 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(05-06-2016 07:33 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(05-04-2016 10:36 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  I think Craig is realignmented out. Remember he guided the American South - Sun Belt merger and has been with MWC since day 1.

Let's be realistic though.

Wichita State's value is hoops. The MWC has 11 hoops members. MWC has 12 football members and they are likely to be a regular contender for the access slot. Wichita makes sense to be their 12th hoops member and the MWC has never bothered to add them. Bringing a start-up football team that will weaken the average strength of MWC football is a liability and makes them less attractive to MWC than they currently are.

well they wouldnt be a startup program as they played football before. they are pretty competitive in all the sports they offer now and have more support and money to spend now than when they last fielded a team so it doesnt seem like too crazy an idea. because of the success of their hoops and baseball they may feel like they would be stepping down a little to play in the sbc or cusa, so the mwc would be the most likely conf. to target.

They would be a start-up.

You realize that if/when they start football that not one player will have been alive when Wichita State had football and they will almost certainly have people on the football staff who were not born when they had football.

true but none of those will be the ones putting up their money and support to make it happen.