(06-23-2019 04:02 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  Even under the gentlemens' agreement, the WAC lost FBS status when it lost the vast majority of its FBS schools. Claiming a technical right to revive as an FBS conference pushes the "gentleman's agreement" way too far, and The Powers That Be would close the WAC loophole if it ever came close to being used.

The idea of the gentleman's agreement is that what happened to Idaho and New Mexico State should never happen. But circumstances conspired, and it happened. Very sad, but TPTB aren't going to sit around and watch another dozen schools get valuable FBS membership over it.

Right. NFW would the FBS powers allow a dozen FCS teams that play 70-90% of their games amongst themselves hijack FBS status. The rules as they are, even as they were bent for Liberty, require that any FBS newbies play almost their entire football schedule against teams that were already in FBS before the newbies joined. That shouldn't change, and it won't change.

(06-23-2019 04:02 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  The idea of the gentleman's agreement is that what happened to Idaho and New Mexico State should never happen. But circumstances conspired, and it happened. Very sad, but TPTB aren't going to sit around and watch another dozen schools get valuable FBS membership over it.

Quite. Any theories involving adding a lot of more seats at the table to split up the Go5 CFP share in the next CFP contract round, or that involve just handing out a Tourney autobid like it's a piece of penny candy fall out in the "implausible to impossible" range of the spectrum of conference realignment options.

(06-22-2019 07:08 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I think its time for the WAC to offer 3-4 DII Lonestar teams entry as a package deal. The FCS WAC could play a double round robin schedule as independents since they wouldn't meet the definition of a conference. NMSU could rotate through them for buy games, possibly 2 a year.

Tarleton has already expressed an interest in moving to D1, but seems to be holding out hope that a Southland invite will come. Better geography and football.

However, looking at the Lone Star right now, three teams are pouring money in to facilities - West Texas A&M (suburban Amarillo) Tarleton and Texas A&M-Commerce (both just outside of DFW).

Each has been rumored for D1 in the past. I have long wondered if Abilene Christian is happy being on an island in the Southland or once WT and Tarleton moved up would they want to be in a conference with them rather than the Louisana schools.

All of a sudden if the WAC has-
Cal Baptist, Grand Canyon, Dixie, Utah Valley, and Seattle, NM St in the west and

Chicago, Rio Grande, Abilene, Tarleton, West Texas, and Commerce in the east

Get Tarleton/WT/Commerce up to speed and help Chicago find a new home and all of a sudden that footprint doesnt look terrible.

(06-22-2019 08:03 AM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  

(06-22-2019 06:58 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(06-22-2019 01:46 AM)jdgaucho Wrote:  

(06-21-2019 07:42 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  How long now before Chicago State pulls the plug on WAC membership?

The plug is only pulled if/when another addition is made, or if Chicago State closes their doors. The WAC cannot afford to fall to the bare minimum of 7 members. Seattle and GCU have viable homes if need be and NMSU has a few directions they can go.

And where might those 3 go? I don’t know of any viable homes they could go to.

Good question. Perhaps NMSU to the Southland? If not, the Big Sky might take them even without football like they did Idaho. The WCC and Big Sky seem unlikely to pick up GCU or Seattle, and the Big West very unlikely.

NMSU and the Horizon League talked in 2016. Former NMSU president Garrey Carruthers distributed a poll to the faculty and staff as to what direction athletics should go in. A move to the Horizon League was listed as an option, although nearly half the votes were in favor of joining the Big Sky in all sports.

https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/sports/.../83937868/

http://president.nmsu.edu/athletic-conference-survey/

Those talks with the Big Sky and Horizon League could pick up again, especially if nobody else declares for the WAC within the next two years.

GCU, moreso than Seattle, feels like they are Big West bound if they ever sought a new conference. GCU has three factors working in their favor. Lots of money, a geographically friendly location - they're close enough to the SoCal members and it's an easy destination for Hawaii to reach - and their sports mix matches up perfectly. As a bonus, GCU has beach volleyball and men's volleyball, two sports the BW sponsors.

I believe those positives are enough for GCU to mask their "academics" if they ever attempt to bribe their way in. Maybe they do so for the WCC, in which case the BW settles for a fine consolation prize in Seattle and gains a toehold in the Pacific Northwest. It won't be a perfect fit, but it can still work well

The Big Sky won't be a player for either Seattle or GCU as they don't have football.

GCU should definitely add football. They have the money for it.

Here is a rebuilding plan for the WAC:

Add 5 of the following: Tarleton St, Midwestern St, Angelo St, WTAMU, A&M Commerce, A&M Kingsville

Dump Chi St

That gives them a 6 team Texas division and a 6 team West division along with 6 FCS football schools.