Just heard that the WKU/MTSU to the MAC has hit a sticking point. Supposedly the MAC is wanting to lock WKU and MTSU into signing a long-term 15 year GOR commitment to the conference. Will be interesting to see where this goes. Maybe WKU/MTSU can negotiate and knock it down some? That is crazy long.


Correction....I stand corrected. I'm told its a 15 year GOR commitment. Not 25. The current deal with the MAC goes until 2027. If WKU and MTSU enter in July of 2022 and ESPN adds 10 years on the backend of the deal that runs until 2027, that would be the reason for the 15 year GOR request.

And it makes sense if you think about it. Adding WKU and MTSU is probably going to change the payout to some of the members. It would obviously be in the best interest of all to do a 15 year GOR to keep that deal intact for the length of it.

Yeah I saw someone post the location of WKU and MTSU football recruits.

I don’t think there were more than 2 located above Kentucky.

It just doesn’t make sense if C-USA can get Liberty and JSU.

(11-03-2021 04:10 PM)LaTex14 Wrote:  Yeah I saw someone post the location of WKU and MTSU football recruits.

I don’t think there were more than 2 located above Kentucky.

It just doesn’t make sense if C-USA can get Liberty and JSU.

Would be nice if they could just make a dang decision lol

(11-03-2021 04:08 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  Just heard that the WKU/MTSU to the MAC has hit a sticking point. Supposedly the MAC is wanting to lock WKU and MTSU into signing a long-term 25 year GOR commitment to the conference. Will be interesting to see where this goes. Maybe WKU/MTSU can negotiate and knock it down some? That is crazy long.

If this is true, it's not as big a deal for WKU as it is for MTSU. WKU will never have any other conference to go to. MTSU, because of the Nashville market, may have other options in the not too distant future...i.e. the AAC, once Memphis leaves.

Source?, LINK? "I just heard" Sorry-- would like more verification.

25 YEARS?? Heck no. I wouldn't sign that.

IF, IF this is even true. It could be a "bargaining chip". WKU may be wanting a lower entrance fee, etc.. Each side compromises. We pay full fee--- they lower time from 25 years to a more reasonable number. I can't speak for MT.

There are legacy MAC teams that wouldn't sign a 25-year agreement.

Yeah, that's absurd.

Sounds like an ESPN ploy to mess with CUSA’s reformation by generating uncertainty with wku and mtsu

I will say this. If I'm signing a 25 year GOR with a conference, it better be with a P5 like the SEC, ACC etc.

(11-03-2021 04:16 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  IF, IF this is even true. It could be a "bargaining chip". WKU may be wanting a lower entrance fee, etc.. Each side compromises. We pay full fee--- they lower time from 25 years to a more reasonable number. I can't speak for MT.

Exactly...that's why these things are referred to as "negotiations".

Don't take me wrong. I would have no issue with Marshall signing a 10 year GOR with the Sunbelt on the premise all schools agreed. A 10 year GOR would be reasonable IMO and then re-access as the 10th year approaches. But requesting a 25 year GOR is downright ridiculous I think.

It'll all be worked out by tomorrow evening.

Are any other MAC schools signed up for this kind of deal? It would explain why nobody ever really leaves that conference.

(11-03-2021 04:21 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  Don't take me wrong. I would have no issue with Marshall signing a 10 year GOR with the Sunbelt on the premise all schools agreed. A 10 year GOR would be reasonable IMO and then re-access as the 10th year approaches. But requesting a 25 year GOR is downright ridiculous I think.

25 years is absurd. reasonable negotiation shouldn't start with an absurd proposition.

I'm not typically someone to ask for a source, but that's an outrageous requirement. Even if they're highballing to negotiate something like that, a whole ass quarter century? Was it like that for any other school? MACs biggest strength is their stability, but hot damn.

I haven't seen any tweets from anyone alluding to this at all

Sounds like the Hotel California..."but you can never leave."

25 years is a LONG time in terms of conference affiliations. Don't think WKU and MTSU want to be in a position they can't leave The MAC when more changes open the door to a conference lineup to their liking. Heck, that could happen in less than 5 years easily.

(11-03-2021 04:30 PM)Huan Wrote:  

(11-03-2021 04:21 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  Don't take me wrong. I would have no issue with Marshall signing a 10 year GOR with the Sunbelt on the premise all schools agreed. A 10 year GOR would be reasonable IMO and then re-access as the 10th year approaches. But requesting a 25 year GOR is downright ridiculous I think.

25 years is absurd. reasonable negotiation shouldn't start with an absurd proposition.

Agree but keep in mind that WKU and MTSU doesn't really have another option besides staying in a rebuilt CUSA. So the strength of negotiation is on the side of the MAC.

(11-03-2021 04:33 PM)HerdFanGuest Wrote:  I'm not typically someone to ask for a source, but that's an outrageous requirement. Even if they're highballing to negotiate something like that, a whole ass quarter century? Was it like that for any other school? MACs biggest strength is their stability, but hot damn.

I haven't seen any tweets from anyone alluding to this at all

Yeah, unless we get a hard source I'm not going to believe this. But if it turns out to be true then I think the MAC might've overplayed their hand a bit. 25 years is an eternity in conference realignment, especially in the G5 level

(11-03-2021 04:35 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(11-03-2021 04:30 PM)Huan Wrote:  

(11-03-2021 04:21 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  Don't take me wrong. I would have no issue with Marshall signing a 10 year GOR with the Sunbelt on the premise all schools agreed. A 10 year GOR would be reasonable IMO and then re-access as the 10th year approaches. But requesting a 25 year GOR is downright ridiculous I think.

25 years is absurd. reasonable negotiation shouldn't start with an absurd proposition.

Agree but keep in mind that WKU and MTSU doesn't really have another option besides staying in a rebuilt CUSA. So the strength of negotiation is on the side of the MAC.

exactly!
so the intent may have been to drag out uncertainty for wku and mtsu with regard to cusa vs mac; the uncertainty hurts cusa, not mac or the programs.