TV and media deals favor larger conferences because an eight team league doesn’t provide enough content. They’re struggling just to reach that number eight, so yes, out of sheer desperation, they absolutely would.
New MWC Possibility:
- Thread starter nattybry
- Start date
Utep is fine were they’re going, now put programs together that deserve to be talked about in realignment
Are they, though? The PAC is going to end up poaching from the Mountain West sooner or later. Better get ready for a western conference loaded with FCS level programs.
You’re not completely wrong, but too far ahead of yourself for now. PAC 12 can’t poach MWC for the now at least. There’s a contract in place.
The PAC 12 isn’t too far ahead enough to pay $20,000,000 to leave the MWC. It’s only ahead in basketball because of Gonzaga and SDSU.
If they really wanted to, they could have made it known to UTEP that they a back up plan. Even then, UTEP is needing help to exit CUSA and step up to the MWC. They would be worse off trying to step up to the P12.
The schools “left behind” in the MWC were left because they didn’t invest enough and those schools still spend more than UTEP.
We should be thankful the MWC took us in and not ready to crucify Senter because maybe a P12 invite was going to happen at the last minute.
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I’m a chess player. I’m always thinking five moves ahead not just about the next immediate step. It’s not about instant wins it’s about setting up the board for long term success. Sometimes you have to sacrifice a piece to gain a stronger position later. The endgame matters more than the short term trade.
Yeah but in chess the rules never change
I also think this is the best long-term play for both. Many of those PAC schools are trying to get to higher conferences which will probably happen at some point. Both the PAC and MWC will soon realize a merger is better than continuing to bring up FCS schools.
I didn't mention UTEP in this response nor was I insinuating anything about UTEP.
UC-Davis is the only head scratcher for me regarding the MWC. Then again, that might be what most are thinking about UTEP. Broken record but Albuquerque, Phoenix, Vegas, and Reno are really convenient for me.
I think I focused too much about Utah State in the PAC. It felt like the MWC schools I didn’t care about were the ones that went to the PAC. Looking at the line-up as a whole - it’s an impressive group. I still think OSU and WSU are one foot out the door at all times - with SDSU not too far behind.
I think I focused too much about Utah State in the PAC. It felt like the MWC schools I didn’t care about were the ones that went to the PAC. Looking at the line-up as a whole - it’s an impressive group. I still think OSU and WSU are one foot out the door at all times - with SDSU not too far behind.
The only problem with a merger, is there would basically be no out of conference options out in the west.
I also don’t believe outside of San Diego St, UNLV, and possibly Boise, there’s any P4 possibilities out west. Oregon St and Washington St just aren’t that attractive without UO and UW with them. The Big Ten isn’t adding them. No reason for anyone else to add them either.
UC Davis is more of an academic add and they have baseball and men’s soccer. They’re also pretty much Sacramento.
How is Reno convenient for you? The one time I flew there, I had to connect in Phoenix and am unaware of any EP to Reno direct flights. It’s a 7 hour drive from Las Vegas.
Convenient for me as I already go to Reno somewhat regularly. My small (tiny) business is aligned with a supplier in Reno. I get to choose when I go so I will be able to schedule around a Miner game.
That's a good point. I wonder how much the schools will be scheduling each other.
San Jose and Fresno already have football games scheduled. Probably see quite a few other matchups
Like someone already pointed out. The two conferences will be on the same level anyway so who cares.
I wouldn’t go that far. Pac 12 is slightly a step above and if their media rights come out ahead of the MWC’s then that will solidify that thinking.
Let's be honest though: UTEP had to jump at an MWC invite. The PAC is notorious for being elitist snobs. There would have been no way to know the PAC would get desperate enough to stoop down to the NMSUs of the world. At that point, hindsight is 20/20.
And with this said, Senter sucks at his job.
We have every right to criticize Senter and the job he’s done over the last 5 years, but going to the MWC was the best option. Imaging the outrage if UTEP turned down a MWC invite (for a second time) and the PAC 12 decides to go in a different direction leaving UTEP in C-USA? UTEP had to get out.
The best thing UTEP can do is invest in athletics and hope they are competitive enough that we are an appealing option should conference realignment rear its head in four or five years. In both the MWC and the NMSU to the PAC-12 scenarios the decisions are not being made to add the best school available, they’re picking the least awful of the bunch.
If that happens, we will most likely be on the outside looking in…and having to join the WAC 7.0.
I wouldn't mind the 2 conferences merging if all teams stay intact.
Well UC Davis or some of those other teams don’t play football in the MWC so we have a better shot than them lol
The good news is that we expected to finally win something the bad news is that Northwestern is going to win before we do. That's funny on so many levels.
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