BobcatAttack.com - For Fans of Ohio University Sports

Welcome Guest!
Create an Account

site search

about us

advertise with us

help

BobcatAttack.com Message Board

Ohio Football

Topic: MWC and CUSA Merger

Topic: MWC and CUSA Merger

Author

Message

Oldcat
General User

Member Since: 7/18/2010
Post Count: 192

Status: Offline

MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/14/2011 7:05:33 PM

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/oct/14/mountain-west-conference-usa-merger-creates-22-tea/

Last Edited: 10/14/2011 7:06:51 PM by Oldcat

Zaleski
General User

Member Since: 8/23/2010
Location: League City, TX
Post Count: 225

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/14/2011 7:56:43 PM

So, when does the MAC merge with the SunBelt Conference to create the conference of perpetual also-rans and never-weres?

Football Jim
General User

Member Since: 1/16/2005
Post Count: 177

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/14/2011 8:54:35 PM

Bad move, correction, astoundingly horrible move. What a logistical nightmare. It won't last long before it splinters in all directions.

Hanging in there!

GO BOBCATS!

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,781

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/14/2011 9:01:59 PM

I predict that Marshall will be one of the first to bolt from this abortive alliance. They'll never come back in the MAC, but they may be tempted to start a new conference with some combination of eastern C-USA schools and some selected MAC schools. Some of their fans have been griping about the fact that they play so many conference games so far away and this will only make matters worse. This is just a horrible idea.

Last Edited: 10/14/2011 9:03:27 PM by OhioCatFan

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

bobcat28
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: United States
Post Count: 808

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/14/2011 9:05:38 PM

I dont think its a bad move at all. At least they are doing something instead of watching the train wreck from afar. This seals our fate for FBS. Our only hope is that some of the CUSA teams move to the Big East and we can somehow fast talk our way into this new conference. Otherwise Sacred Heart and Albany here we come.

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,781

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/14/2011 9:12:45 PM

This alliance will fall apart at the seams before it even gets a start.

perimeterpost
General User

Member Since: 7/6/2010
Post Count: 3,165

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/14/2011 9:15:06 PM

wow, what a giant turd. Its like the Super Walmart of non AQs.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

Bobcat Love
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 1,193

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/14/2011 10:07:23 PM

They want to secure an AQ bid to the BCS every year, and this was a good pre-emptive strike to show they are serious. I would agree that a champion crowned from this hodge-podge of programs is worthy of a shot at the National Title. Good for both conferences. The MAC has such a pathetic reputation, that even if a merger with the WAC or Sun Belt was consummated - I'm pretty sure the BCS would just laugh in our faces. More realistic, I can see the Sun Belt and WAC doing a deal while the MAC sits on its hands and gets left out in the cold.

I agree with 28. Our fate is sealed. We are like the Kansas City Bishop who stood by and let a Priest conceal images of Child Pornography on his computer while concealing the knowledge from police for 5 months. We have no money. No pride. No initiative. We just sit by and let things happen.

As has always been the case with Ohio Athletics, at the macro level, we are happy with the status quo. No sense upsetting the apple cart one way or another. We do things a certain way because, well, they've always been done that way. We are a case study in being marginal.

I've been on this board since its inception, and while I've said some crazy things, I think the one thing that has been a common theme among my posts is to not accept mediocrity. We all need to look in the mirror because we're finally going to reject mediocrity....in favor of total inferiority.

I would go as far as to make this outlandish claim - if we drop a division in football - I will never set foot on campus again. It would rip my soul apart, but I'm that serious. Ohio will never see another dime from someone that cares deeply about everything Ohio University. If the Administration, Faculty, Students, Alumni, and anyone else in a position to make a decision feels the need to slap me in the face by dropping a division, I'll slap them right back. If those stakeholders have so little pride in our school that they would make such a ridiculous decision, then those aren't people I want to associate with. I feel pretty confident in saying I don't think I'm the only one will immediately disconnect from the University community should this happen.

These are dire times and someone needs to do something, and fast. The MAC is going to kill everything we love. I for one am not going down without a fight.

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,781

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/14/2011 10:16:21 PM

BL, you misjudge Dr. Rod McDavis. He will take decisive action when the time is ripe. Ohio will not drop a division. Stay tuned . . . this story is just starting to play out as far as Ohio is concerned. This merger may actually play right into our hand. It's going to result in either the defection of the eastern C-USA schools, or the addition of some MAC teams (like Ohio, Toledo, NIU) to an expanded eastern C-USA division, or a brand new league made up of these schools. We may be on the sidelines watching the action now, but I predict that this will not be the case too much longer.

C Money
General User

Member Since: 8/28/2010
Post Count: 3,420

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/14/2011 11:47:56 PM

This is desperation. It will not last. Stay tuned bc this is about to get interesting. And I like where we sit.

Yay homecoming! Yay beer!

WeAreMarshall
General User

Member Since: 8/20/2010
Post Count: 62

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 2:07:55 AM

OhioCatFan wrote:

Carl,

Marshall and our AD has been talking about this and pushing this idea for quite a while now. Matter of fact, our AD's connections with UNLV and the MWC helped make this a reality. We have been hoping like crazy it would eventually come to reality and it finally has. We look at this is a great day for Marshall and CUSA. The ultimate goal for CUSA and the MWC is to stay in the upper level of college football with all this shifting and to hopefully gain BCS inclusion. That being the ultimate goal, the two of us are going to work together to make it a reality. This also allows for more exposure, stability, a better TV contract, expanded recruiting for all the teams involved, the expansion of the MWC TV network and of course the financial incentives and the hope that a BCS tag will follow. This is a "football only merger" but soon you will hear some more details regarding basketball. It hasn't been "officially" announced yet but there is going to be a yearly "CUSA-MWC" challenge in basketball to help each other boost RPI and get more teams in the NCAA basketball tournament.

Now as soon as the news dropped on this, the Big East said it was interested in Boise State, Air Force, SMU, Houston, Central Florida and Navy. Essentially the Big East is in fear of losing its AQ status to the new CUSA/MWC merger and thinks by adding these teams it would be their best shot to keep their BCS status. Problem for them is that per ESPN sources Boise and Air force are staying with the CUSA/MWC merger now that a deal has been reached. Boise is the one that holds all the cards for the Big East's ability to keep its BCS status. The Big East had invited TCU with all its BCS points but as we all know TCU has jumped ship to the Big 12 so no Boise likely means no more AQ for the Big East after 2013.

Another wrinkle in this is that the SEC still sits at 13 teams. More than likely they will add Missouri, which in turn means the Big 12 will add Louisville and two more (probably WVU and Cincy) to get to 12 teams. The other possible scenario is the SEC instead invites WVU as the 14th member or the SEC inviting a school from the ACC which in turn takes a school or two from the Big East as a replacement (likely UConn or Rutgers. Maybe both). As you can see, it looks very likely that the Big East may not soon exist as a football conference if all its members leave. Everybody is wanting out of the Big East.

Now it wouldn't surprise me to see UCF and maybe SMU or Houston still go to the Big East to chase the money for a few years but the long-term prospects for Big East survival and AQ tag continuing is slim. Its a huge gamble for those schools but they might be willing to take a chance on it. We're not. We think this CUSA/MWC merger is the better long-term solution so we are really excited about it. According to the info we've been hearing, the ideal size for this super conference is 18, 20, 22 or 24. In other words, there might end up being room for two more schools when its all said and done. We'll just have to see how it all plays out. .

If its's 18 or 20 teams we simply have an east and west division with 9 or 10 teams per division and round robin format. The two winners then play each other.

If it's 22 teams...we like have 11 teams in each division and play 10 conference games to determine a winner on each side. Then of course the championship game. The problem with this is that we would then only have 2 openings a year for out of conference games. Hopefully the Ohio Marshall series would continue. I think it would.

It its 24 teams (less likely) then there will be 4 pods of 6 teams. An example is that we would play all 5 teams in our pod and then play one team from each additional pod for an 8 game conference schedule. The winner of each pod in a given division would meet the winner of the other division pod. The winner of that game would then meet the other side for a championship game. For this format to happen, would require NCAA approval for the additonal game and the addition of two more schools.This format is not likely to happen.

Anyway, that's the extent of it.

Last Edited: 10/15/2011 2:15:35 AM by WeAreMarshall

perimeterpost
General User

Member Since: 7/6/2010
Post Count: 3,165

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 2:19:51 AM

I guess the grass is always (kelly) greener for some people. good luck with all that.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

bobcat28
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: United States
Post Count: 808

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 8:25:43 AM

"We need to wait and see where the big boys settle before we can do anything."

- President McDavis when I asked him about conference realignment and if we are making any proactive moves.

L.C.
General User

Member Since: 8/31/2005
Location: United States
Post Count: 10,498

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 9:57:57 AM

This makes good sense to me. With a mega conference like this they accomplish three things:
1.By being big enough, they can split into divisions that are more localized, they can reduce travel expenses, since more games will be local. Divisions might be Mountain West, Mountain East, and South Central.
2. They have a much larger pool of interested fans, because now someone in Idaho might had interest in the outcome of a Marshall-Memphis game.
3. Because of size, they have a much better argument for AQ status.

Ohio may or may not want to become a bigger force in athletics. If they do want to step up, moving to a conference like this is probably the best way to proceed.

Last Edited: 10/15/2011 10:00:14 AM by L.C.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

First Street Forever
General User

Member Since: 12/19/2010
Location: Chicago, IL
Post Count: 247

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 10:05:10 AM

OhioCatFan wrote:

Ohio will not drop a division.

I just hope that everyone here understands that:

1) Ohio won't drop a division: but they won't ascend to the new one that will be created. Your personal glass and water outlook will be tested.

2) Ohio will have no say in division restructuring. Ohio is the Frank Pentangeli of college football - small potatoes. The Roths and Corleones will do the deciding.

3) Maybe at best (with LOTS of luck and skillful maneuvering) we can achieve Fredo status and be part of some sort of grandfather/loophole clause that allows us to hang on to the fringe of the higher level. I'll acknowledge that this is possible - with lawyers and such. But I know that it would be short-lived and that we'd merely be on the boat on a lake waiting to be put in our "appropriate" place.

When this does happen, it's going to be very interesting to see how the fan base reacts.

I contend that there are two sides of our fan base that can be seen like the fans of the WCW and WWF of the late 90s-early 2000s. The WCW side is going to enjoy being D1-AA, as much as being D1 - if not more so. The WWF side won't.

I don't endorse the furry lifestyle, but when the Bobkitten is involved things can change mighty quickly...

First Street Forever
General User

Member Since: 12/19/2010
Location: Chicago, IL
Post Count: 247

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 10:14:14 AM

Bobcat Love wrote:

These are dire times and someone needs to do something, and fast. The MAC is going to kill everything we love. I for one am not going down without a fight.

I'm with you, BL!

In death, a member of Project Directional Mayhem has a name, his name is Rufus Paulson.

I don't endorse the furry lifestyle, but when the Bobkitten is involved things can change mighty quickly...

WeAreMarshall
General User

Member Since: 8/20/2010
Post Count: 62

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 10:19:37 AM

L.C. wrote:

You are exactly right on all three points L.C. One thing that will really benefit all of us is the expansion of the "Mountain West" network which will now span across the country and more than likely it will get a new name. The big rumor is that Jerry Jones (Owner of the Cowboys) is one that helped encourage this idea and is wanting to add one more BCS sponsored bowl to be held at his new stadium (likely the Cotton Bowl sponsor) which could guarantee the winner of the MWC/CUSA merged conference winner an auto-bid. The other bid would be an at-large. We should be getting more detail as the week unfolds. Here is an article stating Jerry's interest of bringing a BCS game to his stadium. This article is a little old but gives you an idea of how some of this could evolve:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls07/news/story?id=3172508

bn9
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 422

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 10:25:16 AM

If we would have won every game this year by 20+ points, we would not have been in a BCS bowl, let alone the National Championship game. We already are in a lower division than the AQ schools. They need us to continue to take their money so that they can fill their stadiums and keep their alumni happy with pre-conference wins. I don't see how dropping a division or going into this mythical new division is any different.

By the way I was an NWA/WCW guy.

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,781

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 11:37:17 AM

Steve, with UCF, SMU and Houston, and Boise (and maybe ECU) going to the BE and with TCU already departing this far flung alliance is really not going to work without major realignment and new admissions. Dr. Kopp is not going to be happy with even more away games that are far away from Huntington. When the dust settles Marshall could easily find itself along with UAB as the only teams in the alliance that are still in the Eastern Time Zone. The Marshall fans that I know best will not be happy with this arrangement. They would like to see a conference that has more away games that are in drivable distances. I think this thing is still very much in flux.

Last Edited: 10/15/2011 11:42:07 AM by OhioCatFan

WeAreMarshall
General User

Member Since: 8/20/2010
Post Count: 62

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 12:12:50 PM

OhioCatFan wrote:

Per ESPN. Boise has already told the MWC that they are staying and although there is no definitive word out of Air Force yet ESPN is reporting that they are likely to decline the invite to the Big East as well. The long-term stability and upside is in this MWC/CUSA Merger. ECU is not a target of the Big East. The only three mentioned as possibilities are UCF, SMU and Houston. Our conference commish says that the UCF AD is one of the ones that has been pushing for this deal and that he participated in the vote yesterday in support. Banowsky says he don't think UCF is gone. If they are, CUSA has options in FAU or FIU if they want to say in Florida. We would still play our regular schedule, the only difference is that we would have to scrap our championship game, determine a winner likely based on ranking and send that champion over to the big championship. We'll still play our normal scheduled foes:

1. East Carolina
2. Southern Miss
3. UAB
4. Memphis
5. UCF

In talking about playing some regional home games, Hamrick has been lining up a lot of close home and home series's with Louisville, Purdue, Navy and then the recent announcements of Lil Miami, Akron etc. And of course our annual game for the "battle of the bell" with you guys. Hamrick has known for a while this day was coming since he's been instrumental in getting it all together so he's been getting all these close regional games lined up. There still might be some additional realignment/admissions before its all said and done. Just have to wait and see what the SEC does not. I think we'll see Mizzou to the SEC, Louisville, WVU and Cincy to the Big 12, UConn and Rutgers to the ACC with USF trying to find a new home. Big East gone as we know it.

Well, we are heading to the game in Huntington. Good luck to you guys today. Hope you get a win. I'll talk at you later tonight.

Last Edited: 10/15/2011 12:15:35 PM by WeAreMarshall

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,781

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 12:43:35 PM

Well, WAM, we see this a little differently. First, I think you are painting the most optimistic scenario possible about how this will all pan out. Second, my friends in Huntington think this merger is crazy. Good luck today against Rice. My wife and I are coming down to Huntington on the 29th for the UAB game.

Go Herd!
Go OHIO!

First Street Forever
General User

Member Since: 12/19/2010
Location: Chicago, IL
Post Count: 247

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 6:54:40 PM

First Street Forever wrote:

[aybe at best (with LOTS of luck and skillful maneuvering) we can achieve Fredo status

Nevermind. Ohio has already achieved Fredo status. They broke my heart (yet again).

I don't endorse the furry lifestyle, but when the Bobkitten is involved things can change mighty quickly...

Big Willy
General User

Member Since: 12/29/2004
Post Count: 195

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 8:06:30 PM

Bobcat Love wrote:

I would agree that a champion crowned from this hodge-podge of programs is worthy of a shot at the National Title. Good for both conferences.

I assume you are kidding. I don't know why in the world this conference champion should play for the national title. Neither conference now is that good, except for Boise, and they could play for the national title now if they were ranked high enough. Just making it bigger doesn't make it better. But, you are probably saying this is a good thing just so you can bash the MAC for not doing anything.

WeAreMarshall
General User

Member Since: 8/20/2010
Post Count: 62

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 8:35:29 PM

OhioCatFan wrote:

Personally I've only heard a couple people not to crazy about it but that was because they were under the impression that our traveling would increase when in actuality it's not going to increase much if any at all. Actually its very possible that it decreases.

Here is the info I've heard today.....depending on how it all shakes out, it look very possible that UTep will simply move over to the "MWC" side of the football agreement for geography reasons. As it stands right now we have 22 teams but its possible we could lose a couple to the Big East if they somehow survive. If we do lose a few to the Big East we'll simply expand to the ideal number of teams for this conference. Personally I think 18 or 20 would be ideal. If we don't lose anybody to the Big East and the Big East collapses I'm told it's likely that we would take on Cincy and USF to get to 24 schools overall. That scenario actually means we cut back on travel. But to get to 24 teams means utilizing a "pod" system and means moving UTep and one other Texas school over to the MWC side for balance. That's likely to to be one of three teams...Rice, Houston, SMU. I have a feeling that it would be Rice but that's totally a guess. Here is what that pod system could look like assuming Big East doesn't survive and we take on Cincy and USF to get to 24:

Pod 1:

1. Marshall
2. ECU
3. UAB
4. CIncy
5. USF
6. UCF

Pod 2:

1. Houston
2. Memphis
3. Tulsa
4. Tulane
5. Southern Miss
6. SMU

MWC Side:

Pod 3:

1. Utep
2. Rice
3. New Mexico
4. San Diego State
5. UNLV
6. Hawaii

Pod 4:

1. Boise State
2. Air Force
3. Nevada
4. Wyoming
5. Colorado State
6. Fresno State

We would play our regular 5 games against our own pod and then 3 teams against pod 2 for a total of 8 conference games. The following year we would be playing the other three schools of pod 2. It's just a rotating basis. The overall winner on each side would then meet in the championship game. The only time we would have to play somebody out west is in the event we advanced to the championship game itself. That's the way it could possibly go down as explained to me today. We'll have to see what happens.

Last Edited: 10/15/2011 8:36:10 PM by WeAreMarshall

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,781

Status: Offline

RE: MWC and CUSA Merger

Posted: 10/15/2011 8:55:20 PM

OK, as I said, you are taking the most optimistic possible interpretation of all of this. Let me edit your "pods" the way I think they will eventually turn out, if this thing survives at all.

C-USA

Pod 1:

1. Marshall
2. ECU
3. UAB
4. CIncy -- We'll never join, BE will survive.
5. USF -- Same, stay in BE
6. UCF -- Bolt to BE

Pod 2:

1. Houston -- bolt to BE
2. Memphis
3. Tulsa
4. Tulane
5. Southern Miss
6. SMU -- bolt to BE

MWC Side:

Pod 3:

1. Utep
2. Rice
3. New Mexico
4. San Diego State
5. UNLV
6. Hawaii

Pod 4:

1. Boise State -- rumors yesterday had them going to BE, rumors now they're going to B12
2. Air Force -- will bolt to BE
3. Nevada
4. Wyoming
5. Colorado State
6. Fresno State

Now, WAM, if I'm right, who does C-USA fill the empty slots with? I will admit that this whole thing is very much in flux, and, perhaps, the BE will completely fold, but at this point I think they are going to pick up the schools they are after, with the possible exception of Boise, which really doesn't belong in the BE at all. The BE may pick up Navy to fill the Boise slot, or they might relieve us of Temple, notwithstanding the Villanova objections. Now, if that school in Morganhole bolts the BE, who knows, Marshall might get an invite. Lots of possibilities here.

Last Edited: 10/15/2011 9:38:20 PM by OhioCatFan

Showing Replies:	1 - 25 of 71 Posts
Jump to Page:	1 \| 2 \| 3 Next >

View Other 'Ohio Football' Topics

There are 169 Active Visitors on BobcatAttack.com

169 Guests
0 Registered Users

There are no other users looking at this page.