Second round of conference expansion is beginning.

[ZachTheZip]

I knew back when the first round ended with just four teams moving that things wouldn't stay that way for long. Things were just too unstable.

So now BYU threatened to leave the MWC and go independent in football while playing all other sports in the WAC. In response the MWC has extended official invites to Nevada and Fresno State in an attempt to kill the WAC so BYU wouldn't want to play their other sports there. Things are looking pretty messed up out west. Hawaii might go independent and so might Air Force, depending on how things play out.

If the WAC is left without Nevada and Fresno State, BYU has been openly invited to join the WCC for non-football sports as an alternative to a much weakened WAC.

[ZachTheZip]

Breaking: Fresno State accepts invite to the MWC

[Dave in Green]

And round two will beget round three, and round three will beget round four ..... etc.

[ZachTheZip]

Nevada to the MWC, also.

Does BYU choose to stay now?

[Zipmeister]

So what do you think BYU's objective is? They already were rejected in the PAC expansion. Are they sending a signal they are ready to become the 11th member of the Big 12? Seems kind of over the top for that. What's going on?

[K92]

So what do you think BYU's objective is? They already were rejected in the PAC expansion. Are they sending a signal they are ready to become the 11th member of the Big 12? Seems kind of over the top for that. What's going on?

Here's a nice little take on the whole situation.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news...ug=dw-byu081810

[ZachTheZip]

So what do you think BYU's objective is? They already were rejected in the PAC expansion. Are they sending a signal they are ready to become the 11th member of the Big 12? Seems kind of over the top for that. What's going on?

They have their own TV production facilities and network. They have a national, religious following. They want to become the Notre Dame of the west, and they might be able to pull it off. If they join the WAC or WCC, they give the finger to the PAC-10 who rejected them by being able to play a bunch of games in California anyway.

Here is how a BYU fan in the know has described it to TCU fans who are freaking out:

I hope you all know by now that I'm not at troll. I'm not here to flame or poke or talk smack - just trying to shed some light on BYU's recent move. I also hope by now that you know I have the ultimate respect for TCU and especially the TCU football program. You deserve much better than this.

Some facts:

- BYU (and Utah and TCU) have been hurt big-time by the lack of exposure the last several years. The mtn. network just plain sucks - I know it and you know it. Yeah, it's been good to have our own channel in some regards, but NOBODY outside of the MWC footprint has access to this. And even within the MWC footprint, the casual non-MWC fan never thinks to flip the the mtn. to see what's playing. The lack of exposure hurts not only national prestige, but it plays directly to recruiting also, which has been a major hurdle for BYU.

- BYU has made less money under the current TV deal than they were making 10 years ago with local priveleges and the 3-4 ESPN/Network deals. For the good of the conference, BYU reluctantly took the mtn. deal, but it has been for less money and less exposure.

- BYU has also made valiant efforts to increase the strength of the MWC by leading a campaign to add additional schools (BSU) that would increase pressure on the BCS and increase national prestige. Every year the schools took a vote, and every year it was shot down 6-3. You know who voted yes? BYU, Utah, TCU. The bottom feeders were 1) content to ride the coat-tails of "The Big 3"; and 2) scared to have a "big 4".

- If what I'm hearing is true, BYU will once again have an ESPN/ABC contract, and will also retain the rights to produce their own games (BYU currently finalized a state-of-the-art broadcasting facility right on campus, and now has the infrastructure and capability to produce sports programming in HD). Money-wise I'm sure it will be a positive move for BYU, otherwise it wouldn't be a consideration. Exposure-wise, it's head-and-shoulders better than the mtn. Will BYU be playing on Tue/Wed nights? Not sure. But I'm sure BYU (and TCU for that matter) is a much more appealing Saturday game than, say CSU or UNLV.

- BYU will be a member of the WAC in all sports except football. Contractually, they will play 4 WAC teams a year in football, which competitively will be no worse than playing UNLV, UNM, SDSU, Wyoming, CSU. Add in Utah plus 3-4 other "BCS" teams, and the schedule is similar, strength-wise, to what it is currently.

- From everything I'm hearing, this is a temporary move. BYU has grown very cozy with Texas over the past few years and is poised to make a move to the Big12 as soon as some of the dust settles. The BYU/Texas game scheduled for '11 is much more than just a single game, as was the BYU/OU game last year. Leaving the MWC prior to Sept. 1, 2010 allows for BYU to join the Big12 in 2011 without breaching any contracts.

Again - this post is not intended as anything but informitive. I certainly understand BYU's place in the 'big picture', and I realize we aren't Notre Dame (or "the Notre Dame of the West" as the Utah troll Steve Young stated). We are a pretty big private school, however, with a decent national following and a lot of assets that some schools don't have. I believe, and I think the administration believes, that BYU deserves better than what we've had recently. Personally, I'd love to elevate the MWC, but I think we've ridden with most of those jackasses long enough to realize they aren't thoroughbreds, and we're tired of trying. That goes for TCU also - you deserve much better than UNM and UNLV.

[ZachTheZip]

BYU doesn't change its mind. Still going independent.

MWC now has two open spots. Air Force might be going independent very soon, leaving MWC at a schedule-friendly 9 teams.

WAC has only 6 football teams and 7 non-football teams. Inviting future FBS teams Texas State and UT San Antonio brings them to 8/9. UTEP is reportedly moving back to the WAC, in a trade with C-USA for LA Tech. We'll hear about those in the next few days.

[Wally B]

Pure speculation!

I could see the MTWest plucking UTEP and Hawai'i to reach 12!

Why go to or stay in WAC if their best move is TX St ot UTSA???

Why not grab the few remaining "somewhat developed teams" in the West and have a lucrative championship game?

[akzipper]

This is depressing for us...I want out to the MAC so bad, I don't even care if it was a lateral move to C-USA. But PLEASE get us out!!! the fans and players deserve better than the MAC.

[Z.I.P.]

Call me when Portland State announces their agreement to join the WAC. Go Viks!

[johnnyzip84]

Call me when Portland State announces their agreement to join the WAC. Go Viks!

I'll have Neil Lomax place that call to you, Z.I.P.!

[72 Roo]

Adding Nevada and Fresno State stabilizes the MWC as far as numbers, but with Utah and BYU gone (or going) the dream of an evidentual BCS qualification is dead. The WAC now becomes weaker than the MAC, if that is possible. We need to get our football program at the top of the MAC so when other conferences have change we are positioned to take advantage of those changes. Make no mistake about it, we need to get out to achieve our potential. I hope the future brings opportunity and we are ready to seize it. The MAC simply can't support the type of athletic dept and budget we are building. And never will. <- MAC

[RACER]

the biggest problem with the mac is the tv money.i think each teams gets less than 1 million.plusforced to play on

weeknights which kills the fanbase.as long as akron is in the mac we will never have great program.when teams get at least 10x the tv money you cannot compete long term.

[scottditzen]

I have to wonder if the MAC could ever get a network together by being a little more cutting edge and entertaining than the stodgy BIG 10 network.

Maybe focus more on student life and the tailgating experience...make it fun.

Heck, have hot girls dressed like our dance team providing the in-game expert analysis. We could learn so much from Univision.

Seriously folks, would you rather watch hot girls or six hours of Chris Spielman breaking down the Purdue linebacker scheme?

[cornbread]

I have to wonder if the MAC could ever get a network together by being a little more cutting edge and entertaining than the stodgy BIG 10 network.

Maybe focus more on student life and the tailgating experience...make it fun.

Heck, have hot girls dressed like our dance team providing the in-game expert analysis. We could learn so much from Univision.

Seriously folks, would you rather watch hot girls or six hours of Chris Spielman breaking down the Purdue linebacker scheme?

Your question needs a response...

hot girls breaking down line-backing schemes.

[johnnyzip84]

Breaking: Fresno State accepts invite to the MWC

We bitch and moan from time to time about the MAC and our losing football tradition, bla bla bla. But how would you like to be the AD at San Jose St this morning? The Spartans HAVE to be pining for the good old days of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association. In the PCAA (most of the time), SJSU had FIVE in-state rivals. Cal St-Fullerton and Cal St-Long Beach both gave up football in the early 90's (not before each made a trip to the Rubber Bowl to get pounded by Gerry's kids). Pacific followed suit a few years later (with Walt Harris captain of the sinking ship). San Diego State becomes a charter member of the MWC and now Fresno St leaves for the MWC as well. That leaves poor SJSU with ZERO in-state rivals.

I'm all for the MAC to either improve (addition through subtraction, if it comes to that) or a some other improvement (C-USA, new eastern conference) down the road for Zip athletics when the time is right. But this makes me realize that things could be a whole lot worse. Perhaps SJSU hasn't put in the capital improvements necessary to be upwardly mobile. We can be thankful that Dr Proenza and his team certainly have done all they can to give UA the STRUCTURE to make a jump should the opportunity present itself. As many have stated, all we need to do now is win, at least on the gridiron.

[xu9697]

It is about to get really crazy.

WAC can't stay at 6/7 football teams. MWC might be pushing to be the "Big East of the West"= 16 teams, 12 that play football. WAC might add on or be eliminated. CUSA is going to have to change too. I could see MWC stealing away some CUSA teams.

Here is one thing that I have not seen mention of in any article= loss of Big 12 Championship game in 2011 or 2012. Is Big 12 really going to stay at 10? It seems that way. Unless the rule is going to be changed= 10 teams means no conference championship game. That leaves a LOT of $$$ gone losing that game. If true, it is a further indication that that conference is COMPLETELY Texas' $itch!

[scottditzen]

Nice to see we are of the same demographic Cornbread!

I have to wonder if the MAC could ever get a network together by being a little more cutting edge and entertaining than the stodgy BIG 10 network.

Maybe focus more on student life and the tailgating experience...make it fun.

Heck, have hot girls dressed like our dance team providing the in-game expert analysis. We could learn so much from Univision.

Seriously folks, would you rather watch hot girls or six hours of Chris Spielman breaking down the Purdue linebacker scheme?

Your question needs a response...

hot girls breaking down line-backing schemes.

[ZachTheZip]

Now BYU is waffling.

The WAC has extended invites to Montana, UT-San Antonio, and Texas State.

[K92]

Now Temple to CUSA is being talked about due to a Tom Dienhart tweet.

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/showmsg....144&style=2

[bandzip]

Now Temple to CUSA is being talked about due to a Tom Dienhart tweet.

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/showmsg....144&style=2

We can only hope....

[ZachTheZip]

Our administration had better be making overtures to C-USA. And let the MAC office know about it. Either they get it into gear and become proactive or we'll go find a conference who is. The MAC will sink by standing still.

[Captain Kangaroo]

The MAC will sink by standing still.

It's hard to sink, when you're at the bottom.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Our administration had better be making overtures to C-USA.

Mack Rhoades told me "Winning the MAC is nice, but we're thinking beyond the MAC."

Did he mean "I'm" instead of "We're"?

I'd like to think UA's AD's have been in contact with C-USA many times over the past few years.

I personally wonder if UA's budget could handle the increased travel costs associated with C-USA games for the non-revenue sports. It is a lot cheaper to bus your team to Toledo and BG, than fly them to Tennessee and Louisiana.

And you know the minute the Zips join C-USA, the BE will pluck the better C-USA teams. So essentially -- we'll be trading directional Michigan opponents for directional Louisiana schools, while increasing our budget.

Here's where TW can earn his paycheck.