Second round of conference expansion is beginning.

[72 Roo]

Our moving to C-USA makes more sense than appears at first. The TV revenue for C-USA is enough to cover any increase in cost. In 2008 C-USA distributed to each member $1.4 million in TV money. That same year the MAC distributed to each member $0. It is also reasonable to think we will draw more more at the gate for C-USA members than what the MAC offers. Let's face it, the local fan is not going to come out for MAC teams. Only Can't draws. All other opponents don't draw or bring a following. Even when you consider minor sports the increased revenue from TV outweighs any increase in travel costs.

[ksu sucks]

Our moving to C-USA makes more sense than appears at first. The TV revenue for C-USA is enough to cover any increase in cost. In 2008 C-USA distributed to each member $1.4 million in TV money. That same year the MAC distributed to each member $0. It is also reasonable to think we will draw more more at the gate for C-USA members than what the MAC offers. Let's face it, the local fan is not going to come out for MAC teams. Only Can't draws. All other opponents don't draw or bring a following. Even when you consider minor sports the increased revenue from TV outweighs any increase in travel costs.

But will the TV revenue be there if Houston, Eastern Carolina, Memphis, and Central Florida leave for greener pastures?

I still wonder about the travel costs. Even in the East Division here's the three closest opponents:

Marshall-4 hours

ECU-9 hours

Memphis-11 hours

If CUSA leftovers and the more "motivated" MAC programs(Akron, Toledo, Buffalo, Ohio) ever get together and form something in the future, then it's doable. One of the MAC's strengths is that we(currently) don't have to play teams that say, 'yall'. It's much cheaper that way.

[Captain Kangaroo]

But will the TV revenue be there if Houston, Eastern Carolina, Memphis, and Central Florida leave for greener pastures?

No.

[Captain Kangaroo]

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....

Yeah... MAC football is sooo top heavy. Let's rejoice if we lose one of our top 3 programs.

[MaxZIP]

Our moving to C-USA makes more sense than appears at first. The TV revenue for C-USA is enough to cover any increase in cost. In 2008 C-USA distributed to each member $1.4 million in TV money. That same year the MAC distributed to each member $0. It is also reasonable to think we will draw more more at the gate for C-USA members than what the MAC offers. Let's face it, the local fan is not going to come out for MAC teams. Only Can't draws. All other opponents don't draw or bring a following. Even when you consider minor sports the increased revenue from TV outweighs any increase in travel costs.

But will the TV revenue be there if Houston, Eastern Carolina, Memphis, and Central Florida leave for greener pastures?

I still wonder about the travel costs. Even in the East Division here's the three closest opponents:

Marshall-4 hours

ECU-9 hours

Memphis-11 hours

If CUSA leftovers and the more "motivated" MAC programs(Akron, Toledo, Buffalo, Ohio) ever get together and form something in the future, then it's doable. One of the MAC's strengths is that we(currently) don't have to play teams that say, 'yall'. It's much cheaper that way.

Akron should just go independent. We could play all the MAC games we want and have an opportunity to play a national schedule.

[ksu sucks]

No.

[johnnyzip84]

Now BYU is waffling.

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

I've been able to find LOTS of speculation about this, but I can't find any confirmation. Do you have a source?

Here is some speculation of a MWC/C-USA merger.

Link1

Finally here is more on the Tom Dienhart tweet regarding the possibility of Temple joining C-USA (for football only evidently).

Link2

[GP1]

Our moving to C-USA makes more sense than appears at first. The TV revenue for C-USA is enough to cover any increase in cost. In 2008 C-USA distributed to each member $1.4 million in TV money. That same year the MAC distributed to each member $0. It is also reasonable to think we will draw more more at the gate for C-USA members than what the MAC offers. Let's face it, the local fan is not going to come out for MAC teams. Only Can't draws. All other opponents don't draw or bring a following. Even when you consider minor sports the increased revenue from TV outweighs any increase in travel costs.

UofA spends around $25 million the last time I checked. They bring in around $15 million in revenue. The last time I checked, $1.4 million in TV revenue wouldn't make up the difference.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Akron should just go independent. We could play all the MAC games we want and have an opportunity to play a national schedule.

Who do you get to visit InfoCision Stadium after the first 4 games of the year...when everyone else's schedule is filled with conference opponents?

Independent works for Notre Dame, Navy and Army because people want to play them.

Ask Dambrot how he'd feel about trying to recruit as an Independent. Or dropping to a crappier conference simply to accommodate UA football going Independent. Wait...has this ever happened before?

[K-Roo]

Zips to CUSA in this scenario:

Article

"So the six schools in C-USA's East Division, plus Tulane need a place to go. Well, this is where Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee fit in. Realistically you could stop there with a 9 school league and it would work. However, Conference USA should be a 12 team league with a conference championship game. So they add Temple, Toledo, and Northern Illinois. Temple brings the Philadelphia market, to an extent. Toledo brings the Toledo and Detroit markets, to an extent. Northern Illinois brings the Chicago market, to an extent. Sure not everyone in those cities are gonna be brought in because of those three schools, but the market is there.

A division of Marshall, Memphis, Toledo, Northern Illinois, Western Kentucky, and Middle Tennessee fits alright. Then a division of Temple, East Carolina, Southern Miss, Tulane, UAB, and UCF.

Now doing this drops the MAC down to 10 schools. The MAC should have a 12 team league and a conference championship game, right? Maybe. If it wants to push to be a player nationally then yes. If it just wants to be a regional conference that stays put, then it does not need the conference championship game.

So let's say the MAC opts on a 12 team league, who do you add? Sure there would be rumors of Youngstown State and even Southern Illinois moving up. There would be rumors of trying to get Army and Navy to join, which is not going to happen. This becomes a big problem for the MAC. Who can you lure into your conference? The MAC has thrived for years and years, mainly due to it's smaller footprint the fact that most schools have things in common. I'm afraid their best bet in this scenario is to stay at 10 or try to bring in Youngstown State and Southern Illinois.

Of course it could be worse. I could present the notion that with all the moves the Big East decides to go to 12 schools and takes the likes of UCF, Memphis, and Temple. That would mean Conference USA would need three other MAC schools and probably take Miami University, Ohio University, and Akron. That leaves the MAC in serious trouble, having lost 6 of 13 football playing schools, and needed to add one or two schools just to stay afloat.

Now if Rick Chryst was still the commissioner of the MAC, I would turn it the other way and say that Conference USA would be the one in trouble if UCF, Memphis, and Temple go to the Big East. This would mean that the MAC would likely expand to 14 schools with Toledo and Northern Illinois staying. Coming in would be two schools that were to be in this new Conference USA. The schools in contention would be Marshall, Western Kentucky, and Middle Tennessee. Something tells me Marshall would be the one sitting on the outside looking in, unless a current MAC school leaves for one reason or another........decides to go Independent (very unlikely) or drops down a level in football (not likely but more likely than the other reason listed).

This drops Conference USA to a 10 team league. Now they need to go after Louisiana Tech and someone else from the SBC.

Wow, is your head spinning from reading all of this? Good, now go get a six pack,

[MaxZIP]

Akron should just go independent. We could play all the MAC games we want and have an opportunity to play a national schedule.

Who do you get to visit InfoCision Stadium after the first 4 games of the year...when everyone else's schedule is filled with conference opponents?

Independent works for Notre Dame, Navy and Army because people want to play them.

Ask Dambrot how he'd feel about trying to recruit as an Independent. Or dropping to a crappier conference simply to accommodate UA football going Independent. Wait...has this ever happened before?

Thanks captain. I was kidding.

[xu9697]

I don't care how it would get there, but my semi-realistic, semi-pie-in-the-sky (can something really be both?!?!?!) hope would be:

MAC or C-USA or new name Conference:

North= Akron, Temple, Buffalo, Toledo, Marshall and Miami

South= WKU, Memphis, East Carolina, Southern Mississipi, Troy and UAB

Basketball wise= Temple and Memphis very strong at the top. WKU has a great history, not a ton recently. Akron, UAB, Buffalo and Miami have all had their moments over the last 20 years.

Football wise= no real marquee team (Duh), but East Carolina and Southern Miss are consistently strong. Troy has been coming up the last few years, Temple is obviously doing well at the moment and there is some history with Marshall, Miami and a bit with Toledo.

MOST of these programs have shown some dedication (ie..$$$) to their athletic programs in recent years.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Basketball wise= Temple and Memphis very strong at the top. WKU has a great history, not a ton recently.

Recent WKY Basketball History

9: 21+ win seasons in the past 10 years

5: NCAA appearances in the past 10 years (one Second round berth, one Sweet 16)

2: NIT appearances in the past 10 years

I wish the Zips recent history was so downtrodden.

[xu9697]

Basketball wise= Temple and Memphis very strong at the top. WKU has a great history, not a ton recently.

Recent WKY Basketball History

9: 21+ win seasons in the past 10 years

5: NCAA appearances in the past 10 years (one Second round berth, one Sweet 16)

2: NIT appearances in the past 10 years

I wish the Zips recent history was so downtrodden.

I agree..totally. And, I did not realize they had done as much CONSISTENTLY in the last 10 years. My apologies.

My reference point (without looking it up recently) was more that there was a time when they were even greater than now..I know they have a Final 4 appearance and probably 6-7 Sweet 16 apperances. I believe Sporting News had them as a top 100 basketball program in a magazine 5 years ago..at that time, they talked more about their past.

[johnnyzip84]

Is Mack going to be an MWC AD soon?

Link - Go to bottom of story

[72 Roo]

Our moving to C-USA makes more sense than appears at first. The TV revenue for C-USA is enough to cover any increase in cost. In 2008 C-USA distributed to each member $1.4 million in TV money. That same year the MAC distributed to each member $0. It is also reasonable to think we will draw more more at the gate for C-USA members than what the MAC offers. Let's face it, the local fan is not going to come out for MAC teams. Only Can't draws. All other opponents don't draw or bring a following. Even when you consider minor sports the increased revenue from TV outweighs any increase in travel costs.

UofA spends around $25 million the last time I checked. They bring in around $15 million in revenue. The last time I checked, $1.4 million in TV revenue wouldn't make up the difference.

My point is that we potentially could cover the increased travel costs, not make up any deficit spending. It's inaccurate to imply that was my assertion.

[akzipper]

Akron and Temple should both switch to C-USA. No other MAC teams deserve it. Buffalo? no they had 1 championship in football a few years ago and thats it. They don't have the facilities we do and they don't have the fan support. All they have going for them is the potential Buffalo region market, but we have Cleveland. Their football team got lucky to win the MAC and are mediocre at best now. Last time I checked a 5-7 record isn't all that great. They have an 0-1 all time postseason record. Their basketball team has never won the MAC.

[lance99]

Akron and Temple should both switch to C-USA. No other MAC teams deserve it. Buffalo? no they had 1 championship in football a few years ago and thats it. They don't have the facilities we do and they don't have the fan support. All they have going for them is the potential Buffalo region market, but we have Cleveland. Their football team got lucky to win the MAC and are mediocre at best now. Last time I checked a 5-7 record isn't all that great. They have an 0-1 all time postseason record. Their basketball team has never won the MAC.

I don't think that they would go to Conference USA. After reading this article, they are not really looking to do anything. At least with the Mouatin West.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/TU/a...B1_Confer242091

[Dave in Green]

Akron and Temple should both switch to C-USA. No other MAC teams deserve it. Buffalo? no they had 1 championship in football a few years ago and thats it. They don't have the facilities we do and they don't have the fan support. All they have going for them is the potential Buffalo region market, but we have Cleveland. Their football team got lucky to win the MAC and are mediocre at best now. Last time I checked a 5-7 record isn't all that great. They have an 0-1 all time postseason record. Their basketball team has never won the MAC.

"We" would of course not include those who have expressed a strong desire not to be associated with Cleveland in any way, shape or form.

[Zipmeister]

Akron and Temple should both switch to C-USA. No other MAC teams deserve it. Buffalo? no they had 1 championship in football a few years ago and thats it. They don't have the facilities we do and they don't have the fan support. All they have going for them is the potential Buffalo region market, but we have Cleveland. Their football team got lucky to win the MAC and are mediocre at best now. Last time I checked a 5-7 record isn't all that great. They have an 0-1 all time postseason record. Their basketball team has never won the MAC.

I don't think that they would go to Conference USA. After reading this article, they are not really looking to do anything. At least with the Mouatin West.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/TU/a...B1_Confer242091

Temple has no interest in joining the MWC. Shocking. Please keep us posted with the latest info on this possible development.

[jupitertoo]

Akron and Temple should both switch to C-USA. No other MAC teams deserve it. Buffalo? no they had 1 championship in football a few years ago and thats it. They don't have the facilities we do and they don't have the fan support. All they have going for them is the potential Buffalo region market, but we have Cleveland. Their football team got lucky to win the MAC and are mediocre at best now. Last time I checked a 5-7 record isn't all that great. They have an 0-1 all time postseason record. Their basketball team has never won the MAC.

Please explain this comment, considering that neither Akron nor Temple leads the conference in attendance. In the case of Akron, the athletics budget is only in the middle of the pack for MAC teams. From a football perspective, CMU has had the best overall program by far. Toledo also has been consistently stronger than either Akron or Temple. And while Akron now has a nice, modern f-ball facility, the b-ball arena is mediocre at best. Based on these criteria, why does Akron "deserve" a move to another conference more than a majority of the other MAC programs, especially the ones that outspend and outdraw it?

Not trying to flame here. Just asking for a rationale for your statement.

[scottditzen]

Interesting, while I'm not clamoring to see those teams at the Info, I'm sure this conference would have a better rep than the MAC in it's current state.

However I'm not sure Temple would ever want to change conferences in b-ball though.

I don't care how it would get there, but my semi-realistic, semi-pie-in-the-sky (can something really be both?!?!?!) hope would be:

MAC or C-USA or new name Conference:

North= Akron, Temple, Buffalo, Toledo, Marshall and Miami

South= WKU, Memphis, East Carolina, Southern Mississipi, Troy and UAB

Basketball wise= Temple and Memphis very strong at the top. WKU has a great history, not a ton recently. Akron, UAB, Buffalo and Miami have all had their moments over the last 20 years.

Football wise= no real marquee team (Duh), but East Carolina and Southern Miss are consistently strong. Troy has been coming up the last few years, Temple is obviously doing well at the moment and there is some history with Marshall, Miami and a bit with Toledo.

MOST of these programs have shown some dedication (ie..$$) to their athletic programs in recent years.

[K92]

Bleacher Report has the Zips in line for a conference change. link

[K92]

Bleacher Report has the Zips in line for a conference change. link

I hate Bleacher Report.

[RowdyZip]

Bleacher Report has the Zips in line for a conference change. link

I hate Bleacher Report.

Everything there is sort of tongue-in-cheek (not necessarily this one), and very poorly researched. All rivalry aside, I'm not sure how you could leave K-ent off that list. They've been more miserable than us the last few decades.