North Texas to Mountain West?

wardly · May 13, 2020

58 minutes ago, BillySee58 said:

The Mountain West is one of the most spaced out conferences in the country. Not like the other teams in our conference are driving distance from each other for large numbers of opposing fans to go to each game. University of Nevada is about a 15 hour drive to Albuquerque and Laramie. Denton is closer to University of Wyoming, UNM, Air Force, and Colorado State than those California schools are. We aren’t less appealing geographically than other options, even from a fan travel standpoint.

As far as what we offer, we have a football program that should be competitive in this conference on paper and a really strong basketball program to add to a really strong basketball conference. We can be that strong basketball add that NMSU would be, while being a far more appealing option from a football standpoint.

Review our w/l record in football and basketball the past 5 years. We are just a few games over 500 in football in one of the weakest conferences in 1A. Our Men's basketball had a great year, not so much the previous 4 seasons, especially if you look at our OOC schedule. The Women's program hasn't had a winning season in decades. Finally,as we speak neither the MWC nor AAC has expressed interest in expansion . Could that change. Yes, when some of the P5 conference's t.v. contracts expire in the next 3 to 5 years. If the Big 12 implodes because of UT's refusal to give up the Longhorn network there could be a lot of moving parts. I would think the G5 conference in the best position to grab Big 12 programs left behind would be the AAC. Finally, I believe that with the current UNT administration and financial commitment to athletics that we will be in an excellent position to take advantage of any opportunities that may arise.

BillySee58 · May 14, 2020

1 hour ago, wardly said:

Review our w/l record in football and basketball the past 5 years. We are just a few games over 500 in football in one of the weakest conferences in 1A. Our Men's basketball had a great year, not so much the previous 4 seasons, especially if you look at our OOC schedule.

Review our last 3 years in football and basketball. We are 5 games over .500 in football with a division title and have won 20 straight games each of those years in basketball including coming off of a conference championship, which you can’t just gloss over even in your narrative (devil’s advocate?) that we don’t bring enough to the table. Plus we’re coming off signing some of the top recruiting classes in the conference in each.

Stats and data ranges can easily be manipulated to fit a narrative, but under the current administration and head coaches for football and basketball, we have made ourselves much more competitive and attractive.

We need to get rid of this RV mindset he seemed to plant in our fanbases’ heads that things under him were as good as they could be at UNT and any shortcomings we had from 2001-2015 were just because it’s hard at UNT.

1 hour ago, wardly said:

The Women's program hasn't had a winning season in decades.

We all know that isn’t going to be any sort of deciding factor in this type of decision.

1 hour ago, wardly said:

Finally,as we speak neither the MWC nor AAC has expressed interest in expansion . Could that change. Yes, when some of the P5 conference's t.v. contracts expire in the next 3 to 5 years.

We’re discussing a hypothetical in which the California football programs are incapable of fielding football teams this season, and us hopping in on that opportunity to fill those slots in their schedule. Probably not realistic but that wasn’t the point of discussing if we should try and jump on that opportunity like MeanGreenTexan asked.

1 hour ago, wardly said:

If the Big 12 implodes because of UT's refusal to give up the Longhorn network there could be a lot of moving parts. I would think the G5 conference in the best position to grab Big 12 programs left behind would be the AAC. Finally, I believe that with the current UNT administration and financial commitment to athletics that we will be in an excellent position to take advantage of any opportunities that may arise.

No disagreements on that. But also don’t think being in the MWC precludes us from making those type of moves if that scenario were to transpire.

Coach Andy Mac · May 14, 2020

2 hours ago, wardly said:

If the Big 12 implodes because of UT's refusal to give up the Longhorn network there could be a lot of moving parts.

Agree with you but I just can’t see UT giving up their network.

greenminer · May 14, 2020

5 hours ago, wardly said:

Well the travel is about the same, and our fans have about the same level of interest.

Other factors (idle thoughts, so maybe there is more):

The fanbase of other schools (would they come to Denton, and would could they offer?)
brand recognition. How much are the schools on TV?
level of play. How often do the schools populate the T25?

EDIT FOR FOLLOW UP:

The Big West as we think of it existed in the 80s, early-1990s. We experienced it in the late 1990s. I would be cautious of any comparison that tries to look that far back (even 2000!). The landscape of branding, money, media is astronomically different.

Edited May 14, 2020 by greenminer

GrandGreen · May 14, 2020

L

GrandGreen · May 14, 2020

Some MWC teams are planning a temporary shutdown of athletics because they don't want to travel. So there may be an opening for NT to take their place.

Talk about an absolute leap.

What logic, some of MWC want to curtail travel, therefore it is obvious the rest want to expand their conference thousands of miles.

It is the off off way off season.

RiseUNT · May 14, 2020

Big12 or bust

MCMLXXX · May 14, 2020

2 minutes ago, RiseUNT said:

Big12 or bust

How big a bust?

NorthTexasSportsNetwork · May 14, 2020

Why would we go from an already spaced out conference, to one that covers half of the United States?

Also, why is this still a thread lol

97and03 · May 14, 2020

Opposing fan attendance should never figure in conference choice.
Should be about level of competition and revenue (which would include TV deal) only.

Rudy · May 14, 2020

9 hours ago, NorthTexasSportsNetwork said:

Why would we go from an already spaced out conference, to one that covers half of the United States?

Also, why is this still a thread lol

Because it's a far better conference and has more respect.

RBP79 · May 14, 2020

1. Seldom does a opponents fan base impact significantly NT game day attendance.....

2. TV contracts?? Does NT or CUSA even have a real TV contract...one that doesn't require internet access.

3. Where is that forward thinking that the leadership of CUSA is suppose to be providing?

MWC may not be the end all for NT conference affiliation/woes but you cannot deny its a BETTER conference right now than CUSA. We can sit around for the next 3-5 years waiting for our "Dream" conference invite but at this time if a invite is extended from the MWC I say jump on it.

NorthTexasSportsNetwork · May 14, 2020

1 hour ago, Rudy said:

Because it's a far better conference and has more respect.

Well obviously, but I would rather play in a CUSA/SBC merger

untjim1995 · May 14, 2020

10 hours ago, 97and03 said:

Opposing fan attendance should never figure in conference choice.
Should be about level of competition and revenue (which would include TV deal) only.

The AAC and MWC are able to look at it this way because they have decent network contracts for their content.

The Lower G5s don't have that. The MAC has the right idea geographically--but their MACtion bit where all their conference games are played on weeknights on ESPN in front of a few hundred people is all kinds of bad.

Its why I think the SBCUSA reorganizing into geographical divisions/conferences would be great for our bottom line and getting butts in seats, since TV doesn't offer anything for the SBCUSA rights.

untjim1995 · May 14, 2020

2 minutes ago, NorthTexasSportsNetwork said:

Well obviously, but I would rather play in a CUSA/SBC merger

Than the MWC? That's smalltime thinking...

FirefightnRick · May 14, 2020

15 hours ago, BillySee58 said:

We need to get rid of this RV mindset he seemed to plant in our fanbases’ heads that things under him were as good as they could be at UNT

Couldn’t agree more. But I’ll add... that lousy attitude was planted long before RV got here.

Rick

untjim1995 · May 14, 2020

1 minute ago, FirefightnRick said:

Couldn’t agree more. But I’ll add... that lousy attitude was planted long before RV got here.

Rick

RV was merely a symptom of the virus, no doubt.

greenminer · May 14, 2020

28 minutes ago, untjim1995 said:

Than the MWC? That's smalltime thinking...

Having drivable road games every weekend, incredible BBQ tailgates with an opponent fan base that shares the same region as you. That’s freaking college football man! Don’t ever let that get buried behind all this talk of media and prestige.

untjim1995 · May 14, 2020

1 minute ago, greenminer said:

Having drivable road games every weekend, incredible BBQ tailgates with an opponent fan base that shares the same region as you. That’s freaking college football man! Don’t ever let that get buried behind all this talk of media and prestige.

TCU fans sure didn't think like that after the SWC crashed and burned...

greenminer · May 14, 2020

35 minutes ago, untjim1995 said:

TCU fans sure didn't think like that after the SWC crashed and burned...

So the previous 70 years were not worth it? That can't be what you're saying.

Look, if the MWC called I would definitely take it over any possible CUSA/SBC merger. In the grand scheme of things, it's a no-brainer. But abandoning some of these schools from the SBC/CUSA (especially the Louisiana schools) feels like I'm trading in the weekly fireside hang with favorite beer and friends, for a corporate date at a party in DC sponsored by White Claw. You're gonna appreciate everyone and people are gonna throw enough money around. But you're not sure if you will see them again anytime soon and you get tired of all the flight miles.

It's what everyone needs to do, but you know in your heart of hearts that the only reason you're doing it is because everyone else is doing it.

Edited May 14, 2020 by greenminer

southsideguy · May 14, 2020

We are not really in the MWC road map. The best thing that could happen is conferences go regional but that won't happen. You would need teams like Tech, smut and TCU to be part of it but that will never happen they are not going to leave their conference unless their conference leaves them. I am a little nervous what will shake out for us.

Rudy · May 14, 2020

2 hours ago, NorthTexasSportsNetwork said:

Well obviously, but I would rather play in a CUSA/SBC merger

But why?! I get we won't be able to go to as many road games, and tailgates, but the chance to be in a better conference has to be more important.

El Paso Eagle · May 14, 2020

1 hour ago, southsideguy said:

We are not really in the MWC road map. The best thing that could happen is conferences go regional but that won't happen. You would need teams like Tech, smut and TCU to be part of it but that will never happen they are not going to leave their conference unless their conference leaves them. I am a little nervous what will shake out for us.

If they do expand to Texas again, they will look at access to markets - us, UTSA, and Rice would be on their map

untjim1995 · May 14, 2020

1 hour ago, El Paso Eagle said:

If they do expand to Texas again, they will look at access to markets - us, UTSA, and Rice would be on their map

I’m certain that the MWC hasn’t gotten back into Texas because they want to see if the Big XII implodes and gives them some very nice pieces like TCU and Baylor, maybe even Texas Tech.

But what appears to be the fly in their ointment is the PAC-12 looking completely inept as a conference and maybe seeing some huge names leave them. If that happens, the MWC will be hit very hard at the time, losing members like Boise, SDSU, Nevada, and UNLV.