If Offered, Should We Join The Mountain West Conference?

[oldguystudent]

Honest question: Does the team currently bus to any road destinations? If not, how much more is a flight to San Diego vs. a flight to Monroe? Again, I really don't know. I'm honestly curious as to how much more of a financial hardship it would be on traveling.

[Cerebus]

Honest question: Does the team currently bus to any road destinations? If not, how much more is a flight to San Diego vs. a flight to Monroe? Again, I really don't know. I'm honestly curious as to how much more of a financial hardship it would be on traveling.

Yes.

And the revenue sports bus to locations that football and basketball don't.

[Cerebus]

All those factors applied to TCU's affiliation with the MWC. Did it hurt them?

TCU has several big donors. They wanted to separate from SMU and pledged to cover the increased costs. Similar to what SMU did to get June Jones.

I don't see those guys here, and if they were here, I would want them to plow that money in other need areas.

[Cerebus]

Oh, I do have one caveat to my position.

If there is any credible hint that the MWC will get consideration for AQ status, you jump on it faster than Quoner on a Johnny Quinn FaceBook Update.

[LongJim]

All those factors applied to TCU's affiliation with the MWC. Did it hurt them?

UNT is not TCU.

[SouthBendGreen]

I miss the old Big West debates we used to have about travel on this board. Back then travel in the Big West was a legitimate concern and part of the debate. IMO, that doesn't even come close to factoring into the MWC. I don't even see the MWC looking in NT's direction but if they did, RV shouldn't even play hard to get. Right there on the phone he should respond, "HELL YES AND WHEN CAN WE START!!!"

I am amazed at people on this board that I really respect saying no to a MWC bid.

I don't get it. I hope and pray that the MWC thinks about adding NT.

Edited November 29, 2010 by SouthBendGreen

[meangreen]

I would really love to know who in their right mind would say "no" to this poll! I mean come on! Sun Belt or MWC? Easiest decision I've ever had to make

[foutsrouts]

I would really love to know who in their right mind would say "no" to this poll! I mean come on! Sun Belt or MWC? Easiest decision I've ever had to make

It is amazing. We're not talking about the same stability situation that we had with the WAC, and I suspect that we would be joined by at least one more TX team if we were somehow to get an offer. Although I would love to have a tight regional conference, I could deal with the travel situation in the MWC. Three schools within close reach of Denver would make for a fun trip on occasion, and Albuquerque isn't too far out of range either. I wonder how many people on this board actually take road trips to SBC destinations east of LA and AR anyway? My guess would be very few.

[yyz28]

I agree. The MWC even with the watered down list of teams is WORLDS better than the SBC. A trip to Colorado Springs is no worse than a trip to Florida... Airfare to Nevada because it is subsidized by the Casinos is dirt cheap. ...I really don't see the problem.

[TheColonyEagle]

I agree. The MWC even with the watered down list of teams is WORLDS better than the SBC. A trip to Colorado Springs is no worse than a trip to Florida... Airfare to Nevada because it is subsidized by the Casinos is dirt cheap. ...I really don't see the problem.

I don't even think it's watered down.

Boise, Hawaii, Fresno/Nevada = TCU, Utah, BYU

IMO

[MeanMag]

I voted "No". We turned down the WAC already. What's the difference between the MWC and the old WAC?

[gangrene]

I voted "No". We turned down the WAC already. What's the difference between the MWC and the old WAC?

Which old WAC are you talking about? To my knowledge we've never been invited to, nor declined, a WAC that contained the initial MWC members (Air Force, Brigham Young, Colorado State, UNLV, New Mexico, San Diego State, Utah and Wyoming). Since it's inception, the MWC has been a much stronger conference than the WAC.

[NM Green]

I don't understand the love affair with Rice, Tulane, SMU and Tulsa. I know they close and bring some fans but we not like those institutions. The smaller private schools do not thrill me because they will never have those big fanbases to lean upon when they are great. If you get Boise or Air Force or Reno rolling football you will get good amounts of traveling fans. Reno and Boise are already rolling. I know we are not a basketball states but you step outside of Texas and you have a passionate and different ballgame, especially in the highly competitive MWC. UNLV has already beaten Virginia Tech and Wisconsin this season with a looming trip to Louisville on the horizon. New Mexico beat Tennessee I believe and know they recently played out in Berkley. Last year UNLV beat down Arizona and Louisville in the Thomas and Mack.

Again I am going to stick to my argument about UNT and us beginning to think of ourselves in a better light than some of us do. You are right, we are not TCU. We are North Texas and joining a league that recently lost teams to the Big East and Pac 10 makes me wonder what UNT can do on a bigger stage.

Not to mention the MWC is about to settle down. All of the current members are not going anywhere. The ancy ones left in BYU, Utah and TCU. A stable MWC or a stable Sun Belt not even close. Now if CUSA calls they better call quick because I just cannot see the MWC not sniffing around the 5th largest media market soon.

Go Bold. Go Quality. GO Mean Green!

[Green Otaku]

I don't understand the love affair with Rice, Tulane, SMU and Tulsa. I know they close and bring some fans but we not like those institutions. The smaller private schools do not thrill me because they will never have those big fanbases to lean upon when they are great. If you get Boise or Air Force or Reno rolling football you will get good amounts of traveling fans. Reno and Boise are already rolling. I know we are not a basketball states but you step outside of Texas and you have a passionate and different ballgame, especially in the highly competitive MWC. UNLV has already beaten Virginia Tech and Wisconsin this season with a looming trip to Louisville on the horizon. New Mexico beat Tennessee I believe and know they recently played out in Berkley. Last year UNLV beat down Arizona and Louisville in the Thomas and Mack.

Again I am going to stick to my argument about UNT and us beginning to think of ourselves in a better light than some of us do. You are right, we are not TCU. We are North Texas and joining a league that recently lost teams to the Big East and Pac 10 makes me wonder what UNT can do on a bigger stage.

Not to mention the MWC is about to settle down. All of the current members are not going anywhere. The ancy ones left in BYU, Utah and TCU. A stable MWC or a stable Sun Belt not even close. Now if CUSA calls they better call quick because I just cannot see the MWC not sniffing around the 5th largest media market soon.

Go Bold. Go Quality. GO Mean Green!

Could't agree more. I'm tired of this board's fixation with CUSA. MWC is better, we should join if offered.

[PlummMeanGreen]

I don't understand the love affair with Rice, Tulane, SMU and Tulsa. I know they close and bring some fans but we not like those institutions. The smaller private schools do not thrill me because they will never have those big fanbases to lean upon when they are great. If you get Boise or Air Force or Reno rolling football you will get good amounts of traveling fans. Reno and Boise are already rolling. I know we are not a basketball states but you step outside of Texas and you have a passionate and different ballgame, especially in the highly competitive MWC. UNLV has already beaten Virginia Tech and Wisconsin this season with a looming trip to Louisville on the horizon. New Mexico beat Tennessee I believe and know they recently played out in Berkley. Last year UNLV beat down Arizona and Louisville in the Thomas and Mack.

Again I am going to stick to my argument about UNT and us beginning to think of ourselves in a better light than some of us do. You are right, we are not TCU. We are North Texas and joining a league that recently lost teams to the Big East and Pac 10 makes me wonder what UNT can do on a bigger stage.

Not to mention the MWC is about to settle down. All of the current members are not going anywhere. The ancy ones left in BYU, Utah and TCU. A stable MWC or a stable Sun Belt not even close. Now if CUSA calls they better call quick because I just cannot see the MWC not sniffing around the 5th largest media market soon.

Go Bold. Go Quality. GO Mean Green!

Agree.........

Rawlins, Neinas and Villarreal should be sitting on the doorstep of MWC Commish' Craig Thompson's office sometimes before this weekend or get him a Southwest Airline ticket for all 3 of them to pick him up at DFW Airport in our fancy UNT tour bus for a look-see at our stadium, the Super Pit, our campus and then a nice, long constructive meeting in the Athletic Center.

[ColoradoEagle]

I don't understand the love affair with Rice, Tulane, SMU and Tulsa. I know they close and bring some fans but we not like those institutions. The smaller private schools do not thrill me because they will never have those big fanbases to lean upon when they are great. If you get Boise or Air Force or Reno rolling football you will get good amounts of traveling fans. Reno and Boise are already rolling. I know we are not a basketball states but you step outside of Texas and you have a passionate and different ballgame, especially in the highly competitive MWC. UNLV has already beaten Virginia Tech and Wisconsin this season with a looming trip to Louisville on the horizon. New Mexico beat Tennessee I believe and know they recently played out in Berkley. Last year UNLV beat down Arizona and Louisville in the Thomas and Mack.

Again I am going to stick to my argument about UNT and us beginning to think of ourselves in a better light than some of us do. You are right, we are not TCU. We are North Texas and joining a league that recently lost teams to the Big East and Pac 10 makes me wonder what UNT can do on a bigger stage.

Not to mention the MWC is about to settle down. All of the current members are not going anywhere. The ancy ones left in BYU, Utah and TCU. A stable MWC or a stable Sun Belt not even close. Now if CUSA calls they better call quick because I just cannot see the MWC not sniffing around the 5th largest media market soon.

Go Bold. Go Quality. GO Mean Green!

[gangrene]

Agree.........

Rawlins, Neinas and Villarreal should be sitting on the doorstep of MWC Commish' Craig Thompson's office sometimes before this weekend or get him a Southwest Airline ticket for all 3 of them to pick him up at DFW Airport in our fancy UNT tour bus for a look-see at our stadium, the Super Pit, our campus and then a nice, long constructive meeting in the Athletic Center.

#1. Southwest doesn't fly into DFW.

#2. I doubt forcing the conference commissioner to fly Southwest would impress him too much.

#3. I don't like Southwest (if you couldn't tell).

[Rudy]

I agree C-USA would be best.

However, if they're on the phone right now, it'd take about three tenths of a second to say yes.

That's too much deliberation.

Come on guys - the question was very clear, would you accept a Mountain West invite. Please don't hijack with CUSA discussions. That's not the purpose of this poll.

Awww but hijacks are fun. Or was it hijinks?

I voted "No". We turned down the WAC already. What's the difference between the MWC and the old WAC?

Really? The WAC is barely alive. They are having to find FCS schools to join their league just to stay a league. And even Montant turned them down. The MWC is the closest league to being an AQ conference. Nevada and Boise are joining, and were both ranked this year. Fresno is a solid program and could crack the top 25 any year. The travel will be tough, but the conference is stronger, and better known. It did work for TCU, and you're right, NT is not TCU. We're a public university. And more than likely, they want to get to 12 teams, so they will take more than one team. I'd expect them to take Houston. And if they want to get back into the Dallas market, then that leaves us and SMUt. It's time for us to beat out SMUt. Hear that Dan?

[EagleMBA]

I second this. Travel sucks the life out of your budget. TCU was/is fortunate to have a small group of wealthy investors to force feed them to the MTN, and now to the vast distance of the East. We cannot sustain that kind of travel, and as an alumn who enjoys traveling to reachable distances by car I don't want it either.

Rick

A lot of people jumping to conclusions without knowing one thing about what will really make this decision, the financials.

If it makes financial sense, I am for it, but shipping non revenue teams all over country, splitting revenue among more people, not getting coverage when we go west, etc ; All for the hope someone will notice when Utah comes calling... meh.

Cash money makes this decision, and we don't know any of the numbers yet.

The sum of the two quotes above is EXACTLY why I voted NO.

Edited November 30, 2010 by EagleMBA

[Mean Green 93-98]

I don't understand the love affair with Rice, Tulane, SMU and Tulsa. I know they close and bring some fans but we not like those institutions. The smaller private schools do not thrill me because they will never have those big fanbases to lean upon when they are great. If you get Boise or Air Force or Reno rolling football you will get good amounts of traveling fans. Reno and Boise are already rolling. I know we are not a basketball states but you step outside of Texas and you have a passionate and different ballgame, especially in the highly competitive MWC. UNLV has already beaten Virginia Tech and Wisconsin this season with a looming trip to Louisville on the horizon. New Mexico beat Tennessee I believe and know they recently played out in Berkley. Last year UNLV beat down Arizona and Louisville in the Thomas and Mack.

Again I am going to stick to my argument about UNT and us beginning to think of ourselves in a better light than some of us do. You are right, we are not TCU. We are North Texas and joining a league that recently lost teams to the Big East and Pac 10 makes me wonder what UNT can do on a bigger stage.

Not to mention the MWC is about to settle down. All of the current members are not going anywhere. The ancy ones left in BYU, Utah and TCU. A stable MWC or a stable Sun Belt not even close. Now if CUSA calls they better call quick because I just cannot see the MWC not sniffing around the 5th largest media market soon.

Go Bold. Go Quality. GO Mean Green!

All good points. I just believe C-USA provides better regional matchups, which creates natural rivalries and enables better fan travel. I think fans would be every bit as excited about playing Houston, Tulsa, and SMU as playing Colorado State, Air Force, and Boise State. MWC is a better conference than C-USA, but for one of the weaker Sun Belt teams (speaking football) to jump into a conference that strong may create obstacles that would be better for us to work our way up to. Either way, I doubt the MWC and C-USA come calling at the same time, and I'm all for jumping at whichever comes first.

My personal order of preference for UNT, for now:

1. C-USA

2. MWC

3. Sun Belt

4. WAC

The Big XII would be nice, but that's a ways down the road.

[Eagle1855]

Following the crashing and burning of the SWC, TCU jumped from better conference to better conference, excelling in each of them, until it landed them in a BCS conference. So yes, I think any chance you get to go to a substantially better conference is a step in the right direction.

You find way to make the finances work.

[ColoradoEagle]

Following the crashing and burning of the SWC, TCU jumped from better conference to better conference, excelling in each of them, until it landed them in a BCS conference. So yes, I think any chance you get to go to a substantially better conference is a step in the right direction.

You find way to make the finances work.

I would agree, but then FFR wouldn't be able to drive to the games.

[Daddy Dumpsalot]

Inquiring minds want to know!! GMG!

Umm...I would take Boise, Fresno, and Nevado over SMU, Tulane, and Central Florida any day. But I would also a swift kick in the nads over Ulamo and Ulala for another 5 years as well.

[PlummMeanGreen]

http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/tcu-big-east-move-has-major-impact-112910

This another article I hope is ok to link, but the part I don't like about this writer's take on the MWC is that he does't seem to know his Texas geography much at all but has some other interesting Deep South schools (his personal agenda, perhaps?) for his MWC suggestions to fill some spots out west and in the mounains.

The La Tech board is an amazing site to visit on all this, too, and honest to goodness, what in the wide world of sports do those people have in their drinking water over there.

GMG!

PS: I hope our 10 years in the SBC and 6 losing football seasons in a row can be over-looked by those looking.

[TennesseeBoyintheRockies]

Inquiring minds want to know!! GMG!

This is a very interesting proposition, as well, and one I haven't really considered. If UNT is offered a Mountain West invitation to directly replace TCU in the Dallas/Fort Worth market, I would be very surprised if that was turned down. The level of competition and notoriety of the Mountain West even without TCU, Utah, and BYU is far more credible then any other non-Power $ix league.

Edited November 30, 2010 by TennesseeBoyintheRockies