More Merger Talk

UNT90 · January 24, 2012

Look, I get it. A lot goes on behind closed doors. But NOTHING regarding NT has been mentioned. No blogs of questionable repute spouting hearsay or scuttlebutt. No individual blogger floating a rumor he heard at a pub from his "inside source." Nothing.

If we'll all recall, the Texas to Pac12 rumors were out there LONG before anything was official...and that didn't even come true! SMU's move was "leaked" way before anything was official. There is nothing, nada, zip out there about NT making a move. Not even a story that RV or Rawlins can neither confirm nor deny.

Where there is smoke there is fire. As it is I'm looking directly at the house and don't even see a kid playing with matches.

Ya, but the only media member who pays even a little attention to UNT is Brett Vito, and we all know he needs DMac's permission before he reports anything, So, if UNT doesn't want a rumor out there, it's not gonna happen.

untjim1995 · January 24, 2012

Ya, but the only media member who pays even a little attention to UNT is Brett Vito, and we all know he needs DMac's permission before he reports anything, So, if UNT doesn't want a rumor out there, it's not gonna happen.

I asked a good friend of mine who is a reporter here in town to look into this CUSA/Alliance deal and if UNT is a part of it, and if not, why not. He said its a good question and that he will give CUSA HQ a call about it. Of course, he has lots of other things to cover, but hopefully, we can finally get an answer or two to this from someone who probably carries a bit more credibility in the DFW Metroplex than Brett Vito of the Denton Record-Chronicle.

shaft · January 25, 2012

You know its Off Season...when we talk about secret sources

SHOSS · January 25, 2012

You know its Off Season...when we talk about secret sources

Secret Sources or sauces... The most significant tidbit regarding realignment has been a recruit stating part of the sales pitch from our coaches includes potentially moving to cusa.

It would really be nice to hear more than that.

Edited January 25, 2012 by SHOSS

untjim1995 · January 25, 2012

You know its Off Season...when we talk about secret sources

Not really a secret source at all, just a good friend who works for a bigger media outlet than the DRC. If he gets any answers, it won't be secret at all...

MeanGreen61 · January 25, 2012

FWIW

http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=550864

Arkstfan · January 26, 2012

From what I've gathered.

20 was on the table. I have serious doubts that is still the case.

Navy's entry into the Big East I believe will soon be followed by Air Force entering the Big East.

That leaves Alliance West with Colorado State, Fresno, Nevada, UNLV, New Mexico, Wyoming and football only Hawaii. Alliance East has 9 schools counting UTEP.

The Alliance will probably now look at the following models.

16. UTEP goes West each side has 8 in football, Hawaii either comes all sports or a non-football is added to the West.

18A. Add USU and SJSU to the West and stop.

18B. Add USU, UTEP moves West, one team added East, probably Temple.

untjim1995 · January 26, 2012

From what I've gathered.

20 was on the table. I have serious doubts that is still the case.

Navy's entry into the Big East I believe will soon be followed by Air Force entering the Big East.

That leaves Alliance West with Colorado State, Fresno, Nevada, UNLV, New Mexico, Wyoming and football only Hawaii. Alliance East has 9 schools counting UTEP.

The Alliance will probably now look at the following models.

16. UTEP goes West each side has 8 in football, Hawaii either comes all sports or a non-football is added to the West.

18A. Add USU and SJSU to the West and stop.
18B. Add USU, UTEP moves West, one team added East, probably Temple.

None of these bode well for UNT.

If we do stay in the SBC, we really need to talk to La Tech and NMSU in a very serious manner. Both would be good adds to the SBC. If La Tech won't get past ULM being in the conference, then the SBC should then reach out to Texas State and UTSA, which would literally force La Tech and NMSU to either choose to be independent (death wish) or join our league. We have got to kill the WAC before it gets the chance to build itself back up and use its only advantage (its name) to pass up our league again. Going from 10 to 14, but finally getting a division that would be made up of closer teams would be a lot better than what we have now. UNT, TX St, UTSA, La Tech, NMSU, Ark State, and ULL in the SBC West, ULM, USA, WKU, MUTS, FIU, FAU, and Troy in the East.

PlummMeanGreen · January 27, 2012

From what I've gathered.

20 was on the table. I have serious doubts that is still the case.

Navy's entry into the Big East I believe will soon be followed by Air Force entering the Big East.

That leaves Alliance West with Colorado State, Fresno, Nevada, UNLV, New Mexico, Wyoming and football only Hawaii. Alliance East has 9 schools counting UTEP.

The Alliance will probably now look at the following models.

16. UTEP goes West each side has 8 in football, Hawaii either comes all sports or a non-football is added to the West.

18A. Add USU and SJSU to the West and stop.
18B. Add USU, UTEP moves West, one team added East, probably Temple.

I know Arkstfan is a staunch defender of all things Sun Belt Conference'esque and he may be right on this one, but I think the more schools who leave the Alliance means North Texas moves up the ladder another important knotch toward eventual membership whether it happens this re-alignment cycle or the next in 1 or 2 years, but it still bodes well for us IMHO.

Da' Map, Boss! Da' Map! I think CUSA decision-makers (not smack board guessers) look at the Alliance map and sees one helluva' gigantic, gaping hole (DFW) right in the middle of these 2 leagues and whether they combine as an Alliance or stay separate that gaping hole is still there plus......with the decision-makers I feel the " A-Ha" light bulb finally comes on and sensibility begins to emerge concerning UNT. Even today a CUSA poster from either USM or ECU commented about North Texas good history and legacy in the NCAA. That is what we have now that others do not; just like it was what Tulane had with their even more celebrated NCAA legacy as a former SEC member. (What is Tulane doing competively now that we know North Texas could soon equal and exceed)?

Yet here we are....North Texas--a school with 40 years at the NCAA's highest level of competition beginning in its modern era which most say was the 1950's; yet here's our school that was actually well on its way up just like many of our former conference mates in the Missouri Valley Conference did in elevating their athletic programs, but then 1-AA , the Big West and the SBC hit North Texas smack dab in the middle of our gut and, subsequently, year after year got too many of our people thinking that "we were just not worthy" of anything except what we've had and have had now for a generation.

Apogee Stadium has done much to end much of the inferiority complex among our elect that our Life and Times at Fouts Field had so much to do with persevering. North Texas has shown it can and will spend the monies needed to advance and thanks to our UNT students who did so much to make our new stadium happen and even with their referendum allowing our athletic budget to significantly increase now and in the near future.

GMG!

Edited January 27, 2012 by PlummMeanGreen

shaft · January 27, 2012

After the big Dallas meeting UNLV's AD went on Las Vegas radio and said they were looking at an all sports league with 18, 22, or 24 teams.

The Big East is going to add one more. Army, and Temple are the top prospects in the East. Air Force and BYU have to be the top prospects in West.

If the alliance loses a MWC/West division team, they will have to move UTEP to the West. But there is a good chance UTEP may already move to the Western division. UTEP AD's has said they are seriously looking at the move.