Mountain West and Conference USA Expansion News

[Harry]

The Mountain West Conference and Conference USA are working on something big right now. It was announced last fall they would merge. Fresno State is set to leave the WAC for the Mountain West this summer, but it could be a short stay.

Everybody is looking for stability in the wake of the latest round of realignment with schools moving from one conference to another. This proposal is the result of that concern.

If everything goes according to the plan, both the Mountain West and Conference USA would dissolve and a new conference would be created, beginning competition in all sports, not just football, in the summer of 2013.

There would be two divisions of at least eight schools apiece. The Eastern Division would be made up of the remaining Conference USA members while the Western Division would be built around those in, or bound for, the Mountain West. The numbers could change as schools are moved around or added.

There would be a conference championship game between East and West in football, and crossover games during the regular season. There could also be a holiday basketball tournament.

It is believed dissolving the original contracts would void both network TV contracts and open the door for a new deal that should be more lucrative considering the amount of schools and the size of the cities involved.

It if all comes together as planned, the proposed conference could have bigger demographic numbers than the Big East and the ACC. That could be important if the BCS formula sticks around.

Read More: http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=548943

[UNTflyer]

If true, that's it. We're stuck in the Sun Belt.

[shaft]

It all hinges on two things; 1. Do they let Hawaii in for all sports. 2. Will UTEP move into the western division.

[GrayEagle]

Guys...Guys...what are you reading? Let me quote three excerpts from the KMPH article:

"...at least eight schools" Unless they dump Hawaii there will be at least nine in one of the conferences/divisions and other sources have said that there will be at least nine in each division.

"the numbers could change as schools are moved around or added" Does this possibly indicate that the number and structure are not final? What we definitely don't know is how many may be added.

"If it all comes together as planned the proposed conference could have bigger demographic numbers than the Big East and the ACC" DFW is the fifth largest TV market in the country and is not currently included in the makeup of the Alliance. It is the largest population center within the footprint. There are 5.777 million people in just the counties that abut Denton County. How can you surpass the Big East without those numbers?

If you want to beat yourselves up go ahead but this article actually gave me more hope, not less, than previously.

[NorthTexan95]

I bet all the Sun Belt teams are pitching "we may move to CUSA" to their recruits.

[PlummMeanGreen]

Guys...Guys...what are you reading? Let me quote three excerpts from the KMPH article:

"...at least eight schools" Unless they dump Hawaii there will be at least nine in one of the conferences/divisions and other sources have said that there will be at least nine in each division.

"the numbers could change as schools are moved around or added" Does this possibly indicate that the number and structure are not final? What we definitely don't know is how many may be added.

"If it all comes together as planned the proposed conference could have bigger demographic numbers than the Big East and the ACC" DFW is the fifth largest TV market in the country and is not currently included in the makeup of the Alliance. It is the largest population center within the footprint. There are 5.777 million people in just the counties that abut Denton County. How can you surpass the Big East without those numbers?

If you want to beat yourselves up go ahead but this article actually gave me more hope, not less, than previously.

And Jack here are the total numbers:

The 2010 official U.S. Census real counts has the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex at 6,371,773 making it the largest metro in the The South.

Honestly, Jack, they need our huge market more than they probably need us, but fortunately for us (and unfortunately for probably a couple of others) North Texas comes with the market. (No, upon further review, they need North Texas, too).

GMG!

PS: Stayin' busy & having fun! www.soundworksdeejay.com

My regards to Jessica and all, Jack, and hope your health is OK.

GMG !!

Edited January 19, 2012 by PlummMeanGreen