CUSA MWC Merger Leaves USU out in the Cold

Harry · February 11, 2012

If a merger happens, that would put Hawaii, UNLV, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado State, Air Force, Fresno State and Nevada in a western division and Southern Mississippi, Tulsa, Marshall, Rice, Alabama-Birmingham, Tulane, East Carolina and UTEP in an eastern division.

That could be a good thing for both conferences. Though far-flung and unwieldy, it might stop the hemorrhaging. Meanwhile, the WAC is trying to hang on by the fingernails. It has so far been unable to attract the Big Sky's Montana and keeps losing teams to the Mountain West.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson has openly admitted he has had trouble attracting football schools and the possibility of a basketball-only conference like the West Coast is real. In that case, USU would be hard-pressed to find a place to play football at a Division I-A level.

So the changing continues. At least for the moment, it seems teams from the MWC and CUSA might find some solid ground. The WAC is still on shifting sands. It currently has just seven football schools in the plan (Louisiana Tech, Utah State, San Jose State, New Mexico State, Idaho, Texas State, Texas-San Antonio).

When the MWC was trying to add teams, the Aggies had a chance to join in. But if it merges with CUSA, that would be a 16-team league, leaving USU out in the cold again.

Read more: http://www.deseretnews.com/blog/41/10012953/Rockmonster-unplugged-C-USAMWC-merger-would-leave-USU-in-cold.html

ADLER · February 12, 2012

That would be a 16-team league, leaving USU out in the cold.

Well, they do say that good things happen for good people and hopefully Utah State will soon be able to join the Big Sky Conference.

DeepGreen · February 12, 2012

Say no to Utah St and New Mex State coming back to the Sun Belt. They(USU) really dissed the Sun Belt when they left for the WAC last time.

Green Mean · February 13, 2012

Say no to Utah St and New Mex State coming back to the Sun Belt. They(USU) really dissed the Sun Belt when they left for the WAC last time.

This doesn't really matter. Common sense says that they need us and we need them. I'll welcome both of those back in the belt any day of the week.

Travis · February 13, 2012

This doesn't really matter. Common sense says that they need us and we need them. I'll welcome both of those back in the belt any day of the week.

We need them?

Green Mean · February 13, 2012

We need them?

Why not? USU has a great basketball program and their football program is ok. We have a history with NMSU and it would be an old mate that would rekindle. This is also assuming we luck out and are forced to be in the belt.