Could UNT Have An Option ? CUSA or MWC ?

[MeanGreen61]

Part of a post by Arkstfan on the Belt board.

"Third.

I said previously, CUSA needs to watch their back because I felt there was a good chance the merger would fail but that MWC might well raid UTEP and maybe others out before it was all said and done. If I'm Bankowsky, I'm on the phone right now with Tulsa, Rice and Tulane to make sure Thompson isn't trying to take them with UTEP. CUSA has options. MWC has USU, Idaho, NMSU, SJSU in their footprint and that is it. MWC is liable to declare Texas remains in their footprint and head that way."

[NThomas]

Part of a post by Arkstfan on the Belt board.

"Third.

I said previously, CUSA needs to watch their back because I felt there was a good chance the merger would fail but that MWC might well raid UTEP and maybe others out before it was all said and done. If I'm Bankowsky, I'm on the phone right now with Tulsa, Rice and Tulane to make sure Thompson isn't trying to take them with UTEP. CUSA has options. MWC has USU, Idaho, NMSU, SJSU in their footprint and that is it. MWC is liable to declare Texas remains in their footprint and head that way."

UTEP has expressed dozens of times how much the school preferred the 12-team C-USA to the 9-team MWC since most of their alumni are in Houston and North Texas. With only Tulsa and Rice left near their alumni base, I can't see UTEP jumping to the MWC alone without at least another school in North Texas (UNT) or Houston (Rice).

[UNTexas]

UTEP has expressed dozens of times how much the school preferred the 12-team C-USA to the 9-team MWC since most of their alumni are in Houston and North Texas. With only Tulsa and Rice left near their alumni base, I can't see UTEP jumping to the MWC alone without at least another school in North Texas (UNT) or Houston (Rice).

I don't know if that is necessarily true. Sure they have a lot of alumni in Houston and DFW, however, they have alumni out west too. EP is closer to California than it is Dallas or Houston. Back in the day when the WAC was a different conference it made perfect sense for them to play there. They fit in CUSA or MWC conferences either way they go. If they do anything that is.

[Daddy Dumpsalot]

Everything is speculation at this point. I vote that we stop speculating....especially seeing as how this whole merger/non-merger really doesn't even directly affect us.

[UNTexas]

Everything is speculation at this point. I vote that we stop speculating....especially seeing as how this whole merger/non-merger really doesn't even directly affect us.

Wise call.

[PlummMeanGreen]

I am just not ready to start high five'n until we get in either. Just too damn many things that can still happen in today's NCAA.

GMG!

[Harry]

Everything is speculation at this point. I vote that we stop speculating....especially seeing as how this whole merger/non-merger really doesn't even directly affect us.

[shaft]

Was that from the foil hat sports conspiracy theory board?

And why would anyone want Idaho?

[NThomas]

I don't know if that is necessarily true. Sure they have a lot of alumni in Houston and DFW, however, they have alumni out west too. EP is closer to California than it is Dallas or Houston. Back in the day when the WAC was a different conference it made perfect sense for them to play there. They fit in CUSA or MWC conferences either way they go. If they do anything that is.

Here's and article from the El Paso Times that cites UTEP President Diana Natalicio's stance on C-USA vs. MWC membership: http://elpasotimes.typepad.com/utepsports/2011/01/utep-at-houstonmountain-west-talk.html

UTEP president Diana Natalicio told me Thursday that UTEP is committed to stay in a league with Houston, Rice, SMU - the western C-USA. A Texas school (UTEP staying with Texas schools is key, she said. Yes, there are some advantages to playing schools in your own state. Exposure in Houston and Dallas helps recruting (does it?)

[Mean Green 93-98]

Here's and article from the El Paso Times that cites UTEP President Diana Natalicio's stance on C-USA vs. MWC membership: http://elpasotimes.typepad.com/utepsports/2011/01/utep-at-houstonmountain-west-talk.html

UTEP president Diana Natalicio told me Thursday that UTEP is committed to stay in a league with Houston, Rice, SMU - the western C-USA. A Texas school (UTEP staying with Texas schools is key, she said. Yes, there are some advantages to playing schools in your own state. Exposure in Houston and Dallas helps recruting (does it?)

Well, they can't commit to staying in a league with Houston and SMU . . . I doubt Rice alone makes C-USA more enticing for UTEP than the MWC.

[MeanGreen61]

Well, they can't commit to staying in a league with Houston and SMU . . . I doubt Rice alone makes C-USA more enticing for UTEP than the MWC.

UTEP's 2012 recruit class. 17 of 22 are from Texas, mostly from the Houston or DFW areas. Appears that Houston & DFW are prime recruiting areas as well as having quite a few UTEP alumni.

Edited March 27, 2012 by MeanGreen61

[GreenPepper]

What are UNT's options?

Sit and Wait?

[emmitt01]

What are UNT's options?

Sit and Wait?

Yep. Those are the two.

[MeanGreenTexan]

Yep. Those are the two.

I imagine RV sitting on his hands so he can't pick up the phone.