Air Force wants out

[Poke in New England]

I think it would be smart to bring BYU back. I dont know why everybody is all butt hurt that they left, who cares. I say bring em back.

If they had "only" just left, whatever. But on their way out, they tried to gut the MWC. Badly. And it would have left Wyoming where Idaho is now.

If Air Force leaves there are much better choices out there than BYU.

Who are the best choices of schools to potentially add?

MWC realignment thread season comes at the back end of Wyoming's basketball schedule

 

[WYO_Fan_inPA]

No way AFA leaves the MWC. They would have to likely pay an ungodly high exit fee.

Really?? How would the MWC collect it? The Air Force as a branch of the United States government theoretically would have sovereign immunity from lawsuit (unless waived).

Don't think it has to do with them being part of the government. They are an academic institution. MWC rules state the school must give at least one year's notice (prior to June 30) and forfeit the revenue it earns from the final year prior to leaving - so roughly $4-5 million.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

No way AFA leaves the MWC. They would have to likely pay an ungodly high exit fee.

Really?? How would the MWC collect it? The Air Force as a branch of the United States government theoretically would have sovereign immunity from lawsuit (unless waived).

Don't think it has to do with them being part of the government. They are an academic institution. MWC rules state the school must give at least one year's notice (prior to June 30) and forfeit the revenue it earns from the final year prior to leaving - so roughly $4-5 million.

Yes it does. You cannot sue the government or any branch thereof (including the Air Force and academy) unless the government agrees to waive the sovereign immunity or unless statute provides otherwise. This is why the police officer is sued in a civil rights violation claims rather than the city/state itself. The money on any collection will ultimately come from the city/state under insurance indemnification agreements that the city/state have with the police officer under the terms of the employment (otherwise no one would ever agree to be a police officer with this potential liability).

Now - as you seem to suggest - if the MWC collects the TV and NCAA credits revenue and simply withholds it from Air Force, this doesn't bring up a sovereign immunity issue because it would be Air Force suing the MWC potentially (not vice versa). But it is doubtful that the MWC could sue Air Force for any additional monies that are already in the possession of Air Force.

 

[cowpoke pride]

A couple of thoughts on previous posts.....
"If Air Force leaves there are much better choices out ther than BYU."
Like....New Mexico St.....and UTEP......and Rice and some FCS school?

"Air Force isn't getting a P5 invite."
Actually, they did get an invite to the Big XII a few years back.

 

[WYO_Fan_inPA]

A couple of thoughts on previous posts.....
"If Air Force leaves there are much better choices out ther than BYU."
Like....New Mexico St.....and UTEP......and Rice and some FCS school?

"Air Force isn't getting a P5 invite."
Actually, they did get an invite to the Big XII a few years back.

New Mexico State, Rice, and UTEP are 3 of the worst teams in FBS this season. Would make NO sense to add them.

 

[SheepSlayer]

A couple of thoughts on previous posts.....
"If Air Force leaves there are much better choices out ther than BYU."
Like....New Mexico St.....and UTEP......and Rice and some FCS school?

"Air Force isn't getting a P5 invite."
Actually, they did get an invite to the Big XII a few years back.

I wouldn't say there are any better choices in terms of the money they generate (although they would probably try to negotiate not committing to any revenue sharing...), but they would no doubt look for their first chance to exit to a P5 conference and screw over the MW on the way out. The MW should look for a program that would be committed to the conference. NMSU and UTEP both make sense geographically. If you went FCS route, Montana would make some sense. NDSU has been mentioned as well but isn't a good fit geographically.

The only thing I can find on Air Force getting a Big 12 invite was the AD at Air Force back in 2011 saying they had been approached by the Big 12 but said no thanks. This was at the time it was looking like the Big 12 could dissolve completely as the Texas and Oklahoma schools were rumored to be going to the PAC-16 and most other Big 12 schools were jumping ship (Nebraska, CU, Mizzou, A&M). I can't find anywhere the Big 12 confirming an offer was made to AF and being approached isn't the same as being offered. CSewe was approached by the Big 12 in 2016 along with 16 other mid-major programs and they're about as worthy of a P5 invite as Wyoming is of jumping straight to the NFL