What is Thompson doing?

[wellpoke]

The last time the conference was threatened, Thompson took some pretty quick and decisive action to put the conference back in order. Bringing Boise, Fresno, Nevada, and eventually Hawaii in from the WAC put the kaibosh on the WAC's plans to screw the Mtn West. This time, it appears that Thompson is waiting for the other shoe to drop, and then move to pick up the pieces.

I suppose it's probably because he feels no one would turn down an invite from the Big Least, simply because they have the AQ. But is that still going to be the case, even if the Big Least invites Boise and they accept? From what I've been reading/hearing, maintaining that AQ status, even with Boise, is going to be tough for the BE.

So, in that light, why doesn't Thompson invite SMU and Houston and make a big public deal about it. These are names that have already been tossed around as potential invites, and it keeps us in the Texas market. That forces those schools to make a decision, and it forces schools like Boise and AF to make their decision as well. If Thompson could somehow manage to get those two schools, the Big East dies a slow and painful death, and their AQ status comes up for grabs. Having taken the best of C-USA, how can the MWC be denied? The best part of it all? It leaves BYU in the cold... :lol:

Maybe it's a pie-in-the-sky wish to see something like that happen, but what do we have to lose?

GO POKES!

 

[calpoke25]

MWC isn't in a position to invite anybody. Houston/SMU wouldn't accept an invite here until they have exhausted all other potential AQ options, be that Big 12 or BE. It wouldn't do much good to stage some public show offering them an invite, only to have them reject us. You might say, they're crazy if they think the Big 12 will come calling or that the BE is a viable long term option, but their fans/administrators may think so. Until they are convinced otherwise they aren't looking at the MWC.

Thompson only does what the President's tell him to. If you're unhappy with that, speak to them.

That being said, the MWC isn't really threatened this time around like it was with the Project. BSU isn't going anywhere and it's still tough for me to see AFA actually leaving. MWC is actually in a VERY stable position. No need to overreact.

 

[MrTitleist]

I've heard things... regarding Idaho... I have a guess that Utah State might be next on the MW radar. :twocents:

 

[wellpoke]

MWC is actually in a VERY stable position. No need to overreact.

I hope so, just seems like we could end the crap by forcing some hands.

Thompson only does what the President's tell him to.

I know, but he has an advisory role in all of this. He's the one they pay to keep track of what's going on and to come up with a plan of the best options.

BSU isn't going anywhere and it's still tough for me to see AFA actually leaving.

I agree, but it still seems like something needs to be done to give these schools a reason to think twice about jumping somewhere like the Big Least.

Houston/SMU wouldn't accept an invite here until they have exhausted all other potential AQ options, be that Big 12 or BE.

I'm not so sure about that. Big 12 has said they aren't expanding any more unless someone else leaves, which doesn't look likely. Where's the guarantee that the Big Least keeps the AQ status even if they get Boise? They were basically on probation with the BCS before the shake-up, and many aren't convinced they'll keep it after.

GO POKES!

 

[alyssa]

So, in that light, why doesn't Thompson invite SMU and Houston and make a big public deal about it.



Have y'all seen our websites? SMU2BCS.com.

Houston followed recently with UH4BCS.

That's smu2bcs.com .

 

[Cowduck]

I don't know why he isn't targeting the Big East for a confederation-type deal w/champs playing for a BCS spot rather than CUSA. MWC has been more deserving of a BCS AQ slot than Big East for a while now and that was before the defections. I see the BCS saying neither of of you get AQ slots before they say both of you get one. At this point MWC offering to pit their champ against the Big East's champ for an AQ slot would be getting the MWC the access it has deserved and throwing the Big East a lifeline.

 

[COS Cowboy]

I don't know why he isn't targeting the Big East for a confederation-type deal w/champs playing for a BCS spot rather than CUSA. MWC has been more deserving of a BCS AQ slot than Big East for a while now and that was before the defections. I see the BCS saying neither of of you get AQ slots before they say both of you get one. At this point MWC offering to pit their champ against the Big East's champ for an AQ slot would be getting the MWC the access it has deserved and throwing the Big East a lifeline.

Interesting idea, but I only see this happening if the BE loses its AQ bid. Why would they agree to it otherwise? What about the bowl money? Does the winner get to keep it or is it split between bothe conferences? If you ran the BE would you agree to share what was and currently still is all yours?

 

[Cowduck]

I don't know why he isn't targeting the Big East for a confederation-type deal w/champs playing for a BCS spot rather than CUSA. MWC has been more deserving of a BCS AQ slot than Big East for a while now and that was before the defections. I see the BCS saying neither of of you get AQ slots before they say both of you get one. At this point MWC offering to pit their champ against the Big East's champ for an AQ slot would be getting the MWC the access it has deserved and throwing the Big East a lifeline.

Interesting idea, but I only see this happening if the BE loses its AQ bid. Why would they agree to it otherwise? What about the bowl money? Does the winner get to keep it or is it split between bothe conferences? If you ran the BE would you agree to share what was and currently still is all yours?

The Big East losing their AQ bid is not an if. It's a certainty IMO. They are likely to suffer even more defections when the next domino falls (Missouri - see http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/extras/colleges_blog/2011/10/big_easts_fate.html ). It's a decent possibility at this juncture that they won't even exist as a football conference in the near future.

Edited to add: The MWC was ahead of the Big East in terms of AQ criteria I believe, and that was before the Syracuse/Pitt defections. And the BCS people are much more likely to say "neither of you gets AQ status" than "both of you do." That's why I say Big East losing AQ status is a certainty.

 

[billings]

My guess is Idaho has called the Big Sky. Assuming USU and maybe SJSU are goin MWC and LA Tech is going CUSA thus killing FB in the WAC

 

[COS Cowboy]

The Big East losing their AQ bid is not an if. It's a certainty IMO. They are likely to suffer even more defections when the next domino falls (Missouri - see http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/extras/colleges_blog/2011/10/big_easts_fate.html ). It's a decent possibility at this juncture that they won't even exist as a football conference in the near future.

Edited to add: The MWC was ahead of the Big East in terms of AQ criteria I believe, and that was before the Syracuse/Pitt defections. And the BCS people are much more likely to say "neither of you gets AQ status" than "both of you do." That's why I say Big East losing AQ status is a certainty.

Don't be so sure.

http://outkickthecoverage.com/big-east-unlikely-to-lose-bcs-bid.php

 

[billings]

That article almost makes it sound like ESPN is trying to lowball the BE on TV dollars and is building up he ACC as its East Coast darling now


2. Boston College's athletic director told the Boston Globe that ESPN encouraged it to take Pittsburgh and Syracuse from the Big East.

 

[AfiPoke]

Ok, I need some clarification.

As I understand conference USA's agreement, it is a 7 mil buyout and a 2013 earliest start date? Is this correct?

If it is, why would UH or SMU even answer CT's calls?

Ignoring the MWC's perception problems for the moment, we couldn't even consider offering these two schools the kind of financial help the Big East could provide?

I think we missed the boat with Houston. I don't think SMU was on anyone's radar (sorry Alyssa).