WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BSC MERGING WITH THE WAC

[HighLineGRIZ]

My guess is that Idaho will be playing all sports in the Big Sky by 2015. They will give the Independent route a hard try and hope like hell that there are further changes in the FBS that will allow them to find a home somewhere. I don't see that happening. They are going to struggle to get teams to travel to Moscow to play and will even struggle to find road games near the middle and end of the season. If you don't have the financial resources of a Notre Dame or the historic nationwide rivalries of a service academy, it is extremely difficult to be Independent. Hopefully we'll have UI and NMSU as members in the next couple years.

 

[Spanky]

We could have them as members, but not from choice. The Big Sky is regarded as Division2 and they won't be excited to play many of the schools in the Big Sky.

 

[Ursa Major]

Under Doug Fullerton’s careful leadership the Big Sky Conference is becoming the NCAA”s version of the Island of Misfit Toys.

 

[GrizMusician]

We could have them as members, but not from choice. The Big Sky is regarded as Division2 and they won't be excited to play many of the schools in the Big Sky.

We'll see what they think when they get their asses handed to them by the upper half of our conference.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[GrizBacker04]

On a serious note....there are only 5 teams left in the WAC

Boise State - will probably end up in Big West
New Mexico State - wants no part of the Big Sky, but recognizes they need a league
Seattle - rumored to be trying to get into WCC
Denver - would also like to be in WCC
Idaho - probably will put non-football sports in Big Sky

NMSU & Idaho will go independent for at least 2-3 years with hope that they get a MWC invite, which is sure to come within that time frame. BSU & San Diego St will push for at least two more schools in the West Big East division (rumors are Air Force & either Hawaii or Fresno State) so they have partner schools. At that point MWC will need more schools, so NMSU & Idaho will both get invites. Many believe Idaho would get invite before NMSU.

So even if we merge, odds are some of them still move on elsewhere within next year or so. IMO best scenario is just add Idaho at this point for non-football sports, and sign home & home contract for a couple years in football.

I can't see the Mountain West ever adding New Mexico State, and it would be a surprise if they added Idaho as well. The more logical landing spot for New Mexico State will be the Sun Belt Conference. The Mountain West will remain at 10 teams for the foreseeable future and wait to see how Boise State/San Diego State fair in the Big East from a TV money standpoint. Especially with there no longer being a BCS and the Big East probably not getting near the same amount of revenue from a playoff as it did being an AQ in the BCS, the main reason those two schools joined the Big East was for TV revenue. The Big East is in the process of negotiating its TV deal right now, but many believe it will not be worth near as much as they promised Boise State, since the Big East has been raided to the point that it is no better than the MWC, besides Boise State. If that is the case, Boise State and San Diego State may quickly realize it is not worth it to them to travel across the country to play Central Florida or Memphis while their other sports play in lesser conferences. The Big East begrudgingly added San Diego State as a partner for Boise State, and since the Big East simply wanted Boise State to help keep its AQ status in the BCS (something that won't exist once the playoff structure starts) the Big East doesn't have to really keep Boise State happy, especially after they sign their TV deal. The Big East won't expand into the west anymore than it already has.

In regards to how it affects the Big Sky, it should simply hold out until the WAC dies, which it more than likely will if Boise State places their olympic sports in the Big West and New Mexico State begs to be let into the Sun Belt. Idaho would then be basically left with no choice but to join the Big Sky as a full member, which would be a great addition, and the Big Sky would be in a great position going forward. Not a stretch to think that there will only be 3 football-playing conferences out west in the near future, as Doug Fullerton has mentioned before.

 

[Spanky]

Musician....upper half, I don't think so. Some years....of course, Montana.

 

[Hammer]

We could have them as members, but not from choice. The Big Sky is regarded as Division2 and they won't be excited to play many of the schools in the Big Sky.

Because the upper half of the Big Sky would likely beat those teams.

 

[Spanky]

Not the upper half....Montana, yes.

 

[Tyler.A]

I think right now would be very bad timing for this kinda move.

 

[dupuyer griz]

does anyone else just really not give a isht we've been talking about this for what, a year? This forum is griz football and the FCS. In case no one else has noticed this is I don't give an isht on 2 levels for this forum. Move this crap to sports or basketball.