The Independent Expansion Groundswell

[statman]

Star Telegram reporter tweeted some remarks TCU's Gary Patterson made today about the situation:

http://twitter.com/@engeljen

(Sorry, I'm not that smart and can't figure out how to embed it)

What the hell does THAT mean? (GP tweet) What else could happen? The only thing I can think of is a Big 12 invite for BYU. Which makes perfect sense - I just thought the Big 12 would've acted sooner if they were going to do anything this season...

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

If BYU leaves, splitting the new MWC tv contract 10 ways is going to be heaps of cash for these schools. Heaps. If BYU stays, then you get to split it 11 ways and most likely not evenly. Either way, what a cluster F.

According to the ESPN article the Mtn. contract says that if both BYU and Utah leave the conference is forced to renegotiate the contract. This could be the end of the Mtn. Nobody will miss it.

[statman]

If BYU leaves, splitting the new MWC tv contract 10 ways is going to be heaps of cash for these schools. Heaps. If BYU stays, then you get to split it 11 ways and most likely not evenly. Either way, what a cluster F.

What I want to know is how the MWC is going to help pay the cost of the newbies leaving the WAC. The Fresno release says specifically that the MWC was going to help pay. With what money? Paying half of what two teams would have to pay to leave is 1/2 the conferences annual TV revenue! The MWC just doesn't have millions sitting around. And with BYU gone, they'll be at risk of losing the TV contract altogether...

So where is the MWC coming up with the buyout cash?

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Well at least some people think BYU going independent will give them a shot at the BCS.
[ame="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=ncf&pollId=95808"]ESPN.com Poll Results by State[/ame]

[statman]

Can someone explain to me the logic behind Boise going back to the WAC? Even with the recent defections the MWC is still a better football conference.

Money and TV. Sans BYU & Utah, the Mountain is in SERIOUS jeopardy, let alone the $1.2 million TV money. And word is, under current situation, the MTN has the legal right to force a renegotiation of the contract or cancel it altogether.

That's it FSU, NV, etc. Run to the MWC and never play on TV again...

[landpoke]

What I want to know is how the MWC is going to help pay the cost of the newbies leaving the WAC. The Fresno release says specifically that the MWC was going to help pay. With what money? Paying half of what two teams would have to pay to leave is 1/2 the conferences annual TV revenue! The MWC just doesn't have millions sitting around. And with BYU gone, they'll be at risk of losing the TV contract altogether...

So where is the MWC coming up with the buyout cash?

Dude, why do you care? You're going to be making a million gazillion dollars for the broadcast rights to a bunch of directional Michigan and Louisiana games.

[statman]

Well at least some people think BYU going independent will give them a shot at the BCS.
ESPN.com Poll Results by State

With ESPN brokering ~ 4 games a year, assuming that they're generally decent BCS quality teams, our BCS bona fides would be fine. Without ESPN scheduling assistance & $$$, you'd have to wonder how long they could keep a decent schedule going. But with ESPN on board, I'm not concerned about being "BCS worthy" - not in the slightest.

[ERCougar]

What the hell does THAT mean? (GP tweet) What else could happen? The only thing I can think of is a Big 12 invite for BYU. Which makes perfect sense - I just thought the Big 12 would've acted sooner if they were going to do anything this season...

Maybe he knows something about an impending tcu invite?

[landpoke]

Money and TV. Sans BYU & Utah, the Mountain is in SERIOUS jeopardy, let alone the $1.2 million TV money. And word is, under current situation, the MTN has the legal right to force a renegotiation of the contract or cancel it altogether.

That's it FSU, NV, etc. Run to the MWC and never play on TV again...

Yes, I'm sure the MWC will never be on TV ever again. Ever.

[statman]

The commissioner is already welcoming them. You can bet he has a pulse on what the members think of the idea.

The members are grasping at straws. Their TV contract is in big trouble. Their only hope is to get to 12 teams and have a Championship game to sweeten the pot for Comcast. Otherwise, they might have to pay Comcast to put the games on TV...

[CardiacCoug]

I get the impression Boise doesn't think that way. Plus the rap against them is always, fairly or unfairly, that they play in a weak conference. Boise running the MWC (even sans Utah and BYU) is much more impressive than Boise running the WAC.

True.

I think shoring up the MWC by inviting Fresno and Nevada is a great way to make sure Boise doesn't have second thoughts.

A decimated WAC with the lowest of bottom feeders like Idaho, NMSU, USU, LaTech is terrible for non-football BYU sports. I think BYU should reconsider -- I would definitely prefer the WCC to the remaining WAC schools. I'm one of the few people who cares about basketball as much as football, and the thought of BYU playing basketball in what is left of the WAC is pretty terrible.

[statman]

I get the impression Boise doesn't think that way. Plus the rap against them is always, fairly or unfairly, that they play in a weak conference. Boise running the MWC (even sans Utah and BYU) is much more impressive than Boise running the WAC.

Curse you Landpoke! Going a French on us. I dropped the 'sans Utah & BYU' line a few minutes too late!

Foreign cliche coopter!

[oxcoug]

What the hell does THAT mean? (GP tweet) What else could happen? The only thing I can think of is a Big 12 invite for BYU. Which makes perfect sense - I just thought the Big 12 would've acted sooner if they were going to do anything this season...

One of the weirdest and most credible rumors I've heard today -

ESPN has been working on creating its own conference that would invite the best of the MWC and the WAC to play in one place.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Yes, I'm sure the MWC will never be on TV ever again. Ever.

That's gonna suck. I would have watched Wyoming games to commiserate with you.

[landpoke]

That's gonna suck. I would have watched Wyoming games to commiserate with you.

Yeah, it'll be tough. Maybe we can get in on that sweet ESPN conference. I bet players will get to choose their own crazy names, like "He Hate Me" and "Urine Bomb."