The MWC Chooses Not To Expand...For Now

I can understand all the BSU fans being upset, but it is really not necessary. The MW does not want to do this thing piecemeal. If there is going to be expansion – and that is almost a certainty at this point – why not give the process due consideration and make one big move rather than two or three. BSU is guaranteed admission. They have kicked the door in and the MW really cannot afford to not let them in. So everyone take a deep breath. It’s going to happen. The real question is whether the MW becomes a 12-team league or goes for broke and shoots for 14 to 16 teams, which seems to be the new norm. So many options, it’s mind-boggling I am sure.

As for the MW doing some kind of bold move and trying to expand before all the other conferences make a move, well, that is just reality. Don’t be so “home grown” that you fail to do reality testing. The MW is well advised to wait until they know what schools the PAC 10 will add and whether, as so many of us hope, the Big 12 disintegrates. It’s just the way it is.

And just on a side note, since many MW fans know so little about Texas politics — I don’t believe TCU would stand by and accept Baylor into the MW. These are crazy times and anything can happen. But there is bad blood there and I just cannot see it happening. TCU would probably welcome Houston, and greater access to the four million people in the Greater Houston market, but that’s another story.

if the PAC-10 takes 4 from them and the Big-10 takes 2 then the Big-12 will just offer to take the best from the MWC and maybe even Boise and Houston, and the MWC will almost no longer exist instead of the Big-12. Waiting is dumb, the MWC will disappear way before the Big-12 will.

First, IF the PAC-10 does get 6 teams from the Big 12 then the Big 12 will cease to exist. Period. DONE and OUT! It will have no clout to pick up teams from the MW. The table will be turned and the MW will definitely be in the driver’s seat.

Secondly, Redhawk, thanks for the word, but UTEP is in C-USA with Houston. I believe that both UTEP and Houston would make excellent additions to the MW.

If the PAC-10 scenario does come to pass then there will be a lot of scenarios to select from. It is likely the the “left behind” of the Big 12 will be Kansas, K-State, Iowa State and either Baylor or Colorado. Personally, I hope Colorado is available to join the MW, which I hope will take the bold path and move to a 16-team conference which will have a significant presence in Texas (with all the benefits that entails) if it picks up Houston and UTEP, along with TCU. I just don’t think TCU will stand for Baylor being admitted. Since we are playing mind games, here is a very plausable scenario:

WEST (Wild West!) MOUNTAIN
TCU Air Force
Houston Wyoming
UTEP Boise State
Kansas Utah
K-State BYU
New Mexico UNLV
Colorado State San Diego St.
Colorado Fresno State

I love the expansion of the Wild West theme. First there is a semblance of power balance between the two divisions. And then there is geographic sanity. Then you get the Western history of Dodge City, Fort Worth, Judge Roy Bean, the world’s largeat rodeo in Houston (it’s BIG!), and all kinds of fun stuff for marketing. Plus the MW becomes a major player in the recruiting wars of Texas.

Of course there are many possible variations to this scenario. And there is going to be time to play with them all. For example, does the MW take UTEP or Nevada-Reno? Iowa State will certainly make a pitch, but does it really fit? If Colorado is not available count on Baylor to make a fanatical pitch for membership. Lots of possibilities, but in the end you can end up with a seriously power-house conference that will most certainly be a BCS conference.

And don’t overlook the basketball possibilities of this new MW. Kansas? Wow. The MW becomes big time in bb overnight. Meanwhile, everyone just breathe!

Back it up there hard chargers. It’s simple to say that the Big 12 will implode if the PAC 10 takes six from them, but that’s just not the case. Even if the PAC 10 and the Big 10 poach the teams they are suspected of courting the truth of the matter is the Big 12 is an AQ conference. So let’s all use our collective imagination and see if we can’t just envision what the commissioner of the Big 12 does if all those teams leave…oh crap, I know…he invites four schools (Utah, BYU, TCU and maybe Houston/Boise/or whoever else) to keep the conference afloat until it can right itself. Everyone can think the MWC is the conference that will make the power play but when an AQ conference comes a knockin’ those schools will be jumpin’ ship and frantically swimming to the golden shore. The bigger truth is that the likelihood of the PAC and Big 10 taking all the teams being thrown around right now is very small. Teams will probably abandon the Big 12, but more than likely the Big 12 will just poach some of the finer non-AQs and watch the MWC and WAC scramble to figure out what happened. Gents, that is what happens when you base your survival strategy on indecision. I have a feeling that the MWC is about to get jerked around just as much as it’s been jerking BSU around over the last few years. Karma…no. Poor leadership.