The MWC needs Mizzou to join the SEC

My only hesitation: does Craig Thompson have the testicular fortitude and foresight to pull that ambitious set of additions and negotiations off?

My gut says no. But you guys study this conference a lot more than I do.

I disagree to a point, because Boise State has been mentioned as a possible Big 12, but a lot of things need to happen, and one of those is Missouri leaving the Big 12. I am thinking it could be Louisville and West Virginia and then have BYU and Boise to join the Big 12. Makes sense to help with traveling for minor points.

I don’t totally disagree with you, but I still think that Boise could go but maybe TCU instead of Boise, but you have the right idea in that if the Big East dissolves the MWC will have a seat at the BCS table.

but if they do, it will make it less likely for the Big 12 to add Louisville, Cincinnati, and West Virginia. Missouri would have served as a gateway east to these schools and without Missouri these make less sense. I do believe geographical contiguous does matter. Sure these three teams can still be added but without Missouri I think it less likely.

BYU is likely.
TCU is likely.
Tulane has been mentioned, and I am fine with that.
Colorado State in my opinion would be more likely than AFA. AFA would still want to play Army and Navy each year, leaving little room for regional non conference games against Colorado and Colorado State. Thus it won’t have as much presence in the Colorado market. Besides, the Colorado – Colorado State rivalry is good.
Boise State would be considered if Missouri leaves and the Big 12 looks west rather than east.

If the Big East survives (more likely if Missouri leaves the Big 12) then then MWC might also lose AFA (in addition to Colorado State and Boise State) it would be bad for the MWC, which then might have to consider merging with the WAC or C-USA. WAC makes more sense from travel cost stand point.

At this point I would not be shocked to see the Big East just merge with CUSA for survival purposes. This may even allow them to retain their AQ status, whether or not it would be deserved.
Who would blame the CUSA if the Big East reached out to them with this proposal. Everyone knows about the discussions between the MWC and CUSA and, with the lack of loyalty being displayed across the land, the Big East could step right into the mix.
Personally, I believe a merger of the Big East and CUSA would be a good move for the eastern half of the country. Then the MWC and WAC could merge to cover the western half of the country. Two strong 14/16 team conferences with conference championship games. Both of these conference champion should then be invited to the BCS playoff.

Now that WVU has joined the Big XII and and Mizzou is set to officially join the SEC there are reports that the Big East doesn’t want to talk to the MW and C-USA to form the super league previously proposed, so commissioner Thompson has to step up. He, along with the Big East commissioner have come out of this situation looking like Nero fiddling while Rome burns. It is time to stop thinking about about what is best for his relationship with commissioner Banowski (C-USA) and start doing what is best for the MW, its academic institutions and the fans thereof.
My suggestions, in order of action I think he should take at this moment, which we all know can and will make any suggestions impossible at any moment are as follows.

1.) Talk to powers that be at the BCS and ask if following proposal steps will give MW AQ status. He and his buddy B. Banowski, who is also head of NCAA infractions committee so he should have a clue, didn’t bother to follow this step before starting off the football merger.
2.) Once Ok is given, which I suspect it would be other wise what’s the point, kill the MW with its purple and grey moniker and create the “Big West” or something similar. Gotta get out of terrible TV contract somehow…
3.) Re-invite all 10 members (next year’s) and get Hawaii for ALL sports, not just football.
4.) Invite Houston, SMU, Louisville and Cincinnati. If these teams know that the AQ status is guaranteed, see step one, there is a greater likelihood of this happening.
4.a.) If new, tier 1 and tier 2 contacts are available, invite BYU and offer the institution its own tier 3 rights, i.e. the ability to keep BYU-TV. That, plus AQ status,could bring them back in. Then there would be the need to bring in either SJSU or, probably better, Memphis/Marshall to make the East teams happy. Need even number.
5.) Allow teams, preferably in pairs to create combined tier 3 networks for olympic sports and non-nationally covered football games. Example, Wyoming/CSU. Not a natural pairing, but a way to keep costs low and get exposure. Helps recruiting in other areas.
6. Add conference championship game with new contract and revenue sharing. $$$ and exposure.

Mr. Thompson, this is to you: you are in a raid or be raided business. You sit and hang out with your friend B.B., while all of the good teams bolt as soon as they get a chance. Do something about it! If the Big East (Big Least) is dead, how is it that it can hold talks with BSU and AFA, and be poised to get Houston and SMU? If it is so dead, why are you and your friend Britton hanging out in New York trying to get an audience (and being denied)? Your inactivity and lack of vision have allowed BYU, Utah and TCU to leave for greener pastures. Are we about to lose 2 more? If we had all of those now departed teams, even some of them, the MW would be an AQ conference. Adding USU and/or UTEP doesn’t help! We, the fans, are tired of watching you react instead of striking first, while the iron is hot. Act, add quality and get results or resign!