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Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
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Posted: 12/14/2012 10:18 AM
Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
Greetings: I'm a South Florida fan that lives in Southern California (not far from B.R. Holbrook's home) and has a second home in the East Mountains. I've really enjoyed following the Lobos over the last decade. Just wanted to give Lobo fans a heads up that New Mexico's name has arisen in the conference realignment discussion: http://aol.sportingnews.com/nc...ent-connecticutSources close to the discussions told Sporting News on Friday that one possibility to give the Bearcats and Huskies a home, which is at the early stages of discussion, would be a cross-continent all-sports league involving disenfranchised members of the Big East as well as the most prominent members of the Mountain West.
The proposed entrants would be UConn, Cincinnati, South Florida, Memphis, Temple, Boise State, San Diego State, UNLV, New Mexico and possibly BYU or Central Florida. Such a league would include football programs that are comparable and competitive, as well as extraordinary basketball featuring eight teams that reached the NCAA Tournament last season. NBC Sports Network is likely to be approached to gauge its interest in such a property.
Take care everybody. Go Lobos!
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Posted: 12/14/2012 10:36 AM
Re: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
--------------------------------------------- --- SoCalBull wrote: Greetings: I'm a South Florida fan that lives in Southern California (not far from B.R. Holbrook's home) and has a second home in the East Mountains. I've really enjoyed following the Lobos over the last decade. Just wanted to give Lobo fans a heads up that New Mexico's name has arisen in the conference realignment discussion: aol.sportingnews.com/nc...ent-connecticutSources close to the discussions told Sporting News on Friday that one possibility to give the Bearcats and Huskies a home, which is at the early stages of discussion, would be a cross-continent all-sports league involving disenfranchised members of the Big East as well as the most prominent members of the Mountain West. The proposed entrants would be UConn, Cincinnati, South Florida, Memphis, Temple, Boise State, San Diego State, UNLV, New Mexico and possibly BYU or Central Florida. Such a league would include football programs that are comparable and competitive, as well as extraordinary basketball featuring eight teams that reached the NCAA Tournament last season. NBC Sports Network is likely to be approached to gauge its interest in such a property.
Take care everybody. Go Lobos! --------------------------------------------- That would be a SICK basketball conference, however the travel costs for all other sports would be very high. I don't see this getting any legs, however it's nice to be part of the conversation! |
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Posted: 12/14/2012 11:22 AM
Re: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
SoCalBull wrote: Greetings:
I'm a South Florida fan that lives in Southern California (not far from B.R. Holbrook's home) and has a second home in the East Mountains.
I've really enjoyed following the Lobos over the last decade.
Just wanted to give Lobo fans a heads up that New Mexico's name has arisen in the conference realignment discussion:
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nc...ent-connecticut
Sources close to the discussions told Sporting News on Friday that one possibility to give the Bearcats and Huskies a home, which is at the early stages of discussion, would be a cross-continent all-sports league involving disenfranchised members of the Big East as well as the most prominent members of the Mountain West.
The proposed entrants would be UConn, Cincinnati, South Florida, Memphis, Temple, Boise State, San Diego State, UNLV, New Mexico and possibly BYU or Central Florida. Such a league would include football programs that are comparable and competitive, as well as extraordinary basketball featuring eight teams that reached the NCAA Tournament last season. NBC Sports Network is likely to be approached to gauge its interest in such a property.
Take care everybody. Go Lobos!
Thanks for the info! This conference realignment stuff is crazy. As a fan, I'd prefer the conference footprints got smaller, and we all go back to the days of 8 and 9 teams leagues based on geography. These 16 team super-leagues are just too much.
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Posted: 12/14/2012 11:47 AM
Re: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
Thank you for the heads up.
Flattering, but they loss me at cross-continental.
The only real way to make something of this maginitude work is to merge entirely and only cross great distances when absolutely necessary.
Pass.
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Posted: 12/14/2012 11:51 AM
RE: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
We went to most games this season, minus Hawaii and Tech (flights are ridiculous into that toilet). I would be hard pressed to make many away games across the continent, it was tough to coach football on Friday night and still make games Saturdays. If we had to go all over the country, that would be tough.
I would prefer to stay on this side of the Mississippi if possible.
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Posted: 12/14/2012 12:04 PM
RE: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
No thanks - I perfer more regionally based conferences.
We Are New Mexico!
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Posted: 12/14/2012 12:11 PM
RE: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
From what I hear right now I would say no to joining this proposed conference, but at least we are being talked about, and I could change my mind depending on how this thing moves forward, if it does.
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Posted: 12/14/2012 12:53 PM
RE: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
"Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men." Douglas Bader; "Neither apply to politicians" LCL |
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Posted: 12/14/2012 12:56 PM
Re: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
As a followup, there's also been some discussion in the Orlando media (scroll down this twitter feed: http://twitter.com/thebeatofsports ) and elsewhere of a larger 14 or 16 team best of the rest national coast-to-coast all sports conference with east and west divisions to minmize travel. If it is to be an all sports league, you have to figure that New Mexico in a Top 50 TV market would be part of the mix in the west. Whether or not the UNM administration would have an interest in any of this is obviously an open question. Best regards. |
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Posted: 12/14/2012 1:14 PM
Re: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
SoCalBull wrote: As a followup, there's also been some discussion in the Orlando media (scroll down this twitter feed: http://twitter.com/thebeatofsports ) and elsewhere of a larger 14 or 16 team best of the rest national coast-to-coast all sports conference with east and west divisions to minmize travel.
If it is to be an all sports league, you have to figure that New Mexico in a Top 50 TV market would be part of the mix in the west.
Whether or not the UNM administration would have an interest in any of this is obviously an open question.
Best regards. I think UNM admin will listen but there are a lot of questions and concerns. As I stated on the basketball board, the biggest issue with this is that UConn and Cincinatti have both been publicly trying to get invites into the ACC. South Florida and Memphis have also been public about looking for the bigger, better deal. Setting up a national conference sounds great on paper but in reality... seems doomed to failure in the long run because schools are looking for the big pay day not setting up strong leagues. Not to mention that (unless I'm missing something) any new league would have to wait 8 years to get an auto bid to all NCAA championships. It's a lot to risk for something that could blow up easily. |
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Posted: 12/14/2012 3:32 PM
Re: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
I think the idea is great IF the national conference had 16 teams in east/west divisions. That way, travel would be limited to the regional area and division winners would play for the championship.
That would work. Maybe:
East
UConn
Cincy
South Florida
Memphis
Navy
East Carolina
Temple
SMU
West
UNM
UNLV
Boise State
SDSU
Fresno State
BYU
Air Force
Houston
Something like that anyhow......
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Posted: 12/14/2012 3:59 PM
Re: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
Said it on hoops board will say it here... The second we start making any kind of decisions based on Lobo basketball we are in serious trouble... And while this conference looks interesting the reality is it only keeps UCONN and Cincy alive...
Sorry boys go find your own playground... Let's stay West
1Peter 3:9
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Posted: 12/14/2012 4:14 PM
Re: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
Bandito, I agree about FB driving the bus but how does this hypothetical conference not enhance our FB program with better competition, more exposure and possibly more TV money?
If this conference DOES happen and UNM says no, you would prefer to be in a conference with CSU, Wyoming, Nevada, San Jose State, Hawaii and probably NMSU and Idaho? I don't get it. We would have no choice but to say yes.
However things unfold, UNM simply MUST end up in the best conference "other than the five" assuming we cannot get into the five.
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Posted: 12/14/2012 4:18 PM
Re: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
Riches6 wrote: Bandito, I agree about FB driving the bus but how does this hypothetical conference not enhance our FB program with better competition, more exposure and possibly more TV money?
If this conference DOES happen and UNM says no, you would prefer to be in a conference with CSU, Wyoming, Nevada, San Jose State, Hawaii and probably NMSU and Idaho? I don't get it. We would have no choice but to say yes.
However things unfold, UNM simply MUST end up in the best conference "other than the five" assuming we cannot get into the five. Because if we were to get Boise, BYU, and even SDSU back why in the world would we need to go East??? That thinking of the BE going West is what KILLED their conference... The MWC should learn from the error of the Big East expansion... Instead of repeat the same stupid mistake. Sometimes too much is too much If I were Thompson I would invite Boise BYU SDSU Houston SMU UTEP That is 16 football teams, for the most part Western US... Good natural rivalries, travel costs not to horrible... Really good football, really good basketball... We don't need UCONN and Cincy. They had no problem letting us rot for decades, now it is their turn.
1Peter 3:9
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Posted: 12/14/2012 4:29 PM
Re: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
OK, I understand and agree with you it would be better. The problem is that Boise State and SDSU may still prefer to start a new conference where a new TV contract can be negotiated. Those two schools still may not WANT to come back to the MWC (Boise State despises Craig Thompson) for a variety of reasons.
IF those two schools say NO to a return to the MWC and YES to a new conference then teams like Fresno State, Air Force, UNLV, Houston, SMU and BYU will be invited. If some of these teams say yes and join and UNM is invited, we would have no choice but to join with them. We can't stay witht the leftovers.
I would not assume that Boise State and SDSU have given up on a national conference with a Western Division and that it is a lock they will return to the MWC. The MWC still has a terrible TV contract, some hapless schools and a despised commissioner. Frankly, it also allows the new conference to get rid of CSU, Wyoming, SJSU, Hawaii and some others that do not bring much tv value.
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Posted: 12/14/2012 4:36 PM
Re: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
SJSU and Hawaii do give TV value... So that is wrong... And why would we want to get rid of the rest...
Lobo fans let me quote Steve Alford here...
"We are New Mexico."
Let's not get to big for our own britches here... Our football program isn't top notch and while Lobo hoops fans think we are some national powerhouse... We are still a mid-major that has never sniffed the Sweet 16... Should we really be talking about tossing out other teams?
I see here and on the MWC board a ton of Lobo fan arrogance... Really? Based on what? I think we should take the Air Force route... Which is be good conference mates, stay loyal, and be part of building a really good conference...
As far as TV contracts we get those 6 schools I wrote, the current TV contract gets torn up and another will be negotiated...
1Peter 3:9
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Posted: 12/14/2012 4:49 PM
Re: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
The only thing that gets the TV deal renegotiated is for the MWC to buy out the remainder of the contract -- which apparently is what's being discussed by the MWC presidents right now.
No adding of any school or combination of schools that are not part of the Big 5 conferences moves the needle enough.
The contract with NBC and CBS is extremely one-sided to their favor.
Plus the thing people always ignore on contract renegotiations is that there is almost always a buyout. The MWC presidents up til now have been to cheap to buy out the old contract. But now they see it's the only way -- and it's the only thing that will keep the conference relevant and in a position to negotiate a new contract.
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Posted: 12/14/2012 5:10 PM
Re: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
Hawaii does bring tv value but their games are on at 4:00 am in the east. SJSU?? Sure they are in a huge tv market but nobody cares about SJSU when you have 2 NFL teams, 2 MLB teams, an NBA team and California, Stanford and the PAC12. The old 16 team WAC learned there was no TV value to SJSU and the TV networks know it too. The real problem with Hawaii is the ocean in-between. Always has and always will be the problem. I prefer not to have "one-off" FB agreements.
You are right that UNM is no powerhouse in BB and has not done much in FB. That is exactly why UNM should join this hypothetical conference IF it ever happens and IF we are invited. It would be our best option.
We could remain "loyal" and stay with the teams that will not be invited like Wyoming, CSU, Utah State, Nevada and SJSU but that would be stupid. The MWC would then have to add some teams (NMSU, Idaho, Texas State?). We need to end up in the best conference possible. The MWC was not very "loyal" when we bolted the WAC and effectively "kicked out" the other 8 teams by forming a new conference. This is no different. It was not arrogance, just survival in a dog eat dog world.
You are assuming that the MWC WILL stay together as it stands now or maybe add BSU and SDSU. That is great (and fine with me) but it may not play out that way. The MWC really might be depleted again if a new conference is formed and have the best teams raided. All I am saying is that IF that happens and IF we are invited I think we have to say yes. I would rather be with BSU, Air Force (yes, AF will go), Fresno, BYU, Houston, SDSU, etc. than remain loyal with Wyoming, Utah State, CSU and NMSU. |
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Posted: 12/14/2012 5:13 PM
RE: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
The best situation in my opinion would be to convince BYU, BSU, SDSU to rejoin the MWC with UTEP, SMU, and Houston with a renegotiated TV contract.
Keep the conference west of the Mississippi if at all possible.
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Posted: 12/14/2012 6:34 PM
Re: Conference Realignment and New Mexico . . .
Our goal is the Big 12 or PAC 12, not the BE or some other conference w/BSU and BYU so they can save us. Even w/"powerhouses" BSU and BYU we are still going to get peanuts for a TV contract. It`s time UNM realizes what`s up and charts it`s own course.
Stay where we are, improve in football, win conference championships and stay strong in basketball. Albuquerque is still growing. We have enough water to sustain large growth. We have the academics that the Big 12 and PAC 12 want. In time they will come calling.
Krebs is smart enough to realize who we are, better than any of us. I trust his judgement.
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