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WAC
Oct 2, 2020 8:26:05 GMT -6
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Post by acumedic on Oct 2, 2020 8:26:05 GMT -6
WAC presidents have voted in approval of another new member. Biggest speculation right now is West Texas A&M.
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WAC
Oct 2, 2020 8:33:29 GMT -6
Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on Oct 2, 2020 8:33:29 GMT -6
WAC presidents have voted in approval of another new member. Biggest speculation right now is West Texas A&M. New Football stadium, outstanding D2 basketball program. WTAMU would be a good pick up for the WAC. That would give the WAC 3 FCS football teams and 1 FBS team (NMSU).
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WAC
Oct 2, 2020 8:53:33 GMT -6
Post by Outsider on Oct 2, 2020 8:53:33 GMT -6
Interesting, it could give us another choice for OOC FCS games and renewed rivalry. If both Tarleton and WTAM end up FCS that opens up choices.
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WAC
Oct 2, 2020 8:57:21 GMT -6
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Post by acumedic on Oct 2, 2020 8:57:21 GMT -6
That would be two D1 schools added in our region over the past couple of years that we now have to recruit against. I agree though, there could be plenty of benefit with OOC series.
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WAC
Oct 2, 2020 20:37:49 GMT -6
Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on Oct 2, 2020 20:37:49 GMT -6
WAC presidents have voted in approval of another new member. Biggest speculation right now is West Texas A&M. Speculation has now shifted to FCS Southern Utah, which is currently in the Big Sky Conference and on our schedule for next year. This would make sense, as Southern Utah is located in the same area as current WAC member Dixie State.
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WAC
Oct 2, 2020 20:45:11 GMT -6
Post by Outsider on Oct 2, 2020 20:45:11 GMT -6
Interesting
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Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on Oct 2, 2020 21:01:02 GMT -6
Southern Utah was asked about the rumor. Their president said “we haven’t received a formal invitation to join the WAC,” which isn’t really a denial,
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WAC
Oct 22, 2020 7:18:33 GMT -6
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Post by acumedic on Oct 22, 2020 7:18:33 GMT -6
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WAC
Oct 22, 2020 7:55:22 GMT -6
Post by acutrackfan on Oct 22, 2020 7:55:22 GMT -6
Wow! At this point, I don't think I favor this at all. However, what happens of this pandemic season, added to a terrible hurricane season causes the LA schools to have to reduce or outright scuttle D-1 athletics? Would that ever encourage an exodus from the SLC?
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WAC
Oct 22, 2020 8:41:49 GMT -6
Post by Outsider on Oct 22, 2020 8:41:49 GMT -6
None of the invites should surprise. The WAC is looking to expand and we knew they were looking at some of the SLC schools in addition to Tarleton (done) and WTAM, etc... I wasn't sure how far East they wanted to go. So far it looks like the LA schools aren't on the table. Arguments have already been made about which conference ACU fits in better.
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WAC
Oct 22, 2020 9:01:57 GMT -6
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Post by bogeyman on Oct 22, 2020 9:01:57 GMT -6
The question as I see it revolves around the recovery of the La schools. Will their recovery depend on other SLC schools subsidizing them? Should the SLC reorganize without them? Could the SLC survive under a scenario w/o the La schools? Would a Texas SLC be feasible with current SLC schools and adding Tarleton, WTAM, and Angelo St? The La schools and UCA seem to be a good fit with the Sun Belt should they go that route. Joining the WAC seems to be a very, very bad decision to me.
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WAC
Oct 22, 2020 9:21:15 GMT -6
Post by acutrackfan on Oct 22, 2020 9:21:15 GMT -6
What schools are current members of the WAC? California Baptist (Riverside, CA), Chicago State, Dixie State (St George, UT), Grand Canyon, NM State, Seattle, Tarleton, UT-Rio Grande Valley, and Utah Valley (Orem, UT). Interestingly, both HBU and UIW are "affiliate members" in men's soccer. Right now, NMSU plays FBS football and both Tarleton and Dixie State are in the first year of transition to D-1 from D-2 -- they will have 5 more years before they can participate in playoffs. Would NMSU finally consider a drop to FCS if they had more conference competitors at that level?
Other thoughts about this WAC invitation:
-Travel costs would skyrocket, particularly to outlier schools - Chicago State and Seattle. The XC championship for the WAC were held in Seattle this past year. The indoor T&F championship were held in Nampa, ID at the Boise State facility -- none of the WAC schools have an indoor track facility, so they always have to lease from someone, just like the SLC does when they have their indoor meet in Birmingham. Texas Tech is willing to lease out their facility -- the Lone Star Conf holds their meet there every year.
-The only way this works is to see a mass exodus of all the schools mentioned above, along with WT thrown in.
-I have long wondered if ACU could find Grand Canyon U a natural rival -- they are a faith-based university, although have a much larger student body than ACU.
-I find it strange that the WAC isn't pursuing HBU and UIW -- large metro areas, although both schools 2nd or 3rd fiddle to larger schools in their metro area.
I guess this is topic is fodder for some discussion at a time that we are desperately looking for good discussion topics on the board!
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WAC
Oct 22, 2020 17:48:20 GMT -6
Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on Oct 22, 2020 17:48:20 GMT -6
Football Scoop is now saying “multiple sources” are saying the WAC is pursuing multiple football playing schools from the Southland Conference , including ACU. The article goes into a little of the history of the WAC. The WAC was a good football conference back in the day. footballscoop.com/news/return-of-the-wac-maybe/
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WAC
Oct 22, 2020 18:56:15 GMT -6
Post by Outsider on Oct 22, 2020 18:56:15 GMT -6
I am still one person saying that at first I didn't really like the idea of the Southland, but have come to see it as a good fit for us. We are competitive in it and can get to most any game fairly easily. Why get rid of that for some spread out money wasting schedule?
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WAC
Oct 22, 2020 20:37:00 GMT -6
Post by mavsman53 on Oct 22, 2020 20:37:00 GMT -6
Here are my thoughts-
1. The WAC is no longer a football conference. Obviously, they are desperately trying to bring that back, but is that a risk we want to take? 2. Would the WAC be FBS or FCS. If FCS, why make this move? 3. The cost of travel, as has already been stated.
Why we could make this move- 1. If it does become an FBS conference, more notoriety, and probably better recruits. 2. Could form natural rivalries again with Tarleton and West Texas A&M 3. It could open up more sports teams. I didn't realize this, but both HBU and UIW play men's soccer out of the WAC.
Ultimately, I don't think this is a great move right now. We are desperate to move and this conference seems desperate
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