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WAC
Dec 8, 2020 15:44:38 GMT -6
Post by acutrackfan on Dec 8, 2020 15:44:38 GMT -6
In chatting with some of my CatChat friends in person on this whole WAC deal, we keep thinking that there is "something" -- some big perk out there that will accrue to ACU and the other Southland 4 that makes this a difficult offer to pass. Is is the hope of moving FBS someday (far) in the future? Is it some kind of financial incentive - but where would that come from? There just seems to be something that is just outside of this picture that makes this whole thing make sense. My hunch is it’s more about instability of the Southland than the attractiveness of the WAC. Oscar, this could well be true. But, I still hope there is some exciting pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for the 'Cats and even for the 'Jacks, Bearkats, and Cardinals.
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WAC
Dec 8, 2020 15:54:43 GMT -6
Post by bucfan on Dec 8, 2020 15:54:43 GMT -6
In chatting with some of my CatChat friends in person on this whole WAC deal, we keep thinking that there is "something" -- some big perk out there that will accrue to ACU and the other Southland 4 that makes this a difficult offer to pass. Is is the hope of moving FBS someday (far) in the future? Is it some kind of financial incentive - but where would that come from? There just seems to be something that is just outside of this picture that makes this whole thing make sense. My hunch is it’s more about instability of the Southland than the attractiveness of the WAC. That has been my guess. Louisiana schools struggle financially in good times. The price of oil is hurting Louisiana more than Texas and is probably playing havoc on projected budgets.
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WAC
Dec 8, 2020 16:24:56 GMT -6
bucfan likes this
Post by Cap'n Cattitude on Dec 8, 2020 16:24:56 GMT -6
Agree with Oscar. The five LA schools are very weak financially and it likely get worse. Hurricanes and the pandemic have crushed the state’s economy. Then UIW and HBU aren’t particularly strong either. Add that to UCA headed for greener pastures...?
Pretty sure ACU doesn’t want the three state schools to leave and we remain in such a poor conference. Poor in both senses of the word.
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WAC
Dec 8, 2020 16:55:02 GMT -6
Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on Dec 8, 2020 16:55:02 GMT -6
My hunch is it’s more about instability of the Southland than the attractiveness of the WAC. Oscar, this could well be true. But, I still hope there is some exciting pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for the 'Cats and even for the 'Jacks, Bearkats, and Cardinals. If there is a lot of gold it is likely in a better media rights contract based on higher visibility of WAC basketball.
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WAC
Dec 8, 2020 17:18:06 GMT -6
Post by PurpleHaze on Dec 8, 2020 17:18:06 GMT -6
Was told to expect an announcement soon. That's all I've got right now.
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WAC
Dec 8, 2020 17:28:22 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by bogeyman on Dec 8, 2020 17:28:22 GMT -6
I'm just not seeing this "better visibility" of the WAC in basketball argument. If Sagarin ranks them 30 to the SLC's 31 that's 2 peas in the same pod to me. No football playoffs for the near future (if the current makeup stays the same), greater travel costs, less fan base to the west. What is attractive about this deal? There better be a "pot of gold" somewhere.
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Post by mavsman53 on Dec 8, 2020 17:34:25 GMT -6
Maybe there is a "pot of gold" that we will find out later.
Here were ACU's options 1. Stay in the Southland without UCA, Lamar, SFA and Sam 2. Go to the WAC
To me, this was an easy answer. I said this months ago, ACU had to do this if the other schools were leaving.
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Post by jaminthebody on Dec 8, 2020 17:35:57 GMT -6
In chatting with some of my CatChat friends in person on this whole WAC deal, we keep thinking that there is "something" -- some big perk out there that will accrue to ACU and the other Southland 4 that makes this a difficult offer to pass. Is is the hope of moving FBS someday (far) in the future? Is it some kind of financial incentive - but where would that come from? There just seems to be something that is just outside of this picture that makes this whole thing make sense. I think it is both a financial incentive and other SLC schools’ lack of resources, which will inhibit any real growth. Some examples: We all have seen and heard Nicholls visitor locker room/ tent situation, which they say they will improve. It hasn’t happened, and they almost lost a chance to host a playoff game because of it. McNeese just hired their Men’s Basketball coach to also serve as their AD. This seems like a cost-cutting move. They also suffered 2 hurricanes this year. These situations added to their postseason ban in football can really hurt financially for a school with resources in the FCS. The are other issues with state funding in Louisiana, which has been discussed on this board, and that affects two other schools. UIW and HBU certainly don’t have the facilities that would impress a new conference, especially if that conference has eyes on FBS affiliation. I really think the media contracts are going to much better. Before ESPN+, the media deals in the SLC were terrible. I think one of the media companies the SLC used before went bankrupt.
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WAC
Dec 8, 2020 17:45:35 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by jaminthebody on Dec 8, 2020 17:45:35 GMT -6
Another outside the box addition to the WAC could be Idaho. It was a member before and it seemed like they did not want to leave the FBS, but being left out of realignment after the WAC stopped sponsoring football were forced to be either an independent or find a conference in the FCS. I don’t think this is a likely scenario, but it would benefit the Vandals. My main concern would be trying to figure out the cost of a trip from Beaumont, TX. to Moscow, ID. However a trip to the Kibbie Dome would be cool.
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Post by jCat on Dec 8, 2020 18:00:01 GMT -6
For what it's worth, ACU is always grouped with Western colleges and universities by US News and World Report. The more that WAC schools (their presidents and provosts) know about ACU, the better ACU will do in the university rankings. These rankings matter to parents and administrators. Leaning West is a smart move.
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Post by mavsman53 on Dec 8, 2020 19:41:26 GMT -6
Maybe with a move to the WAC, we can finally have a 247 page for each team.
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WAC
Dec 8, 2020 20:03:07 GMT -6
Post by rc on Dec 8, 2020 20:03:07 GMT -6
Who could be the additional team to enable an automatic football bid immediately. Of course the Texas four do not want to wait three years. If we had five additions rather than four, then that would appeal to the WAC a great deal -- instant berth in FCS championship in football. Their chatter has already noted the KenPom ranking of the four basketball teams and that ACU is the highest at the moment and it would be good for basketball. As reported already, this is what the buzz is on the WAC board, i.e., the Texas four want an automatic bid for the WAC, just as those of you on ChatChat have reported previously. There seems to be sincere interest in solving this challenge but who would it be? Solve that problem and it seems it could happen. Is Idaho a serious possibility?
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WAC
Dec 9, 2020 3:37:25 GMT -6
Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on Dec 9, 2020 3:37:25 GMT -6
Someone on the WAC board brought up a possible solution to the 6 eligible teams problem. Several schools that play in non-football conferences such as the Summit or ASUN are single sport members of FCS conferences. The Mo Valley Football Conference is an ad mix of schools that play other sports in at least three different conferences, for example. This option provides multiple possibilities. Maybe Central Arkansas joins the WAC for football and the ASUN for other sports. Or another school in a similar situation.
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WAC
Dec 9, 2020 14:47:06 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by jaminthebody on Dec 9, 2020 14:47:06 GMT -6
Has there been any noise that Utah Valley would start football?
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WAC
Dec 9, 2020 15:14:34 GMT -6
Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on Dec 9, 2020 15:14:34 GMT -6
Has there been any noise that Utah Valley would start football? Not that I’ve heard.
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