November 3, 2003
TCU studies move to Mountain West
Following a non-binding vote of the Moutain West colleges, sources report that TCU has completed a financial study for a potential shift to the Mountain West Conference.
The Frogs, who are looking to win another Conference USA title this year, will meet Thursday to discuss Mountain West membership and the committee is expected to make a recommendation to a meeting of TCU’s trustees Friday.
Although a formal invitation has yet to be issued to TCU, the source for the Dallas Morning News story reported that TCU has received clear indications from the conference. TCU is seriously considering the move because of the financial advantages and stability of the Mountain West.
To hear TCU's athletic director tell it, one would have to think this is more than just a passing interest for the Frogs.
TCU athletic director Eric Hyman said, “I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment. I’ve talked to a lot of people about a lot of things.“But it’s not the same [after membership changes]. There’s no question.”
Side note: Don't ya love how they say they shouldn't comment, but they always do?
I am on the record as saying TCU should stay in C-USA. However, the more I think about it, the more I start to think that TCU is being killed by the weakness of it's conference mates. Look at TCU's strength of schedule in the BCS. It's almost non-existent.
TCU will defeat two teams that seem bound and determined to end the year at 0-12 (Army & SMU). The C-USA doesn't have a single team in the polls right now and the one team did sneak into the polls (Louisville) is all but gone to the Big East.
Frog fans may not be too jazzed about it today, but I think I'd much rather take my chances in playing the likes Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah, and Wyoming -- a few others that have shown they can (at least) play a little football.
Let's face it, TCU is not going to make a showing in the BCS and the number one reason is because they haven't played anybody. That's a fact of life if they stay in a revised C-USA. The conference will be the Frogs & Marshall. That's not enough to make up for SMU and a couple of others stinking it up year in and year out.
If TCU were in the Mountain West today, their strength of schedule would be somewhere in the high 50's instead of the high 90's. That alone wouldn't put them into the BCS, but it would certainly get them closer. Add in one more good out of conference foe and the Frogs just might be the first non-BCS team to make it to the big dance.
If football is going to pay the bills, the Frogs would be wise to move to the Mountain West.
Comments:
Brandon Burris said:
posted on November 13, 2003 2:17 AM — 205.188.209.43 — link — abuse?
I have an anonymous source within the Mountain West Headquarters reporting future conference realignment plans.
Phase 1: This phase involves the addition of TCU and Houston from the C-USA. The plans have already been reported and a move is likely to take place in the offseason.
Phase 2: In response to Phase 1 the MWC will be forced to remove both San Diego St. and UNLV. These two schools contribute very little to the conference and would force teams to play in three time zones under the new alignment. This move reduces travel costs and eliminates the Pacific Time Zone.
Phase 3: The Big 12 is looking to upgrade in response to the ACC expansion. This phase involves the already anticipated removal of Baylor and Texas Tech. The Big 12 would then add cross border rivals LSU and Arkansas. These two schools cant wait to get out of the weakened SEC West and would look forward to forming the most powerful conference in the country.
Phase 4: Contingent on Phase 3. Texas Tech and Baylor would move quickly to solidify a spot in the MWC and a chance to play a dominant role in an up and coming conference.
Phase 5: The final pieces to the puzzle would include SMU and Rice. Although they are unattractive programs they would solidify a west division and reacquaint everyone in Texas.
In the end, you essentially have a merger of the MWC and old SWC. Creating a conference in only two time zones involving two travel friendly divisions. Most importantly, the new conference will be allowed a Conference Championship Game in Denver, Colorado.
Mountain West Conference
Mountain Division
1. Colorado State
2. Air Force
3. Utah
4. BYU
5. Wyoming
6. New MexicoWest Division
1. Texas Tech
2. TCU
3. Baylor
4. Houston
5. SMU
6. RiceKevin said:
posted on November 13, 2003 7:25 PM — 24.0.196.177 — link — abuse?
I think you better check with your source again. The "tip" about Houston is 100% un-verifiable. Your point sounds an awful lot like the same good ol' days syndrome that most Cougar fans have longing for some resurgence of the SWC. It's not going to happen.
The Big XII has no plans at all to evaluate the membership and there is too much pressure & clout in the in the Texas legislature for the Texas schools to approve any move that harms Baylor or Tech. That's just ridiculous. The only reason Baylor is in the Big XII is that certain people applied pressure to UT, A&M, & Tech to bring Baylor along. Those same people are not going to let a Baylor departure go unpunished.
LSU will not leave the SEC for any reason. Arkansas could be convinced to leave, but unless the Big XII slot comes from the North, it's just not going to happen.
I strongly suggest you name your source if there is one at all.
The Big XII offices are just across the road here in Dallas and there are NO PLANS to revamp, so say two associate commissioners.
Brandon Burris said:
posted on November 17, 2003 1:27 AM — 64.12.96.6 — link — abuse?
I can not name my source because he chose to remain anonymous. All I can say was that the conversation took place in late October during informal talks among conference leadership.
During our conversation I addressed many of the potential problems you had mentioned. He stood by his statements and reassured me that everyone was aware of the conference and legislature politics.
Pete said:
posted on November 17, 2003 10:33 AM — 68.38.45.1 — link — abuse?
I love it... the "Weakened" SEC West? You're kidding, right? Weakened from what?
A powerhouse conference (5 teams ranked in the top 15 right now, as compared to 2 Big XII teams), and a division with really only one (maybe two) weak teams?
Oh yeah... and LSU leave the SEC? Riiiiiight. Sounds like a pipe-dream.
Jarod Daily said:
posted on December 3, 2003 5:56 AM — 138.237.184.96 — link — abuse?
What I love is how that scenario has the "West" division 100% east of the "Mountain" division. And that "West" division is quite weak; Tech is strong, we (I attend TCU) are strong, and Houston's on the rise, but only a desperate conference clinging onto life or under outside pressure would take Baylor, SMU or Rice willingly.
Yes, I would love for my school to abandon C-USA (especially after all that bowl politics crap that happened in the last few days) in favor of joining the MWC. I wouldn't mind seeing Houston come along, and maybe bring in Boise State and another WAC school, or Southern Miss (if that's not really too far east). But that scenario with the SEC and Big 12 shakeups is just stupid.
Kevin W. said:
posted on December 8, 2003 11:05 PM — 65.230.195.47 — link — abuse?
Brandon Burris, what are you (or your source) smoking?
1) No way are LSU and/or Arkansas gonna leave the SEC. SEC is still the Holy Grail of college football, even ahead of the Big 12.
2) UNLV and San Diego State add A LOT to the MWC, both for recruiting and fan base. Telling a SoCal kid that you will play there every other year (or every year in hoops) helps when trying to sign him. If the goal is to move into the BCS (or whatever succeeds it), why would the MWC eliminate 2 of their biggest TV markets?
Mike Furnish said:
posted on December 13, 2003 10:11 AM — 66.137.105.121 — link — abuse?
I have a hard time believing that LSU would leave the SEC. There just is too much tradition. This discussion seems to be totally around football. There is also basketball and baseball. I am a UH supporter and I'm not totally happy with the USA conference now but the UH program does suck and who is going to want UH. They were 7-5 this year but the highest team they beat was Rice (ranked about 80). The other victories were Army, East Carolina, Miss St, UAB, Tulane & some Louisiana team. The MVP should be whoever made the schedule to enable UH to go to a bowl game.
It seems to me that UH should stay in USA until they get better. The new proposed west conference will enable the school to cut travel costs and allow the fans the oppurtunity to go to away games without traveling 10 hours or more.
About TCU, If this move is to get a tougher schedule then there are other ways to do that without leaving the conference. I don't really think if they were in a tougher conference they would have gone to a BCS bowl. I watched several games and even went to the TCU versus UH game and was not impressed with the Horned Frogs. They scored 62 points but allowed 55 points. I also went to the Southern Miss versus UH game was more impressed with Southern Miss. Don't get me wrong, it would have been good for TCU to represent Conference USA in a BCS bowl but the Frogs didn't really impress me in their other games. They played SMU, Vanderbelt, Arizona & Navy. There are 117 division 1 teams. The ranks of those four teams are 116, 94, 91 & 65. That is not a tough non-conference schedule. The rankings of USA teams are as follows:
TCU 27
Southern Miss 30
Louisville 47
Memphis 52
South FL 70
Houston 71
UAB 80
Cinn 82
Tulane 89
East Carolina 112
Army 117
Ok the Mountain West Conference Rankings!Utah 21
New Mexico 41
Colorado St. 43
Air Force 54
San Diego St 69
BYU 75
UNLV 62
Wyoming 85The MWC is tougher on the average but I don't think that conference schedule is going to get you into the BCS unless you have a very difficult non-conference schedule (you need to beat someone in the top ten).
posted on December 13, 2003 3:09 PM — 68.66.53.70 — link — abuse?Lloyd Severence said:
You are right. Teams like TCU are getting a lot of press, some they aren't deserving off. Yeah they had a good season.. but I think Indiana could have beaten TCU.. if TCU had gotten a BCS bowl bid.. could you imagine if TCU had to play Kansas St.? or Miami? HAHA, hell, I think Ohio State would have shut them out with 40 points on the board. And that's bad with how much our offense hasn't worked well all year.
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Paul said:
posted on November 7, 2003 6:03 PM — 65.165.1.202 — link — abuse?Frogs and Marshall? Haven't you forgotten about Southern Miss? After all they have won or shared 4 of 7 C-USA Conference titles and are 4-0 right now. TCU will face the same problem as any C-USA that becomes too good. The SEC, Big XII, and other conferences will refuse to schedule them home and home and then refuse to schedule them at all. They will then end up with poor strength of schedule numbers.