Fire up the rumor mill: Missouri St to CUSA???

[blueraiderJT]

App State to the ACC??!! Come on man! I enjoy this board, but some of you guys, good lord!....

I read that on SI's site. That ain't my theory. They do fit their footprint and they have had more success on the field than a lot of the ACC teams. Answer this.... Besides Memphis, what other G5 in the region is better? P5's are not available. Clemson and FSU are wanting to bail.

 

[arg3b]

I read that on SI's site. That ain't my theory. They do fit their footprint and they have had more success on the field than a lot of the ACC teams. Answer this.... Besides Memphis, what other G5 in the region is better? P5's are not available. Clemson and FSU are wanting to bail.

Other than success in football, App State is very lackluster athletically and academically. They have nothing to offer the ACC

 

[MidTennMtneer]

doesn't the PAC lose all it's autobids since they don't have 6 teams that have played in the same conference? I know the MWC didn't have autobids for some years when they formed. So why would the MWC schools go to the PAC? They hold all the cards. OSU and WSU should be applying. With the PAC devastated who gets the NCAA tourney credits that have been earned?

NCAA by-laws give conferences a grace period of two years to get back to required membership number for FBS conferences, which is 8. So there is a window there to grow.

The key is getting a media offer for different school addition scenarios. Apple is still ready and wants a conference to itself so there is opportunity there.

Supposedly though the B12 is meeting with the remaining schools, and SDSU, because ESPN still wants a late Pacific Time window that Fox now has with Oregon and Washington. So the B12 could still add and give teams just the ESPN portion of the deal to start. I personally think that is a mistake and want spots saved for ACC teams which apparently the B12 is already talking to preparing for the inevitable collapse within the next decade.

 

[Noogaraider1]

[Canzano] Pac-4's focus: "adding, not merging." Oregon State, Washington State, Stanford and Cal formulate a survival plan.

I think this is what we want. To get to 8, they would very likely have to add AAC teams due to MWC buyout being too high.

Tulane, SMU, Memphis, USF (?).

At that point the AAC would be:

Navy
FAU
ECU
Charlotte
UNT
Rice
UAB
Temple
UTSA
Tulsa
W. State

If WKU comes with us, I think that would be more attractive than current CUSA. I could see the below SBC schools getting a call before us.

App State
Costal Carolina
Marshall

I think the SBC exit fee is $10M, so not sure if any of them could pony that up.
Another scenario is the ACC is likely to implode as FSU clearly wants out. Maybe AAC and new PAC wait for the ACC left overs before adding anyone.

 

[Sommy]

[Canzano] Pac-4's focus: "adding, not merging." Oregon State, Washington State, Stanford and Cal formulate a survival plan.

I think this is what we want. To get to 8, they would very likely have to add AAC teams due to MWC buyout being too high.

Tulane, SMU, Memphis, USF (?).

At that point the AAC would be:

Navy
FAU
ECU
Charlotte
UNT
Rice
UAB
Temple
UTSA
Tulsa
W. State

If WKU comes with us, I think that would be more attractive than current CUSA. I could see the below SBC schools getting a call before us.

App State
Costal Carolina
Marshall

I think the SBC exit fee is $10M, so not sure if any of them could pony that up.
Another scenario is the ACC is likely to implode as FSU clearly wants out. Maybe AAC and new PAC wait for the ACC left overs before adding anyone.

I would support us moving to AAC 100%. I feel like there is so much potential for MT to capture the Nashville market, which is red hot right now. We just have poor leadership, but more money and eventually new leadership that will be coming at some point has to be somewhat enticing. I have to think the Nashville market alone would be attractive to a Conference Director.

I wonder if the ACC and PAC have thought of joining up. Add a few more Western based teams (maybe SMU and Rice fit that mold) and you could have a West and East Coast presence.

 

[MidTennMtneer]

The ACC is on the table but the question is if the 4 remaining (and a cpl more) would actually add value and keep FSU at bay for a bit.

My thing is if Tulane leaves the AAC, would they go after another Lousianna school? ULL?

If they lost Memphis I could see them adding us as and WKU as they don't have a KY school either.

There's also the possibility the AAC holds off for the MWC to collapse. All this has shown conferences want multiple timezones as it opens up the broadcast windows which means more $ from the networks.

Just please CM and McP. Do what is best for the school and its growth! Forget being comfortable or liking the new schools or liking Judy. If this last week proved anything, it's that this is a business and we should treat it as such. The new AAC deal won't be $7m, but I bet it won't be $600k either and would absolutely give us a better seat at the table.

 

[SpaceRaider]

 

[JohnDavidBlue]

I was thinking about our move from the OVC to the Belt to CUSA. For obvious reasons, we had to move the the belt. Anyone would have moved if given the opportunity to CUSA at the time as we did.

I really enjoyed the regional rivalries with the belt and was much more engaged because it seemed that the games could be traversed in one to two days with minimal planning.

Unfortunately, our marketability ends here at CUSA. At least for now. Probably one of the most un-attractive memberships of a conference that I can remember following football. MT included.

I guess one thing it has going for it is the opportunity to have JSU, Liberty, Tech, and WKU in proximal travel ranges. So yes, I'm all for regional conferences but too much pride in the way.

 

[MT01]

As many of you know, analyzing the trajectory and impacts of the shifting nature of collegiate athletics is an enigma I have long followed and studied - though I pulled back that in recent years. Nevertheless, I will jump in here with some thoughts.

1. Realignment used to be called "expansion." This was a fancy term that was intentional by the power conferences to make it seem like it was something other than what it really was. And what it really was is this. One of the early things I was able to identify was that expansion was never about expansion (a term that eventually got recoined as realignment). It was always about contraction.

2. Online fandoms have long since believed we would end up with 16 - four team conferences, but that was always too simplistic of a thought exercise. For contraction to work, eventually some teams would have to be left behind - even those accustomed to the silver spoon. I believe what we are seeing is that Washington State and Oregon State are likely the first two casualties.

3. There will be multiple rounds of contraction. Stanford probably makes it in the first round. Maybe they end up in the Big 12 or Big 10. Not sure about Cal. They may be the left behind boat too. Eventually this is going to happen to either what is currently the Big 12 or the ACC. Some are going to be lucky by having already been in or made it to the right conferences (namely the SEC and Big 10). So, schools like Maryland, Rutgers, Miss St and Vanderbilt may survive. But if you are a school like TCU, Baylor, or Wake Forest, contraction will find them too.

4. Probably by 2035 - maybe as early as 2030 (and who knows it could happen faster), we're going to see what will probably be a third and final super-power conference emerged. So, we're going to be looking at three 20 to 24 team conferences. I was never fully convinced this was going to happen, but it's been happening in rolling fashion slowly for better than a decade.

5. Things I'm less certain about include do these conferences break off and form whole new entities (such as for football only) taking on the anti-trust risk that's going to be associated with relegating schools that are accustomed to that silver spoon OR will they seek to cement these power structures in the current apparatus? Either way, MT is obviously never going to be a part of this "elite" group of power conferences. However, the only question for us will be (assuming the power leagues don't break away completely) will we be positioned to be in one of the best of the rest of which there will probably be two leagues fitting this description with two more leagues (likely the MAC and whatever C-USA becomes being the dregs). I do know it's not going to be C-USA (and its probably a league that doesn't exist at all in another decade). If we don't get to the AAC or Sun Belt in the next couple of years, I think we're stuck for good. We won't be positioned well enough to be a part of the next phase.

 

[MidTennMtneer]

 

[MT01]

Big Ten and SEC are going to be picking off ACC schools soon. Probably earlier than expected given the GOR issue.

And then the fight between what's left of the ACC and the Big 12 commences for the final power spot.

 

[blueraiderJT]

Other than success in football, App State is very lackluster athletically and academically. They have nothing to offer the ACC

No one gives a crap about academics now. LOL. This is all TV driven bro and football is the only sport moving the needle.

 

[blueraiderJT]

[Canzano] Pac-4's focus: "adding, not merging." Oregon State, Washington State, Stanford and Cal formulate a survival plan.

I think this is what we want. To get to 8, they would very likely have to add AAC teams due to MWC buyout being too high.

Tulane, SMU, Memphis, USF (?).

At that point the AAC would be:

Navy
FAU
ECU
Charlotte
UNT
Rice
UAB
Temple
UTSA
Tulsa
W. State

If WKU comes with us, I think that would be more attractive than current CUSA. I could see the below SBC schools getting a call before us.

App State
Costal Carolina
Marshall

I think the SBC exit fee is $10M, so not sure if any of them could pony that up.
Another scenario is the ACC is likely to implode as FSU clearly wants out. Maybe AAC and new PAC wait for the ACC left overs before adding anyone.

So Memphis would give up ESPN direct exposure to go to the PAC whatever for the AppleTV and a crazy travel budget? There is zero upside for them. The AAC is a crazy travel footprint but it ain't Washing st., backside Oregon and Nothern Cali crazy. Besides, add in a ton of G5's and the P5 status is gone anyway. The perception of that league is gone already. I would stay put. The ACC makes more sense than the PAC it in league.

 

[blueraiderJT]

View embedded media

That move if it happens guarantees that FSU and Clemson are gone within the year. How screwed is Wash St. and Oregon St.? They would have to go to the MWC just to have a home. Navarez is in control and I love it.

 

[FranklinRaider315]

So Memphis would give up ESPN direct exposure to go to the PAC whatever for the AppleTV and a crazy travel budget? There is zero upside for them. The AAC is a crazy travel footprint but it ain't Washing st., backside Oregon and Nothern Cali crazy. Besides, add in a ton of G5's and the P5 status is gone anyway. The perception of that league is gone already. I would stay put. The ACC makes more sense than the PAC it in league.

I’m afraid Memphis is also stuck because of how they’ve handled their basketball business with the NCAA. Four out of the last 6 head coaches have been in trouble for infractions. Yates, Kirk, Calipari and Hardaway.
And Tiger Football always suffers because of it.

 

[mtfblue]

Big Ten and SEC are going to be picking off ACC schools soon. Probably earlier than expected given the GOR issue.

And then the fight between what's left of the ACC and the Big 12 commences for the final power spot.

Does this open the GOR for the ACC, since they will have to negotiate more money for the PAC schools hence opening a window for the others to bounce?

 

[MidTennMtneer]

Does this open the GOR for the ACC, since they will have to negotiate more money for the PAC schools hence opening a window for the others to bounce?

Yes and no. Supposedly they could add at a reduced amount and it would not open the GOR. Who knows.

Now the SEC has said it will expand and go to 9 conference games if ESPN will pay full rate for additions.

I said on Twitter between that and the B1G supposedly going to a 10 game conference schedule, there will be way less opportunities for $ games. We have got to figure out a way to get more money and more money now. In other words we have got to get out of CUSA.

As MT01 said, the lowest is going to be left out, and there is ZERO doubt CUSA is the lowest. We got our exit $ from the other schools. Now it's time to run.

 

[SpaceRaider]

If realignment/contraction trickles down to multiple G5 conferences and MT misses out, multiple heads need to roll. The university and athletics has been on autopilot for too long.

 

[Sommy]

Looks like the AAC is trying to add any of the remaining 4 PAC schools. Not sure they will lower their expectations and do that, but if it does happen - WOW. That would be a major disappointment for MT of just how close they could have been to being in a conference with the remaining PAC schools. But our mediocre and pathetic leadership couldn't get us there.

Massaro needs to be on the phone doing ANYTHING he can to get a spot in the AAC. We have to run from CUSA as quickly as possible.

 

[arg3b]

No one gives a crap about academics now. LOL. This is all TV driven bro and football is the only sport moving the needle.

Whatever you say

 

[blueraiderJT]

Whatever you say

Yup, whatever I say. LOL. So ESPN cares about academics? Ok. The ACC is getting boat raced and their media is now the worst among the P4's. Apparently academics didn't help that commisioner negotiate that bad deal until 2036. LOL. Academics. LOL. Still laughing. Football Media is driving all of this and the NCAA is non existent. If ESPN realized that academics is the real driver, they might fix all of this. LOL.

Stanford and Cal won't be joining the ACC because of academics, they will be joining because they have nowhere else to go. The ACC will say academics but everyone knows that's a croc. Now, FSU and Clemson will have to share the already crappy deal with 2 more schools. They gone.

 

[blueraiderJT]

Looks like the AAC is trying to add any of the remaining 4 PAC schools. Not sure they will lower their expectations and do that, but if it does happen - WOW. That would be a major disappointment for MT of just how close they could have been to being in a conference with the remaining PAC schools. But our mediocre and pathetic leadership couldn't get us there.

Massaro needs to be on the phone doing ANYTHING he can to get a spot in the AAC. We have to run from CUSA as quickly as possible.

Those PAC12 schools will pretty much go indy to keep from going to a G5 league. The ACC is throwing out a potential life line to Cal and Stanford. If Wash St and Oregon st were smart they would go to the MWC but that will never happen.

 

[MTFAN61]

If realignment/contraction trickles down to multiple G5 conferences and MT misses out, multiple heads need to roll. The university and athletics has been on autopilot for too long.

Agree totally. Let's say MT does totally miss out, which I don't think anyone of us would be seriously surprised if we did. Question is who would make heads roll when everyone in the administration is fully complicit in slow walking all important athletics decisions?
We do have construction underway which is a good thing, but it is 15 years late. Of course better late than never. Our people in charge remind me of a deer on the road. Everyone sees the car approaching but them. By the time it arrives it's too late. Unfortunately for MT it's not 1 deer on the road, it's a small herd & there's no one telling them to get the move on.

 

[mtfblue]

Agree totally. Let's say MT does totally miss out, which I don't think anyone of us would be seriously surprised if we did. Question is who would make heads roll when everyone in the administration is fully complicit in slow walking all important athletics decisions?
We do have construction underway which is a good thing, but it is 15 years late. Of course better late than never. Our people in charge remind me of a deer on the road. Everyone sees the car approaching but them. By the time it arrives it's too late. Unfortunately for MT it's not 1 deer on the road, it's a small herd & there's no one telling them to get the move on.

when you say miss out? what G5 is going to be included with P5? If it's going the way it's going, there will be some more P5 schools getting left behind. So it's going to be about 60 to 65 that makes the cut in P5. So all the G5 will be out, the new 12 team probably won't have an AQ, just what the perceive as the 12 best...most years that 5to6 sec, 4to5 Big10 and 2to3 others in that top 12.

 

[sWiley]

I greatly worry for MT and it’s chances to be in a respectable conference. We really need the pac12 to survive if we have any hope of getting out of CUSA. Things get much harder for us if pac12 folds.

The MAC option will very likely always be there for us but that’s such a boring, non-starter in my eyes. I would rather just give up football and go 100% in basketball at that point.

 

[blueraiderJT]

I greatly worry for MT and it’s chances to be in a respectable conference. We really need the pac12 to survive if we have any hope of getting out of CUSA. Things get much harder for us if pac12 folds.

The MAC option will very likely always be there for us but that’s such a boring, non-starter in my eyes. I would rather just give up football and go 100% in basketball at that point.

I agree but unless the PAC12 performs a miracle, I don't see them not disbanding. They don't have the resources to rebuild nor do they have any media deal in sight. The Apple thing depended on the 9 teams remaining. There are crazy talks and scenarios right now. The AAC is in the mix and if that happens, we get called up almost imeadiately but then the AAC is CUSA. I just think we are locked in a box.

Scratch that... Now the AAC is more than possibly looking to add all 4 schools. WOW! If that happened, that would be huge for the AAC. Things are so crazy right now. LOL.

 

[mtfblue]

I agree but unless the PAC12 performs a miracle, I don't see them not disbanding. They don't have the resources to rebuild nor do they have any media deal in sight. The Apple thing depended on the 9 teams remaining. There are crazy talks and scenarios right now. The AAC is in the mix and if that happens, we get called up almost imeadiately but then the AAC is CUSA. I just think we are locked in a box.

Scratch that... Now the AAC is more than possibly looking to add all 4 schools. WOW! If that happened, that would be huge for the AAC. Things are so crazy right now. LOL.

ACC is trying for Stanford, i doubt the AAC has a chance with the current lineup. The MWC has a better shot at OSU and WSU

 

[MidTennMtneer]

My first thought was who is leaving the AAC for the SBC. So I did some research.

SBC signed a new deal in '22. More $ but no extension. So their deal is up for renewal in '31, before the AAC. SBC schools currently are at almost $2m!

AAC is currently at $7m for legacy schools, $3.5m for the 6 new additions. We all know the new deal won't be $7m, so maybe there is a chance the SBC can pull. SBC commissioner Gill stated he is open to a 15th, 16th, 20th school. Whatever is in their footprint and brings value.

FYI
* MWC $4m (final deal of Boise $6m, Hawaii $2m) '26 CBS/FOX
* MAC $650k. '26 ESPN
* SBC $2m '31 ESPN
* AAC $7m ($7m legacy, $3.5m 6 new) '32 ESPN
* CUSA $800k '32 CBS/ESPN

 

[Sommy]

Scratch that... Now the AAC is more than possibly looking to add all 4 schools. WOW! If that happened, that would be huge for the AAC. Things are so crazy right now. LOL.

We need to blow up Massaro and Lee's email, twitter, etc. asking what they are doing to get us into a better conference. If we stay in CUSA, I really think it might be a death sentence. There is a clear divide between the haves and have nots and CUSA is by far at the bottom end of things. We have to get off the sinking ship now!

AAC - Give us and WKU a spot. We will give you the Nashville and KY markets. Nashville is just waiting for a college program to take over the market. Vanderbilt never has nor will be that team, so it's a great opportunity.

 

[SpaceRaider]

IMO, the markets argument is not a winning one for MT to try to sell. Coasting along with Mr. .500, Stockstill, MT has abused it's fan base til there an embarassing level. remnant actually, of what it once was. Is any conference commissioner worth his salt in a here today, gone tomorrow realignment world, going to take on MT and patiently wait til Stockstill decides to retire to see if the fanbase returns or can be rebuilt? There is really little credibility for Massaro and McPhee in selling MT to prospective conferences or fans for that matter.

 

[FranklinRaider315]

IMO, the markets argument is not a winning one for MT to try to sell. Coasting along with Mr. .500, Stockstill, MT has abused it's fan base til there an embarassing level. remnant actually, of what it once was. Is any conference commissioner worth his salt in a here today, gone tomorrow realignment world, going to take on MT and patiently wait til Stockstill decides to retire to see if the fanbase returns or can be rebuilt? There is really little credibility for Massaro and McPhee in selling MT to prospective conferences or fans for that matter.

☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

MTSU Avg. attendance 2022 - 14,363 (reported). 2021 - 12,351 (Reported)

2022 Vanderbilt - 29,193 (Reported)

 

[DisgruntledAlum]

Hell, we even get left out of imaginary conferences.

 

[blueraiderJT]

What the AAC is saying is that if they got those 4 schools, ESPN has agreed to talk a renegotiation for more money becuse the value add would be there. There is an open channel for this apparently. Oddly enough, many fans of those schools seem to be for it. Like it makes sense somehow. It's growing steam on multiple news sources. Serious talks are happening. If by some weird chance this goes down, we are out until the ACC picks up Memphis. The door to the AAC is closed for the next few years.

This will sound weird but if that goes down, I would call up the MWC just to see what they are thinking cuz don't think they won't add UTEP and NMSU.

All of this sounds weird BTW. LOL. The MAC may be the only option unless we want to stay in the new OVC.

 

[FranklinRaider315]

We (and our BOT) get what we deserve.
Our fate in all this latest realignment mess will be determined by a Univ. President, an AD and most of our Football Staff at (or almost near) Medicare Part A eligibility and enrollment.

They couldn’t give a hoot about where MTSU ends up when it finally shakes out.

 

[Sommy]

This will sound weird but if that goes down, I would call up the MWC just to see what they are thinking cuz don't think they won't add UTEP and NMSU.

All of this sounds weird BTW. LOL. The MAC may be the only option unless we want to stay in the new OVC.

Yes, either way we have to move on from CUSA. My thought with passing up the MAC and staying in CUSA, was ONLY to collect a check and plan to move out of the conference. If we end up staying in CUSA, then we are dead. I really don't see any scenario in the next 10 years (or forever maybe) that we move up again. In that case, the MAC would have been a better option. Move now, or it's done forever. I really feel that with how the landscape is changing.

We MUST leave CUSA now. Call AAC, call MWC, call SBC. Beg for a spot. Again, we have completely fumbled the opportunity, but I still feel like there is a lot of potential for MT. It's been our poor leadership. All of the three stooges can't possibly stick around into their 70's so there is some change coming in the not so far distance just due to time.

 

[FranklinRaider315]

What the AAC is saying is that if they got those 4 schools, ESPN has agreed to talk a renegotiation for more money becuse the value add would be there. There is an open channel for this apparently. Oddly enough, many fans of those schools seem to be for it. Like it makes sense somehow. It's growing steam on multiple news sources. Serious talks are happening. If by some weird chance this goes down, we are out until the ACC picks up Memphis. The door to the AAC is closed for the next few years.

This will sound weird but if that goes down, I would call up the MWC just to see what they are thinking cuz don't think they won't add UTEP and NMSU.

All of this sounds weird BTW. LOL. The MAC may be the only option unless we want to stay in the new OVC.

I would be pleasantly shocked if the ACC allowed Memphis a seat at their table.

But I’m afraid the AAC is the best they can do at this point. They waited too late and for too many years to finally put an emphasis on Tiger Football while the other Major Independents and Metro Conf. foes we played moved into the big boy league. (Va. Tech, Louisville, Fla. St., Ga. Tech, S. Carolina.)

 

[JohnDavidBlue]

All of this lands at the feet of Massaro and McPhee.

They have allowed coach .500 and our basketball program to be about as marketable as a wet boot.

 

[sWiley]

All of this lands at the feet of Massaro and McPhee.

They have allowed coach .500 and our basketball program to be about as marketable as a wet boot.

Exactly


There’s not much that can be done now. We have made our bed these last 10-15 years and now we are gonna have to lay in it.

The facilities are going to be nice and all but they are clearly way too late. IMO our fate was sealed when we got left out of the last realignment shift.

Our peers all left for the SBC and AAC and we didn’t get an invite because nobody believes Murfreesboro takes athletics seriously.

Currently, we are probably way down the list of expansion candidates for AAC/SBC. Nobody really wants us, but it’s possible if they have to have someone, we get a call. That’s not a great situation to be in.

 

[MTTim]

We are stuck with Judy.

 

[BRaiderDave]

Massaro needs to make sure we and WKU are to be considered a package deal. You might not like to hear it but we need them at this point.