Following up the discussion in the Deion and Colorado thread that really deserves its' own thread. There have been some recent hints of talks stirring in the West of another possible wave of realignment developing in the coming months. I guess it shouldn't come as a surprise that the current College Football season is almost over, and playoff expansion plans have been finalized. If there is another wave brewing, where would that leave MT?
If, and I admit that is a pretty big if, the next wave of conference moves is drawing nigh, I wouldn't be surprised to see MT leapfrogged again. Now this is more speculation and somewhat rumor oriented, but there was some talk in recent months around the internet that some of the power FCS programs in North and Northwest were repeatedly offered and rejected FBS conference membership. From my understanding, it kind of sounded something akin to JMU. Top of FCS waiting for the right time and the best fit for conference affiliation when they do make the leap. Sort of how JMU almost instantly leapfrogged MT in on-field performance and better conference fit.
Again, if any of this stuff with Tim Brando pans out to be true, big moves out west just might trigger another pretty big wave in college football conference membership and realignment. Some of those FCS powers up on the Northern Plains and out in the Northwest just might find a pretty decent fit in a FBS conference if they so choose to make the leap. I can only hope at this point that MT isn't left holding the bag in the worst conference no one wants to be in as many other programs land in pretty decent fits.
About the last shred of hope for MT, and it's a stretch, is the announcement by McPhee of the new facilities right after being passed over this last time and rejecting the MAC. I have nothing to back this up. Actually, I lack confidence in M&M, but what if McPhee did realize there was a problem in the athletic dept that he had overlooked? Is it possible he stepped in right after he realized MT was about to be left holding the bag or worse? Did McPhee get on the phone to find out had MT announced the new facilities, some other decent conferences might have or likely will offer in the next wave? This would explain McPhee's reticence at a long-term-locked-in deal with the MAC. Then quickly, McPhee announces the new major upgrade to MT's athletic dept facilities.
This speculation of McPhee getting on the phone to other Presidents or Conference Commissioners would be consistent with his involvement in years past in college athletics on both a regional and national level. My point is that it's fairly obvious that he would have the contacts to call if he were so inclined. Any of those discussions he might have engaged would have necessarily been confidential and off the record. This would further explain why McPhee has remained silent and offered fans and alumni little on the future of MT athletics and conference affiliation. This would also explain why he rejected an offer to the MAC that almost seemed tailored made by national sports media (ahem ESPN) to usher MT and WKU into the MAC for a somewhat regional fit for long-term programs happy with mild-to-moderate success in football on Tues night and somewhat ok basketball. With MT and WKU left out of The American offers, the MAC would suddenly appear to be a pretty appealing destination compared to the dregs of C-USA and the Frankenstein media rights deal Judy has in place. This also might explain why Judy has almost seemed desperate to continue to add new members to C-USA as exemplified in reaching for Kennesaw St. Might it have been suggested to her that MT and WKU just might be bolting in the next wave?
I acknowledge that is pretty wild speculation on my part. Perhaps it is what the kids are calling "copium." At least that is what I think that means when you are in a losing position with little to no hope. Put another way, I may well be grasping at straws. It would explain a lot though. While there are hints in the sports media by a credible source in Tim Brando that talks are picking up behind the scenes, I think most would admit that another wave of conference realignment is not an if but a matter of when. Lastly, MT and WKU were picked up on the 2nd wave for C-USA after being left out of the wave a year or two earlier.
Anybody else hearing any rumblings? Will MT leadership leave MT holding the bag, or just might the newly announced upgrade to facilities make a difference for MT in the next wave?
If, and I admit that is a pretty big if, the next wave of conference moves is drawing nigh, I wouldn't be surprised to see MT leapfrogged again. Now this is more speculation and somewhat rumor oriented, but there was some talk in recent months around the internet that some of the power FCS programs in North and Northwest were repeatedly offered and rejected FBS conference membership. From my understanding, it kind of sounded something akin to JMU. Top of FCS waiting for the right time and the best fit for conference affiliation when they do make the leap. Sort of how JMU almost instantly leapfrogged MT in on-field performance and better conference fit.
Again, if any of this stuff with Tim Brando pans out to be true, big moves out west just might trigger another pretty big wave in college football conference membership and realignment. Some of those FCS powers up on the Northern Plains and out in the Northwest just might find a pretty decent fit in a FBS conference if they so choose to make the leap. I can only hope at this point that MT isn't left holding the bag in the worst conference no one wants to be in as many other programs land in pretty decent fits.
About the last shred of hope for MT, and it's a stretch, is the announcement by McPhee of the new facilities right after being passed over this last time and rejecting the MAC. I have nothing to back this up. Actually, I lack confidence in M&M, but what if McPhee did realize there was a problem in the athletic dept that he had overlooked? Is it possible he stepped in right after he realized MT was about to be left holding the bag or worse? Did McPhee get on the phone to find out had MT announced the new facilities, some other decent conferences might have or likely will offer in the next wave? This would explain McPhee's reticence at a long-term-locked-in deal with the MAC. Then quickly, McPhee announces the new major upgrade to MT's athletic dept facilities.
This speculation of McPhee getting on the phone to other Presidents or Conference Commissioners would be consistent with his involvement in years past in college athletics on both a regional and national level. My point is that it's fairly obvious that he would have the contacts to call if he were so inclined. Any of those discussions he might have engaged would have necessarily been confidential and off the record. This would further explain why McPhee has remained silent and offered fans and alumni little on the future of MT athletics and conference affiliation. This would also explain why he rejected an offer to the MAC that almost seemed tailored made by national sports media (ahem ESPN) to usher MT and WKU into the MAC for a somewhat regional fit for long-term programs happy with mild-to-moderate success in football on Tues night and somewhat ok basketball. With MT and WKU left out of The American offers, the MAC would suddenly appear to be a pretty appealing destination compared to the dregs of C-USA and the Frankenstein media rights deal Judy has in place. This also might explain why Judy has almost seemed desperate to continue to add new members to C-USA as exemplified in reaching for Kennesaw St. Might it have been suggested to her that MT and WKU just might be bolting in the next wave?
I acknowledge that is pretty wild speculation on my part. Perhaps it is what the kids are calling "copium." At least that is what I think that means when you are in a losing position with little to no hope. Put another way, I may well be grasping at straws. It would explain a lot though. While there are hints in the sports media by a credible source in Tim Brando that talks are picking up behind the scenes, I think most would admit that another wave of conference realignment is not an if but a matter of when. Lastly, MT and WKU were picked up on the 2nd wave for C-USA after being left out of the wave a year or two earlier.
Anybody else hearing any rumblings? Will MT leadership leave MT holding the bag, or just might the newly announced upgrade to facilities make a difference for MT in the next wave?
