A Sea Of Red

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/sport ... ports.html
http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footba ... iscussions
http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footba ... iscussions

Looks like all signs are pointing to them leaving the MAC and heading back to the Big East. Does this leave a potential place for us in the MAC, or make us more of a lock for the Sun Belt if the MAC grabs one of their teams?

It could help us. With all the conference jumping taking place, heck LU might end up in Big East themselves.

It may or may not help us!

Purple Haize wrote:It may or may not help us!

Purple, I think ole BJ hacked into your computer.

Cider Jim wrote:

Purple Haize wrote:It may or may not help us!

Purple, I think ole BJ hacked into your computer.

He may have but he may not have

BuryYourDuke wrote:Makes very little difference. I don't believe the MAC is going to go after Sun Belt teams, and we would choose the Sun Belt over the MAC anyway.

Relax Duke. Any movement is good for us so yes it makes a little difference..

No it doesn't. Just calm down guys. Just because Eastern Kentucky is rumored to be joining the PAC 10 doesn't necessarily have an impact on us.

This could be a bit of a stretch but here's my thoughts. I think this move helps us in the end because I think the goal of many Mountain USA teams will be to get into the Big East or stay put. The Big East's BCS bid will be up for discussion after this season, which means that either the Big East will keep it or another conference will take it. It's pretty easy to see that the only conference who could challenge the Big East would be the Mountain USA. So, how does this help us? With the exception of LTech, I highly doubt any FBS member moves to the Sun Belt. Thus, the Sun Belt will have to dig into FCS schools if they want to expand. Additionally, the Mountain USA will likely be more aggressive now in trying to add a couple of Sun Belt teams. I think this has a huge indirect impact on us moving to the Sun Belt.

the big east won't lose their bcs spot. The bcs doesn't embrace change why would they with conference affiliation?

Considering that all the non-AQ schools (with the exception of Hawaii) are now in a BCS league (TCU in the Big 12, Utah in the PAC-12, Boise State in the Big East), I don't see the Big East losing its bid now. Mount USA would have a stronger argument if they could get BYU back in, but right now I just don't see it.

I'm not arguing whether or not they'll lose it. The fact of the matter is that it is up for grabs, the Big East has terrible ratings and the Mount USA will be trying to get that bid. I don't actually think the Big East will lose it, but make no mistake that they will try to keep it and the Mount USA will try to take it. Attempting to do something and actually doing it are two completely different things. It's the attempting that will have an indirect impact on us.

Of course MtUSA is going to try to get it, but the Big East has done enough to keep it and MtUSA hasn't done enough to gain it. Big East has got all the desired schools MtUSA would want except for possibly BYU. I don't think BYU is nearly as valuable as they would like to think they are.

BYU/Liberty would be a great rivalry!

While Liberty has a bright, bright future ahead of it, I don't see a conference like the Big East taking us when they are trying to maintain their AQ status nor do I see the Mt.-USA behemoth bringing in an FCS team in when they will likely be making their own push to gaining AQ status. I still see the Sun Belt being our best chance with the MAC being an outside possibility. The main goal is just to get into FBS, once there I can see us making a move towards Independence if all goes according to plan.

thepostman wrote:Of course MtUSA is going to try to get it, but the Big East has done enough to keep it and MtUSA hasn't done enough to gain it. Big East has got all the desired schools MtUSA would want except for possibly BYU. I don't think BYU is nearly as valuable as they would like to think they are.

Exactly why the Mount USA will likely target Sun Belt schools, and it's why many Mount USA schools won't bolt for the Sun Belt. They're trying to get a BCS bid.