UTSA Decides to Go FBS

[TexasTerror]

I think UTSA is going to miss the domino effect by about 3 years. The dominoes are going to roll in 2012, I think by then UTSA would be left behind and still be searching for a conference to join. The domino effect is mostly going to affect the WAC/MWC/Big 12 (very little), CUSA, and Big East. The Big Sky, Great West, and Southland would be the FCS conferences mostly affected, IMO, maybe the CAA and SoCon. But I just can't envision UTSA being successful jumping right into the fire.

UTSA is prepping for the domino effect by making their football team ready. They are gung-ho on going FBS and are going straight forward instead of a prolonged stop in FCS.

They will be ready just as quickly as TXST would be if the Bobcats decided next year to move FBS. How are they missing the dominoes falling if a league knows they'll have a full FBS program by 2015.

[Fresno St. Alum]

I think UTSA is going to miss the domino effect by about 3 years. The dominoes are going to roll in 2012, I think by then UTSA would be left behind and still be searching for a conference to join. The domino effect is mostly going to affect the WAC/MWC/Big 12 (very little), CUSA, and Big East. The Big Sky, Great West, and Southland would be the FCS conferences mostly affected, IMO, maybe the CAA and SoCon. But I just can't envision UTSA being successful jumping right into the fire.

No one said they'd be good just that they'd get in. I'd bet when the Big 10 adds #12 that the Pac-10 will do the same soon after by adding Utah and Colorado. UTSA can catch that domino boat along with Charlotte. Still even if no one leaves I think that UTSA has a shot at the WAC.

[TexasTerror]

No one said they'd be good just that they'd get in. I'd bet when the Big 10 adds #12 that the Pac-10 will do the same soon after by adding Utah and Colorado. UTSA can catch that domino boat along with Charlotte. Still even if no one leaves I think that UTSA has a shot at the WAC.

What do you think happens with La Tech?

Are they destined for C-USA or will they have to swallow their pride for a move to the Sun Belt? If La Tech were to stay in the WAC, I can see the league trying to add UTSA and TXST to help make more definitive divisions to help keep travel costs low...

[Fresno St. Alum]

I think UTSA is going to miss the domino effect by about 3 years. The dominoes are going to roll in 2012, I think by then UTSA would be left behind and still be searching for a conference to join. The domino effect is mostly going to affect the WAC/MWC/Big 12 (very little), CUSA, and Big East. The Big Sky, Great West, and Southland would be the FCS conferences mostly affected, IMO, maybe the CAA and SoCon. But I just can't envision UTSA being successful jumping right into the fire.

UTSA is prepping for the domino effect by making their football team ready. They are gung-ho on going FBS and are going straight forward instead of a prolonged stop in FCS.

They will be ready just as quickly as TXST would be if the Bobcats decided next year to move FBS. How are they missing the dominoes falling if a league knows they'll have a full FBS program by 2015.

What Mr. T is saying is that they wouldn't be accepted to a conf. like the WAC or CUSA until they are FBS. You must spend 2 years as a FCS. However the Sun Belt is a conf. that could add a school and wait a couple years for them to play football, they had WKU, USA, and UALR & Denver who don't have it.

[slycat]

No one said they'd be good just that they'd get in. I'd bet when the Big 10 adds #12 that the Pac-10 will do the same soon after by adding Utah and Colorado. UTSA can catch that domino boat along with Charlotte. Still even if no one leaves I think that UTSA has a shot at the WAC.

What do you think happens with La Tech?

Are they destined for C-USA or will they have to swallow their pride for a move to the Sun Belt? If La Tech were to stay in the WAC, I can see the league trying to add UTSA and TXST to help make more definitive divisions to help keep travel costs low...

This is what I expect if dominoes don't fall. Texas is a recruiting hotbed that the WAC would love to have access to. Plus it would help with travel.

[Fresno St. Alum]

No one said they'd be good just that they'd get in. I'd bet when the Big 10 adds #12 that the Pac-10 will do the same soon after by adding Utah and Colorado. UTSA can catch that domino boat along with Charlotte. Still even if no one leaves I think that UTSA has a shot at the WAC.

What do you think happens with La Tech?

Are they destined for C-USA or will they have to swallow their pride for a move to the Sun Belt? If La Tech were to stay in the WAC, I can see the league trying to add UTSA and TXST to help make more definitive divisions to help keep travel costs low...

TT, this is what I know. La Tech has no market for C-USA, they would have N.Texas, S.Alabama, M.Tenn.St. FAU before the Ruston boys. La Tech has already come out and said they don't want to step back by going to the SBC. They think they are above ULL and ULM. So as long as they can pay for travel they'll stay and we can't get rid of them. That's why I have mentioned UTSA and Texas St. over and over with the WAC. I'm real serious about MWC snagging Boise St. too.

Have you even been to the collegesportsinfo.com board? we talk about conference and div. movement. That's what that site is all about. I think you should read it. link http://collegesportsinfo.com/forum/

[slycat]

The WAC is in a unique situation. They don;t have many teams yet want to be bigger. Yet they don't really want to add FCS teams because they see it as hurting the image and strength they've created.

However, if Boise St leaves they will help. Plus there aren't many other established FBS schools to snag.

[Fresno St. Alum]

That's right Sly. The WAC needs to fill that gap from NM to La. with Texas. Of course if the guys up north in Montana ever wanted in then we'd cater to them first.

[Fresno St. Alum]

The WAC offered a spot to UNT but they declined. So they wac has wanted to get back into Texas.

[Fresno St. Alum]

also 12 team FBS conference might ending being a must. When Big 10 has 12 and probably soon after the Pac 10 that would leave MWC, WAC, BE football, SBC football as the only ones that don't. The BCS could tell the MWC if you go to 12 you have an autobid. They could tell the BE they need 12 to keep theirs. Who knows.

[slycat]

also 12 team FBS conference might ending being a must. When Big 10 has 12 and probably soon after the Pac 10 that would leave MWC, WAC, BE football, SBC football as the only ones that don't. The BCS could tell tell the MWC if you go to 12 you have an autobid. They could tell the BE they need 12 to keep theirs. Who knows.

2011/2012 is going to be very interesting it appears.

[Fresno St. Alum]

I feel bad for all the D-II schools who might have wanted to move that can't afford to with the new rules.

[Fresno St. Alum]

If you look at the WACs options for expansion the list isn't long and UTSA Texas St. aren't that bad
N.Texas (said no)
UTEP (like CUSA better)
ULL (meh)
ULM (meh)
UTSA (better than the La schools, closer, big market, adds Texas)
Texas St. (I'd take them over the La schools, closer and add Texas)
Montana (never said they wanted in)
UC Davis (never said they wanted in)
Cal Poly (never said they wanted in)
Sac St. (wants in but needs some big upgrading)

[MrTitleist]

Here's how I see dominoes falling:
Big 10 (this is where it all will start) will add Missouri or Pittsburgh. If Missouri is added Big 12 will add TCU. If Pitt is added, I suspect someone from CUSA will be making the move to the Big East. No idea who.

If TCU leaves the MWC, expect the MWC to respond by adding Boise, Fresno, Houston, Nevada (some combo of those schools, probably 3 of the 4 or all 4).

The WAC? They'll respond by probably adding Montana, UC Davis, Sac St, maybe a Texas school (just can't figure out which one). Personally, I think the WAC would like to drop LA Tech.. they're a travel nightmare for the conference. Geographically, LA Tech belongs w/ CUSA or SBC. A Hawaii to Ruston just isn't a good scenario.

The Pac 10? I just can't see them adding Utah and/or Colorado. Utah fits academically, but they're not going to be separated from the BYU friends.. and BYU doesn't play on Sunday's, soooo.. the Pac 10 thing might be out. Colorado, academically, I don't think would be a fit in the Pac 10.

How does this all affect FCS? Hard to tell right now.. but I can vision the Big Sky, Great West, and maybe the SLC needing to replace members. 2012 is going to be an interesting year for football and realignments. The reason I say UTSA might miss the boat? What are they going to do after two years in FCS? Hang out in the independent league like WKU did?

[dbackjon]

Colorado is probably closer, profile wise, to the Pac 10 than Big 12.

Don't discount Texas to the Big 10 or Pac 10, either

[collegesportsinfo]

Interesting move. Big gamble by UTSA. They are taking the FAU/FIU approach.

They better hope football catches on is SA. Of course being in SA makes it somewhat easy for a conference to want to pick them up.

WHat worries me about all this is it makes it wound like there aren't any FBS conferences looking for teams. Texas St may not be moving up as soon as they think.

The Sunbelt just lost a member and with USA adding football, it will be 10 football member and 12 total (no football for UALR and Denver).

There is room for the Sunbelt to add UTSA and goto 11/13. And the WAC will likely lose Boise St. to the MWC soon and will seek a replacement as they will be down to 8 members. And if the Big East lost a member(s), they'd be looking at CUSA which could be another UTSA option (over say North Texas or LA Tech).

So rest assure, if UTSA, Texas St, Lamar, Georgia St, and Charlotte all upgrade, there will likely be spots for all of them due to shifts in the Big East, CUSA, WAC and Sunbelt.

[Fresno St. Alum]

Schools like UTSA, Georgia St. and Charlotte will find homes because they have great markets and 2 of them have big stadiums. Charlotte a former CUSA member would be a school that the Belt would be stoked to get if CUSA doesn't take them back.

[Fresno St. Alum]

hypothetical question. with D-I getting rid of the 6 members for 5 years could Texas St., UTSA, Lamar, SHSU, Jacksonville St., Georgia St., Charlotte, Georgia Southern start a conference and get a auto bid in a year or 2? basketball wise.

[TexasTerror]

The WAC offered a spot to UNT but they declined. So they wac has wanted to get back into Texas.

North Texas had no reason to take the WAC spot. Very comfortable in the Sun Belt. They want a C-USA bid, but would Tulsa and/or SMU get in the way of that?

The Sunbelt just lost a member and with USA adding football, it will be 10 football member and 12 total (no football for UALR and Denver).

There is room for the Sunbelt to add UTSA and goto 11/13.

The weird thing is the SBC is NOT doing travel partners in hoops. They are doing it in volleyball, but not hoops. Would think they'd try to save schools $$$ by doing it in hoops. What's the point of 10/12 if you do not do travel partners? You finally have balance - may as well.

hypothetical question. with D-I getting rid of the 6 members for 5 years could Texas St., UTSA, Lamar, SHSU, Jacksonville St., Georgia St., Charlotte, Georgia Southern start a conference and get a auto bid in a year or 2? basketball wise.

If SHSU, Lamar and TXST go anywhere - SFA will also be in the equation. Same thing if any pair from the combination of SFA, Lamar and SHSU go - the third school will follow.

It would not surprise me to see an FBS Southland of some sort that includes non-football Oral Roberts, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, UT-Arlington and should they get the boot from the SBC - UALR. Plus the old shell of the SLC could remain with the La. schools, UCA, perhaps Delta State, Houston Baptist, Tarleton State.

'New SLC'
Football: Sam Houston State, Lamar, Texas St-San Marcos, Stephen F. Austin, UTSA
Non-FB: UT-Arlington, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Oral Roberts, UALR

Only problem is where do the rest of the football schools come from if this is going to be a relatively regional league? I can see an 8/12 format.

[Fresno St. Alum]

you bring in Jacksonville St. to give you 6/10

[chrisattsu]

Colorado is probably closer, profile wise, to the Pac 10 than Big 12.

Don't discount Texas to the Big 10 or Pac 10, either

I agree with the first part of your post, but not the second.

Anyone who has followed the birth of the Big XII knows that Texas flirted with these conferences previously, but instate politics refused to let it happen. Aggies were afraid of being left behind, they wanted to stay on equal footing with Texas. Texas Tech used their West Texas voting block to ensure that they be along for the ride, and Baylor got helped out by having an alumnus in the Governor's Mansion. Even though Uncle Bevo might be able to afford it, I can't see it happening.

[dbackjon]

Colorado is probably closer, profile wise, to the Pac 10 than Big 12.

Don't discount Texas to the Big 10 or Pac 10, either

I agree with the first part of your post, but not the second.

Anyone who has followed the birth of the Big XII knows that Texas flirted with these conferences previously, but instate politics refused to let it happen. Aggies were afraid of being left behind, they wanted to stay on equal footing with Texas. Texas Tech used their West Texas voting block to ensure that they be along for the ride, and Baylor got helped out by having an alumnus in the Governor's Mansion. Even though Uncle Bevo might be able to afford it, I can't see it happening.

A lot has changed since then. Baylor doesn't have the influence, Tech and A&M have lost a lot of ground to UT. Neither are on the same foot academically.

[89Hen]

So UTSA will become the new road whores taking the title from San Jose State. I think their motto was "Anywhere, Anytime for Any Price".

[MaximumBobcat]

I agree with the first part of your post, but not the second.

Anyone who has followed the birth of the Big XII knows that Texas flirted with these conferences previously, but instate politics refused to let it happen. Aggies were afraid of being left behind, they wanted to stay on equal footing with Texas. Texas Tech used their West Texas voting block to ensure that they be along for the ride, and Baylor got helped out by having an alumnus in the Governor's Mansion. Even though Uncle Bevo might be able to afford it, I can't see it happening.

A lot has changed since then. Baylor doesn't have the influence, Tech and A&M have lost a lot of ground to UT. Neither are on the same foot academically.

UT and A&M will always be in the same conference, no matter what. I can guarantee you that.

Those two may separate themselves from Tech and Baylor, but it would take a lot of doing that I just don't see happening.

As for your academic statement dbackjohn, that's really just not true, at least about A&M. The U.S. News and World Report recently ranked UT 47th and Texas A&M 61st nationally. Pretty equal footing all things considered. Tech was considered Tier 3 and not in the same class as UT or A&M.

source: http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandrevie ... -rankings/