WKU/MTSU to MAC may be "on hold." (2024)

Post: #21

Post: #22

Still seems like an unusual arrangement, when their broadcasting arrangement would only run until 2027 (5 years).

Some are expressing skepticism about this rumor, which hasn't been substantiated. The change from 25 to 15 years may cause them to question it even more, although it might be possible that they started with 25-years and dropped the GOR to 15 years during negotiations.

Do you know of any other information that tends to confirm the notion? The only info that provides any hint of credibility is the fact that the deal doesn't appear to have been finalized yet.

What type of source, or sources, did the info. come from? Was it just an opinion or rumor, or was it more than that?

"Inquiring minds want to know."

Post: #23

(This post was last modified: 11-04-2021 12:42 AM by AuzGrams.)

Post: #24

Post: #25

(11-04-2021 01:08 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote: It would be nuts for WKU and MTSU to sign a long-term GOR when further Big 12 expansion could trigger another round of dominos. Better to stay in CUSA and rebuild.

What’s gonna trigger further Big 12 expansion? WVU + ND to the ACC? The PAC going after Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Kansas, Kansas State to 14 or 16?

I think realignment is done here unless they continue to get greedy and stupid.

(This post was last modified: 11-04-2021 01:31 AM by AuzGrams.)

Post: #26

(11-04-2021 01:29 AM)AuzGrams Wrote:

(11-04-2021 01:08 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote: It would be nuts for WKU and MTSU to sign a long-term GOR when further Big 12 expansion could trigger another round of dominos. Better to stay in CUSA and rebuild.

What’s gonna trigger further Big 12 expansion? WVU + ND to the ACC? The PAC going after Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Kansas, Kansas State to 14 or 16?

I think realignment is done here unless they continue to get greedy and stupid.

LOL. Historically greed and stupidity have been among the primary drivers of conference realignment. I suspect that will not change.

Post: #27

(11-04-2021 03:30 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:

(11-04-2021 01:29 AM)AuzGrams Wrote:

(11-04-2021 01:08 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote: It would be nuts for WKU and MTSU to sign a long-term GOR when further Big 12 expansion could trigger another round of dominos. Better to stay in CUSA and rebuild.

What’s gonna trigger further Big 12 expansion? WVU + ND to the ACC? The PAC going after Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Kansas, Kansas State to 14 or 16?

I think realignment is done here unless they continue to get greedy and stupid.

LOL. Historically greed and stupidity have been among the primary drivers of conference realignment. I suspect that will not change.

I can’t wait for the G5 NIT while we have 16 team conferences. Maybe we need 24 team PAC-24, B1G, SEC.

No problem with the usual greed. But the stupidity is more the problem.

(This post was last modified: 11-04-2021 03:54 AM by AuzGrams.)

Post: #28

I think the MAC is very smart here. There is a good chance a WKU or MTSU could be looked at as a Memphis replacement. Would those schools rather play Temple, Charlotte, ECU, and USF (and Texas schools?) or would they rather be locked into the MAC?

Even if the AAC chooses not to backfill Memphis with WKU and instead chooses a SBC school, Sunbelt would have to backfill themselves. WKU or MTSU would be fine replacements for whomever they lose.

I think you probably stay in Conf USA and collect the exit fees. It comes down to how big the ESPN pay out will increase and add to the bottom line in the short term rather than hypothetical long term.

(This post was last modified: 11-04-2021 06:22 AM by RUScarlets.)

Post: #29

None of the proposed GOR makes sense. If the intent is to cover the MAC’s risk with the existing or an extended TV deal, then raising the exit fee for WKU and MTSU is a much more direct and less toxic way of achieving that here.

This sounds like something put out there by someone with C-USA interests to try to stir the pot in a desperate attempt to poison the well and save the conference. I don’t buy this story at all.

Post: #30

(11-04-2021 07:07 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote: None of the proposed GOR makes sense. If the intent is to cover the MAC’s risk with the existing or an extended TV deal, then raising the exit fee for WKU and MTSU is a much more direct and less toxic way of achieving that here.

This sounds like something put out there by someone with C-USA interests to try to stir the pot in a desperate attempt to poison the well and save the conference. I don’t buy this story at all.

Frank,

You keep saying that, but you seem to be speculating as much as the others are.

It's time for facts, now - - not speculation.

A lot of what you've written here sounds like "conspiracy theory."

Yet, we do know that ESPN has tried to coerce schools into signing logn GORs before - - such as the AAC schools which they tried to get a 12 year GOR - - only 8 of 12 went along with the idea - - the others refused.

That lends some idea to the credibility at least of the idea that ESPN might have tried to coerce the MAC schools into signing a long-term (15 or 17 year) GOR, with WKU or MTSU possibly being the ones who are balking this time. That wouldn't be hard to believe.

Look - I myself have serious doubts about the credibility of this, but it doesn't do any good for any of us to come up with theories that have no factual basis.

The guy who originally posted the story hasn't run into a corner and hidden. He has been brave enough to admit that he made a mistake. That suggests to me that he, at least, is saying something he believes to be true.

If he was just a troll, he probably would have vanished and left no trace.

Could the poster just be kind of buffoon? Possibly, or possibly a kid who doesn't know any better and is just floundering around - - in over his head.

But let's cool the speculation for now, and hopefully, someone with some facts will tell us what's really going on, ok?

(This post was last modified: 11-04-2021 07:48 AM by Milwaukee.)

Post: #31

If this is anywhere close to true, I don’t blame the MAC. They’re sick of being a stepping stone conference. You want to be part of the most stable G5 league? Put your pen where your mouth is.

Good for them.

(This post was last modified: 11-04-2021 07:58 AM by esayem.)

Post: #32

(11-04-2021 07:58 AM)esayem Wrote: If this is anywhere close to true, I don’t blame the MAC. They’re sick of being a stepping stone conference. You want to be part of the most stable G5 league? Put your pen where your mouth is.

Good for them.

And the OBE, American, CUSA, and the Sunbelt haven't been stepping stones. Realignment like crap rolls downhill.

Post: #33

(11-04-2021 08:05 AM)panite Wrote:

(11-04-2021 07:58 AM)esayem Wrote: If this is anywhere close to true, I don’t blame the MAC. They’re sick of being a stepping stone conference. You want to be part of the most stable G5 league? Put your pen where your mouth is.

Good for them.

And the OBE, American, CUSA, and the Sunbelt haven't been stepping stones. Realignment like crap rolls downhill.

They aren’t tightly knit within a region like the MAC. Plus, it’s their choice to throw down a GOR, so why didn’t they?

Post: #34

(11-04-2021 08:05 AM)panite Wrote:

(11-04-2021 07:58 AM)esayem Wrote: If this is anywhere close to true, I don’t blame the MAC. They’re sick of being a stepping stone conference. You want to be part of the most stable G5 league? Put your pen where your mouth is.

Good for them.

And the OBE, American, CUSA, and the Sunbelt haven't been stepping stones. Realignment like crap rolls downhill.

GOR isn't just for new members, the current membership has to sign on via vote. The MAC teams have been together so long (and passed over in realignment), that they're probably ok signing a long term GOR.

Whereas teams in the conferences you mentioned were always being considered as realignment targets, so it makes sense none of them would ever agree to a GOR.

Post: #35

(11-04-2021 12:41 AM)AuzGrams Wrote: Ugh. 14 team MAC seems so dumb and stupid and ESPN-oriented.

Insightful, in-depth take. I'm sure it's all ESPN. Has nothing to do with demographics and things university presidents look at.

Post: #36

(11-04-2021 08:40 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:

(11-04-2021 12:41 AM)AuzGrams Wrote: Ugh. 14 team MAC seems so dumb and stupid and ESPN-oriented.

Insightful, in-depth take. I'm sure it's all ESPN. Has nothing to do with demographics and things university presidents look at.

You can say recruiting and demographics all you want but I could make counter points.

Great sarcasm though.

(This post was last modified: 11-04-2021 08:44 AM by AuzGrams.)

Post: #37

(11-04-2021 08:31 AM)TopperCard Wrote:

(11-04-2021 08:05 AM)panite Wrote:

(11-04-2021 07:58 AM)esayem Wrote: If this is anywhere close to true, I don’t blame the MAC. They’re sick of being a stepping stone conference. You want to be part of the most stable G5 league? Put your pen where your mouth is.

Good for them.

And the OBE, American, CUSA, and the Sunbelt haven't been stepping stones. Realignment like crap rolls downhill.

GOR isn't just for new members, the current membership has to sign on via vote. The MAC teams have been together so long (and passed over in realignment), that they're probably ok signing a long term GOR.

Whereas teams in the conferences you mentioned were always being considered as realignment targets, so it makes sense none of them would ever agree to a GOR.

Not to piss anyone on here off, but to your point about the MAC schools being together so long and passed over for realignment…

I view it kind of like purgatory. It may be a “safe” spot for WKU and seemingly stable in a very unstable time for our school, but I just don’t see a long term upside to the MAC. I view them as a very “status quo” league that is simple comfortable where they are and ok staying in their lane.

Maybe a pipe dream, but I want a little more from WKU than that. No question…We’re in a tough spot. But hey, that the G5 for ya!

Post: #38

(11-04-2021 08:43 AM)AuzGrams Wrote:

(11-04-2021 08:40 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:

(11-04-2021 12:41 AM)AuzGrams Wrote: Ugh. 14 team MAC seems so dumb and stupid and ESPN-oriented.

Insightful, in-depth take. I'm sure it's all ESPN. Has nothing to do with demographics and things university presidents look at.

You can say recruiting and demographics all you want but I could make counter points.

Great sarcasm though.

I'm sure the university presidents go through a much higher level of thought-process and data-driven analysis than "dumb" and "stupid". They have the numbers of how many alumni and attainable prospective students live between WKU and MTSU and will make their decision accordingly. They will also take into account institutional fit and the ADs have already determined the athletic fit.

Post your counterpoints away, but come up with something better than "dumb" and "stupid". The process and the data that's reviewed are far more complex than that.

Post: #39

(11-04-2021 09:02 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:

(11-04-2021 08:43 AM)AuzGrams Wrote:

(11-04-2021 08:40 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:

(11-04-2021 12:41 AM)AuzGrams Wrote: Ugh. 14 team MAC seems so dumb and stupid and ESPN-oriented.

Insightful, in-depth take. I'm sure it's all ESPN. Has nothing to do with demographics and things university presidents look at.

You can say recruiting and demographics all you want but I could make counter points.

Great sarcasm though.

I'm sure the university presidents go through a much higher level of thought-process and data-driven analysis than "dumb" and "stupid". They have the numbers of how many alumni and attainable prospective students live between WKU and MTSU and will make their decision accordingly. They will also take into account institutional fit and the ADs have already determined the athletic fit.

Post your counterpoints away, but come up with something better than "dumb" and "stupid". The process and the data that's reviewed are far more complex than that.

Woke up on the wrong side of the bed today I see.

Continuity and tradition is rare and I think the MWC and MAC would look good stating status quo. But we can make things complex and water down FBS some more.

(This post was last modified: 11-04-2021 09:31 AM by AuzGrams.)

Post: #40

(11-04-2021 09:02 AM)TitanTopper Wrote:

(11-04-2021 08:31 AM)TopperCard Wrote:

(11-04-2021 08:05 AM)panite Wrote:

(11-04-2021 07:58 AM)esayem Wrote: If this is anywhere close to true, I don’t blame the MAC. They’re sick of being a stepping stone conference. You want to be part of the most stable G5 league? Put your pen where your mouth is.

Good for them.

And the OBE, American, CUSA, and the Sunbelt haven't been stepping stones. Realignment like crap rolls downhill.

GOR isn't just for new members, the current membership has to sign on via vote. The MAC teams have been together so long (and passed over in realignment), that they're probably ok signing a long term GOR.

Whereas teams in the conferences you mentioned were always being considered as realignment targets, so it makes sense none of them would ever agree to a GOR.

Not to piss anyone on here off, but to your point about the MAC schools being together so long and passed over for realignment…

I view it kind of like purgatory. It may be a “safe” spot for WKU and seemingly stable in a very unstable time for our school, but I just don’t see a long term upside to the MAC. I view them as a very “status quo” league that is simple comfortable where they are and ok staying in their lane.

Maybe a pipe dream, but I want a little more from WKU than that. No question…We’re in a tough spot. But hey, that the G5 for ya!

I agree with that assessment. The MAC is stable, but at a low, stagnant, going nowhere level. If you have aspirations to move up the ladder, it would be better for you if the Sun Belt or AAC had come calling.

That said, sometimes the choices in life are between meh and bad, and IMO, the MAC is meh while the current CUSA is ... bad, LOL.