RebelinWA said:

I wish we could get both of them. Though I believe if St Marys doesn’t follow Gonzaga, more likely they’ll want to stay to run the table in the WCC.

If I’m St Marys, I don’t take anything less than what Gonzaga got if I follow them to the Pac. I don’t think the Pac can afford that type of deal again.

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Or St Mary's tells the WCC they want the same deal Gonzaga had & dominate the WCC.

dcut03 said:

Recency bias.

Again, I LIKE the GCU add. I'm just saying that St. Mary's has been the better basketball program, and it isn't that close

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I wish we could get both of them. Though I believe if St Marys doesn’t follow Gonzaga, more likely they’ll want to stay to run the table in the WCC.

If I’m St Marys, I don’t take anything less than what Gonzaga got if I follow them to the Pac. I don’t think the Pac can afford that type of deal again.

bcvegaspt2 said:

The more I watch NFL running backs the less I think he is one. He’s putting up the best numbers obviously but he’s not passing the eye test to me.

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He is behind a pretty good O line too.

Knight Rebel702 said:

Talking about Media deals.

Does anyone what the MW deal will look like 2 years from now? Hopefully we can at least triple our current one.

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Bullmastiff 1 said:

It will remain about the same and considering what we lost that has to be viewed as a win. Adding Hawaii as full member actually might be what saves the deal from actually decreasing.

Hawaii big market. Plus their games get a fair amount of views/interest because of gambling. They tend to be last game of the day.

What's great is UNLV was promised not to make less than what they make now plus the 1.5ish milliin each year.

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As currently configured, minus the traitor school, I expect to be $5-7m. Grabbing GCU or St Marys might impact us an extra half million. Grabbing Hawaii was pretty big.

On the other hand, the Pac being folded into the MW might get us $8-10m.

Knight Rebel702 said:

Talking about Media deals.

Does anyone what the MW deal will look like 2 years from now? Hopefully we can at least triple our current one.

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It will remain about the same and considering what we lost that has to be viewed as a win. Adding Hawaii as full member actually might be what saves the deal from actually decreasing.

Hawaii big market. Plus their games get a fair amount of views/interest because of gambling. They tend to be last game of the day.

What's great is UNLV was promised not to make less than what they make now plus the 1.5ish milliin each year.

The more I watch NFL running backs the less I think he is one. He’s putting up the best numbers obviously but he’s not passing the eye test to me.

dcut03 said:

Recency bias.

Again, I LIKE the GCU add. I'm just saying that St. Mary's has been the better basketball program, and it isn't that close

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I agree you had said they had zero wins in tourney just pointing out they do have one.

Bullmastiff 1 said:

Without 12-15 million dollar media deal they aren't enticing Memphis and Co from the AAC. Travel costs don't make sense.

The AAC get 9 million per school. And that was with these schools factored into that deal.

Houston, Cincy, SMU (All left).

So their next deal may be less. Although they have bolstered by adding Army and a couple others.

If a lineup consisting of Memphis, SMU, Tulane, Cincy, Houston, USF only warranted 9 million, I'm not sure how the PAC gets to 12. I could be wrong and totally underestimating what the new PAC could draw. But without Memphis and Tulane I can't see their media deal being more than 7-8 million with current roster.

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Talking about Media deals.

Does anyone know what the MW deal will look like 2 years from now? Hopefully we can at least triple our current one.

j. spilotro said:

If you want to be a program, a real program, you welcome tall challenges with open arms. You won’t win them all, but you aren’t going to get better playing a Marvin Menzies OOC. Challenge yourself. Rise as much as you can. Toughen yourself.

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Dare to be great. Does that mean that we should be pulling out the heavy bag all four games and get crushed by traditional top 15 schools? No. But we shouldn't be scheduling cupcakes just have a win ratio like Liberty.

dcut03 said:

I mean look at it this year. CSU could sneak into the MWCG without playing the far and away 2 best teams in the conference this year. That kinda sucks.

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Especially for a conference like the MWC, where we can all want it to be a top tier league, but also all know that it will never been recognized as such, I had a thought for unbalanced scheduling.

Going to 9 teams playing an 8 game conference schedule or 10 and playing 9 games would eliminate the need for this. But here's where I'm at:

You're the MWC. You have 12 teams. You want to make sure your strongest team (or one with the best chance to "get in") is poised to be in the chair at the end of the season.

You have BSU, who is firmly in control of its own destiny. Basically as the conference, if they get in, you get the spot. But what if they don't win the conference title and someone like CSU, who has no real chance at being the highest ranked G5 team if they win the MWC wins. And they do it by avoiding the top 2 teams in the conference.

You leave the week before conference championship week open on all schedules. Or maybe you do this 2 weeks prior.

4 games into conference play, when you have already seen about where everybody is lined up, and you know who hasn't played, you force those matchups as eliminator games. Set CSU vs UNLV for that week. Give Boise another good win (or do you give them a lock in that scenario?). Get flexible scheduling on the conference road map and ensure you don't have a humpty humpty accidental winner of the conference by not beating one of your 2 or 3 good teams.


I'm sure stadiums and teams probably wouldn't love it. But you'd also draw TV eyes on the 1 or 2 match ups that mean something.

It gets your good teams in the conversation and keeps the bad teams out.

dcut03 said:

Cross that bridge when you get there.

Really UNLV is the only one that is a threat to leave for free.
AFA could leave for the AAC, but it seems like they would have done that this past couple of months IF that were to happen. Seemed to be locked in the MW for the foreseeable future. If they were to leave now, they have to pay a pretty penny.

Bloating the conference, hurting everyone's pockets now just to protect from teams leaving just isn't worth it. Especially if the commish is telling everyone they aren't getting any less than what they are used to, which seems very unlikely with the next contract. I don't think inflation offsets losing your 4 best markets.

So overpromising money that likely has to be offset with exit/poaching fees, that both wells could be reduced from negotiations and lawsuits. They have some wiggle room with a escrow of sorts of funds that have not been allocated, but adding more mouths to feed is going to stretch that cushion even further.

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We had to add UTEP to survive (sorry to any UTEP fans lurking on here). That alone should tell you how shaky of a situation the MWC is in. She could offer NMSU a half share and it's double their current deal. Same with Sam Houston State or WKU or even LA Tech. Tarleton State was talked to.

Bullmastiff 1 said:

If you are a commisioner and one of your top programs asked for a clause allowing them to pursue P4 opportunities with zero exit fees, you damn well better prepare yourself for that possibility.

Do I think it's going to happen? Unlikely.

Not to mention if UNLV left AFA is likely AAC bound at that point. You'd be back down to six full members.

I'm not enthralled by any of the options out there but you better be proactive here vs having to scramble again in the future.

And again any additions do not hurt UNLV. We get our money regardless. What's Wyoming gonna do? Complain and leave for CUSA because media deal drops from 5 mil to 4 mil per year? Even 3 million a year is 3x what CUSA is paying.

I'm not saying she needs 12 or 14 or 16 but 9-10 full members at least guards against potential losses down the road.

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Cross that bridge when you get there.

Really UNLV is the only one that is a threat to leave for free.
AFA could leave for the AAC, but it seems like they would have done that this past couple of months IF that were to happen. Seemed to be locked in the MW for the foreseeable future. If they were to leave now, they have to pay a pretty penny.

Bloating the conference, hurting everyone's pockets now just to protect from teams leaving just isn't worth it. Especially if the commish is telling everyone they aren't getting any less than what they are used to, which seems very unlikely with the next contract. I don't think inflation offsets losing your 4 best markets.

So overpromising money that likely has to be offset with exit/poaching fees, that both wells could be reduced from negotiations and lawsuits. They have some wiggle room with a escrow of sorts of funds that have not been allocated, but adding more mouths to feed is going to stretch that cushion even further.

dcut03 said:

And that is kinda my point.

We don't have to have more than 8 football, which again isn't a terrible thing.

I mean look at it this year. CSU could sneak into the MWCG without playing the far and away 2 best teams in the conference this year. That kinda sucks.

We are already stretching ourselves with the 8 we have. We really can't afford another without it helping everyone's bottom line

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If you are a commisioner and one of your top programs asked for a clause allowing them to pursue P4 opportunities with zero exit fees, you damn well better prepare yourself for that possibility.

Do I think it's going to happen? Unlikely.

Not to mention if UNLV left AFA is likely AAC bound at that point. You'd be back down to six full members.

I'm not enthralled by any of the options out there but you better be proactive here vs having to scramble again in the future.

And again any additions do not hurt UNLV. We get our money regardless. What's Wyoming gonna do? Complain and leave for CUSA because media deal drops from 5 mil to 4 mil per year? Even 3 million a year is 3x what CUSA is paying.

I'm not saying she needs 12 or 14 or 16 but 9-10 full members at least guards against potential losses down the road.

dcut03 said:

And that is kinda my point.

We don't have to have more than 8 football, which again isn't a terrible thing.

I mean look at it this year. CSU could sneak into the MWCG without playing the far and away 2 best teams in the conference this year. That kinda sucks.

We are already stretching ourselves with the 8 we have. We really can't afford another without it helping everyone's bottom line

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I hate that our shot at the conference championship hinges on reno, wyoming, fresno, and usu.

Bullmastiff 1 said:

There isn't anyone out there that is realistic that likely would.

The good thing is, the PAC is faced with the same issue unless they can get Memphis or Tulane to do an about face. And even then that 12-15 million per school seems extremely high.

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And that is kinda my point.

We don't have to have more than 8 football, which again isn't a terrible thing.

I mean look at it this year. CSU could sneak into the MWCG without playing the far and away 2 best teams in the conference this year. That kinda sucks.

We are already stretching ourselves with the 8 we have. We really can't afford another without it helping everyone's bottom line

Masked_rebel said:

I agree and said the same thing after the loss the other night.
CSU also has to play Reno and vs Wyoming(rivalry) and USU(good offense nothing to lose). Ive now begun calling the entire MWC outside of Boise/UNLV the mediocre West. Any of them can lose to each other, so yeah mediocre football all around. There isnt a game left on our schedule that we should be able to win by multiple touchdowns and make that rematch.
I agree that Boise is good and itll be tough to beat them, but if we ever want to reach the next level as a program, we have to learn to win that game with that kind of pressure. Plus itll be totally fun to F over Boise and ruin their playoff hopes and dreams

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You left out CSU having to travel to Fresno as well.

dcut03 said:

Technically, we have not been eliminated from the Playoffs. Sure it becomes a lot tougher now. But the good news is this.

Our next 4 we should be favored. It seems most likely that we get another shot at Boise in the MW championship game.

The Playoff take the highest rated CONFERENCE CHAMPION. So winning out including that game could get us back in the conversation.

Navy got crushed by UND, Army has to play them too. Army and Navy play each other perhaps twice. So they may be looking at a 2 loss champion, without as good of a SOS.

A late season win at a 1 loss, likely top 12 Boise Team, may just be the most impressive win in the G5 at that point. The Syracuse loss right now has not aged well, hopefully they finish strong, but that is to be seen.

We need CSU to lose. They still have to go to Fresno on the road, which is likely the better team. But they do have a seat in the MWCG if they win out.

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I agree and said the same thing after the loss the other night.
CSU also has to play Reno and vs Wyoming(rivalry) and USU(good offense nothing to lose). Ive now begun calling the entire MWC outside of Boise/UNLV the mediocre West. Any of them can lose to each other, so yeah mediocre football all around. There isnt a game left on our schedule that we should be able to win by multiple touchdowns and make that rematch.
I agree that Boise is good and itll be tough to beat them, but if we ever want to reach the next level as a program, we have to learn to win that game with that kind of pressure. Plus itll be totally fun to F over Boise and ruin their playoff hopes and dreams

j. spilotro said:

This is where I “like” the portal. At that point, you’ve seen guys play, it’s not about stars or a recruiting profile. I think this staff has done well in the portal. And I think they can focus on good players who “get it” , that may mean a two star, it may mean a three star … I don’t think with his system, we need superstars. System guys who buy in will thrive. I’m not saying he’s getting garbage talent and trying to make them into winners. He’s getting good players. And I think it’s easier to get that type through the portal than through high school. We need HS guys, like Ochoa and Correa, for example, but we really need to hit the right type in the portal and I have no reason to think they won’t continue to do so.

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We have three recent Gorman grads, a Desert Pines grad, and a Faith Lutheran grad getting significant time on the field. Even if we don’t move the needle on some of the valley’s blue chips initially; we should be able to send a message to the community that moving home is a viable option if it doesn’t work out at the big 10s or SECs of the world.

The next step in keeping our blue chip kids home will be Rebels getting drafted. I need Catalon, White, or Woodard to get drafted. We need someone to make it to the combine. It drives the message that if you want to play on Sunday and get noticed; UNLV can get you there.

dcut03 said:

True, but they are basically University of Phoenix that just started playing sports of any significant value.
St. Mary's has been a very good basketball program for a very long time. Thet are also in California. Small school, sure, but so is Gonzaga. They have a good brand.
GCU has potential, sure. But their numbers are grossly inflated by being a national online school, where the vast majority of students and alumni have little connection to sports teams.

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GCU is massive I downtown Phoenix. Their footprint is huge. Has grown substantially in the last 10 years - they're probably the leader in Phoenix gentrification of downtown. 25k students on downtown Phx campus in 2023.

No arguments here about their short term success/rapid growth. They joined NCAA D2 in the mid 90s and WAC in 2013, relativelt limited timeline. But the financial backing seems solid, and commitment to athletics seems equally solid:

2011 opened new hoops facility at 5k seats. 2014 expanded to 7k
2018 baseball stadium opened, 4k capacity
2018 softball stadium opened, 1200 capacity
2016 soccer stadium opened, 6k capacity

Your point about not having massive students and alumni connection to sports definitely cause for pause. But I think we are at the point where thats true for UNLV as well. Not the same extent, given their online presence. But from my time on GCU campus (limited), seems they have more students involvement currently than does UNLV

dcut03 said:

I get it, I just don't think those schools regardless of timezone helps our next contract

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There isn't anyone out there that is realistic that likely would.

The good thing is, the PAC is faced with the same issue unless they can get Memphis or Tulane to do an about face. And even then that 12-15 million per school seems extremely high.

RebelinWA said:

I wasn’t comparing Niu or Toledo to those 4 schools. I was just saying that timezone is absolutely a factor. Again, I’ve worked in media.

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I get it, I just don't think those schools regardless of timezone helps our next contract

dcut03 said:

Not just timezones, but teams with pull in those times zones.

Adding Memphis, UTSA, and USF isn't quite the same as Toledo and NIU.

I think they are decent adds from a competitive standpoint, but I think adding either or both reduces the per team payouts, not increases it.

We did that with UTEP because we NEEDED a 7th (then Hawaii for the 8th). All football add at this point need to at least keep the payout the same as without them, ideally increase it. I don't think any MAC, C-USA, or SBC team will do that at this point.

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I wasn’t comparing Niu or Toledo to those 4 schools. I was just saying that timezone is absolutely a factor. Again, I’ve worked in media.