I wonder if the folks at Marshall would advise them otherwise?

 

 

 

Do you think that Marshall regrests the move?

The long-time rumor has been that WKU would join the MAC for every sport but Football, and Temple would play football in the MAC in their stead. Now, with this development, I'm inclined to believe that deal is off and they are going to hang with the Sun Belt -- huge mistake IMHO.

 

The travel in basketball in the Sun Belt is preposterous. They have teams stretching from south Florida to New Mexico and Denver. Ridiculous. Not to mention, in football, they are awful. I'm not sure how much better a football conference the Sun Belt is right now than the Gateway (I-AA). Hopefully the move to the MAC, along with Southern Illinois from Carbondale, which was the rumor, is still in the cards.

Hopefully the move to the MAC, along with Southern Illinois from Carbondale, which was the rumor, is still in the cards.

Western vs. SIU has the potential to be a great rivalry.

Western vs. SIU has the potential to be a great rivalry.

 

:thumb:

 

Imagine those directional Michigan schools coming down for Basketball to play in Diddle on day and two days later in Carbondale. Wow -- that is a heckuva road trip. Two tough places to win.

Where is the funding for the expansion coming from? I assume 10% would be coming from HSSB's big bank account. I wonder when they do move to Divison I, if UK and WKU will scheudle each other on a consistent basis. Does anyone know the difference in scholarships allowed between the two divisions, and when would WKU start shifting their focus towards recruiting a higher skilled athelete, rather than one that is mored suited for Divsion 1AA.

I think the scholly difference is 65 for I-AA and 83 for D-1. I don't know why I think that, so if someone wants to look it up it may be wrong. I also think there is a 2 year transition period where you are in flux as you build up your schooly count.

 

I don't know what UK would have to gain, so don't hold your breath on them scheduling them, at least not after WKU closed the gap (assuming that gap was closed at some point). UK needs / wants wins, but running the risk of propping up their program (see: Basketball) may be too much risk for the reward.

Do you think that Marshall regrests the move?

 

Yes I would think so. But I'm probably just looking at the surface.

I think the scholly difference is 65 for I-AA and 83 for D-1. I don't know why I think that, so if someone wants to look it up it may be wrong. I also think there is a 2 year transition period where you are in flux as you build up your schooly count.

 

I don't know what UK would have to gain, so don't hold your breath on them scheduling them, at least not after WKU closed the gap (assuming that gap was closed at some point). UK needs / wants wins, but running the risk of propping up their program (see: Basketball) may be too much risk for the reward.

 

It's a move from 65 to 85 scholarships I believe. You are correct on the two year transition period, in which time Western will not be able to compete for the I-AA playoffs or a I-A bowl. Wood Selig (the AD) detailed on the local radio sports show some preliminary plans for scheduling. He indicated in 2007 it would be about half and half I-A and I-AA schools, in 2008 it would be mostly I-A with about 3 I-AA schools, and then in 2009 it would be the full I-A schedule with one game against a I-A school.

 

My prediction is that this is something WKU regrets immensely. I do not believe that more fans will turn out to the games, and $37 million is a lot of ground to make up. The students are already in an uproar about rising tuition rates, lack of parking, etc. When you consider the fact that tuition is rising each year you can see where the students would begin to get upset about spending that much. But hey, at least the stadium will look great, right?

 

And I also agree, I see no way that UK plays WKU any time soon. They already lose so much talent to Louisville such that UK gets the minority of in-state athletes. If UK were to start losing to WKU it would cripple that further and then where would they go to recruit?

I wonder if the folks at Marshall would advise them otherwise?

 

I was thinking the same thing. I think Middle TN State is another one that has moved up (from the OVC) and had very little success

Marshall has struggled the past few season's but they did more than OK for their first 5 years or so on the gridiron.

Will they be Sun Belt Conference or Conference USA?

Sun Belt in all sports.

Sun Belt in all sports.

When did the MAC conversation die?

It seems like it died about a year ago. Far as I could tell it never even got off the ground. They like being in the Sun Belt with respect to basketball, and much like Kentucky, basketball is king. As far as football goes, I think it makes some sense to play in the Sun Belt as far as competition goes, because they'll have a more immediate shot at those teams than they would MAC teams. However, the Sun Belt is now and may remain for a long time a one bowl school. The MAC is better placement in that regards.

 

I also wonder if they like being a big fish in a small pond in basketball instead of one of the pack in the MAC.

It seems like it died about a year ago. Far as I could tell it never even got off the ground. They like being in the Sun Belt with respect to basketball, and much like Kentucky, basketball is king. As far as football goes, I think it makes some sense to play in the Sun Belt as far as competition goes, because they'll have a more immediate shot at those teams than they would MAC teams. However, the Sun Belt is now and may remain for a long time a one bowl school. The MAC is better placement in that regards.

 

I also wonder if they like being a big fish in a small pond in basketball instead of one of the pack in the MAC.

With the fact that I have to believe money is going to be tight there for a while with extra scholarships and a stadium renovation, I can't believe the ridiculous travel expenses for basketball in the Sun Belt don't turn them off. I've contended for years that once LaTech left the Sun Belt what little National Reputation the Sun Belt had went down the drain.

 

NO QUESTION that WKU will have a better shot at being competitive in football by staying in the Sun Belt. However, is that a good reason to stay there?