Future of WAC/Future of football?

[kcbronchijo]

So Chicago State is not only facing a budget crisis that might cut sports, but the entire school could close leaving the WAC pretty empty. I know that lots of momentum in Kansas City suggest they want to go back to the Summit League (they should have never left the Summit as it was geographically a great fit and they had a few decent rivalries) but so far it's just rumblings but if Chicago State is a goner, what happens to the this league? And what happens to UTRGV? 

According to The Monitor, UTRGV is conducting a "feasibility study" into football. Realistically, I don't see football at UTRGV even with the merger and larger enrollment. But, apparently Mack Brown is being brought in so who knows? One could compare UTSA and UTRGV but UTSA had the benefit of having the Alamo Dome already built and are able to use that facility. I think this could all be smoke and mirrors so that maybe another conference will take a look at UTRGV. I remember TA&M - Corpus Christi said they were going to look into football, then got an invite to the Southland, but never brought in football. I think they just used that as a bartering chip to get the Southland to invite them. Obviously this is all speculation but if Chicago State folds, that would set off a lot of dominoes. Realistically, New Mexico State could move all their sports to the Sun Belt where their football team already competes and it would be a smooth transition for them. That would be the final nail in the coffin to the WAC. 


www.themonitor.com/news/sources-utrgv-to-initiate-feasibility-study-on-college-football/article_8dba831c-d5ab-11e5-b4d6-a32ff8b8764c.html

[jamesbaxter]

I actually think football could work out at utrgv. The only thing that worries me is the support, because obviously the team isn't going to be successful at first. I think they talked to the owner of the new soccer stadium to see if they came make it expandable in the future to seat 15k+, which I think was already in the plans to begin with. The major hurdle would be to see if the students approve an athletics fee.
I think this move is in connection with how fast the university is growing. Before no conference would want to take a school that was in the midst of getting the death penalty. Now by the time utrgv football rolls around we could be the better university in most of the lower conferences. Academically and size.

[kcbronchijo]

Kind of good news for the WAC. NM State football is getting kicked out of the Sun Belt effective 2017 so by proxy that means they'll probably go back to being an independent in football and WAC for everything else. Assuming Chicago State is a goner, because they already sent out lay-off notices to all their employees and cancelled Spring Break to save money, that leaves 7 schools in the WAC. An odd number, would be great if a giant D2 was ready to make the transition up but I guess 7 will have to do for now.

[JR]

UNLV hires New Mexico St. Coach Marvin Menzies. Let's see who they hire.

[jamesbaxter]

Hopefully this makes Siakam want to go pro now. If they don't hire Weir then nmsu might be taking a couple steps down for at least a year.