[BSpringsteen]

If I am Jamie Pollard, I am trying to talk to Kansas State and packaging the two schools into the Mountain West.

Look, there is no way that ISU ends up in a traditional BCS conference. They are the second school in a low population state, with a much more localized alumni base than Iowa.

This isn't to say they belong in the MAC, they don't. There is a huge difference between Iowa State and Ball State, Bowling Green, Toledo et al.

But don't you think Iowa State and Kansas State would feel at home, and be extremely competitive with schools like Colorado State, Wyoming, Idaho, Boise State?THese are still real schools with real stadiums, and who knows maybe the two Big XII refugees make the MWC a more attractive automatic bid league.

Most importantly, they can be proactive now and end up in a conference with a good fit, rather than hoping to get an invite to the Big East when the music stops.

I also think the MWC would be a better fit for them than Conference USA because most of the schools in Conference USA are in regions with traditional superpowers. The MWC would open up a lot of recruiting area to Iowa State.

[JugadorHawk]

Good post. I actually advocated the MAC but I like your reasoning. Football aside, the MWC is also turning into a very competitive basketball league with BYU, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah St. Kansas State and Iowa State would bolster that even more.

[GO4ROZS]

I don't disagree with your logic, but it seems to me that the Mountain West will probably still be an option down the road. I don't think you make that move until you know the Big East or a "new" Big 12 are completely eliminated as options.

[BSpringsteen]

Originally Posted by GO4ROZS

I don't disagree with your logic, but it seems to me that the Mountain West will probably still be an option down the road. I don't think you make that move until you know the Big East or a "new" Big 12 are completely eliminated as options.

Nope, I don't.

You have ZERO chance of ever winning the Big XII in football, and a SLIGHTLY better chance in basketball. As a matter of fact, it is a likelihood that in the Big XII, a season ending in a bowl will be less frequent than Iowa playing in a BCS game.

The MWC affords you the opportunity to be a top half team, and it also makes your annual game against Iowa a marquee match up for the conference.

ISU is a third class citizen in the Big XII and doesn't have the revenue to ever be more then that with any kind of consistency. Sure it can catch lightening in a bottle but not on a consistent basis.

[HawkeyeMike23]

Originally Posted by JugadorHawk

Good post. I actually advocated the MAC but I like your reasoning. Football aside, the MWC is also turning into a very competitive basketball league with BYU, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah St. Kansas State and Iowa State would bolster that even more.

BYU is no longer in the MWC, Utah St has never been in the MWC either. Any one suggesting ISU should openly jump to the MWC has no idea how college sports work. At an absolute worse case scenario ISU would be welcomed with open arms into the MWC, why should they accept this before seeing how the whole realignment scenario plays out? Being more competitive in the MWC won't come close to replacing the income they would lose by moving to that league.

[JugadorHawk]

BYU IS in the MWC in all sports except football (independent).

[HawkeyeMike23]

Originally Posted by JugadorHawk

BYU IS in the MWC in all sports except football (independent).

No they aren't. They are in the WCC for all sports except football.

[Stewo]

The Big East is where ISU belongs, IMO. The basketball would be amazing. ISU has hit the east coast pretty hard in recruiting and it seems that's really the only spot they are recruiting. In football, ISU would be much more competitive. It would make it more interesting as a fan to know that you at minimum, have a shot at the conference title nearly every season. Most ISU fans think that the BE is below ISU, when in fact, that's not even close to being the case. ISU fits in the Big East more than any other conference.

[JugadorHawk]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeMike23

No they aren't. They are in the WCC for all sports except football.

You are right about Utah St. Wrong about BYU.

[HawkeyeMike23]

Originally Posted by JugadorHawk

You are right about Utah St. Wrong about BYU.

No I'm not. Show me one link where BYU is still in the MWC for all sports except football. They are in the WCC.

West Coast Conference - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[hawkeyescott]

Originally Posted by JugadorHawk

You are right about Utah St. Wrong about BYU.

Might want to stop arguing with him and making yourself look foolish:

WCC Announces 2011-12 Men's Basketball Conference Schedule | The Official Site of BYU Athletics

[bandgrocks]

Originally Posted by JugadorHawk

You are right about Utah St. Wrong about BYU.

The West Coast Conference Official Athletic Site

Lead article about BYU - are you sure they're in the MWC?

[LG210]

If I am Iowa State, I put all my eggs in a major-conference basket, because within 5 years, all but four conferences will be considered Division II (not literally, but it will play out that if you are not a part of a super-conference, you ain't crap).

[olivecourt]

Originally Posted by Stewo

The Big East is where ISU belongs, IMO. The basketball would be amazing. ISU has hit the east coast pretty hard in recruiting and it seems that's really the only spot they are recruiting. In football, ISU would be much more competitive. It would make it more interesting as a fan to know that you at minimum, have a shot at the conference title nearly every season. Most ISU fans think that the BE is below ISU, when in fact, that's not even close to being the case. ISU fits in the Big East more than any other conference.

I'm still trying to figure out how the Big East would work with 20+ basketball teams.

[hawkfan340]

Originally Posted by JugadorHawk

You are right about Utah St. Wrong about BYU.

No, he's right about both and the rest of his post is on target too.