This is interesting. When the new Pac-12 was announced, I thought that maybe it would be time for the Zags to jump because, for the first time, they would actually have good negotiating power with a football conference (as opposed to accepting scraps from the Big 12).
What I did not predict was the MWC being pretty good so far at briefly licking its wounds and going on the offensive. It sort of makes for a pointless battle between two middling conferences: the MWC and the “new” Pac-12. It would be like the WCC and the A-10 making increasingly lavish promises to St. Thomas. And I’m not sure that the agreements that either conference is making will be sustainable long-term. Will the Pac still want to be handing over football money to Gonzaga five years from now? Is the sweetheart deal that the MWC gave to UNLV and New Mexico going to keep either school happy or the conference solvent?
My ultimate take: Lots of short term survival decisions and putting off the long-term considerations by both the new Pac and the MWC. They’re needlessly fighting over a tiny slice of tv revenue for “other” conferences and making increasingly desperate overtures to that end.
If the MWC wants to take GCU, great.
Unless I missed something I believe PAC still needs one more football playing member to meet the min requirement of 8 schools. PAC and MWC are in a position where they may have to cough up a sweet deal to a mediocre, barely mid-major school in order to fill out their conference…NIU, Toledo, etc. if they can’t land a Memphis or similar school. Strange times.
I view these final maneuvers that the MWC and PAC need to make as somewhat minor. Beyond those moves and as noted in my last post in this thread we may see the school movement quiet down for several years until 2031 when various TV deals expire. Then who knows what happens…
I’ve made my peace with GCU in the conference. But if the WCC bends over backwards to keep a scammy “Christian” university, I’ll scream. The “special treatment” accorded to GCU was letting them in. I won’t accept any more deference than that to Trump U with a crucifix.
I’ll give them a dollar to leave right now
Spot on Patty! +1000.
And no Canzano, this is not a ‘big moment’. Could truly care less if GCU jumps to the Mountain West, in fact hoping they do.
I’ve said this in past debates on GCU…if the WCC’s success or failure hinges on GCU then we’re screwed anyhow…just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. As such, why bend over backwards to woo or keep them.
The fact GCU is looking to jump to another league before they’ve played a season in the WCC is further proof of why they don’t belong in the WCC in the first place.
Has everyone seen that Grand Canyon did not attend the WCC official meeting? Think they’re bailing before season? Can they do this? If so - how are schedules reconfigured? I only saw a headline and no supporting article - so wondering if anyone here is more in “the know”.
It was being discussed in the Conference Realignment thread. If it’s okay with you, I’ll merge your comment into that thread in a little bit.
The most recent reporting I’ve seen is that GCU is on the hook for a $16 million entrance fee that is non-refundable. Then there is another non-refundable $1 million exit fee. So the WCC will collect $17 million if GCU leaves. The MWC will charge them an additional $3 million to join and can only promise $1.5 million for the first few years based on the current media rights deal.
Here’s what I think: if GCU wants to leave, let 'em. They are a flight risk as long as they stay in the WCC and won’t be worth $17 million for many years. Now GCU has lots of money and is part of a publicly traded entity. But that’s a helluva lot of money set on fire for basically a lateral move.
Maybe being a courtroom lawyer has infected my brain too much that I see negotiation machinations around every corner. But this smells to me like leverage to renegotiate with the WCC and ultimately stay. Which is allegedly what Stu Jackson is doing now.
Again, call their bluff. Their money is worth more than their affiliation.
Great insight as to the mechanics and thinking like an attorney (which can have its downside). Be it crim, family law or business, participants are looking for leverage. As to GCU, I’m not as adamantly opposed as others, but I don’t see their pre-arrival departure as. glaring loss, as good on the court as they are.
I am glad if they are jumping. I did not have a good feeling about that school ever since our forum discussions of them began. If they are to be gone I take it that it is to be forthwith and hope rescheduling can be accomplished or that the schedule holes can be plugged at this late date with other schools though I sense this may be difficult. With creativity I think that the number of games could be maintained within league play but this could result in some unfair third meetings. But, what do I know?
GCU is definately leaving the WCC… perhaps before they ever really enter it, or maybe just in the near future (next year or two). Much like Gonzaga they must have come to the conclusion that the WCC would not be one of the surviving D1 type conferences when the great break from the NCAA happens.
Heck, the Zags are jumping to a watered down Pac-10 (that may itself fight for survival) simply because they know the future of the WCC is short lived and they just don’t want to be completely left out when things change.
It’s not what anyone on this site wants to hear, but unfortunately our feelings and hopes aren’t likely to change things. We probably have a few more years of the WCC as we know it. Might as well try and enjoy the time we have left.
Perfect. That’s $17 million or so for the WCC. Add some tournament revenue from the Zags, as we will have a nice little conference slush fund to try to adjust to the next few years.
You really think GCU is going to fork over $17M (unless they somehow have already prepaid)? I’m no lawyer, but there quite a few on this board who are and I’d love to hear their insight. Somehow I bet they walk away paying very little. A lawyer friend once told me “contracts were made to be broken” and that’s stuck with me throught my adult life.
I wonder who SMC is talking with… or are they below the desires of any of the leagues that will last?
I was wondering the same thing myself. Unless GCU has already paid the $17M up front, it is going to take an army of $$$$$ lawyers to wrest that kind of money away.
I was with the understanding they already paid.
I seriously doubt that.
Outstanding, glad they’re not coming to the WCC whether we got $17M out of them or not.
I like the WCC’s response…no fake, ‘we wish them luck’, and glad the WCC didn’t prostrate itself and renegotiate to get GCU to stay.
MWC is fairly weakened w/ most of the better athletic programs exiting for the PAC (San Diego St., Boise St., Fresno St., Colo St. and Utah St.) and looks more like the recent WAC. With the exception of the Fresno St., the other four have generally comprised the upper part of the MWC in basketball the past several years. And I suspect the PAC poaching of the MWC isn’t finished. I know several schools ‘recommitted’ to the MWC but I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see some combination of UNLV, Nevada and Air Force jump to the PAC in the next few years.
So GCU will be left playing SJSU, Wyoming, UTEP…awesome, sounds like perfect company for them. Football has driven much of the league hopping, as a non-football school, GCU won’t have a ton of leverage in MWC, they aren’t and won’t likely ever be Gonzaga.
I get your sentiment 92. I hate GCU as well, but the real issue here is the WCC. Sure seems like it’s spiraling toward a D3-esque existance in the not too distant future. I wish there was something that could save it but I just don’t see it.
Stu did a good job trying to beef up the league in any way possible, but that failed. Honestly, I wish SCU was in a position to be something that was considered desireable to one of the leagues that will remain… maybe they can get there at light speed?