The end of leagues as we know?

[dggoddard]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

Which brings me to a wildly speculative musing I'd posted on another forum:

I'd further speculate that if UMD did go DI the logical place would be to become UND's travel partner in the (DI - FCS) Big Sky Conference.

I've been wondering if UMD might be thinking about going D-I as well.

DU, UNO, UND, UMD & longshot Miami possible conferencemates in more than hockey one day? You never know.

 

[The Sicatoka]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

I've been wondering if UMD might be thinking about going D-I as well.

DU, UNO, UND, UMD & longshot Miami possible conferencemates in more than hockey one day? You never know.

Miami won't leave the MAC unless it's for something better and eastern (think: Conference-USA).
UN-Omaha dumped football (and three-time and defending national DII champion) wrestling for the DI Summit League.
UND will begin all sport Big Sky play in 2012.
Denver? I know there are issues with DU and the Sun Belt. I could see DU in the BSC (but lack of DU FB poses an issue for the BSC).

I just don't see them all forming up together outside of hockey.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

Miami won't leave the MAC unless it's for something better and eastern (think: Conference-USA).
UN-Omaha dumped football (and three-time and defending national DII champion) wrestling for the DI Summit League.
UND will begin all sport Big Sky play in 2012.
Denver? I know there are issues with DU and the Sun Belt. I could see DU in the BSC (but lack of DU FB poses an issue for the BSC).

Yep. Miami is probably off the table.

DU is in or will be in the WAC on July 1, 2012. There's may be some interesting combos that could be merged between the cream of the Big Sky & WAC.

WAC
Louisiana Tech
Idaho
New Mexico State
Utah State
San Jose State
Texas-San Antonio
Texas State
Denver **
Seattle **

** Non-football schools

 

[The Sicatoka]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

DU is in or will be in the WAC on July 1, 2012...

There's no way DU leaves that.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

There's no way DU leaves that.

Probably, but these leagues are so fluid these days that spots may open up for UNO & UMD, UND.

Who knows what backroom deals or scenarios these six/eight AD's have been throwing around. DU's weakness is basketball and they need western teams with name recognition in Denver to build crowds at Magness Arena.

Nothing would surprise me; that's all I'm saying. But its interesting to hear speculation about UMD going D-I.

DU wants Notre Dame in the SL, among other reasons, to continue a lacrosse rivalry that is picking up steam.

 

[davyd83]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

I've been wondering if UMD might be thinking about going D-I as well.

It's not likely, given the cost of upgrading all sports to D-I, including additional travel expenses that volleyball and women's basketball aren't likely to make back at the gate. They also would have to either drop football or find a way to bring another 10,000 fans to every game.

 

[4four4]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

If Minnesota is landing so many "big time recruits," how come they've been so terrible lately?

What is coaching. Thank you for proving my point over the last few days in all the threads around here. DU doesn't need to leave the WCHA because they already have the great elite players you are talking about. They would be recruiting them regardless of being in or out of the WCHA.

 

[Handyman]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

UMD joined the Super League because recruiting guys like Connolly, Connolly & Fontaine leads to banners being raised in the rafters [Iron range kids mixed with Canadians].

The same motivation that drove DU, UND, CC, UNO & Miami. Recruiting.

UMD just signed Sandelin to fancy new extension. DU is about to pay Gwozdecky big, big dollars. There's no reason to pay these guys big dollars if you were going to remain in the WCHA without big time opponents [Minnesota, Wisconsin].

Almost certainly UMD will be playing a pretty steady diet of non-conference games against the Minnesota schools.

So let me get this straight...UMD and all the other former WCHA schools left the WCHA so they could play against each other, even though they were playing each other anyways? I would ask how stupid you are but that sounds just about right. If this is the justification they are using then the schools are even dumber than we all thought.

Even better is your assumption that UMD will play all the Minnesota schools. So now UMD is ridiculously stupid. They are leaving a conference to face better competition by joining a conference with most of the same competition and they are wasting non-conference games on the rest of that same competition?

Seriously you and your lovechild conference need to keep it up, it is to the point we dont even have to pretend this is a dumb idea you prove it everytime you speak

 

[Dude Love]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

So let me get this straight...UMD and all the other former WCHA schools left the WCHA so they could play against each other, even though they were playing each other anyways? I would ask how stupid you are but that sounds just about right. If this is the justification they are using then the schools are even dumber than we all thought.

Yup. For some reason playing Miami of Ohio will take all 5 former WCHA schools to the next level!

And if "UMD joined the Super League because recruiting guys like Connolly, Connolly & Fontaine leads to banners being raised in the rafters," how did UMD recruit them in the first place? Magic? Now everyone from the QMJL will go to UMD instead of St. Cloud or Mankato because of the prestige involved with playing the Redhawks 4 times a year? Please keep talking, dggoddard. It's good for a laugh.

 

[Flashy Man]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

NMU to the WCHA
http://rinkandrun.areavoices.com/2011/07/11/changes-underway-northern-michigan-to-wcha/

 

[Dude Love]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

NMU to the WCHA
http://rinkandrun.areavoices.com/2011/07/11/changes-underway-northern-michigan-to-wcha/

Welcome back! I was hoping it was going to be NMU instead of UNO in the first place.

 

[aparch]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

NMU to the WCHA
http://rinkandrun.areavoices.com/2011/07/11/changes-underway-northern-michigan-to-wcha/

Raise your hand if you're shocked.



No one?

 

[cF[Authentic]]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

So let me get this straight...UMD and all the other former WCHA schools left the WCHA so they could play against each other, even though they were playing each other anyways? I would ask how stupid you are but that sounds just about right. If this is the justification they are using then the schools are even dumber than we all thought

Yup. For some reason playing Miami of Ohio will take all 5 former WCHA schools to the next level!

More realistically, the five WCHA schools left, so they don't have to play UAA, Tech, SCSU, Mankato and BSU on a yearly basis. That is what is taking those schools to the next level.

Lots of people realize this new league is going to be very difficult to win, because there are very few games that are easy wins. Can you say the same about what would have been the WCHA had they stayed? Nope. Sure it would still be tough, but there would be easy wins.

 

[Red Cloud]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

Now we find out just how well both Alaskas can coexist in the same conference? I know the options are really, really weak, but... that scenario doesn't seem to be optimal for either school OR the conference that would have both of them there.

 

[Frank the Tank]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

I'm sure it depends on the region, but my understanding is that FCS is typically a premier package (ie highest tier/add on package).

EDIT: It's also important to note that for DirecTV, regardless of whatever package you have, you can add the sports pack and get BTN, Versus and FCS. You can have the family (29.99) or select (39.99-44.99) package and add the sports pack, and still be under what you would pay just for the Choice (60.99) or Choice Extra (65.99) packages.

Note that every DirecTV subscriber in the nation gets the BTN as part of even the most bare-bones basic package - it doesn't matter what package you have or where you live. It's NOT on the sports pack (unlike FCS), which is a BIG difference in terms of distribution. That's part of why the BTN is printing money right now - it has complete national basic satellite distribution on top of basic clearance on the cable providers in its footprint.

 

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

Note that every DirecTV subscriber in the nation gets the BTN as part of even the most bare-bones basic package - it doesn't matter what package you have or where you live. It's NOT on the sports pack (unlike FCS), which is a BIG difference in terms of distribution. That's part of why the BTN is printing money right now - it has complete national basic satellite distribution on top of basic clearance on the cable providers in its footprint.

BTN is NOT a part of their Family Programming package, nor the Select Programming Package. Also, if you have either of those packages and get the sports pack, the BTN is a part of that package. My brother works for DirecTV, and the "Select" Programming package is only available if you call in and need to lower your bill.

 

[alfablue]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

Yep. Miami is probably off the table.

DU is in or will be in the WAC on July 1, 2012. There's may be some interesting combos that could be merged between the cream of the Big Sky & WAC.

WAC
Louisiana Tech
Idaho
New Mexico State
Utah State
San Jose State
Texas-San Antonio
Texas State
Denver **
Seattle **

** Non-football schools

Big Sky and WAC ties are reasonably close- were closer when BSU was a member of the WAC- since they and Idaho are former Big Sky members. Plus, Idaho has been playing UND in FB.... There's a "stated" rivalry between Montana/ Montana State and Idaho, but it's more implied than anything else.

What's really funny about this- a guy jokingly posted that Idaho needs to make a new hockey arena just last Friday. The poster had no idea of the turmoil in College Hockey, and how that UND/Denver both have rather interesting ties with the Vandals.

Well, funny to me, at least. Good chuckle. And somewhat funny for the Futile Four who put one of the regions recently in Moscow's short and narrow rink.

 

[Frank the Tank]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

BTN is NOT a part of their Family Programming package, nor the Select Programming Package. Also, if you have either of those packages and get the sports pack, the BTN is a part of that package. My brother works for DirecTV, and the "Select" Programming package is only available if you call in and need to lower your bill.

OK - I didn't realize that there was even a Select option now. If the Select or Family packages have basically only 30 or 40 channels as truly bare bones lineups that you have to call to specially to receive, then I can see the BTN not being on there. However, BTN is definitely on the standard Choice package nationally (not just the Big Ten footprint), which is the most basic package that DirecTV actually advertises. FCS, on the other hand, is on the Sports Pack no matter what level you're on. Unless there's been a mass migration over the past few months or so, the overwhelming majority of DirecTV subscribers have at least the Choice package that has the BTN.

 

[Almington]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

More realistically, the five WCHA schools left, so they don't have to play UAA, Tech, SCSU, Mankato and BSU on a yearly basis. That is what is taking those schools to the next level.

Lots of people realize this new league is going to be very difficult to win, because there are very few games that are easy wins. Can you say the same about what would have been the WCHA had they stayed? Nope. Sure it would still be tough, but there would be easy wins.

The WCHA was, and would have remained a very tough league to win. The "easy" wins don't make it any easier to get to the top (an unbalanced schedule excepted), but they do limit the downside. You would still have to beat those other 4 teams to win the conference in the WCHA, now the team that finishes behind those other 4 will finish in the bottom half of the league as opposed to fighting for one of the final home ice spots.

Will winning the league me more of an achievement? Sure, but not significantly more than staying in the WCHA would have been. In addition, it's much easier for fans to accept (and sell to recruits) that a down year is 4th or 5th of 10, with home ice in the playoffs and a 0.500 conference record as opposed to staring a dead last conference finish and 0.250 conference win%.

 

[geezer]

Re: The end of leagues as we know?

More realistically, the five WCHA schools left, so they don't have to play UAA, Tech, SCSU, Mankato and BSU on a yearly basis. That is what is taking those schools to the next level.

Lots of people realize this new league is going to be very difficult to win, because there are very few games that are easy wins. Can you say the same about what would have been the WCHA had they stayed? Nope. Sure it would still be tough, but there would be easy wins.

We all get the (misguided) motivation to leave, but your logic is all messed up. It's not more difficult to win the league now than it was before. The easy wins were equally applicable to all five that left.