Air Force says "No thanks"

[emrober5]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-bigeast-airforce

Would have been a good addition. Time to start looking at ECU/Temple IMO

[slbpsi63]

Temple and memphis. It will strengthen the basketball side better. Put Memphis in the West for Football. The BE needs to draw rating in BB as well for the next TV deal.

[South_Florida_Flip]

Something tells me Navy will be talking to Air Force a bit over the next few weeks to get them to reconsider.

Air Force can still play Colorado State every year in an OOC game.

[Who'sYourData?]

Oddly, it seems like Navy is in. When this all started, Air Force wanted in and Navy had to be dragged along.

Since we have already created the Coast to Coast Conference, I vote we kick out Rutgers and invite Colorado State.

[Paisa el Toro]

Call me crazy, but I actually wouldn't mind Colorado State over, say, an ECU or Memphis in the Big East.

[ncentonze]

I like ECU, Fresno, or Memphis.

[TallyBull]

I've never been a fan of adding the service academies. I know there are pros and cons to it (national following, tradition, TV, etc.), but I just think those programs are severely limited for several reasons. I think we should be the first conference to get to 16. Add Colorado State, Wyoming, and Fresno State, Temple, Navy, and ECU if Navy bails on us. That would give us a conference that looks like this:

West

Boise State

Wyoming

Colorado State

San Diego State

Fresno State

Houston

SMU

Memphis

East

UConn

Rutgers

Navy/ECU

Temple

Louisville

Cincinnati

USF

UCF

IMHO, looks like a fun conference with a lot of potential. Even if the country-clubbers hate us, they definitely won't be able to ignore us! Plus, the west could form a Big East-West Division basketball conference.

Yep, I know. It's all crazy, and I'm a fool. Just fun to see what sticks!

[88Alum]

Wyoming?? Aren't they in div II

[TallyBull]

Wyoming?? Aren't they in div II

No, they're in the MWC. They beat Air Force, San Diego State, UNLV, and Colorado State this year, so they're certainly no slouch, although out this way you don't hear much about them. They'd seem to be a good partner for Boise.

I know the Big East basketball schools would never let the conference get so big... just fun to speculate.

[macphisto]

To replace Air Force out west I think you have to look at Nevada or Fresno State. I think Fresno State is the no brainer here. .594 winning percentage over the history of the program. I think going into a BCS conference would upgrade their talent and depth as well - and Cali has a lot of talent.

Air Force would still not be a bad get, but I think Navy is the best quality add of the service academies. If we only get one then I'd rather it be Navy.