Well...it is being reported that SMU, Stanford and Cal have been extended an official invitation.
I think this is somewhat expected but something interesting is that SMU is apparently forgoing any TV money for some time...per ESPN: "SMU is expected to come in for nine years with no broadcast media revenue,..." That is crazy!.... But it's the logical extension that there is no price too high to pay to get into whatever club ends up being at the highest echelon of CFB. If the gamble pays off...the revenue that is thrown off at that level of CFB is enormous.
This really lays bare something that Wyoming has been on the wrong side of for a lot longer than just the Craig Bohl era. People like to point out that "well..it's not like the other MW teams are getting into that club so we are at least on equal footing with them"...and while that is true...it's a bit misleading. BSU, Fresno, UNLV, CSU, and SDSU all get talked about like they are the most attractive programs in the MW for consideration for entrance into the big program club. Wyoming is NEVER in that conversation. I don't think any of those schools will actually end up there but that is not the point. The medium to high level MW coaching pool and recruiting pool are aware of that perception. It is going to continue to be harder to compete within the MW as that narrative continues to be broadcast. Then if WSU and Oregon State get added...those are programs that are added to the top of the conference...not the bottom.
I think the beginning of this dichotomy was sometime during the Dimel era and caught fire during the Glenn era. Now it is full on. It's not like the playing field nationally was ever level but it's trickling (perhaps surging) into the level-ness of the conference competitive balance. Is there a coaching ability difference between the top and bottom of these conferences?..for sure...but the real difference is in resources available and Wyoming has gotten an amazing amount out of what we have but there is almost no boosters or audience out there waiting to be tapped.
Anyways....long post....I've been chastised for not keeping things short but these topics aren't simple. What are your thoughts?
I think this is somewhat expected but something interesting is that SMU is apparently forgoing any TV money for some time...per ESPN: "SMU is expected to come in for nine years with no broadcast media revenue,..." That is crazy!.... But it's the logical extension that there is no price too high to pay to get into whatever club ends up being at the highest echelon of CFB. If the gamble pays off...the revenue that is thrown off at that level of CFB is enormous.
This really lays bare something that Wyoming has been on the wrong side of for a lot longer than just the Craig Bohl era. People like to point out that "well..it's not like the other MW teams are getting into that club so we are at least on equal footing with them"...and while that is true...it's a bit misleading. BSU, Fresno, UNLV, CSU, and SDSU all get talked about like they are the most attractive programs in the MW for consideration for entrance into the big program club. Wyoming is NEVER in that conversation. I don't think any of those schools will actually end up there but that is not the point. The medium to high level MW coaching pool and recruiting pool are aware of that perception. It is going to continue to be harder to compete within the MW as that narrative continues to be broadcast. Then if WSU and Oregon State get added...those are programs that are added to the top of the conference...not the bottom.
I think the beginning of this dichotomy was sometime during the Dimel era and caught fire during the Glenn era. Now it is full on. It's not like the playing field nationally was ever level but it's trickling (perhaps surging) into the level-ness of the conference competitive balance. Is there a coaching ability difference between the top and bottom of these conferences?..for sure...but the real difference is in resources available and Wyoming has gotten an amazing amount out of what we have but there is almost no boosters or audience out there waiting to be tapped.
Anyways....long post....I've been chastised for not keeping things short but these topics aren't simple. What are your thoughts?
