While the news that BYU has joined the Big East expansion fray has people thinking about the Big East "West," one school long under consideration is starting to have second thoughts.
The Air Force Academy is apparently starting to think that staying in the Mountain West might be the smarter move than joining the Big East.
Although moving the football program to the Big East is an appealing option, sources with knowledge of academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould’s thought process, who did not want their names used because Gould has not spoken publicly about realignment in weeks, said Gould might be leaning toward staying in the Mountain West.
As you might expect from one of the service academies, the Falcons are doing their due diligence and recon work before jumping in to a conference that is about to lose three traditional members and is embarking on a national expansion with a murky future.
At the end of the day, it sounds like the AFA will wait and see how things break out with some of the other possible members, like BYU, Houston and SMU. If the Big East can assure the Falcons that there is a future in the conference, especially a financially-lucrative one, then they'll a lot more likely to pull the trigger.
For more on the Mountain West Conference , visit Mountain West Connection. For more on the Big East, head to Big East Coast Bias. For more on the conference expansion whirlwind, check out our conference realigment coverage.
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Comments
Boise suspected as much
so is looking for BYU to come along
if BYU does not and turn down the Big East, as it did with the Big 12 (maybe not turn down but failed to agree on terms?)
will Boise State go?
by fracas on Nov 7, 2011 2:14 PM EST reply actions
Wait and see
This is nothing new. First there is no direct quote from the Air Force AD who is normally very vocal about their position. So this makes me question this article. Also lets say that the AD is saying the Mountain West is the better option. Right now it is because all the BE has done is lost teams and added ZERO! I tend to think once the BE adds schools then Air Force might be more willing to go with the new BE. Until that happens if I were the AD I would still stick with the present conference.
I still think when push comes to shove you go with the BE. Outside of the AQ issue I really agree that there will be a big payday in terms of a TV deal after next year. This could continue to find Air Forces Olympic sports significantly.
by Vinnie Giordano on Nov 7, 2011 3:57 PM EST reply actions
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