BCS conferences leaving NCAA?

[AngryShock]

Former UNI AD Bob Bowlsby who is now the Big 12 Commissioner hinted that the BCS conferences are considering leaving the NCAA and forming their own group. This would kill leagues like the MVC. They could choose to pay their own players - good luck recruiting against a school that can pay a recruit 10k a year.

How screwed are we?

It's not like the MVC is getting kids who are legitimately offered by the top 5 power conference schools anyway. Every once in a while? Maybe. But it's not happening very often. Kids go to the highest level they are recruited to.

Incorrect. A good chunk of MVC recruits have offers from power conference schools. Playing time is a big reason for kids to choose to play at a "lower level" than they are recruited to.

And some kids actually realize that some MVC teams are actually better than some of the "power conference schools" that offer.

[tribecalledquest]

Former UNI AD Bob Bowlsby who is now the Big 12 Commissioner hinted that the BCS conferences are considering leaving the NCAA and forming their own group. This would kill leagues like the MVC. They could choose to pay their own players - good luck recruiting against a school that can pay a recruit 10k a year.

How screwed are we?

It's not like the MVC is getting kids who are legitimately offered by the top 5 power conference schools anyway. Every once in a while? Maybe. But it's not happening very often. Kids go to the highest level they are recruited to.

Incorrect. A good chunk of MVC recruits have offers from power conference schools. Playing time is a big reason for kids to choose to play at a "lower level" than they are recruited to.

Define "a good chunk". 50%? 60%?

Recruiting interest and a legitimate, scholarship offer at the time the kid signs are two totally different things.

[LandStander]

Former UNI AD Bob Bowlsby who is now the Big 12 Commissioner hinted that the BCS conferences are considering leaving the NCAA and forming their own group. This would kill leagues like the MVC. They could choose to pay their own players - good luck recruiting against a school that can pay a recruit 10k a year.

How screwed are we?

It's not like the MVC is getting kids who are legitimately offered by the top 5 power conference schools anyway. Every once in a while? Maybe. But it's not happening very often. Kids go to the highest level they are recruited to.

Incorrect. A good chunk of MVC recruits have offers from power conference schools. Playing time is a big reason for kids to choose to play at a "lower level" than they are recruited to.

Exactly. Also other factors come into play Cle Early was sought after by some big schools, but he decided to stay close to home. If schools could have offered him money who knows if he would have made the same decision...

[Wufan]

A good chunk of MVC recruits have offers from power conference schools. Playing time is a big reason for kids to choose to play at a "lower level" than they are recruited to.

Exactly. Also other factors come into play Cle Early was sought after by some big schools, but he decided to stay close to home. If schools could have offered him money who knows if he would have made the same decision...

Cleanthony is from New York and chose to play his JUCO ball close to home.

He had legit offers from BCS schools prior to choosing the Shockers.
Nick Wiggins had legit offers from BCS schools prior to choosing the Shockers.
Chadrack Lufile may have had a legit offer?
VanVleet received BCS offers AFTER committing to WSU in the fall.
Derail Green did not have a BCS offer.
Coleby…no idea.

The previous year WSU brought in Wessel, Baker, Cotton, Hall, Armstead.
No one wanted Baker.
Wessel was offered by KU for football, but he committed to WSU before his junior year. Probably would not have received a BCS basketball scholarship, but maybe.
Cotton did not receive any offers.
Armstead transferred from a PAC 12 school.
Hall received BCS offers.

This year's class was Carter, Watson. Morris, Bowles, Holland
Carter received BCS offers.
Watson has been a WSU commit since his junior year in HS. Would have received BCS offers if he wasn't uber-commited.
Morris ALLEGEDLY received offers from OU and OSU. I cannot say for certain.
Bowles received BCS offers.
Holland had no other offers at the time he committed to WSU.

For WSU, over the past three years, it's about 50/50. I imagine that most other schools have a lower ratio, but could be wrong.

[Wufan]

Also, Zach Brown received BCS offers. He is a 2014 recruit.

[AngryWheat=FTW=]

Former UNI AD Bob Bowlsby who is now the Big 12 Commissioner hinted that the BCS conferences are considering leaving the NCAA and forming their own group. This would kill leagues like the MVC. They could choose to pay their own players - good luck recruiting against a school that can pay a recruit 10k a year.

How screwed are we?

If NCAA Division I basketball turned into a semi-pro league, I think Wichita State could compete very well with regards to player salaries. There are a lot of deep pockets surrounding WSU basketball -- who I think would step up large if we were ever given the opportunity to pay to enter the big leagues.

[unipanther99]

Former UNI AD Bob Bowlsby who is now the Big 12 Commissioner hinted that the BCS conferences are considering leaving the NCAA and forming their own group. This would kill leagues like the MVC. They could choose to pay their own players - good luck recruiting against a school that can pay a recruit 10k a year.

How screwed are we?

If NCAA Division I basketball turned into a semi-pro league, I think Wichita State could compete very well with regards to player salaries. There are a lot of deep pockets surrounding WSU basketball -- who I think would step up large if we were ever given the opportunity to pay to enter the big leagues.

I could see this happening (to a limited extent) in football, but I don't see it for basketball. They know they have a good thing with the NCAA tournament the way it is, and I can't see the NBA supporting it, as it would put the "BCS" schools in competition with their existing developmental league.

[Mikovio]

It's been reported that these Geno recruits had BCS offers: Bell (Iowa), Fields (Stanford), Shaw (Tennessee) and Taylor (Kansas State). Several other recent recruits canceled trips to BCS schools like Colorado.

The unfortunate reality is that none of these guys come to Bradley or any other MVC school if the BCS schools are allows to give $4K/year stipends and offer other exclusive perks and we aren't. Now, I don't think it will shake out like that, but if it did, I think it's fair to say nobody's so much as cancelling a visit to a BCS school to sign with a midmajor or sign with a mid at all until all BCS avenues have been exhausted.

The article below seems to indicate that a dividing line may be drawn at around 150 schools, or at about the Valley's position, for the 4th tier. It may be that the Valley is outside, and some Valley schools leave (A10?) in order to be in the division that allows them to give stipends so that they can compete with the BCS, while the poorer schools are content to forfeit the recruiting wars. I hope not but that seems very possible. Next year is going to be very interesting.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/colleg ... re-change/

[Mikovio]

Former UNI AD Bob Bowlsby who is now the Big 12 Commissioner hinted that the BCS conferences are considering leaving the NCAA and forming their own group. This would kill leagues like the MVC. They could choose to pay their own players - good luck recruiting against a school that can pay a recruit 10k a year.

How screwed are we?

If NCAA Division I basketball turned into a semi-pro league, I think Wichita State could compete very well with regards to player salaries. There are a lot of deep pockets surrounding WSU basketball -- who I think would step up large if we were ever given the opportunity to pay to enter the big leagues.

I could see this happening (to a limited extent) in football, but I don't see it for basketball. They know they have a good thing with the NCAA tournament the way it is, and I can't see the NBA supporting it, as it would put the "BCS" schools in competition with their existing developmental league.

The SI article yesterday suggests that the NCAA Tournament will go on as planned, with the same format and giving bids to the same 30 conference champs, same as always. But there will be a subtle difference-- 150 or so schools will be in a new 4th tier, and governing themselves and writing their own rules on competition. They will be able to vote on their ability to use year round training tables, and practices, and $4K stipends for student athletes, while the lower D-I conferences rule over themselves and won't allow them because most can't afford to. Practically speaking, this will have the effect of, as I just mentioned, more transfers to BCS schools and even fewer recruits choosing midmajors if they get any 4th tier offers or interest. It could also split a conference like the Valley, if Wichita and Bradley decide they want to spend the money to compete with the big boys and schools like Indiana State are content not to.

[unipanther99]

One of the big unanswered questions is if changes like these would be on a sport by sport basis, or cover everything. All Valley schools could afford stipends for basketball players (men's and women's to account for Title IX), but if it's all or nothing, that's a totally different story --- especially for those of us with football.