When rumors come up that the Big East is interested in Air Force, Navy’s name is almost always mentioned in the same conversation. And according to Midshipmen coach Ken Niumatalolo said, Navy isn’t too thrilled about the idea of jumping into a conference.
“We’d like to stay who we are,” Niumatalolo said. “We like the freedom of being independent. We recruit nationally, so we like to go into homes and say ‘We’ll be playing close to your home.’ We like the independent schedule.”
The problem is, Niumatalolo is concerned the landscape may force Navy to join a conference or be left out. He brought up the rumors of mega-conferences taking over all the real power in college football, including the bowls.
“So No. 65-120, what do we become?” Niumatalolo said. “What’s going to happen for the rest of us?”
Air Force will be wrestling with some of the same issues, whether to stay in a comfortable place in the Mountain West or make a move. The uncertainty has led to some uneasy times.
“If we can stay where we are, I’d love to do it,” Niumatalolo said. “But there’s so much uncertainty, we’re not saying no to anything, and we’re not saying yes to anything. We’re just keeping our eyes open.”
Arny and Navy will be hosed if it boils down to 64 (or even 72) or nothing.
A depleted Big East won’t be in the mix, and I doubt they can squeeze into the ACC.
AFA isn’t in a much better position, but there is a small chance we might get in to the Big 12/14.
Best outcome would be for the Big12 to implode with Texas and OU to the SEC or PAC-16, with the MWC picking up the remnants.
In what you said is the best outcome, afafan, the MWC won’t be in the mix either.
AFA has decisions to make. Army and Navy each get $4.5 million for their game. AFA never sees this kind of money. With that $4.5M, Army and navy are sitting pretty. The bowls the service academies play in make zero money for the schools. The academies may even lose money on them as do all participants.
Army and Navy are in the North East, surrounded by many close by universities for non football games, many a bus ride away. AFA plays hockey very well in the Atlantic Hockey Association, in the North East, obviously by air.
Thus AFA sits in a different financial and geographic seat than USMA and USNA. USAF needs to travel to games of all kinds hundreds/thousands of miles in the MWC.
TRAVEL=TIME away from academics although at least football travels tutors. Thus AFA pays more money for such travel. Not good for non revenue sports-read ALL except football and some hockey.
Tough decisions for Hans et al to make so pray they have both wisdom and some luck.
Joining a BCS conference such as the Big 12 would more than compensate for any increase in travel costs. The major portion of the vastly increased revenue would actually flow to the non-revenue sports and put them in a much better position. Money is the driver here, and staying put will cost AFA, not the other way around. Tough decisions are around the corner, and like Mr. Halstrom, I hope for wisdom and luck in making them.
Big question….will Big East stay a BCS Conference without Pitt, Syracuse and likely UConn? Remember they lost Virginia Tech and Miami a few years ago…….Rutgers, South Florida, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Louisville no better than Mtn West…..TCU likely will end up in Big 12.
Air Force can definitely compete in Big East, we could not have been competitive in the Big 12. But will Big East stay a BCS conference with the MONEY?
And then all other Air Force sports would join what? WAC probably would not take them w/o football. So Big Sky? Missouri Valley?
Interesting times, fun to follow
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