Army and Navy could affect Air Force’s Big East football decision

October 9th, 2011, 5:39 am · 13 Comments · posted by Frank Schwab

Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh can’t commit his football program to the Big East yet. The Big East has just six football playing schools – and there’s a possibility more could leave.

That’s where Army and Navy come in. Mueh said the Big East has gauged interest in all three service academies. Mueh flew to Providence in August to meet with Big East commissioner John Marinatto. The Big East has also reached out to Navy and Army. Although Navy likes the flexibility of scheduling as an independent, there are many reasons for it to join the Big East. Mueh isn’t so sure Army wants to join the Big East. Army had a bad experience as a member of Conference USA a few years ago, and it wouldn’t be easy for Army to compete in the Big East.

Still, Mueh said he thinks if Navy and Air Force join, it would be enticing for Army to also make the leap. Mueh wouldn’t say that if Army and Navy don’t both come to the Big East it would ruin Air Force’s desire to go to that conference, but it’s obvious if one or both decide to stay independent, the Big East is a little harder sell to Air Force. The Big East hasn’t had much stability lately, and Mueh admitted he is watching closely to see what other teams the Big East adds.

But, with Army, Navy and maybe one other quality school to make it 10, it might not be hard for Air Force to join the Big East.

“That would be attractive to us,” Mueh said. “We’re a long way from that.”

The questions about the future of the Big East means staying in the Mountain West for football is still an option (moving the Olympic sports to the Missouri Valley Conference seems like a likely outcome regardless of football’s next move).

“None of these decisions have been made,” Mueh said. “I’m keeping my options open.”

Mueh said Air Force ranks in the middle of Big East football programs in terms of stadium size, attendance and budget. The exposure Air Force would get from playing on the East Coast and the increased revenue are major factors in its interest. Also of interest is making Army and Navy conference games, which would allow Air Force the flexibility to schedule other games in those nonconference spots.

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About this blog …

I'm Frank Schwab, Air Force beat reporter for The Gazette. I've been at the paper since 2003, and covered the Broncos for seven seasons. I covered the University of Wisconsin in the late 1990s, so I'm well versed in running football teams (Ron Dayne) and defensive basketball teams (Dick Bennett). I love to chat on www.twitter.com/GazetteAirForce, and will respond to comments and emails at frank.schwab@gazette.com.

For more coverage, visit The Gazette's Air Force Academy Sports page

Falcon backer says:

October 9, 2011 at 1:54 pm

I’ll repeat myself here. Before the season began I counted the TCU, Notre Dame and Boise State games as losses for AFA. I assessed the Navy and SDSU games as being pivotal to the season.

Should AFA beat SDSU and then lose to Boise the Falcons’ record would be 4-3. Air Force finishes the regular season with games against:: New mexico, UNLV, Army, Wyo and CSU. In the past four seasons Air Force is a combined 19-1 versus these five schools.

A 9-3 regular season record is still an achieveable goal.

MKL says:

October 9, 2011 at 8:50 pm

I live in Big East country, and the sentiment here is that the Big East is a sinking ship. Makes no sense geographically, makes no sense for recruiting, and it makes no sense if what AF wants is to get their football team into a higher profile conference.

Hopefully common sense will prevail. The Big East is a dead conference (at least for football).

Joe says:

October 9, 2011 at 10:38 pm

The only reason to have Army and Navy in-conference is to free up the out-of-conference schedule for more I-AA creampuffs, (like Nicholls St., Northwestern St., South Dakota and Tennessee St.). which is where Air Force belongs anyway. Then they could stop lowering admissions standards to let in all these SEM-major athletes who will five-and-dive anyway because they have no interest in a career and let kids who are genuinely interested in the Air Force (like Mike Gould) have a chance to play intercollegiate athletics. Hans Mueh needs to quit staring at the balance sheet and lift his gaze to the horizon. Maybe then he’ll start thinking about what’s really best for the Air Force (and the country) in the long run.

Weasel says:

October 10, 2011 at 7:26 am

The Big East is collapsing. Just look at TCU as an example of making any jump these days.

Frederic N.Halstrom says:

October 10, 2011 at 9:11 am

Yes Big East, which really a bigger footprint than the East Coast. Yes, Army has issues.

The Boston Globe Today prints Boise State for the Big East, along with AFA included with Navy and AFA playing all other-not hockey which is in the AHA-in the WAC. No mention of Army. Lets see how Army draws vs, Rutgers at Yankee Stadium. BTW, is the 2012 AFA vs Army game now back at West Point??No Yankee Stadium? Is that a prelude to an attendance disaster for Army v. Rutgers in a few weeks?

Hans and the Gould are thinking real hard and will do the right thing for the cadets.

The Bird says:

October 10, 2011 at 9:52 am

The mere fact that all of this is even being considered despite all of the negatives against suggests only one thing.

Air Force athletics operations and strategic longterm facilities budgets are bankrupt.

Mr. Mueh has done virtually nothing in the area of fundraising like his AD counterparts and this is the panicked result. AD’s and university presidents are primarily fundraisers before their roles as administrators. AD’s through athletics bring a stream of revenue into the university for the president to use.

Mueh has done absolutely nothing fundraisingwise because for almost 40yrs, he’s been on the Academy payroll which is taxpayer funded. A bad mix for the future of AF athletics.

Chris says:

October 10, 2011 at 10:11 am

This potential move to the Big East for football obviously has the AFA community, grads, and fan base upset. I’ve yet to see a comment or discussion on any website (GT, ESPN, CNNSI, etc, etc) that supports such a move. Anyone have any suggestions as to how to communicate our concerns directly to Dr. Mueh and/or the Superintendant? The longer this thing drags on, the more I think he’s really serious about it. At first I thought he was just researching his options, but now I’b beginning to think he’s going to push the football team off the cliff.

lollygags says:

October 10, 2011 at 3:00 pm

I’d love to see the Big 12 pick up Air Force but then I’m a little biased and want see my Jayhawks play since they aren’t going to Boulder anymore. Seriously though, the Big 12 could grab Air Force and Boise State in addition to TCU who is supposed to announce their move this afternoon. This would bring the conference back up to 12(as long as Mizzery doesn’t leave) and bring in some football schools which is what all this realignment is about anyway.

October 10, 2011 at 5:43 pm

Hans and Gould and many others are out raising money for AFA. Yes late but now moving forward, ie. the Holaday AC. The USAFA Endowment is raising money from grads, family and friends.

AFA cannot do zero. The WAC is gone and the MWC is following. The MWC lost BYU, Utah, TCU and will not now get Boise State. Even with BSU, one top 50 school? The MWC will not get BCS status with only AFA and Boise State.

Under great great leadership, the Falcons will do the right thing for its national fans as it has a national following. The Front Range schools are just that, Front Range schools.

AFA must move or die in the MWC.

October 10, 2011 at 9:31 pm

Mueh and Gould don’t know how to fundraise. They are career military officers and the process of fundraising is a foreign concept to both. Holladay Center was done on an ultimatum from Calhoun and staff and the lions share of that money came from a single source donation. I will agree that the Endowement is a step in the right direction but with the pace of change in college athletics what it is right now, AFA has been caught with their pants down and no $$.

The move to the BE is based on a “maybe” TV contract which hasn’t even been negotiated. No quarantee the BE will even survive. WVU already wants to leave and Louisville has also voiced an interest in leaving along with UConn, Syracuse, and Pitt.

The “great, great leadership” you’re looking for is very absent in making this decision. I don’t think those that have the authority to make this decision have the necessary “skill set” to do it competently.

That’s what concerns me greatly. I sense fear and panic at AFA. I do not sense panic at either Army or Navy.

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