PSAC WEST

[hawks16]

Valuable for what? The Pittsburgh media barely knows Robert Morris and Duquesne exist. The PSAC having a team in downtown Pittsburgh would do nothing. The league already has the city surrounded.

Besides, we are already stuck with no-football UPJ.

Valuable as in every network has a streaming service with 24 hours a day that needs filled with #content. WFMJ out of Youngstown has a PAC football game of the week. If PSAC extended into Pittsburgh it's hard not to imagine something like IUP-Cal in the Coal Bowl on KDKA+'s game of the week sponsored by UPMC presented by Giant Eagle hosted by Mark Madden.

Second point: Conference realignment is everywhere in D1 so what's stopping some conference from offering, say, West Chester a new home because the PSAC East stinks? Or the MEC goes after UPJ after 10 years in the PSAC. If IUP somehow left the PSAC, that could be the start of some dominoes.

[Fightingscot82]

Your comment made me think of the Mercyhurst situation and wonder if the PSAC had any knowledge/signals of their intentions. If tthe PSAC was blindsided that doesn't speak well of the powers to be at the Hurst.

I've heard several versions. One is he found out when an Erie sports reporter called for comment. Another is he saw a reputable source sharing the rumor, called Mercyhurst and was assured it's nothing, then they jumped days later. Who the heck knows.

[boatcapt]

The Pittsburgh media barely knows Pitt exists until they want to trash the university or the two main athletic programs.

Sports in Pittsburgh is:

1. Steelers
2. Steelers
3. Steelers
4. Penguins
5. Penguins
6. Pirates
7. Some variation and combination of the top 6
8. Hatred for all things Cleveland sports
9. Hatred for all things Baltimore and Cincinnati
10. University of Pittsburgh sports

AND THAT'S IT!!!!!

[boatcapt]

Steve Murray gets a lot of crap on here but the guy's ethical. He's not going to do to another conference what was done to the PSAC. They'll announce with probably a year's notice.

??? Cheyney announced it was leaving the PSAC in March 2018 and the PSAC announced Shepherd was joining the PSAC 3 months later in June 2018!!

[boatcapt]

So I wonder if PSAC intends to invite a team to take Hurst spot or if they'll move East team back to West. Lock Haven used to be in the West. LH and Mansfield are about the same distance in relation to Erie (using that for distance since Gannon/Edinboro are the furthest West Schools)

The most western school in the PSAC is Shepherd. But moving them from East to West only makes sense if the PSAC adds a team. If they don't, it's a wash scheduling wise...8 teams West OR 8 teams East...Either way...Unbalanced.

[gman16506]

Steve Murray gets a lot of crap on here but the guy's ethical. He's not going to do to another conference what was done to the PSAC. They'll announce with probably a year's notice.

Your comment made me think of the Mercyhurst situation and wonder if the PSAC had any knowledge/signals of their intentions. If tthe PSAC was blindsided that doesn't speak well of the powers to be at the Hurst.

[Fightingscot82]

According to PSACs statement a team probably won't be added this year as they're just focusing on redoing schedules as is.

Steve Murray gets a lot of crap on here but the guy's ethical. He's not going to do to another conference what was done to the PSAC. They'll announce with probably a year's notice.

[bballfan03]

Rumors all point to Frostburg State.

According to PSACs statement a team probably won't be added this year as they're just focusing on redoing schedules as is.

[Fightingscot82]

I don't know about too far. Fairmont State is like 10 minutes directly south of Morgantown. For instance, Fairmont State is closer to IUP than Gannon is (and is even closer for Seton Hill and Cal).

But, I agree, Frostburg State seems to have all the buzz.

You're right. I was thinking of Glenville.

[IUP24]

Well, said commish may soon be unemployed if another football school walks (and that's likely to happen).

Football in the MEC is in bad shape - especially if Frostburg leaves.

I feel like West Liberty offers a similar geographic value add that Frostburg does, relatively speaking. It's not extremely far away from current PSAC West members. It's an easily accessible area. It has athletic history with Shepherd in the east already.

[IUP24]

Valuable for what? The Pittsburgh media barely knows Robert Morris and Duquesne exist. The PSAC having a team in downtown Pittsburgh would do nothing. The league already has the city surrounded.

Besides, we are already stuck with no-football UPJ.

The Pittsburgh media barely knows Pitt exists until they want to trash the university or the two main athletic programs.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It'd be interesting to see how WLU's admin would respond (if approached). On one hand, it makes total sense and would be a good athletic move for WLU. But the MEC was also founded by a then-president of West Liberty and is currently run by a commissioner who is a former employee of West Liberty. So, the question would be a matter of weighing expedience and personal gain against tradition and loyalty. It'd be interesting to see the response for sure.

Well, said commish may soon be unemployed if another football school walks (and that's likely to happen).

Football in the MEC is in bad shape - especially if Frostburg leaves.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

You gotta think Point Park would prefer the PSAC over the MEC if they had known there would be an opening four months sooner. PPU doesn't have all the sports the PSAC sponsors, but the PSAC also doesn't have anyone in the direct Pittsburgh media market -- which is valuable property.

Valuable for what? The Pittsburgh media barely knows Robert Morris and Duquesne exist. The PSAC having a team in downtown Pittsburgh would do nothing. The league already has the city surrounded.

Besides, we are already stuck with no-football UPJ.

[Scrub]

Geography aside... I actually would prefer Charleston out of the MEC compared to Fairmont.

That said, I agree that Frostburg has buzz and makes sense. I would also love to see the PSAC kick the tires on West Liberty. I bet they would be interested, but who knows...

It'd be interesting to see how WLU's admin would respond (if approached). On one hand, it makes total sense and would be a good athletic move for WLU. But the MEC was also founded by a then-president of West Liberty and is currently run by a commissioner who is a former employee of West Liberty. So, the question would be a matter of weighing expedience and personal gain against tradition and loyalty. It'd be interesting to see the response for sure.

[hawks16]

You gotta think Point Park would prefer the PSAC over the MEC if they had known there would be an opening four months sooner. PPU doesn't have all the sports the PSAC sponsors, but the PSAC also doesn't have anyone in the direct Pittsburgh media market -- which is valuable property.