Air Force to Big East, tell Big 12 no.

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_19073868
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Get ready to kiss Air Force goodbye. The Mountain West Conference is on the verge of losing a charter member.
The Falcons are looking to fly far away to save the Big East from disintegration, with the hope that fellow military academies Navy and Army will join them in the league.
"Our interest is high in the Big East. That's fair to say," Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh told me Saturday.
"This stuff is moving fast."
He expects that the future of Air Force athletics will be decided by the end of October. The plan would have the Falcons joining the Big East only in football, while moving teams in other sports to the Missouri Valley Conference.
"In my perfect world, with the Big East on the radar, I would love Air Force, Navy and Army to be in that conference together," said Mueh, stressing that no final decision has been made.

..........."Know what the biggest shocker in Air Force's decision might be?
Given an opportunity to join Oklahoma and Texas in a revamped Big 12, the Falcons have said thanks, but no thanks.
"We were approached by the Big 12, and I told them we're not a good fit for that conference. In the Big 12, geography makes sense, the economics make sense, but recruiting makes no sense for us. I can't recruit against Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State," Mueh said.
"That's why I turned down the Big 12. I can't do that to my kids, because they'll get beat up. I'd love the extra $12 million or whatever it would be per year from the TV money. And I know how I'd spend the money. I'd build a new soccer stadium, and I'd build a new baseball facility, all in one year. But I can't do that."

As much as I hate texas and ou, I love that my Pokes are talked about with them in this manner.

Turning down millions to do what is best for his students? Only a service academy would show such integrity.

If the service academies all go to the Big East, I will start to root for it to survive. I would love to see them in a BCS league. I know it's a fat chance, but wouldn't it be amazing to see one of them as a national power?!?!

I really hope we get to see them push programs that would allow students to go into the NFL if drafted. They could do so much good for our military by being spokesman within the NFL. Some people would argue that they are skipping out on their commitment, but I would say that they would be more successful than any recruiter.

truth right there my friend.

Totally agree!

At the risk of hijacking this thread. I am gonna agree to a certain extent. If the Army/Navy/Air Force invests a god awful amount of money and time into a cadet, then the cadet should still have to hold up his end of the contract. However, I could see the player being able to be drafted, but still have to do your 5 years as a recruiter during the off season. That would be extremely benificial to the military and the cadet would still be able to fulfil his commitment.

I'm disappointed the Big XII ever approached them.

TONS of respect right there.

you aren't disagreeing with me at all. That's what I meant. Just have them serve through their position in the NFL. Maybe even make their commitment 10 years instead of 5, or just give them a half year for each year they are in the NFL. Flexibility is in everyone's best interest here.

I think the reason he said no to the B12 is because they know they can't be a national power. I think part of his point was, the AFA and service academies have other issues in mind when it comes to competing in sports other than being a national power, because they have other focuses when recruiting that are above football and those things keep them from being able to recruit at a national power type of level.

Why I think they would have been a great addition to the league and I don't agree with their ad, I think the higher profile and the loss of A&M would elevate their status on the field and give the ability to become a national power if they wanted too be. It would open up their recuiting to Texas even more and I think they are missing an oppertunity. That being said, I understand wanting to be with Army and Navy and hope that works out for all three. I hope that happens for them.

Nothing will stop the US Air Force!

I do agree with their AD that they cannot compete recruiting-wise with Texas, OU, and OSU. The Big XII knows this too, so I am disappointed that we would go after a school destined to never ever have a chance to be a power. It seems that geography was a major factor and not TV share or potential of their football program. Geography is overrated. The Pac-10 has done very well with much greater distances than the Big XII has ever had to deal with.

They can't really open up their recruiting. They have to stay within a height and weight parameter that pretty much puts them having to stay with smaller recruits. Also they aren't looking for the best players, they're looking for the best cadets that can happen to play football. Their own rules work against them for the purposes of improving their team. Their AD knows exactly what he's talking about and doing the best thing for his school.

I don't know how much they can recruit. My cousin is a senior at the airfoce academy and the application process to be accepted was pretty tough even though he graduated highschool at the top of his class.

I'm an air force brat and understand that, but I do think they can recuit better. I don't think ALL of the students have to meet a hight and weight parameter, only those that are going to fly. They have had some wonderful top 15-20 teams in the past and nearly beat ou last year. They could compete in the big 12, I think they just want to be in a conference with the other services which I agree with.

Agreed. I went to the TCU @ AF game a couple of weeks ago. Those AF guys are small. Really small. They got absolutely pushed around and manhandled by a mediocre TCU team. They would get steamrolled in the BigXII every year. It would not be good for the academy or the BigXII for them to join us. I hate to say that, because it would be good for me if OSU was playing in Colorado again!

They nearly beat OU because they have a foreign offense and OU didn't take them seriously, lets be honest the AFA barely challenges for MWC titles. They have success due to good coaching and a old-now foreign offense that plays to their strength and hides their weaknesses the best they can. The fact is, the AFA cannot recruit football first or even second really. They have to consider so much before football that it makes it impossible for them to recruit top tier players. In addition, top recruits are all dreaming of NFL careers and the AFA is not there for that, it requires a commitment by the player that isn't football first. I think the AD's statements were a breath of fresh air in this realignment talk, he actually thought about his athletes and limitations of his program.

Service academies have a mission that prevents them from recruiting football players on the same level as other public and private universities. They could never compete in a major conference. I think AFA to the Big East would also be a mistake. I think the service academies should all be independent, but MWC works for AFA right now. They should stay there. Geography in playing football for Big East makes zero sense.

Teams now don't nec. have anything to do with teams in the future...Look at KU today...they are a total shell of the team that beat us at home a few years back and won the Orange bowl. Look at KSU's history... they were far worse than Air Force historically and then they got a good coach and some recuits and nearly played for a national title and won the Big 12. Look at us...we were 0-10-1, have a below .500 one hundred year history of mediocrity and now we are in the top five and will challange to make the BCS title game. NEVER say NEVER and IMHO for an AD to down play his program is not a winning mindset. I'm not saying he's wrong in terms of the here and now...I'm saying that if the right coach and AD is in place that program could be very good. I'm just glad we let PJ and his negitivity go our we would be worried about making the lowest bowl every year and NEVER would have talked about titles. The Power of Positive thinking is HUGE...

Service Academies won more National titles in the early years than anyone else...I think that's losing thinking on their part to assume they can't compete ESPECIALLY with the money they would be getting to improve their sports facilities.