Wichita State Shockers Deserve Spot In Mountain West
By Bobby Miller
The Wichita State Shockers are reportedly interested in joining the Mountain West Conference, so here is why they should gladly invite the Shockers to join.
Following a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, it appears as thought the Wichita State Shockers have outgrown the lowly Missouri Valley Conference.
Much like how WuShock’s head has outgrown his body or how his cheeks and mouth have outgrown his head, the Wichita State Shockers must depart the Missouri Valley Conference.
If they do not, their conference tournaments will continue to be as easy as ripping on WuShock.
WuShock’s disproportions aside, the Wichita State Shockers have made an interesting move to start off the summer.
CBS Sports Senior Columnist Dennis Dodd had this to report about the Wichita State Shockers.
"Individuals representing Wichita State’s athletic interests have approached the Mountain West Conference about membership, multiple sources told CBS Sports.Led by president John Bardo, Wichita State has been exploring its conference options in basketball and football.Last year, Bardo commissioned an ongoing feasibility study to bring football back to the athletic program. The school dropped the sport in 1986."
Following a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, the Wichita State Shockers have decided to make a power play this summer.
Unfortunately, according to the same report, the Mountain West Conference appeared to distance themselves from the Wichita State Shockers intentions.
“It ain’t gonna be us,” Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said of speculated conference landing spots for the Wichita State Shockers.
Why does Thompson speak of the Wichita State Shockers as if they are the last kid picked at recess?
According to Dodd’s report, it may be a childlike disdain for sharing.
"One source told CBS Sports it’s a simple case of economics.The league would be splitting its media rights revenue 12 ways instead of 11 in basketball if it added the Shockers.One MWC source considered it unlikely that Mountain West’s media rights holders (ESPN, CBS Sports Network) would renegotiate their current contracts to include additional revenue for a 12th basketball school."
If ESPN and CBS truly believe fans would not watch Gregg Marshall and San Diego State head coach Steve Fisher face off during the season and in the Mountain West Tournament, then they are sorely mistaken.
Well, I guess the Mountain West does already apportion a large chunk of its revenue for their athletes…oh wait.
That is right folks, the Mountain West does not believe that improving the value of their conference by adding the Wichita State Shockers is worth the nine percent each Mountain West school would have to share with them.
Granted, the Wichita State Shockers do not currently have a football team and would have to create one in order to join the Mountain West.
Even still, the Wichita State Shockers would still greatly improve the conference’s basketball strength enough to offset losses from a newborn Wichita State Shockers football program.
Especially because I am not sure that such a football program would be the albatross that the Mountain West perceives them to be.
Shocker nation has already proved that they are a prevalent, devoted and enthusiastic fan base.
As a result, the bump in Mountain West merchandise, viewership, etc. would definitely go a long way towards offsetting losses from a Wichita State Shockers football team.
If you also consider that Gregg Marshall is currently one of the most sought after coaches in college basketball, then it is tough to argue that Wichita State athletic director Eric Sexton would not be capable of building the infrastructure for a Wichita State Shockers football program.
Plus, by adding the Wichita State Shockers, the Mountain West would protect themselves from larger conferences looking to poach up and coming teams from mid-majors.
Currently, the Mountain West does not feature any teams from the Midwest region.
By adding the Wichita State Shockers, the total land area of the Mountain West recruiting pipeline, calculated using totals provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, would increase by close to 11 percent.
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Additionally, one could argue that adding a Kansas university may allow the Mountain West better access to high school talent across the entire Midwest region, not just Kansas.
In this case, the total land area of the Mountain West’s sphere of influence, which already includes the West region, would increase by close to 43 percent, again according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
I will admit that last point may be a bit of a stretch.
Regardless, the Wichita State Shockers could definitely stand to boost their national presence.
Personally, I really want to see what Wichita State’s football jerseys would look like.
If the basketball team’s apparel deal with Nike extends to the football team, then the Wichita State Shockers could rock some pretty sweet gear.
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Do you think the Mountain West should invite the Wichita State Shockers to join their conference? Do you think the Wichita State Shockers should leave the Missouri Valley Conference? Would you go to Wichita State football games, even if the team was terrible? Does anybody have concept art for Wichita State football jerseys? Can I see said concept art?