Hawaii Set to Leave the WAC

[SLCBengal]

There are reports tonight that the Mountain West is set to invite Hawaii as a football only member, with all other sports set to go to the Big West.

Does the WAC go after both Montana schools this time, or is the WAC screwed...?

Star-Advertiser: Hawaii Invited to Join MWC for Football

 

[spudbowl]

I don't think Montana wants to go to a bad WAC football conference. Who is left? Texas State, Texas-San Antonio, Idaho, San Jose State, LA Tech, New Mexico State, Utah State ....pretty weak football conference, probably weaker than the Big Sky at this point. Idaho is in bad position again like when they were in the Sun Belt conference, though the Vandals can probably compete in the new WAC.

 

[boisebengal]

The WAC's in serious trouble right now, and the league's recent additions of UTSA and Texas St. could prove to be futile. What other options does that league have right now, regarding expansion? Already because of this news, the recruiting efforts of the five remaining schools are going to be severely hampered because other schools will just use that against them. Within the next year you could see some of the remaining schools either drop football or apply for membership in the Big Sky. Teams like USU, Idaho, and even NMSU have recently spent millions for facility upgrades, in order to keep up with the arms race.

I am surprised, though, that Hawaii would be invited to join the MWC, when you consider the huge expenses that's involved with flying a team to Honolulu. But at least the MWC members can play an extra game if they have to play at Hawaii. I had figured that Utah State would be a slam dunk choice to be added to the MWC, if they were to seek expansion.

 

[SLCBengal]

Brian Murphy of the Idaho Statesman writes that the WAC could lose its auto-bids...

WAC could lose NCAA automatic bids
This would be a huge blow to the league, especially in basketball. The WAC would not meet qualification (b) if Hawaii were to leave.

It would only have five teams (Idaho, Utah State, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State and San Jose State) that qualify.

Per the NCAA:
To be eligible for automatic qualification in National Collegiate Championship, a member conference must meet the following general requirements: (Adopted: 1/9/06 effective 8/1/06)

(a) Have at least six active members that sponsor the applicable sport in any division (note: a provisional member in the process of becoming an NCAA member cannot be used to meet the requisite number);

(b) The six active members must have conducted conference competition together for the preceding two years in the applicable sport;

(c) There shall be no waivers of the two-year waiting period; and

(d) Any new member added to a conference that is eligible for an automatic bid shall be immediately eligible to represent the conference as the automatic qualifier.

Read more: Idaho Statesman: Hawaii Invited to Join MWC

 

[JJB]

Hedging against TCU going to the Big East. If TCU leaves, MWC takes USU or NMSU. What's the relationship between UNM and NMSU? Would UNM want NMSU in the same conference?

Might leave Idaho and USU fighting for that 12th all sports spot in the Big Sky. Pick your poison.