Mountain West invites Fresno and Nevada, WAC implications?

[the Rat]

E-mail show how BYU-WAC plans collapsed

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/50175456-77/wac-byu-albrecht-benson.html.csp

 

[SJHornet]

Since the September 1st deadline is Wednesday, I wonder if we are going to find out how the mess the WAC is in will be resolved tomorrow. It sounds like the two Texas schools are the front runners. Will the WAC invite more than 2? LA Tech and Hawaii still might bolt, I don't think BYU will join the WAC, USU is taking a good look elsewhere and NMSU has the Sun Belt beckoning them back. Also, from what I've read, UTSA isn't interested in staying WAC long term if invited, they want CUSA membership (will they get one if Houston gets a MWC invite?)

Maybe we get an invite, but the lack of public statements from the Hornets makes me think its a long shot at this point. Same for UCFE and Poly. Our chance may come later, when there is further movement from other schools. At this point I don't know what’s going to happen, but Sac State should start putting together a plan for advancement.

Our FCS conference involvement could be getting interesting too, as the Great West is falling apart and UCFE and Poly may be looking for a new conference. Big Sky ambitions? New conference with the Hornets in the mix (pure speculation)?

Anyway, Saturday's approaching. Soon this topic will be over and we can focus on our push to win the Big Sky :mrgreen:

 

[superhornet]

SJ: I understand LA Tech looking East. But Hawai'i leaving the WAC? Where would they go? Certainly not the Pac-12. The MWC? I doubt it. Their only option short of dropping to D-II is the Big West/indy for football. Even with the 12-game rule, indy status is hard to maintain, even when your name is Notre Dame.

Until I hear something official, I'm believing the Wahines are in the WAC to stay.

 

[SDHornet]

Maybe we get an invite, but the lack of public statements from the Hornets makes me think its a long shot at this point. Same for UCFE and Poly. Our chance may come later, when there is further movement from other schools. At this point I don't know what’s going to happen, but Sac State should start putting together a plan for advancement.

I would love to see them as full members, but they are too much in love with the Big West bus league to consider anything more than football only status in the BSC. I don't see the BSC dropping full membership status unless the BSC is raided by the WAC and the BSC uses football only to keep the conference afloat...and yes, the opening kick-off can't come soon enough.

 

[SJHornet]

SJ: I understand LA Tech looking East. But Hawai'i leaving the WAC? Where would they go? Certainly not the Pac-12. The MWC? I doubt it. Their only option short of dropping to D-II is the Big West/indy for football. Even with the 12-game rule, indy status is hard to maintain, even when your name is Notre Dame.

Until I hear something official, I'm believing the Wahines are in the WAC to stay.

The rumor is, that they are looking to copy BYU and go independent. The story came out shortly after Fresno and Nevada accepted the MWC invites. I think the Honolulu Star got wind of the rumor and ran with it. I'm not sure just how involved the Hawaii athletic department actually is in this option.The other WAC teams seem to think this is going to happen leaving the conference with 3 or 4 members. They have apperently already talked to the Big West about joining for non-football sports (though I couldn't imagine the BWC schools being happy with traveling to Hawaii). If its true, the WAC may have no choice but to invite us.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Maybe we get an invite, but the lack of public statements from the Hornets makes me think its a long shot at this point. Same for UCFE and Poly. Our chance may come later, when there is further movement from other schools. At this point I don't know what’s going to happen, but Sac State should start putting together a plan for advancement.

I would love to see them as full members, but they are too much in love with the Big West bus league to consider anything more than football only status in the BSC. I don't see the BSC dropping full membership status unless the BSC is raided by the WAC and the BSC uses football only to keep the conference afloat...and yes, the opening kick-off can't come soon enough.

I don't follow their logic. If they join the WAC they will send their teams all over the western USA, but if they join the Big Sky they gotta stick with the bus league.

WAC won't pay enough to make a difference.

Let them in the Big Sky if they join with all sports. No football only.

 

[SDHornet]

Maybe we get an invite, but the lack of public statements from the Hornets makes me think its a long shot at this point. Same for UCFE and Poly. Our chance may come later, when there is further movement from other schools. At this point I don't know what’s going to happen, but Sac State should start putting together a plan for advancement.

I would love to see them as full members, but they are too much in love with the Big West bus league to consider anything more than football only status in the BSC. I don't see the BSC dropping full membership status unless the BSC is raided by the WAC and the BSC uses football only to keep the conference afloat...and yes, the opening kick-off can't come soon enough.

I don't follow their logic. If they join the WAC they will send their teams all over the western USA, but if they join the Big Sky they gotta stick with the bus league.

WAC won't pay enough to make a difference.

Let them in the Big Sky if they join with all sports. No football only.

Exactly. IMO being in the BSC preps the travel budget for the WAC.

 

[SJHornet]

The plot thickens yet again:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/50190862-77/conference-wac-byu-benson.html.csp?page=1

Without Fresno State and Nevada, and probably without BYU now, the WAC has been reduced to a six-school conference. But Benson says that conference expansion isn’t a sure thing.
At least not anytime soon. Like USU, the league needs time to look at all the alternatives, Benson said.
“People think the timetable for expansion is four to six weeks,” Benson said. “It could be more like four to six months.”

Taking time to expand is normally a good idea, but with no BYU and time for LA Tech and Hawaii to find new homes, Benson better start making some progress on the expansion front.

 

[StungAlum]

Maybe we get an invite, but the lack of public statements from the Hornets makes me think its a long shot at this point. Same for UCFE and Poly. Our chance may come later, when there is further movement from other schools. At this point I don't know what’s going to happen, but Sac State should start putting together a plan for advancement.

I would love to see them as full members, but they are too much in love with the Big West bus league to consider anything more than football only status in the BSC. I don't see the BSC dropping full membership status unless the BSC is raided by the WAC and the BSC uses football only to keep the conference afloat...and yes, the opening kick-off can't come soon enough.

I don't follow their logic. If they join the WAC they will send their teams all over the western USA, but if they join the Big Sky they gotta stick with the bus league.

WAC won't pay enough to make a difference.

Let them in the Big Sky if they join with all sports. No football only.

Agree. No football only, but welcome them if they go all in.

 

[StungAlum]

In 2011-12 BYU will be independent in football and will be a member of the WCC in all other sports.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5517305

 

[superhornet]

dbackjon seems to think the WCC will invite Denver to go to 12. I really don't see what this does for the WCC other than give BYU a travel partner.

As much as it pains me to say it, I think the WCC finally caves and sends an invite to Stockton, which will be snatched up and accepted within about five seconds of receipt.

 

[StungAlum]

dbackjon seems to think the WCC will invite Denver to go to 12. I really don't see what this does for the WCC other than give BYU a travel partner.

As much as it pains me to say it, I think the WCC finally caves and sends an invite to Stockton, which will be snatched up and accepted within about five seconds of receipt.

It would make sense as the WCC is composed of private universities/colleges.

 

[Green Laser]

If the WAC goes away what happens to our baseball and gymnastic teams? Actually if we could work a deal between the Big Sky and Big West to take davis, Poly and US as football only members and have the rest of our sports in the Big West it might work out ok. I agree that Poly and davis shouldn't be admitted in the BSC for football only but if we got to do likewise it might help our other sports in terms of travel and interest.

 

[SJHornet]

dbackjon seems to think the WCC will invite Denver to go to 12. I really don't see what this does for the WCC other than give BYU a travel partner.

As much as it pains me to say it, I think the WCC finally caves and sends an invite to Stockton, which will be snatched up and accepted within about five seconds of receipt.

I think its a toss up between Pacific and Denver right now. No doubt the conference will be looking to field 10 rather than 9. Denver wants out of the SBC and would give BYU a travel partner, but the WCC hasn't made their interest in Pacific a secret. I wouldn't be surprised to see the conference grow to 12 either with Pacific, Denver and UCSB coming in.

 

[SDHornet]

Interesting move by the WCC. It definitely strengthens that conference with respect to basketball. Pacific fits better in the geography of the WCC but Denver would have more of a TV market to offer the WCC. I have no idea how Pacific and Denver compare with the other sports the WCC sponsors.

This will put the MWC at 10 members. They can either go after USU and Houston to get to 12 or stay at 10. BYU and Utah leaving definitely takes a lot of steam out of the MWC making a bid for BCS recognition. The MWC also just lost their SLC market which won't help their bottom line. If they don't re-invite USU, the WAC will have some hope in staying alive.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

I highly doubt any UC or CSU will ever join the WCC. The WCC is proud of its private school status.

 

[SJHornet]

If the WAC goes away what happens to our baseball and gymnastic teams? Actually if we could work a deal between the Big Sky and Big West to take davis, Poly and US as football only members and have the rest of our sports in the Big West it might work out ok. I agree that Poly and davis shouldn't be admitted in the BSC for football only but if we got to do likewise it might help our other sports in terms of travel and interest.

If we are staying in the FCS the best scenario would be for UCFE and Poly to join the Big Sky. I doubt the Big Sky would accept any member as football only unless a few of the members were to bolt to the FBS leaving the conference weakened. Therefore they need to be full members. The Big West would be an ideal conference if they were able to add a few more football schools (SSU, SJSU, NAU). I’ve always though having a slew of California schools would bring about more interest in the student body.

Our baseball and gymnastic teams are going to have to stick tight for now. Find out what the WAC’s next moves are and if they will even have a conference in the near future. If the WAC crumbles I can see the department reaching out to the Big West or even (gulp) Great West. Not many other options for us, unless we want to start a Sac State to WCC push (JK :lol: )

 

[StungAlum]

I highly doubt any UC or CSU will ever join the WCC. The WCC is proud of its private school status.

Exactly. That's why Hawaii didnt even consider trying to move their sports there, they knew they'd be turned down. The WCC is a private school conference and that is probably never going to change.

Dislaimer: By never I mean until they actually do change, stuff is happening pretty quickly recently with conference realignment and affiliation.

 

[StungAlum]

The WAC will begin to look at schools within their "footprint" to add to the conference following the 2011-12 season. They created a commission of the remaining schools AD's and will look at academics, attendance, market, sponsorship etc as determining factors as to who they invite.

No schools were mentioned but the word/term "footprint" was/is in parenthesis.

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=12250476&nid=858

 

[StungAlum]

The membership committee will be establishing criteria for this process that will include:

-Academics
-Attendance
-Budgets
-Location/transportation
-Market size
-Recent program success
-Sports sponsorship

Any specific announcements or invitations pertaining to expansion are not expected prior to the Spring of 2011.

http://www.wacsports.com/ViewArticle.db ... =204986455