BYU’s next move … and other MWC/WAC developments
It’s been a head spinning few days on the realignment front — so many reports, so many rumors, that it’s tough to know what’s real, what’s false and what’s possible … especially with the continuing radio silence out of Provo.
Here’s the latest, with the most significant development, by far.
1. I’ve been told that BYU has reached out to the West Coast Conference about the possibility of placing its 18 teams that don’t play football into the WCC.
In the interest of full disclosure, let’s be clear: I’m not sure whether the Cougars will talk to WCC officials or meet in person with WCC officials. But according to a source, communication in some form will take place this week.
(I tried getting a comment/confirmation from WCC commish Jamie Zaninovich, who acknowledged last week that he had reached out to BYU. But Zaninovich did not respond to text or voice messages or to an email request for an interview.)
Assuming it’s true, it would be a significant development on two fronts:
Front one: Whatever ultimately happens with BYU, the WCC has scored major PR points simply for being in the discussion. And if the league actually lands the Cougars’ 18 teams, then it’s a Game 7 walk-off home run.
Front two: Best I can tell, it’s the first hard evidence since Fresno State and Nevada agreed to join the MWC that BYU is still actively pursuing football independence (because being independent in football, of course, means finding a home for its other teams).
2. The Salt Lake Tribune reported earlier today that Utah State has entered a second round of discussions with the Mountain West.
This makes a lot of sense if you think the MWC now believes BYU is going independent … and if you think, as I do, that the MWC would want a Utah team — perhaps for political reasons, perhaps to retain a sliver of the SLC media market. (Clearly, USU wouldn’t be of any benefit in the BCS automatic qualifier equation.)
I’d imagine that if BYU goes independent and the MWC pursues Utah State that the league wouldn’t stop at 11 schools. Houston would be a logical choice as the 12th, which would prompt Conference USA to find a new member. (Louisiana Tech? Temple?)
3. There’s also an espn.com report that Hawaii has reached out to the Big West as a possible home for its sports if it goes independent in football.
Hawaii’s a better fit in the Big West than the WCC, for sure. And the move makes sense, in terms of the level of competition, for its teams.
But could someone explain to me how the low-budget Big West schools — remember, it’s a ground transportation-based league — going to afford to send their teams to Honolulu?
4. One last thought: Everywhere you turn, there are reports or rumors of remaining WAC schools pursuing other options — Hawaii goes Indy, Utah State goes to the MWC, LaTech heads to C-USA — and it makes sense.
The league’s future is mighty fuzzy and commissioner Karl Benson said last week that the remaining six are not subject to the $5 million exit penalty that Nevada and Fresno State must pay. There’s zero harm in exploring options.
But the guess here is that the future carnage won’t be as bad as some project and that the league will stay together, perhaps with two additions, perhaps with four … or perhaps in some form of alliance with the Sun Belt.
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2010/08/24/byus-next-move-and-other-mwcwac-developments/
It’s been a head spinning few days on the realignment front — so many reports, so many rumors, that it’s tough to know what’s real, what’s false and what’s possible … especially with the continuing radio silence out of Provo.
Here’s the latest, with the most significant development, by far.
1. I’ve been told that BYU has reached out to the West Coast Conference about the possibility of placing its 18 teams that don’t play football into the WCC.
In the interest of full disclosure, let’s be clear: I’m not sure whether the Cougars will talk to WCC officials or meet in person with WCC officials. But according to a source, communication in some form will take place this week.
(I tried getting a comment/confirmation from WCC commish Jamie Zaninovich, who acknowledged last week that he had reached out to BYU. But Zaninovich did not respond to text or voice messages or to an email request for an interview.)
Assuming it’s true, it would be a significant development on two fronts:
Front one: Whatever ultimately happens with BYU, the WCC has scored major PR points simply for being in the discussion. And if the league actually lands the Cougars’ 18 teams, then it’s a Game 7 walk-off home run.
Front two: Best I can tell, it’s the first hard evidence since Fresno State and Nevada agreed to join the MWC that BYU is still actively pursuing football independence (because being independent in football, of course, means finding a home for its other teams).
2. The Salt Lake Tribune reported earlier today that Utah State has entered a second round of discussions with the Mountain West.
This makes a lot of sense if you think the MWC now believes BYU is going independent … and if you think, as I do, that the MWC would want a Utah team — perhaps for political reasons, perhaps to retain a sliver of the SLC media market. (Clearly, USU wouldn’t be of any benefit in the BCS automatic qualifier equation.)
I’d imagine that if BYU goes independent and the MWC pursues Utah State that the league wouldn’t stop at 11 schools. Houston would be a logical choice as the 12th, which would prompt Conference USA to find a new member. (Louisiana Tech? Temple?)
3. There’s also an espn.com report that Hawaii has reached out to the Big West as a possible home for its sports if it goes independent in football.
Hawaii’s a better fit in the Big West than the WCC, for sure. And the move makes sense, in terms of the level of competition, for its teams.
But could someone explain to me how the low-budget Big West schools — remember, it’s a ground transportation-based league — going to afford to send their teams to Honolulu?
4. One last thought: Everywhere you turn, there are reports or rumors of remaining WAC schools pursuing other options — Hawaii goes Indy, Utah State goes to the MWC, LaTech heads to C-USA — and it makes sense.
The league’s future is mighty fuzzy and commissioner Karl Benson said last week that the remaining six are not subject to the $5 million exit penalty that Nevada and Fresno State must pay. There’s zero harm in exploring options.
But the guess here is that the future carnage won’t be as bad as some project and that the league will stay together, perhaps with two additions, perhaps with four … or perhaps in some form of alliance with the Sun Belt.
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2010/08/24/byus-next-move-and-other-mwcwac-developments/
