Mountain West invites Fresno and Nevada, WAC implications?

[JackHornet]

Hawaii football going independent and olympic sports to Big West?

WAC teams cautious with next move.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/5492091/wac-teams-cautious-move

This is why we need to be patient and wait to see what happens with the WAC.

It's pretty much a given that La. Tech is gone, thus leaving the five western schools. Those five schools are in survival mode. They need to do what is best for them. They can't rely on/trust, the other schools in the conference or trust the leadership of Benson.

Utah St. may accept a MWC invitation. So the WAC is down to four schools.

Hawaii may go indy in football and joins the Big West in other sports. So the WAC is down to three schools.

New Mexico St. may go to the Sun Belt. So the WAC is down to two schools.

San Jose St. may drop football and joins the Big West for other sports.

Idaho may drop down to FCS and joins the Big Sky.

RIP WAC.

 

[StungAlum]

Hawaii football going independent and olympic sports to Big West?

WAC teams cautious with next move.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/5492091/wac-teams-cautious-move

This is why we need to be patient and wait to see what happens with the WAC.

It's pretty much a given that La. Tech is gone, thus leaving the five western schools. Those five schools are in survival mode. They need to do what is best for them. They can't rely on/trust, the other schools in the conference or trust the leadership of Benson.

Utah St. may accept a MWC invitation. So the WAC is down to four schools.

Hawaii may go indy in football and joins the Big West in other sports. So the WAC is down to three schools.

New Mexico St. may go to the Sun Belt. So the WAC is down to two schools.

San Jose St. may drop football and joins the Big West for other sports.

Idaho may drop down to FCS and joins the Big Sky.

RIP WAC.

I can see everything in your post happening with the exeption of Idaho dropping down. Idaho will most likely never, ever drop down (I hate saying drop down) to the FCS, it just won't happen.

They fought tooth and nail to stay in the same "league" as Boise State. Like Montucky, there are state politics that will not allow one of the two to go back to the FCS level.

This is it, if the WAC is gone for good, Sac State, Cow Poly, and UCFE will never go to the FBS unless a new FBS conference is formed (how and when?).

Regardless of who leaves the WAC, the WAC will do anything and everything to keep the conference afloat, even if it means repositioning itself geographically to include the U of Texas wannabe's.

I've heard talk of waivers for not meeting the minimum sports requirement to go FBS, I do not beleive that these types of waivers will be granted. They water down the FBS and create discrepancies between conferences, it's a slippery slope that I think the NCAA wants/will avoid at all costs, even if it does mean the end of a conference. Texas State and Montucky only offer 14 sports, they're out unless they can commit to adding two more plus scholarships to comply with title IX.

A move for the schools mentioned above is such an astronomical amount of money they maight not be able to make the move. We're talking increased athletic budgets for every sport, more scholarships, higher coaching salaries etc etc.

Montucky, even if it can muster the funds to do all of the above, will have to deal with state politics and MSU's little brother wanting to be with big brother syndrome, that too is a major hurdle for Montucky to overcome.

I would like for the WAC to survive and have a West Coast emphasis i.e. composed of universities located no further east than New Mexico. Right now there are three conferences represented in FBS football on the West Coast, Pac 10/12/?, MWC, and the WAC. I'm sure the NCAA can see the future of western college football and the decline in revenue if the west is cut down to two conferences for football.

In the end, it's all about money. Either you have it, or you don't. Montucky doesnt and won't, their economy is more unstable than California. Texas State, while in a state that loves its football, might as well be NAIA as far as anyone there is concerned (regardless of what you read on other boards). I remember growing up in East Texas never even knowing that SHSU and SFA existed, not to mention had football teams. It's all about the Big 12 and high school ball there, period.

Just my two cents.

 

[SDHornet]

If Hawaii and La Tech leave the WAC, why would we go to the WAC?

Because the WAC will be desperate to stay in existence and would have no choice but to extend an invite to us, “the farm extension”, cal poly, Portland State, and maybe even the Montana’s. Taking a leap to the FBS with a significant group of FCS move-ups is a risk and would require coordination with the other schools administration. I do agree that making the jump solo would be an extremely risky venture and not a move that any administrator would support.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Montucky, I like it! :lol:

SJSU will not drop football. Football supports too many other programs.

The only given's are SJSU & Idaho who aren't going anywhere.

 

[StungAlum]

Montucky, I like it! :lol:

SJSU will not drop football. Football supports too many other programs.

The only given's are SJSU & Idaho who aren't going anywhere.

Feel free to use it any time

 

[SJHornet]

Where the hell is Benson? I would have thought he'd at least be updating his plan of action.

Maybe Sac, UCFE, Texas State, UTSA, Poly, Portland and even Weber invitations could be given if Hawaii Leaves. If Hawaii leaves LA Tech will most likely bolt. Possibly Utah State And New Mexico State could be persuaded to stay. Makes a 10-11 team conference. A whole new start for the WAC. Maybe even change the name of the conference for the new look. I know SJSU will want to maintain its 100+ year football tradition, and Idaho doesn't seem to want to crawl back to the Big Sky. I doubt Utah State gets into the MWC, Houston, SMU and UTEP will all be considered before them. NMSU could probably be convinced to stay as the new conference would have a better travel schedule. Sun Belt would give the Aggies a LA Tech-WAC type travel problem.

10-11 team WAC

Sac State
SJSU
NMSU
UT State
Idaho
TX State
UTSA
Portland State
Cal Poly
UCFE
Maybe Weber

Invite Montana to make it 12 and create a conference championship game

 

[JackHornet]

Why would the two Texas schools even think about joining the WAC? With it's lack of leadership?

They would be better off going into the Sun Belt. Pretty soon, the Sun Belt will do what CUSA did a few years ago; kick out all none football schools and form a 12 team, 2 division football conference. CUSA kicked out the likes of St. Louis and Charlotte because they did not have football.

The Sun Belt will kick out Arkansas Little Rock and Denver. South Alabama will be a FCS school by 2013 thus making it 10 football schools. Adding La. Tech and UTSA would be ideal for the Sun Belt.

 

[JackHornet]

If Hawaii and La Tech leave the WAC, why would we go to the WAC?

Because the WAC will be desperate to stay in existence and would have no choice but to extend an invite to us, “the farm extension”, cal poly, Portland State, and maybe even the Montana’s. Taking a leap to the FBS with a significant group of FCS move-ups is a risk and would require coordination with the other schools administration. I do agree that making the jump solo would be an extremely risky venture and not a move that any administrator would support.

So you're expecting 3-5 schools to make the move up to FCS, all at the same time? That isn't happening. Too many variables and different time lines and agendas.

Having five Big Sky schools in a watered down WAC, isn't my idea of moving up.

For those who say Idaho will never drop down, they are in a desperate situation and will need to make a choice, since they can afford to be indy in football. Keep football and drop down or drop football.

 

[Siouxfan]

I can see everything in your post happening with the exeption of Idaho dropping down. Idaho will most likely never, ever drop down (I hate saying drop down) to the FCS, it just won't happen.

They fought tooth and nail to stay in the same "league" as Boise State. Like Montucky, there are state politics that will not allow one of the two to go back to the FCS level.

This is it, if the WAC is gone for good, Sac State, Cow Poly, and UCFE will never go to the FBS unless a new FBS conference is formed (how and when?).

Regardless of who leaves the WAC, the WAC will do anything and everything to keep the conference afloat, even if it means repositioning itself geographically to include the U of Texas wannabe's.

I've heard talk of waivers for not meeting the minimum sports requirement to go FBS, I do not beleive that these types of waivers will be granted. They water down the FBS and create discrepancies between conferences, it's a slippery slope that I think the NCAA wants/will avoid at all costs, even if it does mean the end of a conference. Texas State and Montucky only offer 14 sports, they're out unless they can commit to adding two more plus scholarships to comply with title IX.

A move for the schools mentioned above is such an astronomical amount of money they maight not be able to make the move. We're talking increased athletic budgets for every sport, more scholarships, higher coaching salaries etc etc.

Montucky, even if it can muster the funds to do all of the above, will have to deal with state politics and MSU's little brother wanting to be with big brother syndrome, that too is a major hurdle for Montucky to overcome.

I would like for the WAC to survive and have a West Coast emphasis i.e. composed of universities located no further east than New Mexico. Right now there are three conferences represented in FBS football on the West Coast, Pac 10/12/?, MWC, and the WAC. I'm sure the NCAA can see the future of western college football and the decline in revenue if the west is cut down to two conferences for football.

In the end, it's all about money. Either you have it, or you don't. Montucky doesnt and won't, their economy is more unstable than California. Texas State, while in a state that loves its football, might as well be NAIA as far as anyone there is concerned (regardless of what you read on other boards). I remember growing up in East Texas never even knowing that SHSU and SFA existed, not to mention had football teams. It's all about the Big 12 and high school ball there, period.

Just my two cents.

Definitely agree that Idaho will do everything in it's power not to drop to FCS. That would be basically an acknowledgement that Boise State is the only school that matters. When Idaho joined the WAC seven years ago, they knew they were in desperate straits facility-wise, yet never accomplished anything in that time frame. With a lower-level FBS league without big stadiums, Idaho can manage much better.

Not as familiar with San Jose St, but seems after some difficult years in the 90's, SJSU leadership is committed to SJSU football. A new WAC would be the opportunity for SJSU to shine. If that program had a few 9-2 seasons, wouldn't it sell out?

Also, agree it is now or never for Sac, Cal Poly, UCD, Portland St, and Montana. If FBS is ever happening, this is what may be the only opportunity for another generation. If the WAC dies because these schools don't jump, they would only have themselves to blame. If the BCS and DI decide to jettison FCS to a lower division, your whole athletic department ends up in the shitter.

Montana can easily make 16 sports: they just add men's and women's skiing (which basically have kids begging to join a team) without any scholarships required and they are set. What they need though is more women's scholarships, so they probably start women's soccer. Montana State already has skiing and all it would need is women's soccer. The oil boom in North Dakota is moving into northeast Montana: Montana government will soon have a lot more revenue.

What's remarkable is that Sac St and Montana now have an opportunity to play in an FBS league that won't have million dollar coaches salaries. The salary schedule is what kills FBS, not the scholarships. The MWC will need a lower league for non-conference games and will offer premium dollar, much higher than what they pay for FCS.

 

[SDHornet]

So you're expecting 3-5 schools to make the move up to FCS, all at the same time? That isn't happening. Too many variables and different time lines and agendas.

Having five Big Sky schools in a watered down WAC, isn't my idea of moving up.

For those who say Idaho will never drop down, they are in a desperate situation and will need to make a choice, since they can afford to be indy in football. Keep football and drop down or drop football.

The WAC became watered down the instant Boise, Fresno and Nevada left. The point of the move to the WAC is to obtain some sort of relevance for the program so that more people (causal fans, alumni, students, local AND national media) will be exposed to and potentially support it. Obviously not too many Sacramento area football fans give a damn about FCS and BSC football. Also I am not expecting multiple FCS schools to move to the WAC, I’m hoping they do so it can stabilize the WAC so that Hornet football can somehow gain a foothold at the FBS level so that it lives on long into the future.

 

[SDHornet]

Also, agree it is now or never for Sac, Cal Poly, UCD, Portland St, and Montana. If FBS is ever happening, this is what may be the only opportunity for another generation. If the WAC dies because these schools don't jump, they would only have themselves to blame. If the BCS and DI decide to jettison FCS to a lower division, your whole athletic department ends up in the shitter.

This is what my concern is. The move is a plan for the long term, not the short term. Well put SF.

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

Also, agree it is now or never for Sac, Cal Poly, UCD, Portland St, and Montana. If FBS is ever happening, this is what may be the only opportunity for another generation. If the WAC dies because these schools don't jump, they would only have themselves to blame. If the BCS and DI decide to jettison FCS to a lower division, your whole athletic department ends up in the shitter.

This is what my concern is. The move is a plan for the long term, not the short term. Well put SF.

I think a move up is to secure our long term future. Staying in the FCS may be even more unstable.

 

[iSac]

Also, agree it is now or never for Sac, Cal Poly, UCD, Portland St, and Montana. If FBS is ever happening, this is what may be the only opportunity for another generation. If the WAC dies because these schools don't jump, they would only have themselves to blame. If the BCS and DI decide to jettison FCS to a lower division, your whole athletic department ends up in the shitter.

This is what my concern is. The move is a plan for the long term, not the short term. Well put SF.

I think a move up is to secure our long term future. Staying in the FCS may be even more unstable.

Great comments. Sac to the WAC would definitely be risky, but it'd be even more risky to be left behind if other CA univs make the step. It would just add to the relative local apathy to FCS and Sac would have a harder time recruiting and gaining media attention.

 

[StungAlum]

BYU has reached out to the WCC and is expected to join sometime within the next week or so, BYU is looking for a home for its 18 Olympic sports so it can go independent in football.

Utah State has entered "second round" talks with the MWC this morning, could join the MWC this week.

Hawaii is reported to have contacted the Big West for a home for its Olympic sports so its football program can go independent.

Reports are that LA Tech has contacted C-USA and is expected to leave the WAC.

Karl Benson is quoted as saying that the remaining six schools are not being subjected to the $5 million to leave the conference as Fresno State has said they're not going to pay and Nevada never actually signed the agreement.

The WACs future is uncertain and the conference may not be sustainable after next week when realignment is expected to be done.

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2010/08/24/byus-next-move-and-other-mwcwac-developments/

 

[Siouxfan]

BYU has reached out to the WCC and is expected to join sometime within the next week or so, BYU is looking for a home for its 18 Olympic sports so it can go independent in football.

Utah State has entered "second round" talks with the MWC this morning, could join the MWC this week.

Hawaii is reported to have contacted the Big West for a home for its Olympic sports so its football program can go independent.

Reports are that LA Tech has contacted C-USA and is expected to leave the WAC.

Karl Benson is quoted as saying that the remaining six schools are not being subjected to the $5 million to leave the conference as Fresno State has said they're not going to pay and Nevada never actually signed the agreement.

The WACs future is uncertain and the conference may not be sustainable after next week when realignment is expected to be done.

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2010/08/24/byus-next-move-and-other-mwcwac-developments/

If the WAC is down to San Jose St and Idaho, IMHO that's actually very good news. The NCAA is dropping continuity rules within conferences, so the WAC could still add 6 or 8 or 10 teams and still survive. The WAC as a conference is very valuable, because it has much more NCAA credits coming than the Big West or Big Sky and it has the right as an FBS conference to grant FBS status to FCS teams.

Really, Sac State has until next June to negotiate a new conference arrangement with SJSU, Idaho and whoever else wants in (UCD, Cal Poly, PSU, Montana, etc etc). None of the move-up schools can afford to make a decision within a week - they need months of time and they need to galvanize their alumni and gauge how much budgets can be increased. Since Nevada and Fresno and all the other schools can't leave until 2012, 2013 is the first year a new "WAC" would materialize. There just needs to be a plan by next summer.

There isn't a rush for membership needed as the media talks about. The WAC, even with two teams, can be resurrected with new teams until next summer.

 

[Green Laser]

BYU has reached out to the WCC and is expected to join sometime within the next week or so, BYU is looking for a home for its 18 Olympic sports so it can go independent in football.

Utah State has entered "second round" talks with the MWC this morning, could join the MWC this week.

Hawaii is reported to have contacted the Big West for a home for its Olympic sports so its football program can go independent.

Reports are that LA Tech has contacted C-USA and is expected to leave the WAC.

Karl Benson is quoted as saying that the remaining six schools are not being subjected to the $5 million to leave the conference as Fresno State has said they're not going to pay and Nevada never actually signed the agreement.

The WACs future is uncertain and the conference may not be sustainable after next week when realignment is expected to be done.

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2010/08/24/byus-next-move-and-other-mwcwac-developments/

I thought that the Big West was commited to being a "California Bus League" why would they accept Hawaii for everything but football? Seems like a huge increase in travel expenses for the non revenue sports.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Yes, the Big West bus league is its claim to fame. Adding airfare to fly to Hawaii for a tennis or water polo match goes against its self imposed charter.

I still think a WAC comprised of......

Sac State
SJSU
Hawaii
Idaho
Cal Poly
UCFE
Portland State
Montana
Montana State
BYU-non football
Denver-non football

would be a great, compact conference.

I disagree, SF, for recruiting and identifying revenue a decision on membership needs to be made rather quickly. if we give too much time to Sac State it will be 2030 before a decision is made. Plus if I was the HC at SJSU or Idaho I would want this resolved quickly as they will get hammered in recruiting by the old WAC members and even the Big Sky.

 

[Kadeezy]

Also, agree it is now or never for Sac, Cal Poly, UCD, Portland St, and Montana. If FBS is ever happening, this is what may be the only opportunity for another generation. If the WAC dies because these schools don't jump, they would only have themselves to blame. If the BCS and DI decide to jettison FCS to a lower division, your whole athletic department ends up in the shitter.

This is what my concern is. The move is a plan for the long term, not the short term. Well put SF.

If the WAC doesn't make moves, and fast it will die... and long with it, out FBS hopes. No way our program miraculously becomes an FCS super power and force ourselves into the MWC or the Pac-10. The WAC needs to extend invites to at least SAC, UCD, and CP (Sep. 1 deadline?)...

 

[StungAlum]

BYU has reached out to the WCC and is expected to join sometime within the next week or so, BYU is looking for a home for its 18 Olympic sports so it can go independent in football.

Utah State has entered "second round" talks with the MWC this morning, could join the MWC this week.

Hawaii is reported to have contacted the Big West for a home for its Olympic sports so its football program can go independent.

Reports are that LA Tech has contacted C-USA and is expected to leave the WAC.

Karl Benson is quoted as saying that the remaining six schools are not being subjected to the $5 million to leave the conference as Fresno State has said they're not going to pay and Nevada never actually signed the agreement.

The WACs future is uncertain and the conference may not be sustainable after next week when realignment is expected to be done.

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2010/08/24/byus-next-move-and-other-mwcwac-developments/

I thought that the Big West was commited to being a "California Bus League" why would they accept Hawaii for everything but football? Seems like a huge increase in travel expenses for the non revenue sports.

That's the questions the author of one of the articles I read posed. I don't have an answer, but it does appear as though Hawaii wants out of the WAC. Unfortunatley for them though, they're way out in the middle of the Pacific and don't have many options.

 

[StungAlum]

Yes, the Big West bus league is its claim to fame. Adding airfare to fly to Hawaii for a tennis or water polo match goes against its self imposed charter.

I still think a WAC comprised of......

Sac State
SJSU
Hawaii
Idaho
Cal Poly
UCFE
Portland State
Montana
Montana State
BYU-non football
Denver-non football

would be a great, compact conference.

I disagree, SF, for recruiting and identifying revenue a decision on membership needs to be made rather quickly. if we give too much time to Sac State it will be 2030 before a decision is made. Plus if I was the HC at SJSU or Idaho I would want this resolved quickly as they will get hammered in recruiting by the old WAC members and even the Big Sky.

I agree, decisions need to be made now, if for nothing else, for recruiting purposes!