**WAC to expand in 2012/Would You Support WSU to Move?**

[wsucatfan]

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

WAC looking to expand following 2011-2012 season
September 1st, 2010 @ 2:56pm
DENVER -- The Western Athletic Conference announced Wednesday the creation of a membership committee that will immediately begin looking for new schools as the league looks to expand following the 2011-12 season.

"I'm confident that there are teams that will add value to the WAC in the future," stated WAC Commissioner Karl Benson. "History has shown that teams that have joined the WAC have provided immediate benefits to the league, and have themselves, become better programs in a short time."


Related: BYU formally announces football independence
The BYU Athletic Department has formally announced its intention to go independent in football and join the West Coast Conference in all other sports. With Fresno State and Nevada competing in the WAC for the next two seasons, any expansion would more than likely occur for the 2012-13 academic year.

"Fresno State and Nevada will participate in the 2011-12 season," continued Benson. "This gives us several months to study all of our options and assess prospective new teams."

The committee consists of the six Athletic Directors from the remaining conference members (Hawai‘i, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State and Utah State).

According to Benson, the committee will begin to identify and evaluate potential members that are located within the WAC "footprint."

Among the criteria the committee will consider includes academics, attendance, budgets, location/transportation, market size, recent success and sports sponsorship.

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

 

[talhadfoursteals]

One year to get our shiz together...

 

[weberwildcat1]

ATTENTION WSU AND WSU FANS. Can we make an announcement that the WAC is looking to expand and we are on the RADAR? Lets see what this can do for our 2010-11 attendance in football and basketball. We have nothing to lose.

 

[wsucatfan]

ATTENTION WSU AND WSU FANS. We have nothing to lose.

Yes we do, we can piddle around with our 4-7K fans at games and watch UM/MSU, or PSU, or Sac St. get the invite leaving us behind with our conference looking to replace them with other lower tier schools.

 

[oldrunner]

Whoever chooses to join the WAC will be looking for a new league in a year or two anyway. So, what does it matter? The WAC is toast. I will be amazed if they are an entity for 2011/2012.

 

[wsucatfan]

Whoever chooses to join the WAC will be looking for a new league in a year or two anyway. So, what does it matter? The WAC is toast. I will be amazed if they are an entity for 2011/2012.

Because outside our little FCS world no one gives a crap about 1-aa football and unfortunately the moniker follows into all our other sports. Move forward and upward.

 

[hdqweber]

USU will never allow it, but the Wasatch Front can't support four FBS teams. When we can't pull 10k for games when we are a playoff team, we won't get that for San Jose State. Our best shot would be to join as a non-football member, which the WAC is considering.

 

[weberwildcat]

true, it makes it more difficult to support 4 fbs teams when you have a small state population as well our state doesn't produce a lot of DI football players from high school. we aren't a very good football state whether we want to believe it or not.

we can still do it. we just need stewart stadium full this yr. if we can do that the wac will be considering us in the spring. our basketball attendance is probably already better than most of the wac.

im ok with us moving up i am also ok with us not moving up as long as the big sky 9 stay the same. if the big sky has the same issue as the wac we could be in trouble.

 

[dancingNMSUaggie1]

Utah State's arguments against Weber joining WAC on WAC Message board:

USU78 Varsity
430 posts this site
Ignore this Member
Send Private Message
Nominate | ReportPosted: Today 1:42 PM

RE: Weber State fans want in the WAC....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

People forget several things about the USU/Weebe relationship:

1. USU was the first of the Big Three to play Weebe in Basketball after they moved up to 4-year status.
2. USU was the first of the Big Three to play Weebe in Football after they moved up to 4-year status.
3. USU played Weebe home-and-home for 10 years, starting on Thanksgiving Day 1972 (I sat on the bench and almost got involved in the bench-clearing brawl that day, but was restrained by a coach).
4. The USU/Weebe FB series was intended by USU to be a prelude to some kind of partnership, but the experiment failed because:

a. Ogden is a railroad town, and by the '70s, the railroad was all but dead . . . and Ogden all but became a ghost town by the '80s-90s.
b. Ogden was still Utah's 2nd City in 1972 . . . they're something like 6th now (though they may drop to 8th in the most recent enumeration), and Weber County, which was Utah's 2nd County in 1972, is now 4th. Ogden is not growing, its infrastructure is aging, its real estate market has become investors flipping 70-year-old houses back and forth, and it workforce is Utah's most unemployed.
c. Ogden has fought back somewhat, but there are huge problems and, in a state with limited resources, there's nobody to help 'em out. Weebe is not a significant player economically.
d. Weebe's institutional and community support are on life support.
e. Weebe's supporters never traveled to Logan and USU's traveling fans filled Weebe's stadium: they just weren't capable and aren't now capable of being a full partner.

Just say Noe! to Weebe.

 

[gowildcats]

While I can see in the past his points are very valid, however today is a different day and things have significantly improved in Ogden. He fails to mention that currently only the Ogden/Clearfield area reported economic growth this past year in the state. I will guarantee that next season when Weber plays at USU it will be just like when we played Utah in 2008, Weber fans filled the visitors section easily. I fact I bought my tickets to late and couldn't get seats in the Weber section. While I like the FCS, if by some chance Weber could partner with USU again things would be different this time. Mac has brought a can do attitude to the school and it's obvious that the univ. has bought in. With addition of softball and improvements to essentially ever other sports facilities, with more to come, they are clearly pursuing something. If they (WSU & USU) could somehow get a partnership of some kind they would have a good hold of the market in this end of the state. While it seem unlikely now Weber and Box Elder Counties are going to grow in like crazy in the coming years and both schools would benefit by creating a new rivalry in football. With the BYU/Utah game loosing a little bit of its luster with the Utes going PAC 12 there is a good opportunity here to step in and have an in conference rival.

 

[talhadfoursteals]

I don't ever remember Ogden being a Ghost Town...I know Logan is, but Ogden? Without USU Logan would not exist. Also, Weber is only a couple thousand students smaller that USU. USU had to furloug their staff last year, from what I remember Weber didn't. Cache county has the fourth most forclosed homes after, Washington County, Utah county, and Davis County. Weber is sixth behind Salt Lake and Summit. Not bad being the fourth largest county (Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, Weber) and being in sixth. Yes, it is suffering through unemployment issues, but thats because Ogden and Weber depends a great deal on Federal and large industry financing who aren't expanding. However, in the past year, its the only county that has expanded its industrial base, which is far stronger than anywhere else in the state, other than Salt lake. What does Cache have?? NOTHING but USU. That is it. Ogden does need Weber now, but for 100 years it didn't and honestly, if Weber weren't here, I'm sure Ogden would still function. We don't count our student population into our final numbers like some schools in Utah (USU, UTAH, and the Y). Yeah, Ogden would be a bit larger if it counted the extra 25K that are at Weber like BYU does for Provo.

 

[talhadfoursteals]

Also, as I remember Weber may have lost that game, but they didn't lose the Brawl. LOOOL

 

[pccatfan]

I see what he's saying but 1972 is not 2010. I doubt he's even seen Ogden recently. Plus one thing that I'd like to point out is that a large portion of our students (and even fan base) come from Davis county as well.

 

[dancingNMSUaggie1]

More Utaggie comments from WAC Message Board:

ViAggie Varsity
656 posts this site
Ignore this Member
Send Private Message
Nominate | ReportPosted: Today 2:51 PM

RE: Weber State fans want in the WAC....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



USU78 wrote: People forget several things about the USU/Weebe relationship:

1. USU was the first of the Big Three to play Weebe in Basketball after they moved up to 4-year status.
2. USU was the first of the Big Three to play Weebe in Football after they moved up to 4-year status.
3. USU played Weebe home-and-home for 10 years, starting on Thanksgiving Day 1972 (I sat on the bench and almost got involved in the bench-clearing brawl that day, but was restrained by a coach).
4. The USU/Weebe FB series was intended by USU to be a prelude to some kind of partnership, but the experiment failed because:

a. Ogden is a railroad town, and by the '70s, the railroad was all but dead . . . and Ogden all but became a ghost town by the '80s-90s.
b. Ogden was still Utah's 2nd City in 1972 . . . they're something like 6th now (though they may drop to 8th in the most recent enumeration), and Weber County, which was Utah's 2nd County in 1972, is now 4th. Ogden is not growing, its infrastructure is aging, its real estate market has become investors flipping 70-year-old houses back and forth, and it workforce is Utah's most unemployed.
c. Ogden has fought back somewhat, but there are huge problems and, in a state with limited resources, there's nobody to help 'em out. Weebe is not a significant player economically.
d. Weebe's institutional and community support are on life support.
e. Weebe's supporters never traveled to Logan and USU's traveling fans filled Weebe's stadium: they just weren't capable and aren't now capable of being a full partner.

Just say Noe! to Weebe.
best post I've seen on the subject. Funny story, the first time I had ever seen a ghetto in person was in Ogden, Utah! And I grew up 1.5 hrs north of LA!!!

The place is a modern day ghost town, the Mall was torn down and was it ever rebuilt? I don't know that I've ever seen anything that would suggest otherwise. Even the strip malls and used car dealerships are in other cities that surround Ogden, they can't even attract suburban blight!! The town has a River that runs through it and it's full all year 'round, but no one even pays attention to it. I did hear that they've torn down a bunch of homes and are making way for something new along the river, but it's almost too little too late.

I've only been on Weber's campus a few times, and it's about what you would find at a JuCo in SoCo, nothing going on at all.

Godfather is right about the arena, it is nice, probably better than the Chemical Center in Salt Lake, and although bigger than the DGS by 2,000 seats, it too is a ghost town usually. Even when Weber is on the up and up in BB.

Honestly, I think Utah Valley State has more potential, and that's saying something because it sucks too!

 

[pccatfan]

That last post suggests some of the ignorance that Utah St fans are showing. When was the last time that person actually come to Ogden? How long has the junction been where the mall used to be? 5-6 yrs right?

 

[weberwildcat]

sounds like they are just being stupid or very ignorant. treating us like byu and utah do to them. i guess they have no long term memory.

those couple of guys sound like they have never left provo. i have no idea what the hell they are talking about. what is up with this ghost town stuff? lol :lol: :roll:

 

[weberwildcat]

USU78 wrote: People forget several things about the USU/Weebe relationship:

1. USU was the first of the Big Three to play Weebe in Basketball after they moved up to 4-year status.
this is true. it was 7 yrs after going DI, what is his point?
2. USU was the first of the Big Three to play Weebe in Football after they moved up to 4-year status.
this is true. we became a 4yr in 1964. usu played us in 1972. the point?
3. USU played Weebe home-and-home for 10 years, starting on Thanksgiving Day 1972 (I sat on the bench and almost got involved in the bench-clearing brawl that day, but was restrained by a coach).
usu, a I-A stopped having a home and home with a DII and then I-AA means what to me? I believe I-A isn't allowed to play at I-AA.
4. The USU/Weebe FB series was intended by USU to be a prelude to some kind of partnership, but the experiment failed because:
I have never heard this but then again I wasn't born back then.
a. Ogden is a railroad town, and by the '70s, the railroad was all but dead . . . and Ogden all but became a ghost town by the '80s-90s.
I think railroad was dead before the '70s. When was the 18 wheeler invented? I wouldn't call 50,000+ people back then a ghost town.
b. Ogden was still Utah's 2nd City in 1972 . . . they're something like 6th now (though they may drop to 8th in the most recent enumeration), and Weber County, which was Utah's 2nd County in 1972, is now 4th. Ogden is not growing, its infrastructure is aging, its real estate market has become investors flipping 70-year-old houses back and forth, and it workforce is Utah's most unemployed.
I can't verify any of this it may or may not be true. I do know all infrastructures are aging. None get newer over time. 70 yr old homes is a good reason to not consider wsu for the wac. WSU had 18,000 students in 2006. It now has 24,000. something apparently is still growing. WSU's davis campus which has 1 of the intended 6 buildings will facilitate 12,000 students. Most of the current 24k go to the main campus.
c. Ogden has fought back somewhat, but there are huge problems and, in a state with limited resources, there's nobody to help 'em out. Weebe is not a significant player economically.
Neither is Logan. I am not sure exactly what is being referred to. I do know Ogden and Logan are similar towns minus size. I lived up there for years. Tal, was my house nice in Logan? :lol: The gap between wsu and usu is very close in comparison to usu and byu/utah.
d. Weebe's institutional and community support are on life support.
I don't think this guy knows anything about FCS. we are averaging 8k per game in fball so far this yr. a good chunk of fcs stadiums dont even hold more than 8k. wasn't richmond, a team who won the 2008 national title have a home stadium capacity of 6,000? As for basketball we had one of the highest averages in the Western US. USU has been on lifesupport in football since before even joining the WAC and was on probation because of attendance in 2005, a yr in which wsu and usu football had close to the same average. a point could be made here that if usu cant get attendance in fbs how can weber? as well usu hasnt had 5 wins in a season in 10 yrs and no winning seasons in 15 yrs. that could be a big reason for us to not consider a move. we are a state with only 3 fbs teams and they all cant succeed. our state producing very little DI talent could also be a big issue.
e. Weebe's supporters never traveled to Logan and USU's traveling fans filled Weebe's stadium: they just weren't capable and aren't now capable of being a full partner.
Another reference to 1972? USU's last visit to Ogden was in 1980. WSU wasn't even a univ yet. we've played 3 times in the last 30 yrs is all. we are only playing next yr because usu started scheduling fcs teams last yr to weaken the schedule as well they will no longer play byu and utah in the same yr. i can imagine how brent guy must feel right now. Even in basketball these days utah and byu dont bring fans and ive never seem them bring a student in 10 yrs ive been to games at the dee. its only usu.

 

[oldrunner]

These Aggies sound like they think Logan is in competition with Ogden. Never has been and never will be. Logan is a nice little town. It competes well with Brigham City, Cedar City, St. George, Vernal and the likes. I love USU, for what it is, our states agricultural school. It has a great athletic history and tradition. It used to be 'THE' school in Utah. Times have changed, agriculture is less important, and they are holding on, desparately, to what they've got. I really hope that they get into the MWC because all options for the WAC are horrible. With the advent of the BCS, an attempt has been made by a handfull of conferences to create an upper division within FBS, sort of like FBS/D1A and FBS/D1AA, and the WAC is certainly at the bottom of that second division.

Weber is firmly in FCS/D1. USU wants to get back to the glory days, where they had a chance at top 25, credible bowl games and the like. It is next to impossible for a small town like Logan to swing that kind of a bat, unless they can get into a stronger league. The WAC's adding Montana, North Texas, Wyoming School of Cosmetology and the like, will not enhance USU.

At this point in time, I would consider it a step down for Weber to enter the WAC.

 

[wsucatfan]

At this point in time, I would consider it a step down for Weber to enter the WAC.

I agreed with your points until this last statement. How could you consider the WAC a step down exactly? You don't see a single school willing to move from the WAC "up" to the Big Sky. The WAC is probably going to take UM from the Big Sky and possibly others, which will weaken the Sky, sorry but SUU is not up to par with UM... neither is UC Davis, Cal Poly, or the Dakotas.

Even a weak FBS WAC is still an upgrade to the Big Sky, locally and nationally. What is the overall record of WAC vs Big Sky teams? I guarantee Big Sky teams are on the short end of the win column.

 

[n.ogdencat]

Wow...REALLY...When did Ogden with 90K residents, become a Ghost Town. Shiz, if Ogden counted the North and South parts of the city, like Provo does, then Ogden would have 150K residents, and would be the 2nd city of Utah, it still is considered the 2nd city. Ogden and Salt Lake are the only places in Utah that have a true downtown area...

If the Aggies want to look at demographics, popluation density, economic and infrastructural components of the host city...THEN BRING IT!! Trying to make Logan or even Cache Valley look competitive to Ogden is beyond a Joke. Its asinine to even try. At this point in time, USU and Weber State are virtually interchangable. Is there really a difference between the schools. other than USU requires the ACT/SAT and Weber doesn't. Really, the two schools do a great job of helping each other out.

Finally, this bull-Shiz about USU trying to make Weber into their partner in the 70s is laughable at best. There has never been a partnership, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER. Aggie Paranoia wouldn't allow it. If Weber would have followed the Aggies were would we be now. Lets not forget the many conferences the Aggies have belonged to over the course of the last 20 years. In all reality, they shouldn't be FBS still.

A move the WAC isn't a move up. Its a move sideways. Texas St, UM, and Texas S.A. WOW!! Those schools are going to do nothing to help the WAC improve. Like someone said earlier, the only thing the WAC has on the Sky is FBS vs. FCS. But truly what is the difference?? The WAC is going to become the WORST FBS conference and the SKy is one of the Best FCS conferences. I would love to see the WAC vs. SKY on a yearly basis, even playing at their places, I think the Sky would be very competitive. USU allowed 17pts to ISU, who is terrible, San Jose lost to Davis who is terrible. NMSU would get creamed by the top 7 schools. Next years game in Logan is going to be a lot closer than people realize.