The future of the WAC
Can you believe the commissioner of the the WAC pointed to Texas-San Antonio as a potential replacement of Nevada and Fresno State? Not only is UTSA an FCS team, but they've never even played a game — 2010 is their inaugural season.
What a mess. I feel bad for teams like Idaho and New Mexico State. If the WAC folds, it's hard to imagine that they'll be able to continue to play.
August 19th, 2010 at 4:47 PM ^
... and no one sees it because they lost all their tv contracts, did it really happen?
August 19th, 2010 at 4:36 PM ^
OTOH, I feel great for Fresno State.
August 19th, 2010 at 4:39 PM ^
By my count, the Mountain West now has 10 members (Boise, Fresno, AF, CSU, NMU, Nevada, SDS, TCU, UNLV, Wyoming) plus probably an 11th in BYU now that the WAC is fucked. I wonder if inviting a 12th team is now in the cards just for the sake of having a conference championship game. Hawaii could be #1 on the list.
August 19th, 2010 at 4:42 PM ^
That's seems possible, if the MWC is willing to commit to the necessary travel schedule. Other than that, I can't imagine the MWC wanting any other schools. At present, the WAC, without Boise, FSU and Nevada, has less competitive legitimacy than the Sun Belt.
August 19th, 2010 at 4:45 PM ^
Hawaii would have to bring enough to the table for the MWC teams to think it is worth their non-revenue sports travelling to Hawaii for away games.
August 19th, 2010 at 4:49 PM ^
But at the same time, Hawaii wouldn't have to travel a whole lot farther than they already do. Not to mention the addition of a conference championship game and associated added tv revenue could help offset the cost of travel for the other members in some way. Idaho could be an option as well, but that's a bit of a stretch.
August 19th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^
Hawaii would jump for sure (and I think the MWC needs to take one more team from the WAC to get enough votes to prevent Nevada and Fresno from owing $5 million each in exit penalties), but the question is whether there is a better option that does not require all the MWC teams to fly women's field hockey to Hawaii.
August 19th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^
Hawaii has some baggage for sure, but I think regardless the move makes some sense.
August 19th, 2010 at 4:59 PM ^
If the MWC waits a couple years for the B12 to implode and the best teams to finally go to the P16, they might be able to pick up a former BCS team (KS, MO, KSU).
August 19th, 2010 at 5:14 PM ^
Utah State makes the most sense of all the remaining WAC teams to be the MWC's 12th member. They already have a rivalry with BYU (if they stay put) have a strong basketball program and a rising football program.
Given, it doesn't bring the MWC a new market/more revenue, but from a geography and talent point of view, Utah State makes the most sense.
Now watch the MWC take Idaho or SJSU instead.
August 19th, 2010 at 6:16 PM ^
What Hawaii brings to the table is scheduling exemptions - trips to Hawaii (and Alaska for hockey fans) don't count towards the limit on the number of games. The teams can then schedule another home game so the additional ticket revenue offsets the travel costs.
August 19th, 2010 at 4:42 PM ^
UT-SA is on the fast track to FBS, but if the Texas legislature gets their way, they'll be in the Big 12. I think that the WAC will either collapse or get a waiver from the NCAA until they can get Idaho State and/or Montana and/or UC Davis up to FBS.
August 19th, 2010 at 5:00 PM ^
That Mountain West Commish is badass. He totally screwed BYU when BYU thought they were about to be the screwer.
August 19th, 2010 at 5:02 PM ^
You kind of feel horrible for the WAC - it has always been a fun conference to watch, beats the big boys enough to be interesting, and has had some great teams (like those BYU teams in the 90s). At this point, I wouldn't try to drag a bunch of crap teams from FCS up just to fill out the conference roster. Maybe they could join up with some contingent of C-USA or something? I would hate to see it disappear completely, but a 9-team league with no big names is not good for business.
August 19th, 2010 at 5:11 PM ^
Why does no one mention the MWC inviting Houston (or even SMU)? They already have a footprint in Texas so travel wouldn't be that much worse and Houston would compete right away for the conference championship. I know Houston isn't great academically but neither is SDSU.
August 19th, 2010 at 5:16 PM ^
It gets the MWC into TX, both for recruiting and TV. If BYU does go independent, maybe you invite both SMU and Houston.
August 19th, 2010 at 5:50 PM ^
TCU is in the MWC. Although more teams wouldn't hurt recruiting for the other schools.
August 19th, 2010 at 6:09 PM ^
Yeah, sorry, totally forgot about TCU. As you said, though, without TX or A&M, the MWC might benefit from having multiple TX teams (and SMU and Houston are much closer to Dallas and Houston, the largest media markets).
August 19th, 2010 at 5:39 PM ^
Yo, so I graduated from SDSU and we are nowhere near the worst academic institution in the MWC. Like, not even close. I know you're just trying to use an example, but, yeah.
August 19th, 2010 at 5:51 PM ^
Here was my idea, BYU obviously stays in the MWC. I think they would be foolish otherwise as there really isn't a WAC to put your other teams into now. This leaves the MWC with 11 teams and it would seem to me that they would want 12 teams and stage a championship game. Likely options I believe would be CUSA teams, IE Houston, SMU, Tulsa and UTEP in that order. This leaves CUSA short a team, and hello Louisiana Tech to fill out to 12 again. Meaning Idaho, San Jose State, New Mexico State, Hawaii, and Utah State have to all go independent, manage to convince enough teams from lower divisions to join them, OR disband/go lower themselves.
August 19th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^
BYU said 'screw you guys, I'm going to the WAC party because they're nicer to me over there' and then the mountain west says "oh yeah?" and proceeds to give a big F-U to BYU by taking two of the best remaining WAC teams and putting the whole WAC on the brink. lolz
August 19th, 2010 at 5:59 PM ^
The MWC has a television channel called "The Mountain." It's actually fairly decent in terms of both programming and appearence and has, I would think, a lot of potential.
August 19th, 2010 at 6:08 PM ^
Except that no one carries it outside their footprint, it's never turned a profit, and they stil can't get any cable companies in the conference's two largest markets (Dallas-Fort Worth and San Diego) to pick it up.
August 19th, 2010 at 6:13 PM ^
It's on Cox, San Diego's largest cable provider. Time Warner San Diego may offer it by the time the Football season starts.
It's certainly not perfect, but it's a tangible network that is working to grow. That's more than you can say for the WAC and/or BYU.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jul/28/push-is-on-to-expand-cab…
August 19th, 2010 at 6:18 PM ^
I get it on DirecTV on the same plan as the Big Ten Network, but I live in Albuquerque so I don't know if this is just a local thing due to UNM.
August 19th, 2010 at 6:26 PM ^
The WAC could raid the Big Sky. Montana, MSU (NNTMSU), and Idaho State could try to fill the conference I guess.