MWC and WAC Shake-up

[ShockTalk]

No one's commented on this yet??

Fresno St and Nevada to the MWC and BYU may go independent in football, but play other sports in WAC.

[ShockTalk]

The first big shake-up by mid-major conferences since the BCS started its "expansion" push.

If the WAC is to survive, they will spread into Texas trying to hold on to LA Tech and keep NM St happy.

I wouldn't be surprised if the PAC-10 picked off Hawaii

[NCAABound]

The only way they survive (down to 6 teams I think) is if they can convince somebody like UTEP, North Texas, etc. to join them. But that might be a long shot. I don't think any C-USA schools would make the switch since it would now be considered a backward step. And I'm not sure C-USA or the Sun Belt would add any of these teams since they are already at 12.

[ShockTalk]

"WAC loses power

Within a 12-hour period, the Western Athletic Conference went from becoming a more formidable western power, with the addition of BYU in all sports but football, to fighting for its life with six remaining members.

Nevada and Fresno State followed Boise State from the WAC to the Mountain West on Wednesday.

On a conference call Friday with the other seven WAC presidents, Fresno State president John Welty made a motion to sign a binding agreement that included a $5 million buyout if any of the schools left the conference within five years, according to sources. Nevada president Milt Glick also was on the call, and according to sources, he and Welty signed the agreement." Andy Katz

From what I'm getting, the MWC made a hard push to get Fresno St and Nevada to keep BYU in the fold. It may also turn out that FSU and Nevada won't have to pay the $5 mill for leaving the WAC because the WAC agreement might have been contingent upon BYU's agreement to play in the WAC in all sports but football, play football as an independent, but agree to long term football game arrangements with certain WAC schools.

Nevertheless, it just goes to show how fast these things can happen.

[SubGod22]

Apparently Fresno and Nevada won't be moving until 2012

[Ashockalypse]

I wonder if we should pick up NMS, Utah State and La Tech?

[ShockTalk]

I wonder if we should pick up NMS, Utah State and La Tech?

Won't happen. The WAC, what's left of it, wants to stay in the FBS division, assuming they can find other interested schools. Also, unless the conference dissolved, they would have to pay the $5 mill exiting fee.

Utah St. was asked to go to the MWC before Nevada, but turned them down. Not because of the penalty to leave, but because they were honoring the agreement that ALL the WAC schools made just days before. So much for honor and where that got them.

If LA Tech was going anywhere, it'd probably be the Sun Belt. I still think the PAC-10 may be interested in Hawaii. They draw big for football there, the travel to and from Hawaii would be as good as it could get, and the Pac-10 schools could afford it.

Well, it'll be interesting to see when the next shoe drops and where it happens.

[SubGod22]

I'd read earlier that USU would have left if it wasn't for the 5mil for doing so. The WAC is dying.

[Smooth007]

I would take BYU in all sports but Football. They can go independent for football.

[shocky]

You have to wonder what other schools could work in the WAC. I could see La Tech heading for the Sun Belt our maybe C-USA if they would have them. The travel has to be killer. If that would happen the WAC is dead. I also question Idaho remaining in FBS. They play in a 18,000 seat dome and never are any good.
Pacific, C-Fullerton and LB State are not going to bring back D-1 football anytime soon. Do you go after FCS schools like Weber St or Montana? I know that Weber St was forced to go FCS or risk losing football all together in the late 90's I believe. I just don't see many options for the league.

[SubGod22]

I believe Montana is looking to move to FBS so they could work. But it's still not looking good for the WAC. LaTech has to be looking to bolt as the travel has always made me wonder and the conference is losing its allure.

I'm not familiar with the west and who plays what but it sounds like USU would like to join the MWC. Maybe they're hoping for the WAC to fall apart and disband so they don't have to pay the 5mil.

[Aargh]

This little shakeup is making it look like the lower levels of the top tier of D1 FB are a difficult place to be.

If WSU was to bring back football, that's the area it's generally agreed we would have to aim for.

What's happening to schools currently in that group isn't encouraging for a school considering moving into that group of schools.

[ShockTalk]

This little shakeup is making it look like the lower levels of the top tier of D1 FB are a difficult place to be.

If WSU was to bring back football, that's the area it's generally agreed we would have to aim for.

What's happening to schools currently in that group isn't encouraging for a school considering moving into that group of schools.

Not taking a side on the football issue, but this is no different than what the Big XII went through.

However, maybe as more mid-major schools are added to BCS conferences, as mid-major conferences (MWC) may become BCS conferences, and FCS teams try (maybe successfully) to elevate their over athletic program by becoming FBS schools, those other conferences without quaiity football or no football at all, must elevate basketball to a very high level (Atl-10) if that conference, or team (Gonzaga/Butler), is not to drop further and further behind other conferences and become a mere afterthought in all of its sports in the future.

The problem with a single team trying to keep a high profile on its own is that a mistake in hiring after a coaching change could push that team off the map. Having an affiliation with a strong conference can help deflect some of that effect.

[SubGod22]

I also think there would be more options for teams in the midwest and east to get into conferences. It appears there are fewer schools that play football out west and the travel to join other schools may prevent the WAC from gaining strength. I could be off as I'm not sure what's really an option for them to grow without moving into the midwest. But that's covering a lot of ground.

[tw_fatcat]

I believe Montana is looking to move to FBS so they could work. But it's still not looking good for the WAC. LaTech has to be looking to bolt as the travel has always made me wonder and the conference is losing its allure.

I'm not familiar with the west and who plays what but it sounds like USU would like to join the MWC. Maybe they're hoping for the WAC to fall apart and disband so they don't have to pay the 5mil.

Montana is actually doing just the opposite. Conferences (particularly the WAC and MWC) have tried for years but they are happy winning a ton of games and selling out their stadium.

Right now it looks like the most likely candidates are us (Texas State) and UTSA. This would put two more teams close to LaTech and bring in two schools who already have a rivalry in place. UTSA is a bit of a gamble as they are an unknown quantity at this point. They only really selling point is that they are in San Antonio. They have no stadium and have never played a down of football. The Alamodome is quite a drive from campus, but gambling on UTSA could also turnout really well.

Bobcatfans.com should have an interview with Karl Benson (WAC Commish) up in the next day or so. Texas State fans are excited about all of this. Although, this is not how it was envisioned happening we will take it. Now if you all would just get a football team I could be happy finally.