Are independence days ahead for Hawaii, and how feasible would that be?
By Ferd Lewis
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jun 27, 2010
When the University of Hawaii pounced upon an invitation to join the Western Athletic Conference in 1978, the jubilation was half in where UH was going and half in what it was leaving behind.
Gone forever, then-athletic director Ray Nagel and others said, were the days of struggling to get by as an independent 2,500 miles off the beaten path.
But now, as UH waits to see what might become of the WAC—its home for going on 32 years—in the fast-changing college landscape, there has been a growing willingness to at least ponder whether returning to independent status could be a future option if the WAC withers.
Already it is a popular topic of debate on call-in shows and chat rooms.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/spo...e_WAC.html
Hawaii should do several things. Here my list.
1. Go back to being the Rainbow Warriors
2a.Talk BYU of Hawaii to move up to FCS
2b.Talk Chaminade University to move up to FCS
2c.Talk Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans to move up to FCS
2d.Talk Hawii Pacific University to move up to FCS
3. Go Indy the WAC can't be helping
4. Schedule anyone and everyone. Don't worry about bowl games.
5. Schedule only California away games.
6. Schdeule as many home games as possible.
(06-27-2010 12:28 PM)hawghiggs Wrote: [ -> ]Hawaii should do several things. Here my list.
1. Go back to being the Rainbow Warriors
2a.Talk BYU of Hawaii to move up to FCS
2b.Talk Chaminade University to move up to FCS
2c.Talk Hawaii-Hilo Vulcans to move up to FCS
2d.Talk Hawii Pacific University to move up to FCS
3. Go Indy the WAC can't be helping
4. Schedule anyone and everyone. Don't worry about bowl games.
5. Schedule only California away games.
6. Schdeule as many home games as possible.
Well none of the D-II Hawaii schools have fb so none would be FCS. Plus you can't move to D-I anymore w/o a conference invite so Hawaii couldn't bring them up. They already schedule as many home games as possible.
Fresno St. is also thing about going Indy so they can just schedule BCS schools and SJSU. Problem is would Fresno really want to send all of the rest of their sports to the Big West again?
Hawaii would have more trouble for other sports because I doubt the WCC all private and BW all Cali would take them
Hawaii Rainbows = Awesome
If they went indy, I would hate to be the AD there.
I wonder, if Hawaii went independent, wouldn't it be better for them now compared to 32 years ago? Anyone playing UH in the islands would get an extra game on their schedule (do they get an extra game if Hawaii comes to them?) and that 13th game is usually a home game which many teams want nowadays. It might not be that hard to schedule whoever they wanted under the economic circumstances as they are now....they'd get a big payday for games played in the continental 48 and opponents get an extra game probably played at home. I would think that Hawaii would be a more attractive possibility in this era of 12-game schedules than the 10-game years before Hawaii joined the WAC. Then again, maybe it's not that practical.
(06-27-2010 03:08 PM)SOT1977 Wrote: [ -> ]I wonder, if Hawaii went independent, wouldn't it be better for them now compared to 32 years ago? Anyone playing UH in the islands would get an extra game on their schedule (do they get an extra game if Hawaii comes to them?) and that 13th game is usually a home game which many teams want nowadays. It might not be that hard to schedule whoever they wanted under the economic circumstances as they are now....they'd get a big payday for games played in the continental 48 and opponents get an extra game probably played at home. I would think that Hawaii would be a more attractive possibility in this era of 12-game schedules than the 10-game years before Hawaii joined the WAC. Then again, maybe it's not that practical.
The problem is that teams normally would like a several days break after a Hawaii game because of the jet lag. With the 13 game schedule (using the Hawaii game as an exemption), increasing preponderance of 9-game conference schedules, and conference championship games, an open week isn't often possible. Couple that with the travel costs, and it simply isn't as attractive to schedule Hawaii as it used to be.
Hawaii would probably be best to pursue Big West membership, association with the WAC in football for scheduling purposes, and an ESPN late night deal. The WAC is in such a vulnerable position, it would give Hawaii what it asks.
If I was the WAC I would sit still for a little bit, add a FCS Texas school for safety purposes but if the MWC got raided by the Big 12, you could see a WAC/MWC merger IMO.
Hawaii can fill a schedule as a football independent but unless they could get in the Big West or WCC for all other sports it just isn't viable.
I still believe Texas State is well down on the WAC wish list but if Montana balks as expected and Cal-Davis and Cal-Poly can't get the capital funds to expand their stadium and Sac State chooses to not move up, they will take Texas State.
My guess is Texas State has about a 40% chance of a WAC invite solely because none of the other options are likely to pan out.
(06-27-2010 05:18 PM)arkstfan Wrote: [ -> ]Hawaii can fill a schedule as a football independent but unless they could get in the Big West or WCC for all other sports it just isn't viable.
I still believe Texas State is well down on the WAC wish list but if Montana balks as expected and Cal-Davis and Cal-Poly can't get the capital funds to expand their stadium and Sac State chooses to not move up, they will take Texas State.
My guess is Texas State has about a 40% chance of a WAC invite solely because none of the other options are likely to pan out.
My guess of the WAC's order
1. Montana
2. N.Texas
3. UC Davis
4. Cal Poly
5. Sacramento St.
6. Portland St.
7. Texas St.
Remember they will consider many things, Travel, facilities, what they add as a member (sports/academics). UNT is the easy transition since they would count right away, the others would have to go though the 2 transition period. I bet all but NMSU & La Tech want a west school after Montana & UNT. 6/8ths of the votes. I also think that if UNT isn't invited by July 1 they will just add a FCS member in the summer of 2011. If they don't by then my guess is that they are holding out for UTSA.
(06-27-2010 05:47 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote: [ -> ] (06-27-2010 05:18 PM)arkstfan Wrote: [ -> ]Hawaii can fill a schedule as a football independent but unless they could get in the Big West or WCC for all other sports it just isn't viable.
I still believe Texas State is well down on the WAC wish list but if Montana balks as expected and Cal-Davis and Cal-Poly can't get the capital funds to expand their stadium and Sac State chooses to not move up, they will take Texas State.
My guess is Texas State has about a 40% chance of a WAC invite solely because none of the other options are likely to pan out.
My guess of the WAC's order
1. Montana
2. N.Texas
3. UC Davis
4. Cal Poly
5. Sacramento St.
6. Portland St.
7. Texas St.
Remember they will consider many things, Travel, facilities, what they add as a member (sports/academics). UNT is the easy transition since they would count right away, the others would have to go though the 2 transition period. I bet all but NMSU & La Tech want a west school after Montana & UNT. 6/8ths of the votes. I also think that if UNT isn't invited by July 1 they will just add a FCS member in the summer of 2011. If they don't by then my guess is that they are holding out for UTSA.
Based upon the comments of the WAC's commish, the WAC wants to move to a more regionalized conference. Let's face it, with Boise gone revenue will be down but cost will still be high given geographic locations and covering 4 time zones (Central, Mountain, Pacific and Hawaii-Aluetian) . It appears they would rather add rising programs from California than rising programs from Texas. The WAC is on a crusade to cast off La Tech. The fact that Tech does not want to come to the SBC complicates the situation. However, this complication will not cause the WAC to add more eastern schools for the benefit of Tech. Should the WAC look to add programs, Montana is #1 on their list of schools. After Montana, the WAC will look to add UC Davis, Cal Poly, Sacramento St and Portland St. There will be no push for Texas schools, as such schools only add cost and no value. More so, the WAC will want to keep Hawaii happy by decreasing its travel cost to other WAC opponents.
(06-27-2010 06:15 PM)bluephi1914 Wrote: [ -> ] (06-27-2010 05:47 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote: [ -> ] (06-27-2010 05:18 PM)arkstfan Wrote: [ -> ]Hawaii can fill a schedule as a football independent but unless they could get in the Big West or WCC for all other sports it just isn't viable.
I still believe Texas State is well down on the WAC wish list but if Montana balks as expected and Cal-Davis and Cal-Poly can't get the capital funds to expand their stadium and Sac State chooses to not move up, they will take Texas State.
My guess is Texas State has about a 40% chance of a WAC invite solely because none of the other options are likely to pan out.
My guess of the WAC's order
1. Montana
2. N.Texas
3. UC Davis
4. Cal Poly
5. Sacramento St.
6. Portland St.
7. Texas St.
Remember they will consider many things, Travel, facilities, what they add as a member (sports/academics). UNT is the easy transition since they would count right away, the others would have to go though the 2 transition period. I bet all but NMSU & La Tech want a west school after Montana & UNT. 6/8ths of the votes. I also think that if UNT isn't invited by July 1 they will just add a FCS member in the summer of 2011. If they don't by then my guess is that they are holding out for UTSA.
Based upon the comments of the WAC's commish, the WAC wants to move to a more regionalized conference. Let's face it, with Boise gone revenue will be down but cost will still be high given geographic locations and covering 4 time zones (Central, Mountain, Pacific and Hawaii-Aluetian) . It appears they would rather add rising programs from California than rising programs from Texas. The WAC is on a crusade to cast off La Tech. The fact that Tech does not want to come to the SBC complicates the situation. However, this complication will not cause the WAC to add more eastern schools for the benefit of Tech. Should the WAC look to add programs, Montana is #1 on their list of schools. After Montana, the WAC will look to add UC Davis, Cal Poly, Sacramento St and Portland St. There will be no push for Texas schools, as such schools only add cost and no value. More so, the WAC will want to keep Hawaii happy by decreasing its travel cost to other WAC opponents.
Benson likes the idea of Texas. See
the podcase from his Fresno interview last week.
(06-27-2010 05:18 PM)arkstfan Wrote: [ -> ]Hawaii can fill a schedule as a football independent but unless they could get in the Big West or WCC for all other sports it just isn't viable.
I still believe Texas State is well down on the WAC wish list but if Montana balks as expected and Cal-Davis and Cal-Poly can't get the capital funds to expand their stadium and Sac State chooses to not move up, they will take Texas State.
My guess is Texas State has about a 40% chance of a WAC invite solely because none of the other options are likely to pan out.
I actually agree with you here. Texas State is selling themselves like none other to Mr Karl, while UTSA is entertaining the idea, but thinking CUSA might come calling down the road (this isn't me being an ignorant roadrunner as I am not saying we have a chance)
The Calif schools are in no position to get funds together and Montana is sitting on their grizzly bear claws not deciding what to do
(06-27-2010 06:33 PM)UTSAisgreaterthanUNT Wrote: [ -> ] (06-27-2010 06:15 PM)bluephi1914 Wrote: [ -> ] (06-27-2010 05:47 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote: [ -> ] (06-27-2010 05:18 PM)arkstfan Wrote: [ -> ]Hawaii can fill a schedule as a football independent but unless they could get in the Big West or WCC for all other sports it just isn't viable.
I still believe Texas State is well down on the WAC wish list but if Montana balks as expected and Cal-Davis and Cal-Poly can't get the capital funds to expand their stadium and Sac State chooses to not move up, they will take Texas State.
My guess is Texas State has about a 40% chance of a WAC invite solely because none of the other options are likely to pan out.
My guess of the WAC's order
1. Montana
2. N.Texas
3. UC Davis
4. Cal Poly
5. Sacramento St.
6. Portland St.
7. Texas St.
Remember they will consider many things, Travel, facilities, what they add as a member (sports/academics). UNT is the easy transition since they would count right away, the others would have to go though the 2 transition period. I bet all but NMSU & La Tech want a west school after Montana & UNT. 6/8ths of the votes. I also think that if UNT isn't invited by July 1 they will just add a FCS member in the summer of 2011. If they don't by then my guess is that they are holding out for UTSA.
Based upon the comments of the WAC's commish, the WAC wants to move to a more regionalized conference. Let's face it, with Boise gone revenue will be down but cost will still be high given geographic locations and covering 4 time zones (Central, Mountain, Pacific and Hawaii-Aluetian) . It appears they would rather add rising programs from California than rising programs from Texas. The WAC is on a crusade to cast off La Tech. The fact that Tech does not want to come to the SBC complicates the situation. However, this complication will not cause the WAC to add more eastern schools for the benefit of Tech. Should the WAC look to add programs, Montana is #1 on their list of schools. After Montana, the WAC will look to add UC Davis, Cal Poly, Sacramento St and Portland St. There will be no push for Texas schools, as such schools only add cost and no value. More so, the WAC will want to keep Hawaii happy by decreasing its travel cost to other WAC opponents.
Benson likes the idea of Texas. See the podcase from his Fresno interview last week.
Let's finish that statement. He likes Texas IF the WAC is forced to make considerations due to Tech not being able to leave. However, make no mistake about it, the school presidents of the WAC institutions (minus Tech) want to stay clear of Texas and center everything more out west. Since they know that Tech is willing to leave in a heart beat, I do not see the presidents being willing to add anyone in Texas then have Tech leave when the opportunity comes. They will just be stuck in the same position as now, with a handful of eastern schools, high travel cost and reduced revenue.
The biggest game in WAC history is going to be that Boise v. Va Tech game. If they don't win that you can probably kiss a BCS and those dollars good bye. This will force all the members to take a real good look at themselves sooner rather than later.
As far as Hawai'i is concerend they should be damn glad to be in a BCS conference at all. Can you imagine the cost, this day and age, of paying for schools to come play you at home, in HI no less?
p.s. I find it interesting to keep an eye on our rival conferences, esp. those that may be looking to poach our schools.
(06-28-2010 09:59 AM)FIUFan Wrote: [ -> ]The biggest game in WAC history is going to be that Boise v. Va Tech game. If they don't win that you can probably kiss a BCS and those dollars good bye. This will force all the members to take a real good look at themselves sooner rather than later.
As far as Hawai'i is concerend they should be damn glad to be in a BCS conference at all. Can you imagine the cost, this day and age, of paying for schools to come play you at home, in HI no less?
p.s. I find it interesting to keep an eye on our rival conferences, esp. those that may be looking to poach our schools.
You mean FBS? I agree, they are lucky. Is their football program
that valuable?
(06-28-2010 10:51 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote: [ -> ] (06-28-2010 09:59 AM)FIUFan Wrote: [ -> ]The biggest game in WAC history is going to be that Boise v. Va Tech game. If they don't win that you can probably kiss a BCS and those dollars good bye. This will force all the members to take a real good look at themselves sooner rather than later.
As far as Hawai'i is concerend they should be damn glad to be in a BCS conference at all. Can you imagine the cost, this day and age, of paying for schools to come play you at home, in HI no less?
p.s. I find it interesting to keep an eye on our rival conferences, esp. those that may be looking to poach our schools.
You mean FBS? I agree, they are lucky. Is their football program that valuable?
Actually all 11 FBS conferences are BCS Conference members, while some conferences are designated as AQ's for a BCS Bowl the others are non-AQ's for a BCS Bowl.
As far as being in a conference, they are very lucky, w/o the WAC, they'd be FCS for sure.