http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/cougars/501...l.html.csp
Quote: Benson said “nothing is imminent,” but said that BYU to the WAC, an idea which seemed dead at the end of last week, “is still a possibility.”
Talks cooled last week after the Mountain West Conference scuttled the plan by inviting WAC members Nevada and Fresno State to join it in anticipation of losing BYU.
That the Cougars would join a six-team WAC (Boise jumped to the MWC in June, beginning in 2011) seems implausible, but reports have surfaced that the WAC and/or BYU have approached Houston, UTEP and SMU of Conference USA recently about their interest.
And another article:
http://www.deseretnews.com/blog/25/10009...--yet.html
Quote:The source said BYU is still virtually committed to going independent in football but is negotiating its best scenario for the other teams -- that could mean going ahead with its plan to join the WAC but with new partners thanks to the 11th-hour defections of Fresno State and Nevada, staying in the MWC for all sports but football or getting major concessions from the MWC regarding television revenue.
The source said ESPN and BYU are reaching out to schools in the WAC as well as potential conference partners from the MWC and C-USA. Though the source did not confirm when asked, C-USA schools that would fit into a WAC/BYU footprint include SMU, Houston and UTEP.
Hell, we just took two of those from the WAC in 2004.
not surprised; i predicted this in the other thread. it's the logical move. ESPN and BYU are not used to being thwarted and I suspect that if ESPN can dangle enough $$$ maybe something will happen.
here is my post from the other thread... obviously if the plan is to keep the WAC then the membership would be different as you'd have Idaho, San Jose State and NM State included. But if I'm BYU, why not work with ESPN and try to put something better together?
* * *
The more I think about this, the more I think BYU & ESPN still have some cards to play. One of the articles out of Utah mentioned the possibility of a new conference being formed. I've long thought and predicted that eventually the current CUSA-West would end up the core of a newly branded SWC.
If ESPN really wants to get in bed with BYU and put up the $$$ to secure a huge chunk of the country that they are currently missing w/ the MWC - logically something like this might be worked out:
SWC WEST:
BYU
Utah State
Hawaii
UNLV
New Mexico
UTEP
SWC EAST:
TCU
Tulsa
Houston
SMU
Rice
Tulane
Obviously the key to this is TCU. Who knows whether or not they'd welcome being back in a league w/ their former Texas rivals? But I'm certain that BYU isn't the only program leaving $$$ on the table in the MWC w/ their crappy TV situation. If TCU were to sign on, it wouldn't be a stretch for BYU and ESPN to work schools like UNM and UNLV into the mix, as a MWC minus both BYU and TCU would be weakened. Possibly even exchange Tulane for SDSU and keep UTEP east. The exact configuration could be tweaked.
If the above happened, the MWC would be down to 7 and left scrambling.
I think BYU's notion of independence was a last resort. It seems to me they tried to work out their issues w/ the MWC's TV deal for years and got no traction. This would essentially solve all their issues.
We'll see... maybe they go limping back to the MWC with some slight concessions, but if they do that they're still leaving money on the table. They split and formed a new conference before when the MWC was originally conceived -- they can surely do it again.
i still think BYU is just positioning to get their sports in a conference, so they can go INDY in FB. They've got ESPN on their side to help. I think its indy or bust for them.
If i were to guess I'd say WCC for other sports.
If they leave MWC, the MWC/CUSA deal will go down, with CUSA booting 2 teams I think.
I think it's pretty laughable to suggest that CUSA programs are going to join the WAC without BYU football as a member. When BYU lands that Big 12 bid, you're just stuck in a conference with Idaho, SJSU, and such. A big step down from CUSA, and BYU basketball isn't valuable enough to want that affiliation even short-term.
(08-27-2010 11:27 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote: [ -> ]I think it's pretty laughable to suggest that CUSA programs are going to join the WAC without BYU football as a member. When BYU lands that Big 12 bid, you're just stuck in a conference with Idaho, SJSU, and such. A big step down from CUSA, and BYU basketball isn't valuable enough to want that affiliation even short-term.
It all depends on how much $$$ ESPN is willing to dangle in front of them.
Don't forget that BYU will agree to play 4-6 teams per year in such a conference. Also Boise did pretty well for themselves in it and now you have Boise, Fresno and Nevada out of the picture.
(08-27-2010 11:29 PM)wvucrazed Wrote: [ -> ] (08-27-2010 11:27 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote: [ -> ]I think it's pretty laughable to suggest that CUSA programs are going to join the WAC without BYU football as a member. When BYU lands that Big 12 bid, you're just stuck in a conference with Idaho, SJSU, and such. A big step down from CUSA, and BYU basketball isn't valuable enough to want that affiliation even short-term.
It all depends on how much $$$ ESPN is willing to dangle in front of them.
And if the other schools believe that the B12 will really come calling
That money disappears when BYU does. Then you're still in a conference with a bunch of crappy teams. If BYU really wants to make their own conference, they can just make it and steal 6 CUSA teams so they've got an NCAA autobid. And they can forget about Idaho, SJSU, NMSU, and their ilk.
(08-27-2010 11:43 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote: [ -> ]That money disappears when BYU does. Then you're still in a conference with a bunch of crappy teams. If BYU really wants to make their own conference, they can just make it and steal 6 CUSA teams so they've got an NCAA autobid. And they can forget about Idaho, SJSU, NMSU, and their ilk.
That's why i didn't mention Idaho, SJSU and NMSU in the list of schools above. Take all of CUSA west and you have an autobid. Add BYU+Utah State+Hawaii, and then hope you can convince TCU that they want to renew their old Texas rivalries.
As for the money disappearing - if they put something together strong enough, it will be approximately as strong as the soon-to-be-MWC line-up. And in this scenario the remaining MWC will be seriously weakened.
Plus ESPN controls so many bowls, bowl tie-ins won't be a problem.
In other words, i think any new deal like this, even if BYU leaves, would still end up being at least as attractive and probably more so than what any of them have now.
And besides which - what could be a more fitting goal for BYU and ESPN's collective hubris but forming a new league? Everyone thinks they come crawling back but they pull a coup like this... i can imagine how they would work to make something like that happen.
We'll see soon hopefully...
(08-27-2010 11:52 PM)wvucrazed Wrote: [ -> ] (08-27-2010 11:43 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote: [ -> ]That money disappears when BYU does. Then you're still in a conference with a bunch of crappy teams. If BYU really wants to make their own conference, they can just make it and steal 6 CUSA teams so they've got an NCAA autobid. And they can forget about Idaho, SJSU, NMSU, and their ilk.
That's why i didn't mention Idaho, SJSU and NMSU in the list of schools above. Take all of CUSA west and you have an autobid. Add BYU+Utah State+Hawaii, and then hope you can convince TCU that they want to renew their old Texas rivalries.
As for the money disappearing - if they put something together strong enough, it will be approximately as strong as the soon-to-be-MWC li
line-up. And in this scenario the remaining MWC will be seriously weakened.
Plus ESPN controls so many bowls, bowl tie-ins won't be a problem.
In other words, i think any new deal like this, even if BYU leaves, would still end up being at least as attractive and probably more so than what any of them have now.
And besides which - what could be a more fitting goal for BYU and ESPN's collective hubris but forming a new league? Everyone thinks they come crawling back but they pull a coup like this... i can imagine how they would work to make something like that happen.
We'll see soon hopefully...
we will know by sept 1. But you did say that Fresno and Nevada would never get in the MWC 2 months ago so let's see if you nail this one.
(08-27-2010 11:59 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote: [ -> ] (08-27-2010 11:52 PM)wvucrazed Wrote: [ -> ] (08-27-2010 11:43 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote: [ -> ]That money disappears when BYU does. Then you're still in a conference with a bunch of crappy teams. If BYU really wants to make their own conference, they can just make it and steal 6 CUSA teams so they've got an NCAA autobid. And they can forget about Idaho, SJSU, NMSU, and their ilk.
That's why i didn't mention Idaho, SJSU and NMSU in the list of schools above. Take all of CUSA west and you have an autobid. Add BYU+Utah State+Hawaii, and then hope you can convince TCU that they want to renew their old Texas rivalries.
As for the money disappearing - if they put something together strong enough, it will be approximately as strong as the soon-to-be-MWC li
line-up. And in this scenario the remaining MWC will be seriously weakened.
Plus ESPN controls so many bowls, bowl tie-ins won't be a problem.
In other words, i think any new deal like this, even if BYU leaves, would still end up being at least as attractive and probably more so than what any of them have now.
And besides which - what could be a more fitting goal for BYU and ESPN's collective hubris but forming a new league? Everyone thinks they come crawling back but they pull a coup like this... i can imagine how they would work to make something like that happen.
We'll see soon hopefully...
we will know by sept 1. But you did say that Fresno and Nevada would never get in the MWC 2 months ago so let's see if you nail this one.
I said that because Craig Thompson was quite specific after adding Boise that they weren't going to add any more WAC teams. Obviously when you have a power play like BYU made things changed. I'm happy for Nevada and Fresno State but I think if BYU stays in the MWC and goes along w/ the current deal, there would have been no chance for Fresno or Nevada to get in. But obviously we'll never know for sure.
I hope there is a good home found for all of the "leftovers" in the WAC and I'd like to see schools like UTSA and Texas State get the chance to move up and find a conference home.
The one school I don't care gets left out in the rain - Louisiana Tech. They are absolutely the single most delusional fan-base I've ever come across. Their attitude towards the Sun Belt is hilarious.
(08-28-2010 12:07 AM)wvucrazed Wrote: [ -> ] (08-27-2010 11:59 PM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote: [ -> ] (08-27-2010 11:52 PM)wvucrazed Wrote: [ -> ] (08-27-2010 11:43 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote: [ -> ]That money disappears when BYU does. Then you're still in a conference with a bunch of crappy teams. If BYU really wants to make their own conference, they can just make it and steal 6 CUSA teams so they've got an NCAA autobid. And they can forget about Idaho, SJSU, NMSU, and their ilk.
That's why i didn't mention Idaho, SJSU and NMSU in the list of schools above. Take all of CUSA west and you have an autobid. Add BYU+Utah State+Hawaii, and then hope you can convince TCU that they want to renew their old Texas rivalries.
As for the money disappearing - if they put something together strong enough, it will be approximately as strong as the soon-to-be-MWC li
line-up. And in this scenario the remaining MWC will be seriously weakened.
Plus ESPN controls so many bowls, bowl tie-ins won't be a problem.
In other words, i think any new deal like this, even if BYU leaves, would still end up being at least as attractive and probably more so than what any of them have now.
And besides which - what could be a more fitting goal for BYU and ESPN's collective hubris but forming a new league? Everyone thinks they come crawling back but they pull a coup like this... i can imagine how they would work to make something like that happen.
We'll see soon hopefully...
we will know by sept 1. But you did say that Fresno and Nevada would never get in the MWC 2 months ago so let's see if you nail this one.
I said that because Craig Thompson was quite specific after adding Boise that they weren't going to add any more WAC teams. Obviously when you have a power play like BYU made things changed. I'm happy for Nevada and Fresno State but I think if BYU stays in the MWC and goes along w/ the current deal, there would have been no chance for Fresno or Nevada to get in. But obviously we'll never know for sure.
I hope there is a good home found for all of the "leftovers" in the WAC and I'd like to see schools like UTSA and Texas State get the chance to move up and find a conference home.
The one school I don't care gets left out in the rain - Louisiana Tech. They are absolutely the single most delusional fan-base I've ever come across. Their attitude towards the Sun Belt is hilarious.
It was the never part when you said. You are 100% right that they wouldn't have gotten in unless A BYU left for the B12 in 2016 or something or B) If they felt the need to get to 12 and a conf title game for whatever reason.
(08-28-2010 12:53 AM)Fresno St. Alum Wrote: [ -> ]It was the never part when you said. You are 100% right that they wouldn't have gotten in unless A BYU left for the B12 in 2016 or something or B) If they felt the need to get to 12 and a conf title game for whatever reason.
I personally believe that neither Fresno nor Nevada would have been invited in either of those scenarios. They would have looked to CUSA-west first. They invited Fresno and Nevada simply because they had no choice.
If BYU left and they were at 8. Houston and Fresno. If they wanted 12 and BYU stayed Fresno, Houston, Nevada. SMU would be nixed by TCU and the MWC, they have that market, and UTEP doesn't have good football(the reason all of this happens) except you guys and the damn bball teams that f you guys up. W/O BYU Houston probably says no and it's Fresno and Nevada.
(08-27-2010 10:52 PM)wvucrazed Wrote: [ -> ]not surprised; i predicted this in the other thread. it's the logical move. ESPN and BYU are not used to being thwarted and I suspect that if ESPN can dangle enough $$$ maybe something will happen.
here is my post from the other thread... obviously if the plan is to keep the WAC then the membership would be different as you'd have Idaho, San Jose State and NM State included. But if I'm BYU, why not work with ESPN and try to put something better together?
* * *
The more I think about this, the more I think BYU & ESPN still have some cards to play. One of the articles out of Utah mentioned the possibility of a new conference being formed. I've long thought and predicted that eventually the current CUSA-West would end up the core of a newly branded SWC.
If ESPN really wants to get in bed with BYU and put up the $$$ to secure a huge chunk of the country that they are currently missing w/ the MWC - logically something like this might be worked out:
SWC WEST:
BYU
Utah State
Hawaii
UNLV
New Mexico
UTEP
SWC EAST:
TCU
Tulsa
Houston
SMU
Rice
Tulane
Obviously the key to this is TCU. Who knows whether or not they'd welcome being back in a league w/ their former Texas rivals? But I'm certain that BYU isn't the only program leaving $$$ on the table in the MWC w/ their crappy TV situation. If TCU were to sign on, it wouldn't be a stretch for BYU and ESPN to work schools like UNM and UNLV into the mix, as a MWC minus both BYU and TCU would be weakened. Possibly even exchange Tulane for SDSU and keep UTEP east. The exact configuration could be tweaked.
If the above happened, the MWC would be down to 7 and left scrambling.
I think BYU's notion of independence was a last resort. It seems to me they tried to work out their issues w/ the MWC's TV deal for years and got no traction. This would essentially solve all their issues.
We'll see... maybe they go limping back to the MWC with some slight concessions, but if they do that they're still leaving money on the table. They split and formed a new conference before when the MWC was originally conceived -- they can surely do it again.
Replace Utah State and Hawaii with Colorado State and AF, you would have a good conference.
I agree crazed, there's no way Nevada or Fresno would have been invited if the BYU situation hadn't popped up. It was stated that adding another team would take money out of the pockets of the other schools. Adding Nevada and Fresno NOW takes money out of the pockets of the other MWC schools, but they had to do it or BYU was gone to the WAC. The MWC is in a crap load of trouble right now. They are the more lucrative non-BCS conference right now but they take a major hit in prestige with the loss of Utah and BYU. And their television deal sucks, and their network, while nice, isn't giving them nearly the options they thought they would get, simply because they are in isolated markets.
The WAC got
WACked!!!!!!!! 
