CSNbbs

WAC teleconference slated for today

Posted on 01/26/2011 by dmccarney

Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson will hold a state-of-the-union teleconference this afternoon with his eight remaining athletic directors to discuss the league’s prospects following yesterday’s news that, despite numerous reports to the contrary, the Mountain West Conference will not raid its already-depleted ranks yet again.

Utah State and San Jose State had been named as likely targets, with some reports indicating their departure was imminent. Benson would only say “yes” when asked if he was relieved at the news that his conference, which will lose Boise State this summer and Fresno State, Nevada and Hawaii by 2012 to the MWC, will keep both members for the time being.

Knowing there would be news one way or the other following the MWC’s two-day in Las Vegas, Benson scheduled the teleconference at a gathering of the WAC ADs several weeks ago in San Antonio. He stressed that no definitive decisions or announcements will be made.

I’ve got a post-call interview set up with the commissioner, so we’ll see what he has to say moving forward.

The Western’s future isn’t exactly bursting with promise. But at the very least, it seems to have earned some much needed time to rebuild after being savaged over the past six months.

Benson will likely revisit topics he touched on in San Antonio, that the league, which will have seven full members and one non-football member beginning in 2012, could expand to as many as 12 schools; and that “schools” — he didn’t say who, or how many — have indicated they are ready to join the WAC in a football capacity.

Multiple sources have told me the pool of potential candidates includes Louisiana-Lafayette, Lamar, Sam Houston State, Portland State, UC-Davis and Cal Poly. Those sources also said that North Texas and Montana, both of which have already rebuffed the Western, could be approached again.

Benson also said that Seattle University, California-Bakersfield and Utah Valley will be considered as non-football members.

Check back in the neighborhood of 5/6 p.m. for updates.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/utsa/2011/0...for-today/

God, when will it stop!

For starters, I really don't think the Cajuns go West. I definitely don't think they go West alone (from the Belt). I'd be shocked to see either school go WACky at this time.

That is beyond pathetic and should be extremely embarrassing for all involved.....but apparently, Benson doesn't get it.

(01-26-2011 03:38 PM)MG61 Wrote: [ -> ]WAC teleconference slated for today
Multiple sources have told me the pool of potential candidates includes Louisiana-Lafayette, Lamar, Sam Houston State, Portland State, UC-Davis and Cal Poly. Those sources also said that North Texas and Montana, both of which have already rebuffed the Western, could be approached again.

Benson also said that Seattle University, California-Bakersfield and Utah Valley will be considered as non-football members.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/utsa/2011/0...for-today/

Not this S*^t again.

How many times do we have to say THE WAC WILL KILL SPRING SPORTS FOR THE CAJUNS.

No thanks.

Might as well add Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech. Those would make logical travel partners and instant rivals for UTSA and TSU!!

No FBS school in their right mind would even consider the new WAC.

If the old WAC did not entice any SBC schools how can the new WAC entice any schools other than FCS schools that have no other FBS option?

The new WAC is a sad conference !!

I am going to guess that the answer from NT must have included a statement that we would consider the move if only the future of those auto bids weren't so up in the air. Since the NCAA has crafted legislation specifically save the WAC, Benson can invite again and get an answer based on choice rather than some politically correct AD talk. I am sure that NT wants to keep a relationship with them just in case there is a massive realignment and the Belt gets raided. Of course, that is not going to happen but these administrators like to leav3 themselves as many options for the future as possible. It could also mean that its a slow news day and this reporter is simply regurgitating previous rumors. I don't see anywhere in that article where Benson talked about NT or UL, only speculation from a very bored beat writer.

(01-26-2011 05:38 PM)stebo Wrote: [ -> ]I am going to guess that the answer from NT must have included a statement that we would consider the move if only the future of those auto bids weren't so up in the air. Since the NCAA has crafted legislation specifically save the WAC, Benson can invite again and get an answer based on choice rather than some politically correct AD talk. I am sure that NT wants to keep a relationship with them just in case there is a massive realignment and the Belt gets raided. Of course, that is not going to happen but these administrators like to leav3 themselves as many options for the future as possible. It could also mean that its a slow news day and this reporter is simply regurgitating previous rumors. I don't see anywhere in that article where Benson talked about NT or UL, only speculation from a very bored beat writer.

A beat writer looking to fill his daily required articles.

the "new" WAC is about as cool as communism.

The guy writing this for My San Antonio keeps rehashing the exact same blog.

Just because this guy cannot come up with something new to say does not constitute another phone call to UNT.

it sure keeps MG61's peacock tail spread eagle. LOL. Every time he reads anything about it, rehashed or not he spreads it to every message board that will not tune him out. deep down He loves to go "Look at us Look at us, we are so up and coming now that we get to turn down the WAC again, aren't they pathetic and aren't we great" You guys should be thanking Benson. His interest in you has almost put North Texas on the map. Who was talking about you before he started bringing you up. Sometimes even bad publicity is better than none at all, and MG61 knows it. Benson keeps bringing NT up not because they are all of sudden some great have, he is doing it because the WAC needs a team, any team to say yes to survive. If he could get to the amount of teams he needs, he could care less what NT does.