The WAC set it self up for failure with outliers

Even when the WAC had every lined perfectly:

• BYU joining in all other sports - playing for four five games in football
• $5M exit penalty for any school that leaves the conference early

They still couldn't keep things together and Fresno State and Nevada both jumped at the chance to abandon ship. Why would they leave when the conference was on the verge of getting a big boost?

They could actually end up SAVING money every year in travel expenses. Both schools mentioned this important factor in their press conferences. The main reason expenses were so high were because of the extra large footprint of the conference.

The outliers for the WAC are Hawaii and Louisiana Tech, schools stat are seperated by a mere 4,000+ miles. Bear in mind it's only 3,299 miles to drive from Seattle to Miami. The closest school to Louisiana Tech is New Mexico State a mere 935 miles. The shortest flight for any WAC school to Hawaii was San Jose State with a mere 2,3oo mile flight.

According to the Idaho Statesmen the travel distance for Boise State reduced by 18% with their switch to the Mountain West. This article also details the other financial benefits the MWC carries over the WAC.

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So what do I think will happen now?

I believe BYU will stay in the Mountain West for a couple years at least. The Mountain West will add the University of Houston to make it an even 12 teams. Conference USA adds Louisiana Tech to replace Houston and this officially kills the WAC as they drop down to just five football teams.

This could be way off but the addition of Houston just makes too much sense. Large media market, travel partner for TCU, potential for a Top 25 team.

Craig Thompson did meet with the CUSA last night though not all the details are known.

Thompson said the commissioners discussed issues such as BCS access and possibly
pooling resources for more lucrative media contracts.

The one major thing that both conferences share in common is CBS College Sports who broadcasts several Mountain West games and ALL Conference USA games. Perhaps a joint network that both conferences share?

The Mountain West welcomes two new members

With news that BYU was headed indy in football and taking the rest of their sports to the WAC the Mountain West Conference has signed, sealed and delivered two new insitutions. The University of Californa, Fresno State the University of Nevada, Reno will both join the Mountain West in as soon as 2011.

This will ensure that the MWC stays at least a 10 team conference and could signal a death blow to the WAC the former home of both schools. Will these schools help the Mountain West automatic qualifying as a BCS conference? Not right away but the potential is there. Fresno State has 22 wins over the past three years and Nevada has 21. The great thing is that the Mountain West will have at least 10 teams and a solid foundation.

Are these new additions perfect? No but they are a great fit geographically and will be great travel partners for UNLV and San Diego State.

What are they missing? Fresno needs to starting winning some bowl games once they join :P And their bulldog logo bugs me. Nevada needs to starts packing their stadium, their attendance is terrible at home and hardly any fans support the team on the road. Hopefully this will all change with the stiffer competition.

So what does this mean for BYU? Do continue their way out and join the scraps of the WAC or perhaps the WCC? Or do they come back and play nice in the Mountain West.

Thompson was just in Philadelphia meeting with Comcast and CBS College discussing the tv deal. Will these new markets mean a boost to the viewership of the Mtn? I would stoked by any improvement in the current deal.

Right now I'm view MWC Commisioner as a bad ass.


Craig Thompson does his best impersonation of Jules from Pulp Fiction

And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers.