Hawaii leaving WAC....joining MWC

[Cane from the Bend]

TCU looking out for itself, naw, can't be.

Not a program, who just a few years ago, was cycled through conferences in 3 years before settling into the Mountain West.

I think it is a good fit, personally; TCU has always been out for themselves first, and now, they'll be in a conference de'rigueur to their insensate leit motif.

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[armchairqb]

Hawaii made it official today. In 2012, they will be in the MWC for football and the Big West for other sports. I believe the WAC is about to croak.

http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/12/10/hawaii-joins-mountain-west-conference-for-football-big-west-for/

[Brian Roastbeef]

Well that's the four best teams gone in Boise, Fresno, Nevada, and Hawaii... what is left for the WAC to build upon. There will likely be loads of pressure for the MWC to include Idaho, to go along with Boise. If so, that would leave them with only seven teams, even after Denver, Texas-San Antonio, and Texas St. move up. That leaves nearly half of their organization teams freshly out of the FCS, and Louisiana Tech the pride of the conference.... and so much for the first 16-team superconference. Ahead of their time with 16 teams in the 90s, raided fifteen years later as other conferences head in that direction.

[Eric]

Well that's the four best teams gone in Boise, Fresno, Nevada, and Hawaii... what is left for the WAC to build upon. There will likely be loads of pressure for the MWC to include Idaho, to go along with Boise. If so, that would leave them with only seven teams, even after Denver, Texas-San Antonio, and Texas St. move up. That leaves nearly half of their organization teams freshly out of the FCS, and Louisiana Tech the pride of the conference.... and so much for the first 16-team superconference. Ahead of their time with 16 teams in the 90s, raided fifteen years later as other conferences head in that direction.

The WAC offered North Texas a spot in their conference, so I assume that has to do with pleasing Louisiana Tech so that they can have more teams closer to home. Denver I don't think will play football in the WAC, and as weak as Idaho has been, I don't think they'll be moving anywhere. I still think the WAC has to get a little proactive and add some more FCS teams with potential (not sure about Texas State, but I think UT-San Antonio has a bright future).

[Brian Roastbeef]

Yeah, UTSA is probably the class of that incoming field... Still, I'm not certain if Idaho sticks around. They and Boise are pretty closely tied, and Idaho politicians may pressure to have the two together... Probably partially talking out of my rear there though. Maybe one of the forum north-westerners would know more about the politics of the situation...

I suppose that if the WAC is to survive, in some fashion, it could oddly be through weakness. La. Tech, San Jose St, Utah St. will stay there together mostly from being too small or weak to appeal to the big boys. Meanwhile they provide a stepping stone for a couple of upgrading teams. Could be worth a few more years of survival...

[armchairqb]

Yeah, UTSA is probably the class of that incoming field... Still, I'm not certain if Idaho sticks around. They and Boise are pretty closely tied, and Idaho politicians may pressure to have the two together... Probably partially talking out of my rear there though. Maybe one of the forum north-westerners would know more about the politics of the situation...

I suppose that if the WAC is to survive, in some fashion, it could oddly be through weakness. La. Tech, San Jose St, Utah St. will stay there together mostly from being too small or weak to appeal to the big boys. Meanwhile they provide a stepping stone for a couple of upgrading teams. Could be worth a few more years of survival...

There is very much an untapped football market in San Antonio, so on paper and if properly executed, UTSA is a good call.

Despite Utah State being adamant recently about sticking with the WAC and not going to the MWC, I believe they will change their mind. It fits well in the MWC geographic footprint.

[donovan]

Utah State has struggles for several years...but they have been in the past a good football school and have had some good players. Logan is a tough town to get people to live in...I like them going to the MWC, I like the regionalism.

[Eric]

Utah State also has a gem of a basketball program for the MWC to get their hands on. Having Nevada and Utah State in addition to UNLV, New Mexico, and an Air Force team that can be good every now and then would be a bonus.

As for where they go from here, I think they can add any number of teams. As I've said before, if they want to move to a more Texas-centered conference, then Stephen F. Austin or Sam Houston could work. If they want to add some northwest teams, then Eastern Washington would be an interesting addition since their red field would certainly garner a lot of attention. I think anybody from the Big Sky would work, but Montana has to be the holy grail of that class.

[Cane from the Bend]

Actually;

I'd expect the Sun Belt to seek expansion, adding three more teams, giving themselves a 12 team conference.

If so, the WAC is the vulnerable kicking post; Louisiana Tech - New Mexico State - San Jose State , could all jump ship.

If that were the case, the Mountain West could go to 12 by adding Utah State & Idaho, which would end the WAC, eventhough I suspect they already are.

Adding as many teams out of the FCS who they are looking at, would likely see the WAC falling into the FCS.

I think it's inevitable; either the WAC disappears all together, or, they amass themselve with FCS programs, and join the Championship Division.

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