Columnist Steve Carp: Is history repeating with Tark?

Steve Carp

Friday, May 29, 1998 | 9:14 a.m.

THE DOOR HAS been left partially open by the Disgruntled Eight to have a ninth walk through and join their happy family. But will anyone be able to get past the lobby to reach the penthouse?

Fresno State and Hawaii are working it like you can't believe. It almost borders on desperation. If this train pulls out of the station and the Bulldogs and Rainbows aren't on it, they're going to have some big, big problems.

Right now, there's no guarantee that a ninth school will be added to the mix which includes UNLV, Air Force, Colorado State, Brigham Young, New Mexico, Utah, San Diego State and Wyoming -- the schools which seceded from the WAC to form their own league. Frankly, eight may very well be enough, especially with things still far from settled.

But because Al Yates, the president of Colorado State who is the point man for the fledgling league, has not dismissed the notion of adding a ninth school, what is the likelihood of it happening?

Both Hawaii and Fresno State face obstacles, and the dilemmas are different.

Hawaii's problem is a matter of cost. It's expensive to get to Honolulu and unless the Rainbows are willing to foot most or all of the bill for their opponents to fly over to the Islands, they may remain on the excluded list.

There was a time when Hawaii would pick up the tab for football and basketball. But the key is footing the bill for the non-revenue sports. That could get costly and where would Hawaii come up with the money?

Fresno State may be fighting history, as well as politics, in its attempt to hop aboard the Out of WAC Express. There's a theory why the Bulldogs were not invited to join the Disgruntled Eight and it can be summed up in two words -- Jerry Tarkanian.

Tark's basketball team is perceived to be out of control by some of the CEOs. From an image standpoint, it's hard to argue with them. Players who beat people with samurai swords and stick guns into the guts of coaches aren't the kind of poster children the new league wants.

Think back to 1981 when UNLV tried to join the WAC. Why was it excluded? Because Tark had been branded a renegade and those with the power, specifically BYU, didn't want to be associated with him.

So it begs the question, are we seeing history repeat itself?

What other plausible reason could there be to exclude Fresno State? The school is competitive across the board athletically. Academically, it's a fine institution. Location-wise, it provides a presence in central and northern California. That's certainly not a detraction.

You can't help but think if Tark was not the coach that Fresno State would have been invited to join. And maybe it's not too late. After all, the new league is still a year away from starting up and Tark will be 68 in August. He's not likely to be coaching a heck of a lot longer, especially in that his contract is up after this coming season.

But what if Tark told FSU President John Welty up front that he was through after the 1998-99 season and Welty went to Yates and Co. with that news. Would the picture change?

Perhaps it would. Then again, maybe it wouldn't. Maybe eight is indeed enough.