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Mountain West turns tables with additions of Fresno State, UNR
In a day that at one point looked bleak, MWC potentially sets WAC up for extinction; BYU now on the clock
Mountain West Conference Commissioner Craig Thompson speaks at MWC football media day at Green Valley Ranch on July 22, 2008.
Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010 | 2:15 a.m.
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When asked what his thoughts were on leaving the Western Athletic Conference with six members at the end of a hectic day, Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson managed to sound somewhat cryptic Wednesday night.
"I am an employee of the Mountain West Conference, and my job, my challenge, is to make this conference better every day," he said, plain and simple, during a teleconference without further elaboration.
And in one day, Thompson managed to bring his fledgling league back from what appeared to be a trip to potential extinction and up onto solid ground, as Nevada-Reno and Fresno State accepted invitations Wednesday afternoon the join the MWC as early as the fall of 2011.
In turn, the WAC, which this summer has lost three of its members to the MWC, could be down for the count.
The day began with swirling reports surrounding MWC member BYU, with a 'done deal' in place to become an independent in football and the WAC's ninth member in all other sports.
With that move, Boise State held most of the chips at the table, as it had the right to decide if it wanted to go back to the WAC without facing any type of penalty. The Broncos accepted an MWC invitation back on June 11, but if they had stayed in the WAC and BYU had left to join them, Thompson could have found his league on life support.
Now, it's going to be up to BYU to make the next move, as the prospects of becoming merely the seventh member of a severely weakened league don't look as attractive as they did just 24 hours earlier.
Thompson deflected questions Wednesday night regarding BYU's future with the league.
"BYU is a member of the Mountain West Conference," he said. "They participated in several conference calls with our board of directors in the past 48 hours, including today.
"I don't know BYU's intentions. They are a full member, a voting member, a participating member of the Mountain West Conference as we have this call tonight."
BYU has a couple of options now, and Thompson said there is no deadline in place for one of the league's charter members to make a decision.
The school could go for football independence and aligning its other programs with another conference, such as the West Coast Conference. Another route could be deciding to stick with the Mountain West, which might force Thompson's hand in making another bold move. He reiterated several times Wednesday night that the league's ultimate goal is to become a Bowl Championship Series automatic qualifier.
A 10-team league moving forward without BYU might not get the MWC there, but keeping BYU and adding a 12th school — for example, a program such as Houston — could help the conference over that hump and into the national spotlight, though the addition of Fresno State and UNR keeps the league's football profile strong and very respectable.
"There is no immediate push, rush, concern to get to 12 (members) and look at a (conference championship football) game," Thompson safely said. "It may happen, it may not happen.
"This is an ongoing process, that we talk about memberships and the configuration of the conference at just about every board meeting in some form or fashion. Some (board members) are still interested in 12 members, not all board members are at that position."
When reached by the Sun on Wednesday evening, UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood indicated his gut feeling was that the Mountain West would grow.
"I don't have a crystal ball and I know (UNLV president Neal Smatresk) and I have talked a lot about this," Livengood said. "I know there's a scenario where we're not done expanding. There's a lot of things that could happen with other schools, and etc. I wouldn't see us totally done at 10 teams."
Added Smatresk, in a phone interview with the Sun: "I think it's a little bit unclear of what the fate of every team in the league is going to be, and I'm not going to pre-judge it. What I will tell you is given all the shake-ups that have gone on around the country, I think any league not considering what the future might bring is not planning well."
Livengood also gave his opinion on BYU's quest for football independence, which could make the Cougars the biggest name among the Football Bowl Subdivision independents behind Notre Dame.
"I think that they're really in a precarious situation on a lot of fronts," he said. "I just don't understand somebody thinking they can go independent in this day and age. Notre Dame is Notre Dame, and even Notre Dame knows that it's not an easy road any more."
One area regarding BYU where Thompson sounded as if he would put his foot down — without specifically saying so — was the potential scenario of the Cougars going independent in football and trying to stay with the Mountain West elsewhere across the board.
He claimed that no special exceptions will be made for BYU, who will have to decide either to be a member or not, plain and simple.
"They know who we are," he said. "An institution is allowed to individually make any decision they want. That's geared towards them. There are leagues that have made, perhaps, concessions to certain members to retain them and keep them in the league. That's not what the Mountain West Conference has done."
While the future remains undetermined, there are some immediate logistics to be dealt with.
Thompson said that while Boise State is set to join the MWC in time for the 2011-12 athletic season, no timetable has been set for UNR and Fresno State. He added, though, that he'd prefer it to be 2011 rather than 2012.
There are also the two monetary story lines beneath all of this.
The first has to do with the Mountain West's current TV deal, which all but shuns ESPN. Instead, the league currently operates its own network — The Mtn. — and also has games broadcast on CBS-College Sports and Versus.
Thompson was in Philadelphia on Wednesday for a meeting with Comcast, which is a part-owner of The Mtn. network. Fresno is the No. 55 television market in the country and largely is covered by Comcast.
He had no details to unveil regarding potential alterations to the league's oft-criticized TV package.
It is widely believed that the potential to get more football TV revenue out of its own network — and possibly ESPN — is one driving force behind BYU's desire to break off on its own for college athletics' most lucrative sport.
The other dollar-driven talking point has to do with both exit fees from the WAC and entrance fees to the MWC for the three new members.
Thompson confirmed that the entrance fee originally given to Boise State in June will more than likely change in an effort to have all three incoming schools pay roughly the same amount.
As for exit fees from the WAC, that is more of a concern for UNR and Fresno State.
Both schools reportedly signed a five-year deal with the WAC a week ago that would enforce a $5 million buy-out fee should any of the members decide to leave in that timeframe.
However, a report by the Reno Gazette-Journal on Wednesday evening stated that UNR never signed the agreement.
Either way, Thompson made it sound as if the Mountain West will be assisting both schools with their exit fees in an effort to keep his product strong.
"Our intent is they come in as strong as they are today and not be jeopardized or behind in any way that would not allow them to compete at the highest level they can compete at," he said. "We're not going to bankrupt them to come into the Mountain West Conference."
Discussion: 40 comments so far…
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BYU put the cart before the horse here. True, they got the logistics to become an independent...but they aint got no TV deal with NBC or the equivalent to make playing them worthwhile during the mid & latter parts of the football season. What Top 25 power conf team would schedule them in the midst of their conf schedule? What for? BYU's the one who needs the prestige wins for the polls...not the power conf schools. BYU should stay and then pick up Houston or UTEP and make it an even dozen. Or maybe this was BYUs machiavellian bluff to get the MWC to 12 teams & thus closer to BCS membership asap while the Utes laugh all the way to the bank? I mean, join the WAC in all other sports? How is THAT a good thing for your school? Either way, its good entertainment. :-)
Hmmm how the worm has turned is it true, No man is an island entire of itself?
Perhaps the good people from Utah, BYU and Orin Hatch should try a little Meditation XVII, John Donne and get there nose out of that other book.
LOL
djonian81, I completely agree with your points. BYU has a very, for lack of a better term, inflated self-conception. It is (or was until Utah leapfrogged them) the big fish in the relatively small pond of the state of Utah. Now, with its collective ego bruised by the Ute's depature to the Pac-10, BYU is scrambling to regain its relevance.
What I find most delightful about this scenario is how Craig Thompson has reacted to the BYU sabre rattling. He has decided to move forward without regard to them. BYU has bullied it's conferences for decades but Thompson has finally decided to stand up to them. Awesome!
Fresno State fits in the MWC. UNR fits in the MWC. Boise State fits in the MWC. In this new era of 'Conference Roulette', the Mountain West Conference must and has to be proactive. Thompson has done that and if this all works out, MWC schools will benefit.
And, while all of this transition is nerve-wracking for us fans, djonian81, you are correct. It is very entertaining!
Thompson didn't stand up to BYU. He simply moved to save his conference from extinction. (BSU was all set to stay in the WAC, without penalty.)
To his credit, he also put the WAC on life support, which kind of throws a wrench into BYU's grand plan, though I think that was probably more coincidence than by design. I think that was more about keeping BSU than disturbing BYU's plans for the WAC.
If Thompson was more proactive, instead of reactive, the MWC would already be a 12 team conference, on the verge of BCS-AQ, and BYU probably wouldn't feel the need to move on.
Ryan: Craig Thompson in the past has spoken about the MWC getting some football games on CBS in the near future. Does anyone know if this is coming into fruition? The SEC usually plays at 1 p.m. The MWC could have some of its big games TCU-Boise State on CBS starting at 4 p.m. CBS is the top dog in the TV affiliation that the MWC currently has.
If/When BYU turns independent they will try to schedule as many Big 12 teams as they can in an effort to get an audition to join that league. BYU could become the doormat of the Big 12 as I believe Utah will become the doormat for the PAC 12. BYU/Utah can get up and compete and sometimes win against that level competition in a single game but week in and week out it's going to be tuff sledding for those boys.
As much as we all would like to tell BYU to go do something unnatural to itself, the reality is their departure would be a big hit to the MWC. I like the proactive move to get Fresno St. and UNR. As far as UNLV is concerned, we now get 2 games against UNR in basketball every year and there is also the whole "Tarkanian used to coach Fresno State" angle. I think there is a chance BYU stays with the MWC now. With the additions coming in, and undefeated MWC champ will have a great chance and making a National Championship game and while it isn't in stone, the MWC champ will almost assuredly get a BCS game regardless with TCU and BSU here. Hopefully BYU decides to stay and hopefully the Commish follows through on not pandering to BYU all the time. As of now, BYU shouldn't even be included in votes and conference discussions regarding any additional invites, a conference championship game, etc... until they commit to the conferenece again.
kczsjohnson,
Well, they're making an effort, but it sounds like it will take time to crack that SEC stronghold on Saturday afternoon. The MWC got a basketball game on CBS for this upcoming season between BYU and SDSU. It's my opinion that they're looking at that as a potential foot in the door. First you get one basketball game, then next year a couple more, then maybe a couple of years later it shifts to football. It probably doesn't hurt that CBS-C is a part-owner of The Mtn. The option obviously is there for them to pick up games down the road, I would think.
My prediction now that we picked up UNR, and fresno:
BYU stays because they will be up the creek without a paddle (and the WAC will take a hit to BYU's other sports if they join), and MWC pick up Houston.
Entertaining for sure, and proactive as well. Stay on top of the curve. This is all a chess match, and MWC just put BYU in check, with Houston or UTEP riding in on the knight.
Oh, and Ryan, I don't like the reader poll. Because I do not think the MWC should shun BYU, but I also don't think the MWC should "try" to bring them back. I think they will come crawling back with their tail between their legs after all is said and done because they realized their mistake...
I hope you're right, Sofakingbored. I hear the ESPN 1100 guys wanting to "punish" BYU, but to me, that's biting off your nose to spite your face. BYU is great for the MWC, and by extension, great for UNLV. The MWC should do what's best for the conference, and not be vindictive.
Regarding BSU, people should remember, although they'll probably be awesome this year, with 21/22 starters returning, they may very well suck (or at least be mediocre) in 2011, when they join the MWC. I'm not so sure they'll be a great TV attraction then (unless they're defending champions or something close to that).
As a long time follower of UNLV, I believe the Commish did great in turning disaster into the best positive response available. One thought however. I have read several references to inviting Houston into the conference. If memory serves me correctly, TCU is not a big fan of Houston for some reason. I believe they (TCU) have stated in the past that if Houston comes into the conference they leave. What is wrong with Hawaii(other than travel expense)?
Hearing from up North that the Rebels had much to do with Nevada getting in. I know we had an invite to go to the WAC and SDSU did also. Funny how the Rebels got a card to play and did it well. BYU should've known the Rebels know how to play cards, it backfired on them with MWC holdem.
NoCal, other than travel expenses, it is difficult to schedule that game into a schedule because of distance, jet lag etc. Just think how rough the Warriors have it. I follow the WAC also (which many of you will figure out soon, and hate me.) Hawaii is a great team to have in your conferance, a lot of character and fun. It's just distance and money.
I'd love to have UNR as a member of the MWC! Can't stand them since Im a devoted fan of UNLV, but would love to have them a part of our conference :)
I think both Fresno and Nevada is a great pickup for Las Vegas. Both are within reasonable driving distance. Any other team in the MWC benefits better than that?
Noone wants Hawaii because of the money. Plain and simple. Also, the only reason they get really good games sometimes is because if you play in Hawaii, you get another game on your schedule just because it costs so much to go.
Oh, and the WAC does not want to let go of their teams:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/stor...
Thompson has already said that the conference will help out with the $5M buyouts, if necessary, so the WAC is spitting into the wind. Whether or not they want to let go of their teams, they're already gone. They better get the Big Sky on the phone, or just fold.
This move was good for the MWC. Fresno State and Nevada are worthy. If UNLV did in fact help get Nevada invited, then thanks for the help (it hurts me to say that, but the appreciation is sincere).
I'm thinking probably that Boise State had a lot to do with getting Nevada into the MWC, because of their long-standing rivalry with Nevada and because Chris Ault and BSU AD Gene Bleymaier are very close, old buddies and because Boise could have returned to the WAC, but likely told the MWC they would stay if Nevada got an invite.
12 teams + football conference championship = $$ new TV deal and BCS bid on next contract go-around...Everyone gets paid, the conference get a BCS AQ and it's all good! It's good to be back, vegas! you know you missed us. xoxoxo
Interesting that there are multiple media outlets - yet no one in the Las Vegas media even talking about this - that San Diego State and UNLV was ready to jump to the WAC as of yesterday.
God - I hope that was not true. Fact is that UNLV football needs to man up. Basketball is still not the dominant program that it used to be and to see how Kansas with a top 10 annual program can be left in the dust shows how it just does not matter if hoops is that good.
MWC signs some deal with the Mountain - who employs a silly amount of BYU people with little or no real experience to call games on their network. Now BYU says that they have been guaranteed 2-3 games per year on ESPN as an independent at $1 million annually. Take this and what they get from BYU sports airing on their own network and they are making a killing over this Mountain deal.
Credit Craig Thompson for stepping up and saying we will help pay the $5 million dollar penalty for Nevada and Fresno. Comcast better step up their money for this silly network if they expect to keep BYU. Thompson should be adding Houston and have another team on the burner to get a 12 team league set if BYU goes.
The Mountain deal needs to pay out more and figure out a way to allow other sports to be aired by other networks. Who cares if Volleyball is on BYU's TV network! Our LV Bowl Director hopefully is in lock step with the conference, as choosing an independent BYU to go to Vegas over a Mountain West school would be a slap in the face.
The WAC left with the fact that Hawaii wants to go independent in football instead of playing with Texas San Antonio, Sac State, Montana, Cal Poly, Texas State and Cal Davis -which makes the WAC the West Coast version of the Sun Belt conference.
Why no one is asking why UNLV would consider a move to the WAC is puzzling, since larger media markets are reporting this.
The Wolfpack rivalry amuses me, in some ways. Although I want UNLV to beat them more than anything each year, I root for Nevada (not UNR, unprofessional journalists) in all their other games.
Not sure the feeling is mutual, because it's only natural that smaller cities/schools are going to be less likely to root for their rivals, but that doesn't concern me.
It will be a little different with Nevada being in the same conference as UNLV, but notwithstanding that, I'd be fine with them going 11-1, as long as the 1 is against UNLV.
The reason why no one is asking why UNLV (and SDSU) are considering going to the WAC is because it's an idiotic rumor. There's absolutely no way that would happen, so it's not worth addressing by anybody in the media who is smart enough to not buy into every Favre retirement rumor.
If not Houston then SMU or UTEP
This was done strictly to blackmail BYU into staying put. The MWC didn't want Nevada or Fresno State or they would have invited them when they invited Boise State.
egot,
My gut tells me there's not much behind that report. They might have loosely explored the option, but there's no way that USU was invited before UNR and Fresno.
Doesn't mean they're telling the truth. Could be setting themselves up to be a desired commodity once the WAC shuts down.
What!?!? You mean everything that gets printed isn't always true? Wouldn't be shocked if this was something to try and take a "shot" at the MWC since Utah is gone and BYU has a foot out the door. All those Utah schools and folks stick together.
There's been all sorts of rumors floating around. I think it's funnny that this is getting little coverage on ESPN because of "Favre-gate."
I like the move and wouldn't have minded Utah State as another team to join. I'd still rather have Houston because they're solid in football and basketball and have a large media market, but getting the 12th team is the key.
For the first time in a while, I'm actually impressed with Craig Thompson. He took us from disaster on Wednesday morning to solid ground by Wednesday night. FSU and UNR are solid additions.
In response to an earlier comment, it is my understanding that TCU does not have a problem with Houston, but they do ahve a problem with Baylor. When the Big 12 was forming, TCU had the inside track for an invitation, however Baylor alums in the Texas state legislature used their juice to get Baylor in instead. This is why when it looked like the Big 12 was disbanding earlier this summer, TCU wanted no part in Baylor joining the MWC.
I thin either Houston or UTEP would be a good fit for a 12th school. Houston has a better football program, and UTEP is pretty good in both sports, it may also pave the way to a Sun Bowl conference affiliation.
Of course Houston has a big TV market and that means that UNLV will come here and I would get to see them at least once a year in basketball.
The TV market is a little deceptive. Most Houstonions only care about UT and A&M, much like TCU in the Dallas/Ft Worth market. Both teams did pretty well last year, but most people still didn't care.
I'm hoping for SMU. I'm a June Jones fan. He's going to have them looking great! I think we should concentrate on the Texas teams and try to get SMU and Houston. Let BYU go. I know we are much better off with them, but I really hate BYU. It'd be nice to see them go Independent and fizzle to nothing (then mock them for making the wrong decision). For those of you who are hoping for Hawaii, SMU and Houston are just as exciting, without the travel costs. Taking 2 Conference USA teams wouldn't be bad.
Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada are great additions to the MWC. Utah State should have joined.
SMU would be a great addition.
htown- Thanks for the correction. I guess it is old age. I remembered it was one of the Texas teams that TCU really didn't like. I just got confused!
With the addition to 12 for a playoff I think it would be outstanding. Back when we had playoff games is in the BIG WAC(16 Teams) the game(s) out at SB Stadioum were excellent. Maybe. maybe.
@Tarkus-
"...I root for Nevada (not UNR, unprofessional journalists)..."
Official website: www.unr.edu
And that's all I got to say about that long-dead horse...
@Green: Good point, but my understanding is that the athletic side goes by the name Nevada, while the educational side still goes by the name UNR.
As a UNLV fan, it's not a big deal to me, but I've always found it a bit tacky that the local media always refers to them as UNR, even though the national media has moved on.
I have no problem with coaches sticking a little dagger into "the team up north," but the media is supposed to be more objective.
I'd love to see the next invite go to Houston, b/c although they're basketball program isn't as good as what Utah State is (right now), I really see them getting much, much better with the $40 million renovation and expansion of Hofheinz Pavilion. After all, in this day and age, having state-of-the-art athletic facilities are almost as good as NCAA tournament berths (especially in this one-and-done era).
@htownreb: I know UH is very competitive in football and pretty competitive in basketball, but would you be able to rate their athletic department as a whole (i.e. baseball, olympic sports, women's sports, etc.)?
Also, I read that a local radio station in Fresno (KMJ 580) is stating that the Bulldogs will be joining in 2011. I'm a little skeptical though b/c it also says that Hawai'i will join the West Coast Conference, when that conference only allows faith-based schools for membership.
@Tarkus-
The name of the sports teams that represent Univeristy of Nevada, Reno is the Nevada Wolfpack. I guess it's a bit like the University of California Golden Bears who represent the University of California, Berkley. I don't think it's an intentional dig at UNR... er Nevada... er the Wolfpack, but is more reflective of the fact that the University of Nevada school with a higher national profile the last thirty years has been UNLV (similar to UCLA vs. UC-Berkley). Using the term "UNR" to identify the Nevada Wolfpack has been nothing more than an effort to clarify where the team is located.
The slighted position affected by Wolfpack fans who take umbrage at the term "UNR" comes off as nothing more than a rather childish manifestation of an undeserved inferiority complex. UNR is viewed by those who know as the better school with more loyal fans and alumni. Take it to heart and move on.
@Green:
Your argument would make sense for the national media, who nevertheless seemingly all use Nevada. I'm pretty sure people in Las Vegas can figure out where the Wolfpack are located, without calling them UNR.
Whether or not you consider it "an intentional dig," I stand by my earlier statement that it's unprofessional.
It's Nevada Wolf Pack - 2 words, not one.
Green Dragon Reader -you are misinformed. It's the Wolf Pack, not Wolfpack. And the history of the name is this- the University of Nevada was established in Elko in 1874 and later moved to Reno once the railroad went through and the population became larger than Elko. UNLV was Nevada Southern from 1951-1969 as a satellite campus of Nevada. In 1969 Nevada Southern became part of the UN system and took the name University of Nevada, Las Vegas and, because they didn't want it to seem that there was only one University of Nevada, Nevada took the name the University of Nevada, Reno. It has nothing to do with an inferiority complex and everything to do with a 136 year old tradition.