Associated Press
Hawaii players celebrates their 31-28 win over Army during an NCAA college football game in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, Sept.11, 2010. The team is expected to join the new-look Mountain West Conference.
Published Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010 | 8:09 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010 | 9:59 p.m.
The Mountain West Conference has snagged an 11th football team for its makeover.
A story posted on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser website this evening said the University of Hawaii had agreed in principle to begin playing football in the Mountain West in 2012 — joining Nevada and Fresno State. Boise State will start competing in the conference next season.
Hawaii made the announcement tonight in a press conference.
"Our players and coaches are very excited," Hawaii coach Greg McMackin told the Star-Advertiser.
According to the Star-Advertiser’s story, Hawaii would only join the Mountain West for football. The rest of the university’s athletics teams would reportedly compete in the Big West Conference.
Hawaii would be a welcome addition to the re-aligned Mountain West. The Warriors have established a solid football program over the past several years. They are bowl eligible at 7-3 this year. In 2006, they put together an undefeated season and received a bid to the Sugar Bowl.
UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood graded the move as a positive.
"I think we're trying to be not too reactive," Livengood said at the UNLV football game Thursday night. "But at the same time you have to be aggressive right now."
Hawaii's entry creates another question — will the league opt for a 12th school? Although 11-school conferences can work, a two-division 12-team league is preferred.
"The Big Ten has tended to show that you can play with 11, but I don't think you can," Livengood said. "I think 12's got to be the answer at some point. That's up to the chancellors and presidents and ADs to see who's the best fit out there. But this make-up, I like it with a Hawaii coming in."
Rumors are swirling that the Mountain West might have to make it work with 10 football teams. Some media outlets, including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, are speculating that TCU would jump to the Big East Conference if given the opportunity. The Star-Telegram story even states that the question of TCU leaving the Mountain West has turned from "if" to "when."
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