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The Only Expansion I See As Being Likely

by Mars · 5/14/2010

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M
Mars


" The Mountain West Conference presidents meet in June to discuss, oh, I don't know, EXPANSION. The league's Media Days take place in Las Vegas in July. We're at a new hotel, the Red Rocks, which is even further from the Strip (yeah!). Rumors are there could be a new team invited to join the MWC and it rhymes with "Noisy Hate." "

http://heraldextra.com/sports/college/byu/darnell-dickson/article_8cc5f8c6-6557-11df-8a3c-001cc4c03286.html



" Samuelson and the eight other presidents of MWC schools will meet June 6-8 in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and conference expansion -- specifically as it relates to Boise State -- is expected to be on the agenda. "

http://www.sltrib.com/collegesports/ci_15139649?source=rss
M
Mars


"The MWC school presidents meet in early June and it appears league expansion (ie, Boise State) will be a big topic of discussion. If the Broncos do come bucking into the MWC, would Utah and BYU still be looking for the BBD (Bigger, Better Deal) in a new conference? A good question, and one that will be answered in the coming months."



http://heraldextra.com/sports/college/byu/article_86b0aa8d-b625-50b5-858d-c33b26e6c504.html
M
Mars


"The Mountain West may play its way into the Old Boy Network for the final two years of this cycle. We know the bottom of the conference is keeping the Mountain West from reaching the necessary level to earn an automatic qualifying berth, but the league might soon poach Boise State from the WAC, and the Broncos would bolster all the average rankings the BCS uses to determine whether a have-not receives a golden ticket."



http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/andy_staples/05/24/bcs-congress/index.html
I
IowaCougar
There seem to be cross purposes in trying to look for opportunities for BYU to get into another conference, while at the same time wanting Boise State to join the MWC. Personally, I'd like to see BYU keep it's loyalty with the teams it's been associated with forever (the MWC, which in essence is the old WAC), and try to get Boise State to join the party. They can still play with a bit of a chip on their shoulder, and prove themselves worthy of a BCS bid each year.
M
Mars


" With the Mountain West Conference school presidents scheduled to meet in early June, it is possible that the league leaders will vote to invite Boise State into the MWC. Were an invitation to be extended, Boise State would have until July 1st to notify the WAC of its intentions to switch leagues. Such a switch would take effect for the 2011-12 sports season and would allow the MWC to count BSU's football accomplishments from the 2008 through 2011 seasons toward BCS qualification calculations, thus boosting MWC hopes of an automatic BCS bid in 2012 and 2013.



*******



As I wrote here earlier, with all of the quasi-cataclysmic expansion scenarios being projected from coast to coast, it would be ironic if a "target" league like the MWC quietly becomes the only conference to actually increase its membership this year. It's certainly feasible that the Big Ten/Pac-10/Big 12 could still drop expansion bombshells between now and the end of the year, but it feels like the "superconference" frenzy has cooled a bit. The sense I get is that the big leagues could be examining how to rock the boat as little as possible while finding ways to make more money at the same time. In the Pac-10, there is a lot of talk about increasing the revenue stream by way of a championship game, without expanding to 12 teams. "



http://www.ksl.com/?nid=498&sid=10910507
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M
Mars


" The nine Mountain West presidents meet June 6-8 in Jackson, Wyo. They will discuss the idea of adding a 10th member - and Boise State is the only school that makes sense strategically. There's a lot at stake for the Broncos. They would move from the little-known WAC to the more prestigious Mountain West, face better teams and have a better shot at big, post-season bowl games.



The Mountain West presidents, who have been reluctant to expand since choosing TCU over Boise State in January 2004, appear more open to the idea this year. They need to invite Boise State by July 1 for the Broncos' recent accomplishments to help the conference's quest for a lucrative automatic bid to the Bowl Championship Series...



Kustra again made it clear that he sees the Mountain West as the future home of Broncos athletics... Student athletes and coaches "deserve a better traveling schedule than the one we have now," Kustra said. Kustra is friendly with several Mountain West presidents and joined forces with the conference in its attack on the BCS. "



http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/05/23/1203366/will-boise-state-play-in-a-bigger.html
M
Mars


" The buzz is that Boise State really will end up in the Mountain West Conference. I heard so Tuesday, via the rumor mill. A friend who says he has a co-worker connected with all the right people in the MWC says the official invitation is only days away. If true, I'm giving Boise State fans a heads-up: Don't get too excited. It's a better conference than the WAC, but it still doesn't put the Broncos closer to a championship...



The addition of Boise would surely enhance the MWC. The Broncos have finished in the national rankings six of the past eight years. They've gone undefeated twice and lost just one game four times, as well as going 2-0 in BCS bowl games... the addition of the Broncos would make the conference a legitimate BCS contender...



The MWC would still be smart to invite Boise, on two fronts. It would both strengthen the conference's profile and fill a spot if the Utes bolt to the Pac-10... If I were Boise State, I'd do what it's doing, which is moving up. At the same time, if I were Utah and the Pac-10 called, I'd be there before the second ring. That's because the only sure way to get a shot at a national title and play in money bowls is to play the BCS's game by its rules: get in a BCS conference. "



http://www.ksl.com/?nid=294&sid=10952447
S
scott715
Next weekend when the presidents meet there will be a surprise. BSU will be invited to join the conference but one of the bottom teams will volunteerily withdraw from the conference and go to the WAC. Straws will be drawn to determine that team. Just adding BSU gets our average ranking down to 53 from 59 (the Big10 in 6th place is at 50). But having a team around 100 leave, moves us into 6th place and for the moment has us gaining BCs admission!



Furthermore the Mtn has offered to increase their fees for the tv rights for the remaining years of the contract starting in 2012 with BSU joins the conference. With the increased excitement of the conference, the Dish and other cable networks sign up the channel for their systems.



Note that the conference does not add Nevada or Fresno St. Their rankings are above 50 so they would not help to lowever the conference ranking to below 50. The only teams that could lowever the average are Houston and Navy if the conference decided to go to 12 teams.
S
scott715
Question - Would you be more excited about the MWC football season if BSU was in the conference?



Would the media be more excited with BSU?
M
Mars


Boise State could become newest member of Mountain West

http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_15207026



Football power Boise State appears to be only waiting for an invitation to become the 10th member of the Mountain West Conference. That invitation could officially come as early as Monday when the MWC's board of directors meets in Jackson, Wyo. Speculation around the MWC and the Western Athletic Conference is that Boise State will bolt from the WAC. Typical is the comment by Idaho athletic director Rob Spear, who recently wrote to Vandals fans in his blog, "I am predicting June 7 will be the day when the first shoe drops regarding conference realignment." MWC commissioner Craig Thompson has said he wants his league to be proactive amid talks nationwide of conference shake-ups. Adding Boise State would be the first move toward that end for the MWC.



Stephen Weber, president of San Diego State, also believes his conference should guard against isolation and being left behind with shake-ups expected throughout the collegiate landscape. Should the Pac-10 expand, its potential targets are believed to include MWC power Utah and Colorado of the Big 12. "In these matters, you have to weigh playing offense or defense," Weber said. "I prefer offense." Adding Boise State would give the MWC a powerhouse football program that annually contends for top 10 honors.



...For the MWC to extend an invitation, there must be yes votes from at least seven of the current conference members... If the MWC expands, it would need to have all the paperwork signed by July 1 so that a new member could be in the MWC for the 2011 football season. The addition of Boise State could bolster the MWC's attempt to be included in the Bowl Championship Series. Thompson has waged a multiyear fight in an attempt to gain an automatic qualifying slot for the MWC in the BCS alignment.



..."That may be one of the considerations," Weber said. "It's a pretty good reason." Colorado State athletic director Paul Kowalczyk favors the addition of Boise State. "Boise State brings name recognition to the party. The BCS system needs to change," he said.







So SDSU, CSU, and BYU are confirmed YESes. Utah and Wyoming are assumed YESes (unless Utah's vote has changed due to the PAC-10s flirtations, for some reason I can't imagine). That leaves Air Force (who I assume will vote with CSU and Wy), UNLV (which may vote with SDSU), New Mexico (who I assume will vote NO), and TCU (who I have heard both YES and NO for). So that looks like 6-8 YES votes for adding BSU, with UNLV being critical, when 7 is needed...
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M
Mars


Remember folks, your old buddy MARS told you so here first! :P





The time is right for Boise State, Mountain West to get together

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/stewart_mandel/06/02/mountainwest.boise/index.html?xid=si_ncaaf



" Come Monday, we could finally get our happy-ever-after moment. The Mountain West's Board of Directors (its schools' presidents and chancellors) is holding its annual meetings in Jackson, Wyo., and numerous reports indicate the league will hold a vote on whether to extend Boise State a long-awaited invitation. Any expansion by the conference would require approval from seven of the nine presidents...



"We've been looking at [expansion] models," commissioner Craig Thompson told the Deseret News. "We've been running numbers. We really haven't spent a lot of time on anything other than philosophically talking about 10." For crying out loud. Isn't it obvious by now? You guys need Boise, and Boise needs you. Go ahead and hook up already, would you?



A little background: Boise State President Bob Kustra -- one of the nation's more outspoken college CEOs when it comes to sports -- has been lobbying the Mountain West for an invite as far back as 2004... two recent events have apparently pushed Boise's candidacy to the forefront. The first is Big Ten expansion. While the rest of the nation's conferences seem to be waiting helplessly for potential fallout should that league poach multiple teams, there's apparently sentiment within the Mountain West to be more proactive and begin fortifying itself before potential "Big Six" suitors come calling.



"The position of the conference has been a sort of 'Let's wait and see what happens.' We've had lots of discussions but no firm decisions," New Mexico President David Schmidly recently told the Albuquerque Journal. "I tend to be more aggressive in my thinking and not sit around and wait for things to happen to you. Go and do what you feel you need to do."



Meanwhile, halfway through a four-year evaluation period, the Mountain West suddenly finds itself in position to possibly earn an automatic BCS berth, based on a formula the BCS finally made public in late April. In order for conference to count the Broncos' data, they would need to begin play by 2011 -- and to do that, it would need to seal up Boise by the end of this month... the BCS also lists several scenarios under which a league could apply for an "exemption" from the Presidential Oversight Committee. While it's impossible to say whether the current MWC schools and/or Boise State will continue to perform at their current level over the next two years, as of now the league would have some undeniably strong selling points by which it would seemingly merit an exemption.



As of today, said league would include three different teams (Utah, Boise State and TCU) that have combined for five BCS bids and four BCS wins over the past six seasons. Throw in BYU -- with the largest fan base and most nationally known name of the bunch -- and you're looking at a league with which most of the major bowls will want to do business. Both the Mountain West and Boise State have spent considerable resources over the past year railing against the inequities of the current system. Most recently, a law firm they co-commissioned put together this nifty chart demonstrating the "revenue discrimination" to which they're being subjected. But don't be fooled. For all their rhetoric about tearing down the system, both parties desperately want to be a part of it. If you both want the same thing, why not go after it together?



...Boise fashions itself a "rising" institution -- much like its football program. That's exactly why this marriage is made to happen. We're sitting on the brink of potentially landmark change in college athletics. No one knows exactly what form it will take, but there's a general agreement that most major conferences as we know them won't look the same five years from now. Some will gain members, others will lose members. The most common theory is that there will be a consolidation of power, be it the extremist vision of four 16-team superconferences or the more modest thought that maybe a few leagues will distance themselves further from the rest of the pack. Adding Boise State might not stop a Utah or TCU from jumping to the Pac-10 or Big 12 if either eventually reached that point -- but the league won't necessarily be a sitting duck, either. For all its cuddly, smurf-turf origins, Boise State is now a nationally renowned program that will likely start in the preseason top five this summer. BYU and TCU have rich histories that include national champions and Heisman winners. Utah and Boise have both notched multiple undefeated seasons over the past six years. You'd be talking about a pretty buzz-worthy conference that, once the dust clears, may not have to fight so hard for respect. With all the money ESPN and FOX are throwing around these days, the Mountain West could even find itself on a network where people can see it once its current deals with Comcast and CBS College Sports expire in 2014.



This seems like a no-brainer, Mountain West presidents. "







If New Mexico's President is a YES on adding Boise State to the MWC like the comment above makes it appear, I think it could be a 9-0 unanimous vote in Wyoming to expand the conference once again...
M
Mars


CSU Head Football Coach Steve Fairchild's twitter: "Boise would give us TWO top 5 teams. Just as excited as any FB fan to see if the MWC presidents can make this happen."

http://twitter.com/CoachFairchild





P.S. I've heard that the Boise media was officially invited today to travel to the MWC conference...
M
Mars


San Diego sports radio 1360AM's talk show host Chris Ello said on air that Boise State has been invited to the MWC conference and will accept on Monday.



Fresno State head football coach Pat Hill predicts BSU to the MWC this week: http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2010/05/24/bmurphy/fresno_state%E2%80%99s_hill_expects_boise_state_get_invite_mountain_west

" “They’re going to expand. I think that’s a good move for the Mountain West right now. That really helps them. Boise is a very popular item. That’s a reward for doing well... I told our AD to call Gene (Bleymaier), if Boise does leave, to continue the series... It’d be good... It’s hard to win like they win." "



Idaho's AD says Boise State leaving the WAc for the MWC is a smart move: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/06/01/1212936/idahos-spear-addresses-expansion.html?utm_source=web&utm_medium=twitter

" Count Idaho athletic director Rob Spear among those anxiously awaiting the results of next week's Mountain West Conference presidents' meeting in Jackson, Wyo. "I am predicting June 7th will be the day when the first shoe drops regarding conference realignment," Spear said in his monthly blog posting to Vandal fans. He added that he believes a "non-BCS conference" will make the first step, a nod toward the Mountain West possibly adding Boise State. The Mountain West presidents are expected to discuss expansion Monday and are scheduled to meet with the media that afternoon... "Have we had discussions amongst ourselves? Yes... We all should be prepared... Look at the Mountain West adding Boise State. Does that make their conference better? Absolutely. We've been pretty close with the Mountain West and probably last year they pulled ahead. The separation between the Mountain West and the other four coalition conferences, with the addition of Boise State, widens tremendously. Does that position them, with that separation, to convince somebody to take them into the BCS? If it does, then I think Boise State does bring a lot of value... They've positioned themselves to have opportunities and if they feel a move to another conference is best, then they should have that right. We totally respect what they've been able to accomplish over the last 10, 15 years. They've positioned themselves to take advantage of it now... I hope that we could continue playing every year. I think it's in the best interest of our state. I think it's a good thing. The fair thing would be that we would play a home-and-home. I would be very reluctant to only play a game in Boise. I think it's unfair to our students, our university and the people of North Idaho... It'd be a great benefit to us because it's tough to schedule home games... losing a quality program like Boise State doesn't help our league... Having an eight-team league would be doable." "



Even ex-Broncos QBs are giving their thumbs up of approval on the move: http://www.ktvb.com/community/blogs/scott-slant/Not-that-many-eyeballs-but-enough-for-the-Mountain-West-95412894.html

"Former Bronco quarterback Jared Zabransky, the offensive MVP of the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, is a proponent of the move to the Mountain West. "I think they’ve got to do that; I have been trying for years on my end to influence people to that way. "



Hawaii wonders how the move will affect them: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100602/COLUMNISTS06/6020361/MWC+caught+in+middle+of+expansion

" For all the talk about the Big Ten knocking over the first dominos in the much-anticipated college athletic conference expansion land grab, keep your eyes and ears on the Mountain West Conference this weekend. From the solitude of Jackson Hole, Wyo., where the MWC's presidents begin meeting Saturday, should come the opening move of realignment and, with it, tremors felt all the way here. The MWC presidents seem poised to be more active than reactive in the current climate, which means plucking the University of Hawai'i's nemesis , Boise State, from the Western Athletic Conference. Initially the Broncos appealed to the MWC largely because it was thought Boise State could bring enough clout from its postseason history to earn the conference a much-coveted automatic berth in the lucrative Bowl Championship Series. And Boise State's two BCS appearances — plus the possibility of a third in 2010 — could be put in the MWC column provided the Broncos are brought on board for the 2011 football season... The Broncos' more immediate value to the MWC is as an insurance policy of sorts. With the Broncos on board, the MWC would be able to mitigate the damage if a Brigham Young, Utah or Texas Christian is plucked from its ranks by the Big 12. Not all three, but one or two... indications are the WAC has talked to San Diego State and UNLV about keeping their options open should things really get rocking in the next 12 months, though nobody will acknowledge it. Of course, after kicking around expansion for three years while unwilling to cut another share of pie, the MWC now is suddenly facing a decision and a deadline. Boise State would have to give notice to the WAC by July 1 if it intends to leave for the 2011 football season. Which makes what happens through June 7 in Jackson Hole as interesting and as potentially far reaching as anything the MWC did on the field last season. "



BSU to receive invite: http://www.sbnation.com/2010/6/2/1497598/boise-state-mountain-west-conference-mwc-invitation-realignment

"Jun 2, 2010 - The opening salvo in the Great Realignment Battle of 2010 could very well center on Boise State and the Mountain West Conference (MWC). While the Big Ten's efforts to add one, and possibly five, teams, in order to qualify for the cash cow that a conference title game would be have garnered the most attention, the MWC appears to be on the brink of making a preemptive move of its own to brace itself for a brave new college football world... the MWC is reportedly close to inviting Boise State to become the tenth member of the conference... Adding a perennial power in Boise State would not only steel the MWC against the possibility of losing some of its own stalwart programs should the PAC-10 try to poach them (Utah and BYU have both been mentioned as potential targets), as well as bolstering their argument that they deserve an automatic BCS bid. Indeed, a MWC that featured Boise State, TCU, Utah and BYU could very reasonably maintain that they boast a stronger football conference than the Big East, and perhaps even the ACC. The MWC is expected to announce a decision as early as Monday, given that all paperwork needs to be signed by July 1 in order for any new school to qualify for the 2011 football season."







Hearing about this from MWC coaches, ADs, and presidents is one thing. Hearing about it from the WAC is quite another. Done deal? Done deal.
G
Guest
Mars, I imagine it will be difficult to have two teams that you are so passionate about in the same conference. Have you thought about how you're going to deal with the added stress of different pulling loyalties?
M
Mars
hawkwing wrote:
Mars, I imagine it will be difficult to have two teams that you are so passionate about in the same conference. Have you thought about how you're going to deal with the added stress of different pulling loyalties?

Are you kidding me? I don't like Boise State nearly as much as you think I do.



I hope they kill Utah though.
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M
Mars


Where there's smoke there's fire: http://www.fox12idaho.com/Global/story.asp?S=12558741



" When speaking with Boise State Athletic Director Gene Bleymaier, he did not acknowledge that an invite is forthcoming, but I did ask him if he thinks the Mountain West's TV partnerships with the Mtn., CBS College Sports and Versus are beneficial. Bleymaier said, "It certainly hasn't hurt BYU, TCU or Utah in their rankings. And then you look at what they've done in basketball, and they have four teams qualify for the NCAA Tournament... Compared to two from the PAC 10... They're getting some exposure." Bleymaier went on to say the Mountain West reaches 74-million TV viewers, and the 2011 game with Ole Miss will be covered by ESPN regardless of what conference Boise State is a part of. "
G
Guest
Mars wrote:
Mars, I imagine it will be difficult to have two teams that you are so passionate about in the same conference. Have you thought about how you're going to deal with the added stress of different pulling loyalties?

Are you kidding me? I don't like Boise State nearly as much as you think I do.



I hope they kill Utah though.


Just teasing you a little, Mars. I think it's safe to say you're a Cougar first and foremost.
M
Mars


The MWC and WAC Commisioners -close friends- have been talking almost non-stop the past 6 weeks, a very unusual occurance: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/06/03/1215442/mwc-commish-will-have-presidents.html

"Over the last six weeks, Benson said, he and Thompson have had weekly conversations. At no point has Thompson told Benson of his league's intention to invite Boise State. "If they do, I'm sure I will get a phone call immediately," Benson said. Benson has been on both sides of it, placing calls to other commissioners and receiving them. It is part of the business. "Craig is a good friend and a good colleague and will continue to be so regardless of what happens," Benson said.



Boise State's Board has already approved moving to the Mountain West, even though they haven't officially been offerd yet: http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2010/06/03/ccripe/state_board_previously_approved_mountain_west_move_boise_state_s

"If Boise State receives an invite from the Mountain West Conference next week, the school can accept on the spot. The State Board of Education already has approved the move."
C
CannonCougar85
Mars wrote:


Boise State's Board has already approved moving to the Mountain West, even though they haven't officially been offerd yet: http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2010/06/03/ccripe/state_board_previously_approved_mountain_west_move_boise_state_s

"If Boise State receives an invite from the Mountain West Conference next week, the school can accept on the spot. The State Board of Education already has approved the move."


Holy crap...



I hope it happens.



Great Work Mars, thanks for all of the research
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