Fresno/UNR to the MWC: We NEED It to Happen

[Deleted]

Has it occurred to anyone else that it's probably not at all coincidental that the rumor about SDSU and UNLV joining BYU in fleeing to the WAC originated from a writer for the San Jose Mercury News?

SJSU is slowly dying. Wait, that's not strong enough. It's gasping for breath. That's sad IMO but considering that Spartans fans have been ignoring the program for years, in my view they have made their bed and should have to sleep in it. Instead if Wilner is correct SJSU has been lobbying CSU Chancellor Charles Reed to force SDSU to return to the WAC. The benefit in that to SJSU is obvious . . . and so is the detriment to SDSU.

Where is Fresno State on this? Well, if the Bulldogs are halfway intelligent, they are doing everything possible to figure out a way to accept what is now a formal offer from the MWC for membership. You know, as opposed to joining SJSU in trying to force SDSU to bail water that is leaking like a sieve into a sinking ship.

So if Fresno accepts the MWC's offer, it's probably going to doom SJSU football. That's too bad but as I say, the Spartans have nobody to blame but themselves. In the meantime, it's going to make it much less likely that BYU will jump ship and go independent for football. And that's good for everybody except probably BYU. And if that happens, I will feel as sorry for BYU as I will feel for SJSU.

[monty]

I just see 10 million reasons those two don't go; if that isn't enforceable, or if something comes by to mitigate it, then that's great; but if not, then it's to the wac.

Anyway you look at it, there appears to be a 4 team block: sdsu, unlv, unr, fresno and I think where they end up is what survives

[aztecmike]

What I dont understand is BYU's apparent willingness to completely screw its non-football programs. They had to know that if they left, the MWC would attempt to raid the WAC leaving its immensely successful basketball program to face off against the likes of LA Tech and New Mexico State. Coach Rose fought cancer to come back to that??

[wakelaunch]

sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5474774

[wakelaunch]

BYU is a sneaky group. I think there are some pending lawsuits that will be filed to allow Fresno and Nevada out of the current deal. If the schools dont like the situation with BYU only being in the conference without football. They should be allowed to leave. Also they could not sign the deal as well blowing the whole thing up.

[aztecfankrishnan]

Here is the link to the ESPN article on this topic sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5474774

What clearly stands out to me is that the offer to Fresno and Nevada (Fresno alone at the minimum) should have been made along with the offer to Boise State. Surely they would have agreed at that time Prior to the $5 million buy-out clause and prior to BYU coming up with their scheme to go independent in Football. As it stands the MWC is going to have to come up with $10 million to implement this new plan. Good luck, but I will remain hopefully.

For SDSU - trading Utah and BYU for Boise State and Fresno State is close to a wash in Football (smaller markets of course). It's a big loss in Basketball; however, being in a strong conference is much less important in basketball. State can dominate the new MWC and still pull top recruits and go dancing every year. Overall the trade would be a huge gain in travel and a big benefit in no longer having the disadvantage of playing away games at such high altitude.

When all is said and done, Utah and BYU could end up on the short-end of this shake up. Utah consistently at the bottom of the Pac 10 and BYU in independent limbo/purgatory.

[Deleted]

Aug 18, 2010 14:39:20 GMT -8 monty said:

Anyway you look at it, there appears to be a 4 team block: sdsu, unlv, unr, fresno and I think where they end up is what survives

I think you and I are on the same page on this.

IF . . . IF . . . IF . . . Did I say IF? . . . the four schools could work in concert, it sure seems to me the would have tremendous clout right now. In other words, as a group, both the WAC and the MWC are desperate to have the four. Enough so that I think if all were to play their cards correctly in unison, they could get the other six members of the MWC (excluding BYU, or course) to pay Fresno and UNR's exit penalty from the WAC. I mean, what choice do those six have? Because if they refuse, it looks like they're going to have a 6-member conference with little chance to have the likes of Houston come in considering the volatility of the whole thing.

(God, I love this stuff.)

[aztecmike]

BYU to the West Coast Conference??? Well I guess we'd still have a chance to dress in our white shirts...we'd just have to do it at the Phat Farm (aka Jenny Craig Pavilian)

[Frantic]

For the MWC to move this quickly with invites means it has known about - or at least anticipated - BYU's intentions for some time.

[Deleted]

bottomline reporting Fresno and Nevada accept invites to MWC

[monty]

Aug 18, 2010 14:54:55 GMT -8 @sleepinggiantsfan said:

Aug 18, 2010 14:39:20 GMT -8 monty said:

Anyway you look at it, there appears to be a 4 team block: sdsu, unlv, unr, fresno and I think where they end up is what survives

I think you and I are on the same page on this.

IF . . . IF . . . IF . . . Did I say IF? . . . the four schools could work in concert, it sure seems to me the would have tremendous clout right now. In other words, as a group, both the WAC and the MWC are desperate to have the four. Enough so that I think if all were to play their cards correctly in unison, they could get the other six members of the MWC (excluding BYU, or course) to pay Fresno and UNR's exit penalty from the WAC. I mean, what choice do those six have? Because if they refuse, it looks like they're going to have a 6-member conference with little chance to have the likes of Houston come in considering the volatility of the whole thing.

(God, I love this stuff.)

Boise is attached as well (as they should be because these 4 are calling the shots now)

The New Gang of 5:
SDSU, Fresno
UNLV, UNR
Boise State