MWC extended invite to Utah State?!?
by Ben Findley on Aug 19, 2010 5:22 PM PDT
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PrintThis afternoon Utah State Athletic Director Scott Barnes revealed in an "open letter" that on Wednesday the MWC extended the Aggies an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference along with Nevada and Fresno State.
When the possibility of BYU leaving became known, MWC leadership contacted three WAC members inquiring about their interest in joining the MWC. Utah State was the first of these three contacts. At the point in time when Utah State was contacted by the MWC we had a binding agreement with the WAC and were well positioned with nine members, which included BYU. We were simply committed to uphold our agreement with fellow WAC members. We respectfully declined MWC interest and believed all WAC members would remain committed to our agreement.
Here is a quote from Utah State AD Scott Barnes had in the Salt Lake Tribune about the offer from the Mountain West:
"We were simply committed to uphold our agreement with fellow WAC members," USU athletic director Scott Barnes said in a statement released Thursday evening. "We respectfully declined MWC interest and believed that all WAC schools were committed to our agreement.
In other news, I just threw up in my mouth. One can only hope that MWC Commissioner Thompson has since sobered on the idea and pulled the offer off the table.
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Yikes.
So unlike the MWC to immediately overreact like that. BYU makes a threat and within hours they were talking to Utah State? There was no contingency plan in place after the Big 12 considered expansion? Or, worse, the contingency plan started with Utah State?
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I call BS
on Utah St. That is a face saving move to make Utah St look wanted. Never happened.
Colorado Rockies correspondent at My Team Rivals (www.mtrmedia.com/rockies) and my own site Rockies Reporter (www.rockiesreporter.wordpress.com) and one of the top Rockies writers at the Bleacher Report.
i'm with you. its a known fact that when we invited boise that five conference usa schools contacted thompson
my guess they were houston, utep, smu, rice and ? somebody. rice is good in baseball. they won the ncaa baseball world series in i think 2005
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Glory favors the bold. Chance favors the prepared mind. Luck, well i have that too. University of Utah goes to the Pac-12 conference in 2011. I expect them to compete immediately for the conference CG. Brock Lesnar will defeat Cain Velasquez. Womens MMA, the next big thing in sports. 2 weeks till the first game of college football. UTAH vs Pitt. September 2nd 2010.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Aug 19, 2010 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions
I tend to think BS as well.
The fact is that the MWC has brutally rebuffed USU on several occasions. It would make no sense for them to invite them, and definately not before Fresno and Nevada. I’d say USU is posturing to give thier fans something to feel good about. They know that the MWC is unlikely to call them out, they have bigger fish to fry. But this way they get to act like the virtuous white knight clinging to thier principles despite strong temptation. Well played USU, but I don’t buy it.
interesting
not surprised they would turn it down if they thought BYU was coming over to the WAC.
I feel bad for Utah State.
First, why would the school make this up? The veracity can be easily ascertained.
Anyway, the poor, noble sumbitches! They finally get their opportunity and turn it down due to misguided feelings of loyalty. Well, that and where are they gonna come up with $5 million shekels? From a certain perspective, this whole thing has been a heartbreaker: you’ve got these schools trying forever to get into a better conference, they finally figure it ain’t never gonna happen just in time to sign a binding contract and then, BAM!, a week later guess what better conference comes a’knockin? It’s like a BYU has instigated some sick prank.
by FeloniousMonk on Aug 19, 2010 5:56 PM PDT reply actions
Plus 10..
..bonus points for the use of the word “shekels”
"Football is a violent game played by violent people, so put a smile on your face, murder in your heart and lets go kick these f***kers in the mouth" -Dick Bumpas, TCU Defensive Coordinator
actually the veracity can't be
there will official denials, as there always is in any negotiations even if it were true.
And..you can’t prove a negative if it’s an out right lie.
Colorado Rockies correspondent at My Team Rivals (www.mtrmedia.com/rockies) and my own site Rockies Reporter (www.rockiesreporter.wordpress.com) and one of the top Rockies writers at the Bleacher Report.
One thought on this...
Utah State in addition to their blind loyalties and naivety I think another contributing factor is that Utah State just doesn’t have the athletic budget to hang in the MWC let alone be able to pay the $5 million dollar penalty (even with assistance from MWC)
"Football is a violent game played by violent people, so put a smile on your face, murder in your heart and lets go kick these f***kers in the mouth" -Dick Bumpas, TCU Defensive Coordinator
I call BS on this for the simple reason of it going against the main goal of the MWC. Television footprints are great, but the most important thing for the MWC is to be a BCS conference, and Utah State kills the average. One would have to check with our friends at BCS Evolution to see how bad it would hurt us, but I imagine it would single-handedly undo the positive points from Nevada and Fresno getting on board.
Yeah
At this point if they are looking to the WAC they should only look at Hawaii at this point. Still not the best choice but if Thompsons plan is to take out the WAC then the next place to look should be Hawaii.
by vaughnzipper on Aug 19, 2010 6:24 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
“Hawaii- putting the West in Mountain West”. I think that swallowing the cost of sending the non-revenue sports to Hawaii would be too rough though, that’s a big part of why the Mega-WAC broke up in the first place. Can’t spread yourself too far.
by HawkeyedFrog on Aug 19, 2010 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions
And for that reason, I can't see the 6-team WAC holding together, even if they add some 1-AA retreads.
In particular, losing Boise and Nevada took away many of their short-travel games. (Fresno to a lesser extend did this as well, especially for Hawaii and SJSU.) If they add Montana, for example, the WAC would be expanding their borders and travel costs without improving their income to match. The Cali state system schools aren’t as hard on the budget, but the short story is that there are no teams available in the interior of the WAC’s footprint that make travel convenient. And that’s already a very thin and spread out conference.
by David Hooper on Aug 19, 2010 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions
fresno traveled 37,000 miles last year. the florida gators around 3700.
big difference.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Glory favors the bold. Chance favors the prepared mind. Luck, well i have that too. University of Utah goes to the Pac-12 conference in 2011. I expect them to compete immediately for the conference CG. Brock Lesnar will defeat Cain Velasquez. Womens MMA, the next big thing in sports. 2 weeks till the first game of college football. UTAH vs Pitt. September 2nd 2010.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Aug 20, 2010 12:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Well, let's read the flipside of this:
If only three were contacted, that means the rest weren’t contacted. That at least eliminates the other WAC schools as potential candidates for expansion to 12. (Well, it does that as much as anything can at this point.)
I'll be fair to USU on one point at least:
They would have made great sense from a travel perspective. They’d be pretty centrally located in the MWC if they were a member.
scary thing is
that Utah State was the first WAC school ofered.
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I bet it was a maneuver to keep BYU.
If they could have pulled USU, perhaps that might have provided incentive for BYU to stay in the MWC where they’d have an in-state rival. At least, that’s the only line of thought that would fit. Not that it is necessarily a good line of thought.
by David Hooper on Aug 19, 2010 6:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I can't speak for BYU administration
but I can tell you most fans I know don’t care one bit about USU, and I highly doubt BYU itself cares all that much, either.
I never thought BYU cared much about USU.
But in trying to figure out why USU got the first call, that’s one of the very few lines of logic I can concoct.
by David Hooper on Aug 19, 2010 8:37 PM PDT up reply actions
to keep another team in Utah?
An attempt to keep the SLC market.
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by Jeremy Mauss on Aug 19, 2010 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Hey, a quick question: how does the Salt Lake market factor into the viewership for The Mtn.?
If the MWC suddenly found itself without any Utah team, how would that affect the conference network? Was the invite perhaps an attempt to salvage the TV network?
I would imagine it is pretty big
Salt lake is second to San Diego in terms of mwc media markets.
Mountain West Connection - The best site for MWC Sports.
UNLV is going all the way this year!
SLC market isn't the issue, the contract is.
There is reportedly a clause in the TV contract that would require the league to renegotiate the contract if both Utah and BYU left the conference. But as far as comparison, the SLC market is 31st in the nation. That’s not the largest in the conference i don’t believe (see San Diego). But BYU and Utah actually deliver thier market, something SDSU can’t claim.
SLC is not the biggest market
as far as media numbers, but they maybe in total interest in the MWC
1)DFW – where the MTN-TV isn’t on cable
2) San Diego
3) Denver
Colorado Rockies correspondent at My Team Rivals (www.mtrmedia.com/rockies) and my own site Rockies Reporter (www.rockiesreporter.wordpress.com) and one of the top Rockies writers at the Bleacher Report.
That's what I'm thinking.
And I still don’t get why USU would falsely claim to have received an invite as well. They’re a professional institution of higher learning, not some jilted junior high schooler claiming they’re too cool to go to the big dance so they turned down the King Jock’s invite. The idea that this is about “saving face” is silly.
by FeloniousMonk on Aug 19, 2010 7:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Want another link?
confirm the WAC/C-USA talks and the Auto Q for a BCS slot. Also UofNew Mexico Pres is interviewed
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/os-college-football-expansion-20100819,0,4134695.story
I’d put it in fan-shots, but I don’t think anyone sees those as I had the big news of the 20 team MWC/C-USA news there, and no one noticed.
Colorado Rockies correspondent at My Team Rivals (www.mtrmedia.com/rockies) and my own site Rockies Reporter (www.rockiesreporter.wordpress.com) and one of the top Rockies writers at the Bleacher Report.
Maybe that's what Patterson was referring to, then.
Call me a curmudgeon on this, but I hope the 20-team thing doesn’t happen. I like the MWC, and I want the MWC to succeed on its own merits.
by David Hooper on Aug 19, 2010 7:55 PM PDT up reply actions
agreed
Just a fly by rumor
Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!
by Jeremy Mauss on Aug 19, 2010 8:00 PM PDT up reply actions
I think
it will be more of a TV deal. A Conference Championship game between two conferences would be of greater value than two from MWC or C-USA could get separately.
The other key part I think is real is the BCS AQ that is potentially available.
Also how much higher of a source do you need than a University President?
University of New Mexico President David Schmidly, whose team is a member of the Mountain West Conference, said in an exclusive interview with the Orlando Sentinel he expects conference realignment to continue nationwide.
Colorado Rockies correspondent at My Team Rivals (www.mtrmedia.com/rockies) and my own site Rockies Reporter (www.rockiesreporter.wordpress.com) and one of the top Rockies writers at the Bleacher Report.
USU Took High Ground
Makes total sense and USU took the shaft. USU was instrumental in BYU agreeing to come into the WAC as a non-football school. USU president initiated and drove the talks with BYU to make the once done deal. Verbal/Written agreement was in place with all WAC schools to bring BYU in. BYU wanted a 5 year commitment from existing WAC schools to agree to move to the WAC. USU would not go back on its verbal agreements especially with BYU since it worked so closely with BYU to get them to the discussion table . Nevada and FSU went against their word and blew the agreement and the conference up.
Of course MWC went after USU in an effort to save BYU. USU was the driving force behind BYU looking at the WAC. USU comes to MWC, BYU stays put. This is a solid in state rivalry with alot of respect on both sides.
Also give USU some credit. They are picked 3rd or 4th in the WAC this football season, right there with Nevada and Fresno. They have put millions into their facilities the past few years. Would be at the top of the MWC in basketball and several other sports. Has dominated the MWC in basketball over the past several years (including BYU and Utah). Makes sense from a travel and natural rivalry standpoint, etc. They would also be one of the stronger academic institutions in the MWC. Ranked towards the top of research 1 institutions in many categories by the recent US News rankings.
USU acted against their own interests
which is always the stupid thing to do. They will now pay the price of irrelevancy as a result.
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, your friendly, neighborhood Oregon Ducks blog
got that right
Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!
by Jeremy Mauss on Aug 19, 2010 8:53 PM PDT up reply actions
their only hope
is the BYU bolts anyway, and the MWC invites them again in order to try and keep their SLC infrastructure in place.
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, your friendly, neighborhood Oregon Ducks blog
Also they are no longer bound by the $5 million release agreement, and would be able to do it, if given the opportunity.
Say what you mean, and say it mean. - Clint Ruin
not sure on that
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by Jeremy Mauss on Aug 19, 2010 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions
I think BYU comes back anyways
not worth it to be in a dying league that the WAC is becoming.
Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!
by Jeremy Mauss on Aug 19, 2010 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions
What are we teaching our children about society and how it functions? Get your own and screw the rest. This is all a function of a BCS driven by greed and money that is driving college sports to new lows. When money and the pursuit of money drive anything including sports, the end result is a system that will suffer with inequity and other problems. College sports can’t continue to thrive under the current environment driven by money. Soon it will be like an boring NBA game that is overly commercialized and lacks the college environment passion that we all love!
by peterson80132 on Aug 19, 2010 8:58 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
what is funny is the bcs wont be around much longer either. jim delaney big ten commissioner.
the most powerful commissioner. he is all business and said if we scrapped the bcs and have a playoff system would could at least double the money we are getting from the current system. my money is on jim and i think espn agrees and since they broadcast the bcs games now they would work with all the commisssioners and make a playoff system happen.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Glory favors the bold. Chance favors the prepared mind. Luck, well i have that too. University of Utah goes to the Pac-12 conference in 2011. I expect them to compete immediately for the conference CG. Brock Lesnar will defeat Cain Velasquez. Womens MMA, the next big thing in sports. 2 weeks till the first game of college football. UTAH vs Pitt. September 2nd 2010.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Aug 20, 2010 12:16 AM PDT up reply actions
we could at least double the money........
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Glory favors the bold. Chance favors the prepared mind. Luck, well i have that too. University of Utah goes to the Pac-12 conference in 2011. I expect them to compete immediately for the conference CG. Brock Lesnar will defeat Cain Velasquez. Womens MMA, the next big thing in sports. 2 weeks till the first game of college football. UTAH vs Pitt. September 2nd 2010.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Aug 20, 2010 12:17 AM PDT reply actions
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