Is Utah Coming Back to the MWC?

by Redhawk on Aug 20, 2010 11:22 AM PDT

This is being promoted from the fanshot section to the front page

The San Francisco Examiner has this to say about a possible block of Colorado and Utah to the Pac-10:

The expansion of the Pac-10 Conference to include Colorado and Utah is not set in stone. It’s meeting some strong opposition, most notably from former UCLA chancellor Chuck Young, who is still on the Knight’s Commission for intercollegiate athletics.

The article points out concerns with adding Colorado and Utah. The main one is everyone wants an annual trip to South Cali. Which is pretty impossible to set up, unless you split USC and UCLA.

Also there are questions about the TV package that the 12-Pac would get, in wither it would be enough to pay for adding 2 more teams. Which is what I've been saying for a long time with the Big IIX...adding 2 more teams you have to add a significant amount of TV money to make the division of the pie work. And Colorado and Utah, aren't those types of teams or markets.

First before any gets too freaked out, this is from a FORMER chancellor..not a current one, and he's just an adviser. It would be assumed that all these concerns were laid out and known about prior to inviting these two schools.

However, in the Pac-10 to admit a new school, they have to have 100% unanimous vote. Only one no vote and it all unravels, and that official vote hasn't happened yet

Part of me thinks this might actually come undone. Pac-10 expansion was never about CU with Denver, and Utah with Salt Lake City. It was about getting UofTexas and it's following and the state of Texas TV's

Now if this DOES come undone and just ONE Pac-10 schools votes no when the official vote comes, what happens then? Would CU rescind their petition to leave the Big 12 or is it too late? If they could back out of leaving, and it turns out they are still a member of the Big IIX than I would assume the Big 12 would have to take Utah, and go to 12 teams with Utah replacing Nebraska.

If Colorado can't get back in to the Big 12, and are already out.....CU and Utah might just be the homeless or hoping to join the Mountain West Conference. Like the Pac-10...adding Colorado and Utah wouldn't add enough TV money to the Big IIX to warrant cutting the pie 12 ways vs cutting it 10 ways.

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except one VERY important detail :

This is all bogus. The Pac-10 already held a press conference at both schools and in both cases contracts were signed (which If I understand correctly have to be approved by all presidents and chancellors). No doubt this is an attempt by an crusty old Pac-10 official (or dare I say cougar hacker). This story has no basis whatsoever.

by GambitUte on Aug 20, 2010 12:33 PM PDT reply actions

well, there would be lawsuits and claims of damages from Colorado and Utah. Would it be worth it to the Pac-10 to fight those or come to a settlement and still not take the 2?

Actually I think in that question and the amounts is the chance of this happening or not happening as the case maybe.

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by Redhawk on Aug 20, 2010 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Welcome to Pac 10 politics

The Cali schools plus UW try to push the rest of us around. I personally don’t think this has any legs the contracts are signed. This also doesn’t address the fact that getting Utah had everything to do with creating a championship game and nothing to do with Texas. Remember that Utah was invited after the Texas deal fell through.

Say what you mean, and say it mean. - Clint Ruin

by QuackinAK on Aug 20, 2010 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions

It would nice to see Utah get turned by the Pac-10 for every other MWC fan.

But for Utah it wouldn’t, that would suck. Other than that, if Utah and CU do get rejected by the Pac, do we kick out an MWC member to make room for CU? I don’t think so… CU has to go to the WAC? ouch, from the Big 12 to the Pac 12 to the WAC…

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by rebelfan1 on Aug 20, 2010 12:43 PM PDT reply actions

If I were Utah and Colorado

I’d be real nervous until the official vote was done. I don’t think the Pac-10 could back out now…no matter the level of buyer’s remorse (which I think they have in spades)….but it is a small possibility

by Redhawk on Aug 20, 2010 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions

If I . . .

Were peddling this nonsense I’d be nervous someone might read it.

by Aardvark on Aug 21, 2010 3:31 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I'm not disputing for a minute we weren't the Pac-10 first choice

Hell , I won’t even deny we need them a lot more than they need us but the fact is the Pac-10 wanted to expand to have a conference championship game. When Texas slammed the door on them, they went to plan B. Even though the SLC and Denver markets are not as valuable as Big-12 schools markets, the move allows the Pac -10 more revenue for the CCG. Just because one FORMER chancellor is crusty about the move (along with a lame sports writer who agrees with him) doesn’t mean we should have cause to worry. This will blow over quickly, trust me.

by GambitUte on Aug 20, 2010 12:57 PM PDT reply actions

I would add to this

That getting Utah was also a strategic move, for future expansion. We already had CU, who would need a travel partner (and potential rival). This also puts 2 more teams in the Mountain Time Zone (in addition to the AZ schools). The most important thing besides the championship game, is that it positions the Pac 10 well for future expansion when the Big 12-2 ultimately fails.

Say what you mean, and say it mean. - Clint Ruin

by QuackinAK on Aug 20, 2010 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions

If the Big 12 fails,

and then the Pac – 16 happens, what four teams will come over from Big 12 this time? I would guess UT, TT, OSU, and OU.

by mjtig on Aug 21, 2010 1:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Let's not forget one important fact

This guy is connected to UCLA and UCLA sucks.

Signed,

a USC Law grad

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by marktgarten on Aug 20, 2010 2:15 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

ZERO chance

this ship has already sailed.

--Dave

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by David Piper on Aug 20, 2010 3:14 PM PDT reply actions

some old UCLA

guy is bitter and is daydreaming about the old days.

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by Jeremy Mauss on Aug 20, 2010 3:15 PM PDT reply actions

A former UCLA chancellor opposes the expansion?

Too bad. Done deal, papers signed, press conference done. This isn’t even newsworthy.

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by Michael Rueckert on Aug 20, 2010 4:22 PM PDT reply actions

Larry Scott had permission to execute a plan

He followed that plan.

The deal is done.

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by utesfan100 on Aug 20, 2010 9:28 PM PDT reply actions

Besides...

I fail to see how Utah is “academically inferior” to UCLA. Stanford, sure. USC, maybe. But UCLA… naw.

As for Utah and CU being “univited”, that’s just goofy nonsense. Some things you can’t take back. Although I am a little concerned considering Utah’s partial membership status. Has anyone actually seen the contract? Who knows what kind of clauses and conditions were written into it.

by FeloniousMonk on Aug 20, 2010 9:34 PM PDT reply actions

This is what I get for talking without research

and going off of my own assumptions:

http://www.topuniversities.com/university/87/university-of-california-los-angeles-ucla

I had no idea UCLA was such a well-respected, highly regarded school. The one time I visited there (like 10 years ago) it seemed like an average state school. I don’t follow school rankings (obviously) and only have a basic knowledge of matters concerning school prestige and the like. This is another reminder to do some research before spouting off. Live and learn. :)

by FeloniousMonk on Aug 21, 2010 7:16 AM PDT up reply actions