BYU Is The Key To The WAC Five Million Dollar Exit Penalty

by Jeremy Mauss on Aug 31, 2010 10:38 AM PDT in Conference Expansion

There has been some confusion regarding Nevada and Fresno State paying the $5 million buyout because last week it was said (or interpreted by me) that the penalty was null and void, but then yesterday Karl Benson came out strong and said both schools will pay the fee and can not leave the WAC for two seasons which would leave them there through the 2012-2013 season. Then this very topic was brought up in the comment section in a recent post that the penalty is only enforceable if BYU joined the league, and that is something that is not finalized:

The WAC's resolution, obtained by The Tribune last week, indicates that if BYU does not come to a written agreement with the conference by Wednesday, the terms of the agreement, including the $5 million buyout, are void.

The agreement reads: "In the event that no written agreement is executed by BYU on or before September 1, 2010, which agreement will include the obligations contained in paragraphs 3-6 of this Resolution and any additional provisions agreed to by this Board, then this Resolution is terminated."

So, Fresno State and Nevada may be out in the clear if BYU does not join the WAC by Wednesday, and thus leave the WAC with only six teams and in a rush to add more teams. If somehow Nevada and Fresno State can leave the league by the end of this academic year then the WAC will be in a real hurry to add some extra teams. Just expect a lot of lawyerin' going on.

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Comments

"Terminated" is not the same thing as "void"

If Fresno and Nevada agreed to leave before the agreement terminated on September 1. One would have to look at the agreement to see for sure. Is it available online?

If you terminate your lease in September, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay the rent from before the lease was terminated in August.

by Texas Wahoo on Aug 31, 2010 2:22 PM PDT reply actions

here is the details

here ya go

http://www.mwcconnection.com/2010/8/24/1648916/wac-corporate-resolution-shows

Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!

by Jeremy Mauss on Aug 31, 2010 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, looks like we're going to find out.

Since BYU is not signing anything with the WAC.

Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.

by displacedute on Aug 31, 2010 5:03 PM PDT reply actions

lol

the teams leaving the WAC and joining the MWC dodn’t even get a lateral transfer at this point. Instead of TCU and Boise both getting to go to a BCS bowl in future years, they’re going to have to fight for one. this is fail all around on the part of the MWC. you have a terrible TV deal executed by him, you have to split said terrible TV revenues with even MORE teams now, you have a weaker conference today than yesterday, and you now have no shot at becoming a BCS conference.

Boise State lost big time on their move. if they were smart, they’d convince Nevada and Fresno State to join them in going back to the WAC and leave the MWC to scramble.

by GoalieLax on Sep 1, 2010 9:23 AM PDT reply actions

Why would the WAC be an improvement?

Even without BYU, the MWC TV deal is worth 3x the WAC TV deal and the conference is significantly better.

Minus BSU, Fresno and Nevada, here are the “rest” of the conferences (in order of football success):

MWC
1- TCU (23-3 over the past two years)
2- AF (16-10 over the past two years)
3- CSU (10-15 over the past two years)
4- UW (11-14 over the past two years)
5- UNLV (10-14 over the past two years, looking up)
6- SDSU (6-18 over the past two years, Hoke seems to have them moving in the right direction)
7- UNM (5-19 over the past two years, Locksley has been a disaster)

Two-year record for the 2011 MWC teams (without the new additions): 81-93 or .466 winning percentage.

WAC:
1- Hawaii (13-14 over the past two years)
2- Idaho (yes, IDAHO is the second-best football team in the WAC right now based on the bowl game last year, 10-15 over the past two years)
3- LA Tech (12-15)
4- USU (7-17 but on the upswing)
5- SJSU (8-16)
6- NMSU (6-19)

Total record for the remaining WAC teams over the past two years: 56-96 or a .368 winning percentage. Notice that with 1 fewer schools they have actually 3 more losses and 25 fewer wins.

So the MWC is a better conference for football, especially at the top. Basketball, well . . UNLV (8seed), SDSU (11 seed) and UNM (3 seed) all made the tourney last year. How many WAC teams made it? 2 USU and NMSU (both 12 seeds, NMSU probably wouldn’t have made it without winning the WAC tourney).

Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.

by displacedute on Sep 1, 2010 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions