Western States Football

[CStop]

What the hell is going on out there? BYU feels bad about not getting a BCS conference invite and wants to go independent. They think they have worked it out and then their current conference comes in and steals the next two best schools in the WAC. The WAC is on life support and BYU looks like it will be playing in the WCC in all sports outside of football.

BYU should have just shut up and stayed put for a bit longer. Everyone knows we'll be doing this again in 4-5 years.

[RandytheHelpfulPineapple]

Re: Western States Football

[quote author=CStop link=topic=545.msg6098#msg6098 date=1282232406]
What the hell is going on out there? BYU feels bad about not getting a BCS conference invite and wants to go independent. They think they have worked it out and then their current conference comes in and steals the next two best schools in the WAC. The WAC is on life support and BYU looks like it will be playing in the WCC in all sports outside of football.

BYU should have just shut up and stayed put for a bit longer. Everyone knows we'll be doing this again in 4-5 years.
[/quote]

BYU knows this. It wants to be a free agent when the shit hits the fan-- no buyouts or waiting periods. Plus, it fancies itself a Notre Dame like commodity-- this allows them to play a more national schedule.

[RandytheHelpfulPineapple]

Re: Western States Football

Double post, but this is an excellent write up by FranktheTank:

BYU

I never thought about it, but both Utah schools are now BCS eligible. Hatch got his wish and the MWC won't be AQ any time soon.

[RandytheHelpfulPineapple]

Re: Western States Football

It looks like the WAC tried to do a sneak attack to dismantle the MWC and got caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Here's an interesting breakdown of what happened:

WAC vs. MWC

[samandbendrivemetodrink]

Re: Western States Football

[quote author=RandytheHelpfulPineapple link=topic=545.msg8591#msg8591 date=1283190847]
It looks like the WAC tried to do a sneak attack to dismantle the MWC and got caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Here's an interesting breakdown of what happened:

WAC vs. MWC
[/quote]

This is hilarious. I interned at the WAC and was there when the "better" 8 schools revolted and left to form the MWC. Karl Benson was still the commissioner back then.....the look of pure anger on his face the day we got wind of this still haunts me to this day. He was totally blindsided by all of it to say the least. He SO wanted to get back at them with this failed plan.

[Jayhawker]

Re: Western States Football

Reading that, it's a bit disturbing how much influence ESPN seemed to directly have in these discussions. Negotiating a TV deal is one thing, but actively attempting to move a school to another conference is a bit excessive.

[RandytheHelpfulPineapple]

Re: Western States Football

[quote author=Jayhawker link=topic=545.msg8723#msg8723 date=1283280907]
Reading that, it's a bit disturbing how much influence ESPN seemed to directly have in these discussions. Negotiating a TV deal is one thing, but actively attempting to move a school to another conference is a bit excessive.
[/quote]

Who do you think saved the Big 12 from destruction? The networks have millions of dollars at stake-- they want to make sure things go their way. Beebe's new deal was centered on a concession from the networks renegotiating. The end result? No Pac 16 network.

The tv networks like the conferences weak, because they can then dictate terms. Strong conferences with controlling interests in their own network (Big 10, Pac 16) represent a threat.

[RandytheHelpfulPineapple]

Re: Western States Football

The WAC is filing a lawsuit against Nevada, Fresno State and the MWC due to their early exits from the WAC.

It keeps getting better and better

[CStop]

Re: Western States Football

I guess if you are down to 6 (and probably 5 after Hawaii bolts), you have to do something.