Friday, June 8, 2012

New Mexico St and Idaho's College Football Fate (as well as the fate of the WAC itself)

The WAC is on life support.  It has five members left--old guard (and by old guard I mean 2005 additions; that qualifies as a veteran program in this league) members Idaho and New Mexico St, newcomer private schools Denver and Seattle, and Boise St's Olympic sports.  As it looks now, Idaho and New Mexico St will be left without a football conference.  There are murmurs of trying to get the Southland's top schools to join but its simply too little, too late for this dying league as a football conference.  I thought I'd explore some of the possible scenarios that could play out:

Option A:
The WAC survives as a non-football league.  It requires adding some lack luster programs like Utah Valley and Cal St Bakersfield to do it but they meet the NCAA minimum.  In their infinite kindness the Sunbelt Conference takes in New Mexico St and Idaho as football affiliates, albeit on a short-term contract, so they can get to 12 and host a title game.

Option B:
The same only as option A except that the Sunbelt affiliation doesn't work out for New Mexico St and Idaho.  As FBS independents they are left to fend for themselves.  They scrap out a meager existence playing rent-a-victim games against the big boys, occasionally get a MWC school to play at their places, and scheduling more than just one FCS team.

Option C:
Boise St and their new-found Big East friends work out a deal by which they use the Big West as a conference of convenience.  Boise St goes to the Big West and so does a MWC member (UNLV?, AFA?, Frenso St?) so that the Big East can have their team in their Frankenstein football league.  This move opens up a spot in the MWC and New Mexico St pleads their way in as a full member.  Denver, Seattle, and Idaho are left out in the cold.

Option D:
Same as option C only the Big Sky gets involved and takes in the 3 orphans, or at least Idaho.  Most everyone has a home, albeit not necessarily the ones they had aspired to.

Option E:
Boise finds a conference of convenience (Big West, Big Sky, Summit) but doesn't drag a MWC school with it.  With no opening for New Mexico St to sneak into, both Idaho and NMSU are out in the cold.  They explore FCS options: Idaho and the Big Sky have a 5 minute long phone conversation and the Vandals become an all-sports member.  NMSU however entertains offers from both the Big Sky and Southland before deciding on the Southland do to travel considerations and Texas recruiting.

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