THERE is an intriguing tug-of-war developing between the athletic directors and the presidents of the Western Athletic Conference that could leave one faction face down in the mud. Ever-changing WAC
could leave UH adriftAt league meetings held two weeks ago in Tucson, Ariz., the league's athletic directors thumbed their collective noses at the university presidents by recommending two permanent eight-team divisions.
The presidents vetoed a similar plan three years ago in favor of the current quadrant system that has the Mountain and Pacific divisions changing dance partners in football every two seasons.
The presidents didn't like the idea of two permanent divisions because teams in this unwieldy conference, flung across America like the careless brush stroke of a young painter, would rarely cross paths.
They believed the rotating quadrants would allow the schools to socialize and keep the 16-team WAC from suffering an identity crisis. After all, why have a league where member schools could conceivably never play one another?
For the athletic directors, who are charged with balancing the books, it was an impractical formula for an unworkable equation. When you have Oklahoma and Texas on one end, and Hawaii on the other, learning how air fares work is more important than Title IX.
THE league's directors never really bought into the presidents' plan and have been looking into alternative proposals ever since. Their newest brainstorm originally was conceived by the basketball coaches. It has Hawaii teamed with Utah, BYU, UNLV, Fresno State, San Diego State, San Jose State and the Air Force Academy.
The basketball coaches floated this idea last year, but their cries for help went down with the ship. The real question is why this proposal is more palpable to the presidents this time around.
Next month, they are scheduled to review the plan, that if approved, would take effect in the year 2000. But don't be surprised if the athletic directors fail to complete this most forward of passes. While they have a powerful voice, they won't be casting any votes.
The presidents might be a little reticent to resend their plan. For one thing, the athletic directors can't claim a united front. Not everyone is happy with the format that puts Air Force in the West and neighbors Colorado State and Wyoming in the East.
These schools form a strong triad. Wyoming is a charter member, Colorado State is the league's brightest star in football and Air Force has the national recognition the WAC can't afford to hand off. Falcons football coach Fisher DeBerry called the plan ludicrous.
NEW Mexico athletic director Rudy Davalos, who fought hard to keep his school and Texas-El Paso from winding up in different divisions, said you have to expect these disagreements when 16 teams are involved.
His thinly veiled message is this: Expansion was an ill-advised move. A size 16 dress would be a more stylish fit at a size 12. That possible alteration is as plausible as two permanent eight-team divisions. Just look at how many different formats have been used the past few years in football, basketball and baseball. Not exactly a model of stability.
Which should give Hawaii cause for concern. When a conference is still evolving like a Big Island volcano, who's to say schools out on the edge won't be cast adrift? There are no natural rivalries for Hawaii or Tulsa. San Jose State is struggling to make it financially and Rice University is the weakest of the three former Southwest Conference schools.
Granted, this reduction to 12 teams isn't a reality -- yet. But when a conference is changing faces as rapidly as this one, it would behoove UH president Kenneth Mortimer and athletic director Hugh Yoshida to have a plan in place that keeps the WAC from someday sending Hawaii somewhere over the rainbow.
Paul Arnett has been covering sports
for the Star-Bulletin since 1990.