Press Box
Dave Reardon
Thursday, May 8, 2003
8 may not be enough
for Mountain WestUNLIKE last year, and the year before, talk of expansion by the Mountain West Conference is more than just a few Hawaii and Fresno State fans hearing what they want to hear. This time it really is a topic for serious discussion.
The eight-school MWC has been rightfully hesitant of growth in fear of getting too big for its own good. That is, after all, what did in the old 16-school Western Athletic Conference, which the Breakaway Eight fled in 1999. But now MWC commissioner Craig Thompson says the league will look at the issue of adding new members at its presidents' meeting next month.
Thompson and others seem to be realizing that the Mountain West might have a better chance of achieving BCS status (as well as a juicier TV contract) if it adds a school or two with solid athletic programs.
And the less baggage, the better.
Fresno State looks nice on the surface, with its take-on-the-world-and-sometimes-win football team and a first pick in the NFL draft in its recent history. But with their financial woes (four FSU teams will probably cease to exist next year because of a projected $700,000 deficit) and NCAA rap sheet (former basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian's gift that keeps giving), the Bulldogs shouldn't expect an invite anytime soon -- even though the San Joaquin Valley is where most of the unsubstantiated rumors of MWC expansion came from last year.
Hawaii's problem is the Pacific Ocean, or at least the half of it between the islands and the West Coast. (More later on how the other half could be its saving grace.) Should UH make what many consider a lateral move if it has to pay a huge cover charge just to get in the door, in addition to travel subsidies? Hawaii would rightfully balk, especially since UH feels it brings a solid product to the table, athletically and academically. UH's leverage becomes better once it gets football coach June Jones' contract settled, without breaking the bank ... and the latest vibe is this could happen soon.
Another chip in UH's pile is the ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl. The Mountain West bowl situation is in disarray with the demise of the Seattle Bowl.
And then there's that untapped Asian market Jones keeps talking about, which he sees as Hawaii's to take once he recruits some football-playing Ichiros.
Mr. Frazier, Mr. Dobelle, Mr. Thompson: Let the negotiations begin.
But if there's room for only one to join the party, don't be surprised if it's Boise State. The Broncos are superb in the one sport that counts in this equation: football. Coach Dan Hawkins is charismatic and loyal, and as long as he's around Boise State should be at least on the fringe of the Top 25.
Patrick Ridgell covers BYU for the Provo Herald. I've found him to be careful, not prone to over-speculation or hyperbole. But he's willing to say he foresees a bigger Mountain West, probably in 2005.
"You have more potential for Top 25 teams, and that could help with the BCS," Ridgell said. "The downside would be splitting bowl payouts, but there hasn't been much to split."
It all makes one of the Breakaway Eight's stated reasons for leaving the WAC four years ago pretty ironic: "The inability of the present conference to achieve greater national recognition and TV revenues."
Dave Reardon, who covered sports in Hawaii from 1977 to 1998,
moved to the the Gainesville Sun, then returned to
the Star-Bulletin in Jan. 2000.
E-mail Dave: dreardon@starbulletin.com
