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Monday, June 5, 2000

WAC not
looking back after
bitter breakup

Instead, Western Athletic
Conference officials will talk
about the future after a year
that saw its teams thrive

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

San Jose State advancing to the College World Series, Tulsa University making it to the Final Eight in the NCAA basketball tournament and three football teams invited to postseason bowl games are good reasons to believe the Western Athletic Conference survived its divorce a year ago.

The fledgling Mountain West Conference also had three bowl teams in football and three move on in men's basketball, but it's fair to say the WAC made a better account of itself.

"This is the first time in our conference history that we've done as well as we have in those three major sports and I think that's a testament considering the eight teams that left us for dead last year," WAC commissioner Karl Benson said yesterday from South Lake Tahoe, Nev., where he is taking part in the Council of Presidents meeting. "We've had a banner season."

Perhaps that's why league presidents are reluctant to do any major tweaking by adding two more teams. Benson feels expansion is in the best interest of a conference that needed a drive-through window the past five years to handle all the comings and goings. But he conceded he doesn't have enough votes entering today's opening round of three-day talks.

This year, the WAC welcomes the University of Nevada and says goodbye to Conference USA-bound Texas Christian in May. By this time next summer, Boise State and Louisiana Tech will be on board, making the league a 10-team conference

Benson wanting to add Utah State and New Mexico State to the mix may seem more unwieldy, but in his mind, forming a pair of six-team divisions similar to that of the Southeastern Conference is the way to go on several levels.

In this plan, the East Division would have Southern Methodist, Rice, Texas-El Paso, Tulsa, Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State. The West Division would be Utah State, Nevada, Boise State, Fresno State, San Jose State and the University of Hawaii.

Benson believes linking these teams together into two divisions makes economic sense from a travel standpoint, will help develop more realistic rivalries and allow the WAC to have a conference championship game in football.

"We may even lean to having the East Division winner go to a bowl game in that part of the country and a West Division winner to play close to home," Benson said. "I know I don't have enough votes right now, but that could change. To me, it's important for the long-range health of our league to take a look at forming two six-team divisions."

Benson denied yesterday that if the presidents didn't agree with him that it would be tantamount to his resigning.

"But I do want to see what the long-range thinking is and how that fits into what I feel is best for the WAC in the long run," Benson said.

Benson, 48, also has been linked to the vacant athletic director's job at Washington State. He went to high school in Pullman, Wash., but Benson reiterated yesterday that he did not apply for the position and hasn't been contacted by Washington State officials about it.

"I'm waiting to see what happens this week before I determine my future," Benson said. "I believe expansion is still a possibility and that needs to be discussed over the next few days."

As many as four presidents -- including UH's Ken Mortimer who met with Benson last night -- are more concerned with stability rather than expansion. Fresno State, SMU and UTEP also are aligned with Mortimer.

Reports over the weekend in the Fresno Bee have Fresno State and Hawaii linked to the Mountain West Conference should that eight-team league decide to expand to 10 in three years.

The Bulldogs have kept friendly relations with their former WAC schools.

With Mortimer stepping down as UH president, look for the Rainbows to start scheduling the likes of Nevada-Las Vegas, San Diego State and Brigham Young. In 2001, the Air Force Academy is scheduled to play Hawaii in a nonconference football game.

Mortimer is a strong ally to the WAC, but that might not be the thinking in the athletic department.

UH head football coach June Jones wants several of the Mountain West schools to be on future schedules. He also believes the Rainbows need a backup plan in place -- including the possibility of being an independent in football -- should the WAC dissolve.

"And that's fair," Benson said. "With all the turmoil the past few years, each university should keep all of its options open."