Friday, October 19, 2001
THE IRONY IS NOT LOST on Karl Benson. In a recent "Ask the Commissioner" feature on the Western Athletic Conference Web site a question was posed by a Honolulu resident: Proposals no
concern to WACBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.com"Does the WAC have any plans to expand beyond 10 teams?"
Benson replied that the league will remain at 10 for the "foreseeable future.''
The future for some conferences, however, could be just three years away. When the NCAA Management Council meets next week in Indianapolis, the main focus will be new standards for Division I-A football teams that could be put into effect as early as the 2004 season.
However, Benson said the WAC should not be affected by any proposed changes and does not anticipate losing any of its member schools.
"The WAC supports the new standards," Benson said last night in a call from his Colorado home. "We think they are fair and we're confident that all of our member institutions can meet the standards."
The WAC is one of four conferences being looked at, according to a report yesterday on ESPN.com. Five of its teams -- Texas-El Paso, Rice, San Jose State, Boise State and Louisiana Tech -- don't meet the standards at present.
The new proposal eliminates a conference exemption that allows leagues with at least six schools to maintain Division I-A status if half of the league members meet either of the current requirements -- averaging 17,000 fans per game over a four-year period or having a stadium that seats at least 30,000.
The changes would also require schools to award 90 percent of the 85-scholarship limit in football and 200 scholarships in all sports totaling at least $4 million, sponsor a minimum of 16 varsity sports -- eight of which are women's sports.
Among the stipulations to keep a school at the I-A level would be home attendance -- an average of 15,000 -- and a minimum of five regular-season home games against I-A opponents each season. As many as 20 of the 115 teams could be downgraded, Council Management chair Chris Harris said.
The WAC school mentioned as being under the most scrutiny is San Jose State. The Spartans have had just one home game this year, which drew 8,329.
Also, WAC members Texas-El Paso and Louisiana Tech do not offer enough women's sports. But "they're just one sport away," said Benson.
The council is expected to send the proposal to its full membership. No final decision is expected until at least spring.
The WAC concludes its winter meetings today in Denver.
"We're finally at the stage where we're planning for the future," he said, "rather than reacting to the past. We have no crisis, no issues that are pressing.
"We're finally back to doing things like long-range planning, marketing promotions and looking at ways to fine-tune things."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.