[ WAC ]
Conference could lose
LaTech or UTEP
Eight is not enough for the Western Athletic Conference.
It is possible that Louisiana Tech or Texas-El Paso could leave the WAC within the next few weeks. Various speculative reports point toward Conference USA inviting one of those schools to join its league so it can get to 12, the number needed to have a football conference-championship game.
The WAC has already dealt with the impending departure of Rice, Southern Methodist and Tulsa in 2005 by adding Utah State and New Mexico State, which will bring the conference up to nine schools.
Commissioner Karl Benson said the league won't hesitate to bring in at least one other school, especially if it loses LaTech or UTEP. North Texas and Louisiana Lafayette have been mentioned as candidates.
"It's safe to say Conference USA is looking to expand, and if they extend an offer to Louisiana Tech, they would say yes," Benson said in a phone interview last week. "We have established that eight is not a number in our best interest. We would want an additional member, a minimum of one."
The continued game of who's in and who's out can't be helping the WAC's ongoing negotiations with ESPN for a new television contract. The previous three-year deal lapsed at the end of basketball season.
"It's an ongoing process and the proceedings have gone beyond the original time frame," Benson said.
Each WAC school made around $50,000 per year from the old contract, a small amount compared to TV deals for schools in other conferences.