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Sidelines Kalani Simpson |
UTEP’s defection
a terrible lossWELL, it happened, no surprise. Another one, gone. This time, it's Texas-El Paso that has left the Western Athletic Conference in its dust, another Clint Eastwood to the WAC's Alcatraz.
This is a time for sober reflection. Clear thinking. Deep breaths and logical deliberation and assessing the situation with a rational, calculated thought process.
That's for you.
Me, I'm panicking.
This is terrible. And perhaps that's the worst part about it, that's how bad it has gotten, that you can say, "this is terrible" at the loss of UTEP.
It is in times of crisis like this that I always turn to WAC commish Karl Benson.
"We are certainly disappointed in UTEP's decision to leave the WAC," the commish said in his official statement, "but the WAC has a solid foundation of schools that will continue to compete at the highest levels of college athletics. The WAC is committed to being the best conference among those that do not have automatic bids to BCS bowls and if the recent past is any indication, then the future for the WAC and its continuing members is very bright."
See, he always cheers me up.
Except for one thing: The rest of the WAC is left sitting bitterly at this news, thinking only one thing:
Well-played.
Maybe that's the worst part about this, that today every other school wishes it were UTEP.
And this conference remains maddeningly far-flung, and its quality has just been diluted. Again. By losing UTEP.
Not a good day.
And now here's UTEP President Dr. Diana Natalicio, who actually said, out loud, for public consumption, in a university release, "UTEP is very pleased to have the opportunity to join its fellow WAC institutions, SMU, Rice and Tulsa, as new members of Conference USA in 2005."
Ouch. Nice of you to point out the other recent defections there, Doc. Way to give the WAC a swift kick to the groin on your way out.
She should have just gone with "Nanny-nanny-boo-boo."
And then there was, "This is a great move for us," said UTEP AD Bob Stull. (Translation: "Suckers!")
And from new UTEP coach Mike Price: "We're leaving one really good, competitive football conference and going to another one." (Translation: "Roll Tide! It's rolling, baby!")
You really can't blame them. It's a great move. One that finally makes sense.
Geographic proximity? What a concept!
But this is not the time for lying down, but for getting up. And nobody gets back up like Benson. I have no doubt he'll attack this thing with unbridled optimism. He attacks everything with unbridled optimism.
That's his plan.
Me, I'm panicking.
Things are bad when it's bad that you lose UTEP. It's not a good conference if everybody wants out. All the faces have changed now. Hawaii is the only old hand left.
Now is the time to come up with a savvy backup plan to keep the WAC competing "at the highest levels of college athletics."
Somebody call Middle Tennessee State.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Kalani Simpson can be reached at ksimpson@starbulletin.com