This is going to get me flamed by Okie, but that's okay.
The WAC, as you all know, lost Boise State. Boise State has carried that conference over the last 10 years. Since 2000 the Broncos have won the conference seven times. Absurd! In those seven years the Broncos have lost one... ONE freaking conference game. Now that the Broncos, the face of the WAC is gone, who's going to carry the flag for that conference? More importantly, how is that WAC going to stay relevant and on anyone's radar? The WAC HAS to expand.. they have no choice. They can't lose Boise State and just say, "oh well, ho hum." Right now the WAC, as I see it, is a complete toss-up. In 2012 I honestly have no idea who could win that conference.. I would say it's anyone's game except NMSU, USU, and SJSU. But that's not a good thing.. there's no single dominant team in that conference past Boise. Fresno is the closest you've got, but in years past they've really just been plodding along w/ 4-5 losses per season. Hawaii has spectacular season in the last 10, and enjoy the benefit of playing most of their games at home.
So what I'm getting at.. what does the WAC do? They have to expand.. who do they take in? Million dollar question. I don't see Houston moving from CUSA to the WAC. This leaves FCS teams.. does the WAC gamble its reputation on FCS schools? I don't see them having any choice. On their list is Montana, Sacramento State, Portland State, Texas State, Texas-San Antonio, and Lamar. Maybe Cal Poly. UTSA and Lamar are just starting their teams this season, but UTSA already has games vs. Arizona, AZ St, and another couple BCS teams scheduled (2015/16'ish).
Montana seems like a great choice, but the Missoula TV market is not exactly a big one, but the Griz have a very loyal and very well traveling fan base all over the West. Plus Montana's running low on cash to make the move.
Texas State would help, but need some facilities improvements.
Sacramento State would bring a nice TV market, but no one in Sacramento cares about the Hornets.. I'm not even sure that Hornet students care about the Hornets. Weird commuter school.. but they sponsor a ton of athletics teams, a few of which are part of the WAC already. But hard to get people to watch the Hornets with UC-Davis, Cal, and Stanford close by.
Portland State would be a great TV market, and have the facilities for the WAC (basketball would have to move to a diff arena). Plus it would keep the WAC in the Pacific Northwest, important recruiting area. But.. like SacSt, no one cares about the Vikings in Portland.. their focus is on Oregon and Oregon State. Also a commuter school.
UTSA would be a great get for the WAC. New program, so unproven, but you get a Texas TV market, a great football stadium, and a ton of potential. However, they aren't ready for the WAC yet. Lamar falls here too.
Cal Poly.. nice facilities, but a small TV market. I really don't know too much about the Mustangs other than they come to Missoula every other year and get beat. But.. would Poly become a full WAC member, their basketball I believe is played in the Great West. You could lump UC-Davis in here too.
Soooo... what's the WAC to do?
The WAC, as you all know, lost Boise State. Boise State has carried that conference over the last 10 years. Since 2000 the Broncos have won the conference seven times. Absurd! In those seven years the Broncos have lost one... ONE freaking conference game. Now that the Broncos, the face of the WAC is gone, who's going to carry the flag for that conference? More importantly, how is that WAC going to stay relevant and on anyone's radar? The WAC HAS to expand.. they have no choice. They can't lose Boise State and just say, "oh well, ho hum." Right now the WAC, as I see it, is a complete toss-up. In 2012 I honestly have no idea who could win that conference.. I would say it's anyone's game except NMSU, USU, and SJSU. But that's not a good thing.. there's no single dominant team in that conference past Boise. Fresno is the closest you've got, but in years past they've really just been plodding along w/ 4-5 losses per season. Hawaii has spectacular season in the last 10, and enjoy the benefit of playing most of their games at home.
So what I'm getting at.. what does the WAC do? They have to expand.. who do they take in? Million dollar question. I don't see Houston moving from CUSA to the WAC. This leaves FCS teams.. does the WAC gamble its reputation on FCS schools? I don't see them having any choice. On their list is Montana, Sacramento State, Portland State, Texas State, Texas-San Antonio, and Lamar. Maybe Cal Poly. UTSA and Lamar are just starting their teams this season, but UTSA already has games vs. Arizona, AZ St, and another couple BCS teams scheduled (2015/16'ish).
Montana seems like a great choice, but the Missoula TV market is not exactly a big one, but the Griz have a very loyal and very well traveling fan base all over the West. Plus Montana's running low on cash to make the move.
Texas State would help, but need some facilities improvements.
Sacramento State would bring a nice TV market, but no one in Sacramento cares about the Hornets.. I'm not even sure that Hornet students care about the Hornets. Weird commuter school.. but they sponsor a ton of athletics teams, a few of which are part of the WAC already. But hard to get people to watch the Hornets with UC-Davis, Cal, and Stanford close by.
Portland State would be a great TV market, and have the facilities for the WAC (basketball would have to move to a diff arena). Plus it would keep the WAC in the Pacific Northwest, important recruiting area. But.. like SacSt, no one cares about the Vikings in Portland.. their focus is on Oregon and Oregon State. Also a commuter school.
UTSA would be a great get for the WAC. New program, so unproven, but you get a Texas TV market, a great football stadium, and a ton of potential. However, they aren't ready for the WAC yet. Lamar falls here too.
Cal Poly.. nice facilities, but a small TV market. I really don't know too much about the Mustangs other than they come to Missoula every other year and get beat. But.. would Poly become a full WAC member, their basketball I believe is played in the Great West. You could lump UC-Davis in here too.
Soooo... what's the WAC to do?
7 times in 9 years sounds wonky.