Saving the WAC...time to pull the plug.

Updated 4/29


CBS reports that C-USA will add North Texas, FIU, UTSA and Louisiana Tech.  This afternoon, USU athletic director indicated, without making and official announcement, that Utah State is ready to accept a bid to join the Mountain West Conference "within weeks."  Of course, San Jose State will likely join them.  But then, he had to backtrack.

Now the WAC appears to be in the "I, Me, Mine" stage.  (For those of you not old enough to remember the Beatles breaking up, that was the last song that they recorded...and it was without John Lennon who had already unofficially left the band.)  This puts the big MW at 10 members and leaves 2 slots open for Boise State and San Diego State to return.  While C-USA returns to 12.  This leaves the WAC with only three football members for 2013.  The WAC is without a commissioner and without a counter plan.  It is time for "Paul" (metaphorically speaking) to pull the plug.

As a football conference, the Western Athletic Conference is now unofficially finished.  It may be finished as a basketball conference as well.  There are only a few questions that remain.

1.  Where does Idaho put their football program?  They would likely be welcomed back to the Big Sky Conference, and perhaps that is where they belong.  That will be a tough pill for the Vandal Nation to accept...it is a step down.  It's like English Soccer has come to college football.  But since they have been unsuccessful in luring Montana and other Big Sky rivals to the WAC, that is the pill that they will have to swallow.

2.  Is the WAC finished as a basketball conference?  That appears to be in jeapardy as well.  They need eight schools to keep the NCAA automatic bid, and are now down to six basketball school.

What the WAC should do now?

I had some ideas, but without a commissioner, none of them will come to fruition.  The most important thing for the WAC to do today is to hire a commissioner who will provide leadership and a clear direction.  Without that, there will be no more WAC.  Time to write the epitath.

Where the WAC football members appear to be heading.

Idaho--No plans nor options announced nor rumored at this time.  If the WAC folds, likely that the Vandals will return to the FCS and the Big Sky Conference.  They could join the Sun Belt for football, but that will not be a travel-friendly option for them.

New Mexico State--Nothing confirmed nor announced, but likely headed for the Sun Belt Conference.

Texas State--No confirmation nor rumors, but likely headed for the Sun Belt Conference.

Basketball-only schools, what do they do if the WAC folds and is unable to continue.

Boise State--Signs are that the Big East will lose it's AQ status in the new BCS...as there will be no conference with AQ status in the new BCS.  Boise State may return to the big MW.  The key to the WAC surviving as a non-football conference rest with what BSU does.  If the football Big East works, then BSU could put basketball in either the Big Sky or the Big West.  Maybe the big MW will let them keep their other sports there to balance Hawaii.

Devner--The WCC has recently expanded to 10, and DU makes a good travel partner for BYU should the WCC decide to expand further.

Seattle--A former member of the WCC that could be invited to join again should the WCC expand further.  The WCC recently re-invited former member Pacific.

Texas Arlington--May go back to the Southland Conference as a non-football member if the WAC folds.

Who could the WAC add?

Utah Valley.
CS Bakersfield.

San Diego State...maybe.

That is if there are no defections with the basketball programs.  But that does not appear likely.

nah...

Let's face it...it's over.

Dedicated to the WAC.