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WAC, Big Sky Merger Good?
By Teddy Feinberg / Las Cruces Sun-News on Jul. 23, 2012
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Not appealing to NMSU, but better than having no league

With news coming out that the Big Sky Conference could merge with the Western Athletic Conference — essentially, the Big Sky would dump some athletics programs in the WAC to keep the league alive — we ask the simple question, why?

Why would the Big Sky be interested in keeping the WAC afloat? Just to be nice? Not likely. Upon further review, a couple ideas come to mind.

For one, there is the opportunity for the Big Sky to assist some of its current athletics programs — the ones they’d consider moving into the WAC — in opening up another automatic qualifying bid for NCAA Tournaments, which in turn would be another money-making opportunity for the league.

Who could the WAC get? Here’s a list of Big Sky schools for the 2012 year (13 total):

♦ Eastern Washington
♦ Idaho State
♦ Montana
♦ Montana State
♦ North Dakota
♦ Northern Arizona
♦ Northern Colorado
♦ Portland State
♦ Sacramento State
♦ Southern Utah
♦ Weber State
♦ Cal Poly (football only)
♦ UC Davis (football only)

Speculating, of course, how a two-league alignment would shake out is difficult. What sports such schools sponsor should play a big role on who’s assimilated with whom Sacramento State, for instance, is already a member of the WAC in baseball, while Boise State (currently a WAC member) and Southern Utah each have gymnastics programs.

Geography should also play a factor — Northern Arizona or Northern Colorado could be good fits in the WAC, and Portland State or Eastern Washington would seem to be ideal travel partners for current WAC schools Seattle, and/or Idaho.

As we know it, the WAC right now is made up of New Mexico State, Idaho, Boise State (non football), Denver (non football), and Seattle (non football) — although the assumption is that Boise State will eventually leave the league for the Big West.

And now this: let’s just say, the Big Sky/WAC scenario is currently for Olympic sports. Is it the best alternative? No, it doesn’t look incredibly appealing for NMSU if the Aggies were involved in such a move. With that being said, it’s a league, and a league is better than no league at all. And, yes, these Olympic sports do need conference affiliation — independent men’s basketball or women’s volleyball at NMSU would be daunting, if doable at all.

Down the road, however, could the WAC act as a gateway for Big Sky programs — a conference that currently is FCS in football — looking to make the jump to the FBS level?

This option has been discussed and reported before, and perhaps that would be one benefit for the Big Sky as well in this whole deal.

Not this upcoming year, mind you. The belief here is that the Aggies will be playing independent football in 2013, perhaps 2014 as well. Just read this quote from WAC interim commissioner Jeff Hurd, which appeared in Friday’s edition of the Sun-News:

“In this specific model, I would say the WAC would be operating as a non-football league. We are exploring every conceivable option and this is one of those options….I always think there is hope, but to be realistic, the odds are difficult, certainly at the FBS level.”

[Wildcat Ryan]

I dont think I really like this idea, we'll see if it grows on me at all

[S F State Gaters]

yeah i have so many questions and doubts about this as well. What would this look like, what would the Big Sky have to gain from this? Who gets bartered off to the WAC and at what cost?

[SDHornet]

I've heard people at the WAC media day have said this idea is pretty much dead. Not surprised if that is the case.

[EWURanger]

Yep, it was a dumb idea to begin with. Nit sure what the Big Sky would have ever gained from an arrangement like that anyway.

On a related note, I read something that mentioned the WAC will be announcing new football members within the next few weeks. Wonder who those might be.



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[Wildcat Ryan]

Yep, it was a dumb idea to begin with. Nit sure what the Big Sky would have ever gained from an arrangement like that anyway.

On a related note, I read something that mentioned the WAC will be announcing new football members within the next few weeks. Wonder who those might be.



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Maybe Montana and MSU and maybe Sac and PSU are who he is talking about???

[EWURanger]

Yep, it was a dumb idea to begin with. Nit sure what the Big Sky would have ever gained from an arrangement like that anyway.

On a related note, I read something that mentioned the WAC will be announcing new football members within the next few weeks. Wonder who those might be.



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Maybe Montana and MSU and maybe Sac and PSU are who he is talking about???

Maybe, but that kinda seems like a stretch.


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