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The Scoop on Conference Talk

UTSA Tailgaters evaluates the current situation for UTSA's future conference home
By UTSATailgaters - August 26, 2010 Posted
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The WAC, Sunbelt and Conference USA are the three FBS conferences that have been linked to UTSA and the programs future to the FBS ranks. Message boards and internet forums were on fire this past week, and still are talking about what possible FBS conferences could be sending an invite to UTSA. WAC commissioner Karl Benson has commented many times that the Runners are a part of the immediate evaluation plans of the WAC, even more so now that the fate of the conference is hanging by a thread. UTSATailgaters has spoken with officials inside the SBC and C-USA, and now UTSATailgaters goes a little bit deeper.

According to a source within the UTSA program, there only appears to be one fit at the moment; reaffirming the current position of the Sun Belt Conference. Last month UTSATailgaters was able to confirm that the SBC had no immediate or future plans to expand or be a part of realignment.  A bit of a downer, but the source also echoed the same sentiments for C-USA. Saying that both conferences have made it clear that they are not playing the realignment shuffle. When UTSATailgaters spoke with C-USA earlier this month, there was more of an ambiguous feeling that C-USA was simply standing by to see if they needed to replace anyone, as constant rumors still lurk around that four of their Eastern division members are trying to leave the conference: Memphis, UCF, East Carolina & Marshall.  Louisiana Tech of the WAC has also been mentioned as being interested in joining C-USA for regional purposes, but the source said they (La Tech) have been trying for the last five years.

There is also a very strong consensus behind the scenes that the MWC is not finished. There is no guarantee that they will get the twelve team conference it covets, but the source did say that The University of Houston and UTEP have been rumored to be possible targets for the MWC to possibly go after. It is no secret that the MWC covets a conference championship game that will obviously bring more money and recognition to the conference.

As for the WAC, because of the current situation, this could be the best fit right now for UTSA.  However, UTSATailgaters was reassured that if any one of the remaining six members leaves the WAC, the WAC would be forced to close shop.  Reports did surface today from the Denver Post that BYU will more than likely remain a part of the MWC.  Any outside shot of getting BYU back into the WAC is all but gone. Speculation is still rampant that Utah State, Hawaii and La. Tech are all still weighing their options possibly splitting from the WAC.  WAC Commissioner Karl Benson has to be conjuring up a plan, and with speed, to see what the future holds for the WAC and it's members or any future members (hint hint, UTSA?).


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Comments (13 responses)

08/27/2010 UTSARULES
WE WILL ACCEPT NOTHING LESS THAN THE BIG 12 SOUTH SAID LARRY HIMSELF. I CANT WAIT TO PLAY UT AND BEAT THEM! GOOOOO RUNNNNERRRS!
08/27/2010 Runner fan '07
Fbs or bust. Can we really get into the conference before we meet the fbs criteria for d1 status? I thought we had to do the trial period? Let's go dancing WAC!
08/27/2010 roadrunner10
I wish we could get in the C-USA, or MWC. I think its great to get a invite, but I think if we are going to try to say lets do WAC for a while then move again, it just wont work. Who knows maybe the MWC will see potential in us, still just a dream with them.
08/27/2010 FBSorBUST
UTSA is in NO postion to balk at an invite from the WAC, as long as it can keep enough teams to remain a viable FBS conference. We cannot get greedy, UTSA has a very realistic shot of getting an invite before they have even had an official practice!!! That simply does not happen in the world of college football, and you dont pass up that opportunity. We dont know what future realignment may bring but as of right now the belt and CUSA are full and no way the MWC will take a flyer on UTSA when its goal is to get strong teams and earn AQ status. Yes, the WAC is gutted right now, but at the end of the day it is STILL an FBS conference. A conference that gets exposure on ESPN, and created the darling of college football in Boise State. A weakened WAC just means UTSA will have an even better shot of competing from day 1. Boise went DII to BCS bowl in 13-14 years via the WAC, no reason UTSA cant do it as well.
08/27/2010 Runner-In-Austin
I agree with FBSorBust. I'd rather be WAC that SBC. Yeah, the WAC is on a knee right now, but it can totally reload. The conference shakeups are far from over - and a lot of things can still happen. We still don't know what kind of moves the Big XII will make in the coming year or two, and how that will effect all the other conferences. So, if the WAC asks us out for dinner, we should go! :D
08/27/2010 utsagrad1998
Hey Antonio, I just read through the 69 man roster on the goutsa website, and I did not see the East Central RB Chris Johnson who had committed a while back. Did he get his scholarship yanked after all? Could you please provide an update? I agree that an invite to any FBS conference is welcome. We are in no position to be picky. However, NCAA Division 1 is going through very big changes. It is designing itself to highlight the big programs (who can sell seats, gear, TV ratings)and slow exposure down for the smaller ones. Just like everything else in life, this is all about the money. The WAC is in danger right now. Boise State, Nevada and Fresno State are out; the risk of Hawaii leaving to the Big West and keeping their football team Indy is very real; BYU is contemplating returning in all sports except for their football program is now reconsidering. Who would be the big name draws? In my opinion if the WAC tries to rebuld with several FCS programs, it falls another rung and becomes very lackluster like the Sunbelt (JV if you will). Benson has to move quick, but what schools have multiple programs, and a shot at generating revenues to support interest in the conference? My point is that we should proceed with caution. I want to get out of the Southland as much as all of you. We must be careful what we wish for. Once it arrives, we may not like it. Best of luck to the WAC.
08/27/2010 Antonio
UTSAgrad98, What's up man! Unfortunately, the Express News reported that he and Corey Brit failed to qualify. I had posted a thread about it when we leared about Chris Dorsey & did not name the other 2 players who were Johnson & Brite, but according to the report, neither reported over the weekend because they were ineligible.
08/28/2010 GreenRattle
The Sun Belt will expand. Anyone saying otherwise is a little suspect. The problem is that they will do so by adding NMSU (who was recently a member) and Louisiana Tech. If either Tech or North Texas get invited to the CUSA, the Sun Belt would either stand pat, or invite one of the WAC leftovers. Point is, the WAC's future is gone if BYU doesn't join. Plus, if the WAC goes under, both the Sun Belt and the CUSA will be full. That means no spots open to UTSA. The remaining hope for a conference invite would be if Benson and the WAC can somehow pull a rabbit out of a hat and save the conference. That possibility is looking less and less likely as time goes on, however. Adding FCS teams to the WAC is suicide. The moratorium is in place until 2014, so even if it invited those teams, the WAC would be dead before they even had a chance to move up. Bottom line: Pray the WAC is saved by adding FBS teams, or UTSA and Texas State are in for a long wait.
08/29/2010 Antonio
@ GreenRattle, (Courtesy of NCAA.org) --The moratorium is effective August 9, 2007. --The moratorium is imposed for a four-year period and is scheduled to expire August 9, 2011, prior to the beginning of the 2011-2012 academic year. This coming spring meetings of the NCAA will determine if they will pass legislation mandating if you need an invite to join the FBS ranks or not. Thanks for the opinion.
08/30/2010 GreenRattle
@Antonio: Correct, the moratorium itself is done in 2011 (assuming it is not extended, which is a big assumption). However, the requirements for moving up are still in effect, and were part of that moratorium. In reference to the NCAA's "Bylaws regarding Multi‐division Reclassification and Football Bowl Subdivision Requirements:" (you can find this on Google) note that even after the moratorium's termination, the provisions of Part 20.4.2.1 (one year "notification" period) and Part 20.4.2.1.1 (two year "waiting" period) still fully apply. Therefore, the earliest a moratorium team can move up is 2014, by which time the WAC will have ceased to exist, again assuming Benson doesn't save this somehow.
09/12/2010 Jaime
If they go anywhere, I hope it is the Sun Belt or the Big 12, mainly to keep the Big 12 as a big 12......

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