Jim: BCS Conference Champion Fresno State…sounds a bit odd doesn’t it?
With Boise State̢۪s possible departure from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) looming ahead, questions can be raised as to whether or not the Bulldogs should change conferences.
Boise State President Bob Kustra expressed that by leaving the WAC and joining the Mountain West Conference (MWC) the university could save money on travel costs.
Currently, both the MWC and WAC have nine teams in their conferences and while the latter has garnered much respect with its teams such as Boise, Hawaii and Fresno State, the MWC is considered to be the more legitimate conference.
Kim: I don̢۪t think that we should attempt to be in anybody̢۪s shadow. We may not be in the most amazing conference ever but our chance to get into the MWC came and went already.
If Boise State feels they need to change to a so-called “betterâ€Â conference, let them. Maybe we won’t have the strongest competition or a powerhouse rival but who cares? If they are gone, maybe a notable school will fill their spot. Not likely — I know.
The absence of Boise could create opportunity for the ̢۪Dogs. Why not take advantage of the opportunity to do really well against a new rival for a couple of years?
If that isn̢۪t satisfying enough, then we look into making our move. A win is a win no matter who you play. And hey, it̢۪s not like we̢۪re going to look worse without Boise around. Heck, it probably will make us look a lot better.
Jim: So now the question has to be asked, if Boise State leaves, what do the Bulldogs do?
The Broncos have been the main reason why BCS schools are starting to respect the WAC. Boise State̢۪s departure would mean the loss of one of the Bulldogs̢۪ biggest rivals and possibly a weaker schedule.
If Boise State leaves it will be imperative for the Bulldogs to follow suit. But the main concern is what conference would the Bulldogs switch to?
Fresno would like to follow Boise into the MWC, but that depends on how many teams would be allowed in and with the recent surge of Hawaii, the Warriors could be the favorable pick over the Bulldogs for the MWC.
How about the Pac-10? Not likely.
The Pacific-10 Conference is content right now with its rising respect and perfectly linear, 10-team structure. It most likely would not be willing to change.
Kim: This is another reason why I think we should stay put. Like I mentioned before, we don̢۪t need to follow Boise State. The MWC would be our best bet and like you mentioned Jim, the Warriors would most likely get priority. Sorry to say but Pac-10 is too far beyond our grasp. Even if they did decide to extend it to Pac-12 or Pac-14, we wouldn̢۪t do any better than we are doing in the WAC.
Maybe we don̢۪t have a lot of glory attached to our conference but with a few big names (Hawaii and Boise) and some televised competitions, I̢۪d say a change in our conference probably wouldn̢۪t change much other than the teams in the conference.
Jim: My suggestion? How about a new BCS Conference? The name can be left up to discussion.
This new conference would be a complement to the Pac-10 as a second western U.S. BCS Conference.
Teams included could be perennial WAC powerhouses Fresno, Boise State, Hawaii and Nevada. Additionally, the conference could include MWC elite programs like UNLV, BYU, Utah and Wyoming. A committee could determine which teams get the final spots for the new conference.
This new conference would benefit all because it would keep the old rivalries intact and provide another possible BCS bowl game to increase revenue in the NCAA.
Although the BCS is considered the ultimate evil in college football, sometimes you have to sell your soul to survive.
Kim: As wonderful as starting a new conference sounds, I̢۪d like to know exactly what it would take to do that. I̢۪m sure that it is not as easy as it sounds. Plus, if we take half the teams from the WAC and half the teams from the MWC, what happens to those conferences? Will we just leave them with half of what they started with or merge them together? If you do that, what will you call it? The Western Mountain-West Athletic Conference? Not a fan.
Jim: Look at this way, if Fresno State stays in the WAC, its big conference rival could be Utah State. Does that sound good? Didn̢۪t think so.
Kim: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Pete Mentarro • Sep 23, 2008 at 8:49 am
BYU
Utah
New Mexico
TCU
Houston
UNLV
Boise
Fresno
Those are the best all around athletic programs with the best facilities available. Sit at 8, then determine who would get the remainding spots based on facility upgrades and performance. I have the feeling there may be PAC10 roadblocks for getting a state school from Cali (Fresno) in a new BCS league, similar to the Texas system seeing UTEP, who is one of the better candidates, into this new league.
Pete Mentarro • Sep 23, 2008 at 3:49 pm
BYU
Utah
New Mexico
TCU
Houston
UNLV
Boise
Fresno
Those are the best all around athletic programs with the best facilities available. Sit at 8, then determine who would get the remainding spots based on facility upgrades and performance. I have the feeling there may be PAC10 roadblocks for getting a state school from Cali (Fresno) in a new BCS league, similar to the Texas system seeing UTEP, who is one of the better candidates, into this new league.
Benjamin Baxter • Sep 27, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Let’s not fool ourselves, FSDogs1: the last time we were in with the BCS better than Boise was around the time we lost to Tulsa. Then we lost to Tulsa, and we’ve been no competition since.
Benjamin Baxter • Sep 28, 2007 at 3:48 am
Let’s not fool ourselves, FSDogs1: the last time we were in with the BCS better than Boise was around the time we lost to Tulsa. Then we lost to Tulsa, and we’ve been no competition since.
Benjamin Baxter • Sep 27, 2007 at 8:42 am
Good to see you back, Greyson. Long time, no see.
Benjamin Baxter • Sep 27, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Good to see you back, Greyson. Long time, no see.
FSDogs1 • Sep 26, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Hey, I’m all for the overall athletic program and was saddened when wrestling was eliminated and before that when men’s soccer and women’s swim & dive was.
But let’s not fool ourselves…football and men’s basketball make everything else possible and it’s not even close. Without those two sports being supported, nothing else gets supported.
FSDogs1 • Sep 27, 2007 at 6:29 am
Hey, I’m all for the overall athletic program and was saddened when wrestling was eliminated and before that when men’s soccer and women’s swim & dive was.
But let’s not fool ourselves…football and men’s basketball make everything else possible and it’s not even close. Without those two sports being supported, nothing else gets supported.
Mike Greyson • Sep 26, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Fresno State’s current football program has gone from promising to DEBACLE in a matter of two years. I’m back baby!
Mike Greyson • Sep 27, 2007 at 5:24 am
Fresno State’s current football program has gone from promising to DEBACLE in a matter of two years. I’m back baby!
Michael Stivik • Sep 26, 2007 at 5:05 pm
better athletic program? we can’t even sustain the few programs we do have. wrestling, swimming and diving.
Michael Stivik • Sep 27, 2007 at 12:05 am
better athletic program? we can’t even sustain the few programs we do have. wrestling, swimming and diving.
FSDogs1 • Sep 26, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Say what you will, but the fact remains that up until last season’s Fiesta win over Oklahoma, Boise State’s WAC titles didn’t really amount to much. They were still the second-most respected WAC team before that.
Fresno State has been more consistent in competing with the big boys.
Oh, and you better double-check your math after making claim that Boise State has won “SIX” straight WAC titles. No one is saying they don’t have something good going there. But on a national perception, Fresno State has done more to prove it is here to stay. And if you throw in all the other sports, that only helps Fresno State’s case as having a better athletic program.
FSDogs1 • Sep 26, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Say what you will, but the fact remains that up until last season’s Fiesta win over Oklahoma, Boise State’s WAC titles didn’t really amount to much. They were still the second-most respected WAC team before that.
Fresno State has been more consistent in competing with the big boys.
Oh, and you better double-check your math after making claim that Boise State has won “SIX” straight WAC titles. No one is saying they don’t have something good going there. But on a national perception, Fresno State has done more to prove it is here to stay. And if you throw in all the other sports, that only helps Fresno State’s case as having a better athletic program.
Michael Stivik • Sep 26, 2007 at 4:14 pm
FSDogs1,
You are truly a Homer—-doh! You don’t have to be SO for the home team. Be a little more intelligent on the topics at hand instead of route, route, routing for the three or four home teams still remaining. Fresno has done very little compared to these other schools mentioned in Judge Ito’s dream conference:
Fresno-some wins here and there against BCS schools of decent talent–1 SPORTS NAT’L TITLE (softball in 1998)
Boise-conference titles and win in Fiesta
Utah-conference titles and win in Fiesta
BYU-football national title
Houston-some success- 1 Heisman winner
UNLV- hoops national title
Hawaii-many titles in volleyball
TCU-former national powerhouse football team-60’s and 70’s
I’d have to add Colorado State to Ito’s 9 team conference—-
Col St., Fresno, Boise, TCU, UNLV, Rainbows, Utes, Cougs (Houston and BYU), and perhaps THE San Diego State community college.
Yes, a second western BCS conference would be a better football alliance then the ACC—-
Lets worry about adding sports above other trivial matters[—–
Gymnastics (w) (WAC sport)
Men’s soccer
grappling (wrastlin’)
men’s volleyball (to replace the Falcons at the SMC)
women’s fencing
Michael Stivik • Sep 26, 2007 at 11:14 pm
FSDogs1,
You are truly a Homer—-doh! You don’t have to be SO for the home team. Be a little more intelligent on the topics at hand instead of route, route, routing for the three or four home teams still remaining. Fresno has done very little compared to these other schools mentioned in Judge Ito’s dream conference:
Fresno-some wins here and there against BCS schools of decent talent–1 SPORTS NAT’L TITLE (softball in 1998)
Boise-conference titles and win in Fiesta
Utah-conference titles and win in Fiesta
BYU-football national title
Houston-some success- 1 Heisman winner
UNLV- hoops national title
Hawaii-many titles in volleyball
TCU-former national powerhouse football team-60’s and 70’s
I’d have to add Colorado State to Ito’s 9 team conference—-
Col St., Fresno, Boise, TCU, UNLV, Rainbows, Utes, Cougs (Houston and BYU), and perhaps THE San Diego State community college.
Yes, a second western BCS conference would be a better football alliance then the ACC—-
Lets worry about adding sports above other trivial matters[—–
Gymnastics (w) (WAC sport)
Men’s soccer
grappling (wrastlin’)
men’s volleyball (to replace the Falcons at the SMC)
women’s fencing
FresnoFan85 • Sep 26, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Correction on previous post,
“Boise State was only the second MID-MAJOR team to win a BCS Bowl game.”
FresnoFan85 • Sep 26, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Correction on previous post,
“Boise State was only the second MID-MAJOR team to win a BCS Bowl game.”
FresnoFan85 • Sep 26, 2007 at 1:27 pm
FSDOGS1,
Sorry that you’re such a HOMER, but you need to look at things from a fuller persepctive than just praising Fresno State.
Boise State has won the last SIX WAC Championships. They beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl last season, which was only the second team in the BCS’ history to win a BCS bowl game.
Just because you are from Fresno does not mean the Bulldogs are the best team in the conference, sorry bud.
FresnoFan85 • Sep 26, 2007 at 8:27 pm
FSDOGS1,
Sorry that you’re such a HOMER, but you need to look at things from a fuller persepctive than just praising Fresno State.
Boise State has won the last SIX WAC Championships. They beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl last season, which was only the second team in the BCS’ history to win a BCS bowl game.
Just because you are from Fresno does not mean the Bulldogs are the best team in the conference, sorry bud.
FSDogs1 • Sep 26, 2007 at 12:03 pm
On another note, if the Mountain West wanted to expand, my guess is Hawaii would be the fourth option, behind Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada (in that order).
The MWC’s biggest complaint with the 16-team WAC was always travel. Adding Hawaii adds a ton of travel, although it does offer the extra game in year’s you play at Hawaii. Plus, their b-ball program is on the decline while Fresno State’s and Nevada’s are on the upswing. Boise State’s has never been good.
And who called UNLV an “elite” program? That’s one of the worst football programs in the country. When was the last time UNLV made any noise at all on the national scene. Have they ever? Their biggest claim to fame is that Randall Cunningham punted a ball like 90 yards one time, and he was their QB.
The most prestigious MWC teams are Utah, TCU, BYU and Colorado State.
FSDogs1 • Sep 26, 2007 at 7:03 pm
On another note, if the Mountain West wanted to expand, my guess is Hawaii would be the fourth option, behind Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada (in that order).
The MWC’s biggest complaint with the 16-team WAC was always travel. Adding Hawaii adds a ton of travel, although it does offer the extra game in year’s you play at Hawaii. Plus, their b-ball program is on the decline while Fresno State’s and Nevada’s are on the upswing. Boise State’s has never been good.
And who called UNLV an “elite” program? That’s one of the worst football programs in the country. When was the last time UNLV made any noise at all on the national scene. Have they ever? Their biggest claim to fame is that Randall Cunningham punted a ball like 90 yards one time, and he was their QB.
The most prestigious MWC teams are Utah, TCU, BYU and Colorado State.
FSDogs1 • Sep 26, 2007 at 11:59 am
A quote from Jim: “The Broncos have been the main reason why BCS schools are starting to respect the WAC.”
Are you serious!? I can’t believe a supposed expert on Fresno State sports would write that.
Fresno State has earned more respect from BCS schools and it’s not even close. Look at the number of BCS-conf. schools Fresno State has beaten compared to Boise State.
Here’s a stat for you to look up…how many times in history has Boise State beaten a BCS-conf. school on the road?
FSDogs1 • Sep 26, 2007 at 6:59 pm
A quote from Jim: “The Broncos have been the main reason why BCS schools are starting to respect the WAC.”
Are you serious!? I can’t believe a supposed expert on Fresno State sports would write that.
Fresno State has earned more respect from BCS schools and it’s not even close. Look at the number of BCS-conf. schools Fresno State has beaten compared to Boise State.
Here’s a stat for you to look up…how many times in history has Boise State beaten a BCS-conf. school on the road?
WILLY BEANO • Sep 26, 2007 at 11:16 am
Judge ITO,
I hardly think the WAC wants any part of renewing a relationship with the MWC after those schools spurned them back in the late 90’s.
This proposal should probably be football only, however. If a success, i think it would be equal to at least the ACC and Big East from the get go.
to the author’s statement:
“Although the BCS is considered the ultimate evil in college football, sometimes you have to sell your soul to survive.” ——-How true——-You’ve gotta someday join the big boys in college football if you want to survive. Staying in this second rate conference hasn’t paid dividnends for FSt. I guarantee with BYU, Utah, and TCU on a conference schedule, you would have an easier time w/ selling tix.
WILLY BEANO • Sep 26, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Judge ITO,
I hardly think the WAC wants any part of renewing a relationship with the MWC after those schools spurned them back in the late 90’s.
This proposal should probably be football only, however. If a success, i think it would be equal to at least the ACC and Big East from the get go.
to the author’s statement:
“Although the BCS is considered the ultimate evil in college football, sometimes you have to sell your soul to survive.” ——-How true——-You’ve gotta someday join the big boys in college football if you want to survive. Staying in this second rate conference hasn’t paid dividnends for FSt. I guarantee with BYU, Utah, and TCU on a conference schedule, you would have an easier time w/ selling tix.
Lance Ito • Sep 26, 2007 at 9:25 am
mind you, in this new conference structure we might have to settle for a few more 4-8 seasons. It’d be rough going for a while.
But hey look at the current system: Most eastern 1-a football schools are BCS. Most western 1-a football schools are non-BCS. Fair? I think not.
Anything but the current WAC—what is up with a conference with schools in both Hawaii and Louisiana? Thats like the Oakland A’s competing in the same division as the Toronto Blue Jays.
Lance Ito • Sep 26, 2007 at 4:25 pm
mind you, in this new conference structure we might have to settle for a few more 4-8 seasons. It’d be rough going for a while.
But hey look at the current system: Most eastern 1-a football schools are BCS. Most western 1-a football schools are non-BCS. Fair? I think not.
Anything but the current WAC—what is up with a conference with schools in both Hawaii and Louisiana? Thats like the Oakland A’s competing in the same division as the Toronto Blue Jays.
Lance Ito • Sep 26, 2007 at 9:20 am
Wyoming an elite MWC school? I dunno. Maybe TCU, perhaps.
The Football “Big West”:
Utah
Boise
Fresno
BYU
TCU
Hawaii
Houston (currently C-USA)
San Diego St.
UNLV
Yes, we in the west are significanlty underrepresented in BCS college footbal.
But i don’t see this idea as viable since the WAC has such a spiteful relationship with those schools that succeeded from the WAC back in the late 90’s.
Lance Ito • Sep 26, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Wyoming an elite MWC school? I dunno. Maybe TCU, perhaps.
The Football “Big West”:
Utah
Boise
Fresno
BYU
TCU
Hawaii
Houston (currently C-USA)
San Diego St.
UNLV
Yes, we in the west are significanlty underrepresented in BCS college footbal.
But i don’t see this idea as viable since the WAC has such a spiteful relationship with those schools that succeeded from the WAC back in the late 90’s.