On a eventful day in 2010, President John Welty and athletic director Thomas Boeh unveiled to the world the unprecedented: Fresno State had accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference, signifying its imminent departure from the Western Athletic Conference.
Back then, the news””the money, the prestige, the glitz and glamour associated with joining a conference that was actively trying to secure an automatic BCS bowl bid in football””made it all the more enticing for Fresno State to leave the WAC.
But, back then, the Mountain West was host to Utah and Texas Christian, programs both ranked in the top 5 in national polls at one point during the 2010 season, which helped strengthen Fresno State’s case.
Back then, Boise State and San Diego State hadn’t yet committed to leaving the Mountain West to play football in the Big East Conference.
“This invitation provides an opportunity for Fresno State to take another step athletically,” Welty told the media on Aug. 18, 2010.
Although the step taken was not as big as originally anticipated, the move to the Mountain West seemed a step forward nonetheless. At least as opposed to remaining in the WAC, which will grow increasingly desolate in 2013. That’s when Utah State and San Jose State leave to join Fresno State, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado State, UNLV, New Mexico, Air Force and Hawaii (football only) in the Mountain West.
Speculation the Mountain West would merge with other Football Bowl Subdivision conferences, such as Conference USA, in order to revive hopes of becoming an automatic qualifying conference, have since been halted. Plans to expand the conference beyond the scope of the 2013-14 season have yet to come to fruition, leaving the future structure of the MWC resembling the conference Fresno State left it for.
The WAC 2.0.
Fresno State enters its inaugural season in a conference that differs from what it was when the Bulldogs accepted the invitation.
But, then again, this move has been more about trying to regain what it has steadily lost throughout the years.
It’s been about Fresno State recuperating its once-monumental fan base.
The overall success that will define the move to the Mountain West hinges on the high hopes that it can serve as the catalyst that will reinvigorate a fan base that has slowly abandoned stands and bleachers in football and men’s basketball games, the school’s top two revenue sports. Last year, home football attendance averaged about 29,300 ””well below Bulldog Stadium’s 40,000-plus capacity.
The last time the stadium was at near capacity was during a 2008 overtime loss against Hawaii.
Welty’s call to action on that fateful day two years ago foreshadowed the problem.
“If we’re going to be successful in this venture, we’ve got to work together,” he said.
“We’ve got to increase attendance, we’ve got to increase support.”
And both of these variables will be necessary this year.
Five head coaches””almost a third of the 16 programs slated to compete in the Mountain West this year””are in their first year at the helm.
It doesn’t carry the same amount of prestige it once promised, but the Mountain West provides something the WAC couldn’t: a better opportunity to generate local revenue and fan interest should Fresno State seize the opportunity. Games still need to be won. The hopes of obtaining a conference championship that has eluded the program the past 12 years needs to become more of a possibility for the Bulldogs, who begin conference play Sept. 29 against San Diego State.
“Once we start winning, I’m sure this place will be pretty packed,” junior quarterback Derek Carr said after the Aug. 11 team scrimmage.
It was eventful day two years ago when Fresno State’s future burned bright with potential and prosperity.
It still can.