Mountain West at a crossroads
Ever since the Mountain West got it’s start in 1999 it has been pretty much a dream ride. Sure there have been bumps along the way. But in just 11 years these eight schools (now nine) have turned a mid level conference into a fearsome giant that the other “elite” schools have now finally stood up and taken notice.
Utah has been to two BCS games so far and TCU just attended the Fiesta Bowl a couple months ago. The BCS is a “have and have not” system that is fundamentally broken. The MWC has finally gotten the ball rolling on breaking the BCS system. But just when things finally seemed strongly in their favor their seems to be a dent in the armor.
For the past year rumors had grown that the Mountain West would be adding a 10th team in the Boise State Broncos. This would make the MWC a true power conference with four teams fighting for spots in the Top 20 every season. Forums were filled with talk of Mountain West expansion and their meteoric rise to the football holy land.
This Fall as news spread that the Big 10 would consider expansion the whispers of NCAA dominoes falling spread like wild fire. If the Big 10 was able to land Mizzou or even Texas this could set off a pinball effect felt across the football landscape. With the Big XII missing an “I” it would mostly likely target up and coming TCU which has been run to perfection by Coach Gary Patterson. If TCU left the Mountain West this would be a big kick to kidneys.
Over the winter there were rumblings of PAC 10 expansion in hopes them increasing their upcoming TV deal. Would the PAC 10 add Utah and/or BYU? The PAC 10 could create a championship game with a twelve team league which would mean more money for all the schools.
The worst case scenario would be if PAC 10 and Big 12 expansion met in the middle and each nabbed schools from the Mountain West to boost their ranks. The MWC could cover the loss of TCU, Utah or BYU individually if they could add Boise State to take their place. The losses of two or more top schools could truly be crippling for a conference that is on the verge of finally breaking the NCAA glass ceiling.
The only true hope the Mountain West has is keeping it’s core schools together and jump start the expansion blitz. By adding Boise State this summer the Mountain West can secure an automatic berth for a BCS. Their current records are impressive on their own but the addition of Boise really puts the MWC above and beyond.
So Mountain West Chairman Craig Thompson please listen. Have the Mountain West create it’s own destiny, don’t let other conferences determine it for you.
Remember…
He who hesitates is a damned fool.
- Mae West
He who hesitates, masturbates
- Chip Douglas from The Cable Guy
