Boise State could be headed to Mountain West

[Unknøwn]

LAS VEGAS -- The Mountain West has been talking about expanding, conference commissioner Craig Thompson said, but it's just been general conversation.

Thompson said Wednesday in his address to the media for Mountain West media days that the conversation of expansion comes up in nearly every meeting with directors, but that no specifics have been discussed.

"We spent a lot of time talking in general about expansion specifically, not about particular institutions," Thompson said. "I think the conversation typically at a directors level has centered on maybe a 10th will help us. But the real issue is practical scheduling."

If the Mountain West were to add a 10th team, Thompson said that it might ruin some of the rivalries that have started between Mountain West teams and BCS schools in their area, or rivalries between the service academies. Thompson said that adding a ninth conference game might throw a wrench in scheduling.

"You really take away any scheduling for BCS purposes, if you will," Thompson said. "Now, if conversely a team were to come in and really strengthen the BCS cause, that would be reason for focus. It's something that we've looked at."

I think it's interesting -- though not shocking -- that the Mountain West Conference is looking at expansion. The conference is looking for a way to strengthen its BCS résumé and adding the right team would be a good move. Although Thompson was speaking in generalities, I think it's fair to assume that Boise State would be at the top of the list should the conference expand. I mean, how many teams could really strengthen the conference's BCS résumé?

I think the thing we forget to mention when we talk about this is, what would happen to the WAC if Boise State left? Yes, the conference might be a little more level, but the WAC would definitely lose its selling point. There is no other team in the WAC that garners the kind of attention Boise State does. Losing it would be a big blow.

Denver Post:

Football power Boise State appears to be only waiting for an invitation to become the 10th member of the Mountain West Conference. That invitation could officially come as early as Monday when the MWC's board of directors meets in Jackson, Wyo.

Speculation around the MWC and the Western Athletic Conference is that Boise State will bolt from the WAC. Typical is the comment by Idaho athletic director Rob Spear, who recently wrote to Vandals fans in his blog, "I am predicting June 7 will be the day when the first shoe drops regarding conference realignment."

[iQue]

At first I didn't think this was that big of a deal then I realized TCU, BYU, and Utah play in the Mountain West. A lot of nice matchups every year and recruiting would get significantly more aggressive out yonder.

[LawDawg]

At first I didn't think this was that big of a deal then I realized TCU, BYU, and Utah play in the Mountain West. A lot of nice matchups every year and recruiting would get significantly more aggressive out yonder.

"out yonder?" Do ppl still say this? :P

[stoned_jc7]

As a former Georgia guy that now lives out in Utah, it would be huge getting Boise State into the mountain west for a lot of reasons.

1. More fuel to get into the bcs pie.

2. Adds credibility to both the mountain west overall, and to Boise state, who plays mostly cupcakes in conference.

3. Would help recruiting for the entire conference.

And the biggest reason? Might keep Utah, TCU and BYU from trying to jump to the pac 10, or big 12. Rumors about Utah moving to the pac 10 have been floating around for months. And both BYU (to a lesser degree) and TCU have both been talked about in regards to the Big 12.

Course its they are all cupcakes compared to the SEC.

Edited June 3, 2010 by stoned_jc7

[LawDawg]

As a former Georgia guy that now lives out in Utah, it would be huge getting Boise State into the mountain west for a lot of reasons.

1. More fuel to get into the bcs pie.

2. Adds credibility to both the mountain west overall, and to Boise state, who plays mostly cupcakes in conference.

3. Would help recruiting for the entire conference.

And the biggest reason? Might keep Utah, TCU and BYU from trying to jump to the pac 10, or big 12. Rumors about Utah moving to the pac 10 have been floating around for months. And both BYU (to a lesser degree) and TCU have both been talked about in regards to the Big 12.

Course its they are all cupcakes compared to the SEC.

"We better stay put in the MWC because Boise's coming on board!" Sorry man...don't see it happening. If the Pac-10 comes calling for any MWC school, it's 110% guaranteed that that school will be leaving.

[SacFalcFan]

As a former Georgia guy that now lives out in Utah, it would be huge getting Boise State into the mountain west for a lot of reasons.

1. More fuel to get into the bcs pie.

2. Adds credibility to both the mountain west overall, and to Boise state, who plays mostly cupcakes in conference.

3. Would help recruiting for the entire conference.

And the biggest reason? Might keep Utah, TCU and BYU from trying to jump to the pac 10, or big 12. Rumors about Utah moving to the pac 10 have been floating around for months. And both BYU (to a lesser degree) and TCU have both been talked about in regards to the Big 12.

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i agree it will be a huge thing for the conference to add a calibur of a program like boise state.. i look forward to some great matchups with tcu/byu/utah/boise state in addition there are a few other good teams that are overshadowed by the tcu/byu/utah of the conference.

[iQue]

"out yonder?" Do ppl still say this? :P

:P Yeah I'm 27 and I say yonder, reckon, and solid:lol:

[iQue]

:P Yeah I'm 27 and I say yonder, reckon, and solid

[stumpjumper]

They pick up Boise St., and they have a outside chance to get a automatic BCS bid. That's a great slice of the pie there.

[stoned_jc7]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=ap-big12meetings

Looks like the big 12 could get raided by the pac 10. If that were to happen, the MWC might raid a few of the schools left behind by the dissolution of the big 12. Or the pac 10 could still cherry pick the mountain west and the big 12.

Sort of looks like the Pac 10 is trying to raid the big 12 before the big 10 gets a shot. Not sure I get having a school like Texas as part of the Pac 10.