With the 2010 season underway, the University of Montana Athletic Department has plenty on its plate – not just with football, but also the other fall sports.
But it looks like there may be even more pressing details than game management, promotion, advertising and the plethora of other details that we as fans overlook.
There is a good chance, according to a source close to UM, that the Western Athletic Conference may soon invite up to three Big Sky Conference schools into their fold in 2012 – perhaps before you read this column.
Now we’ve addressed the pros and cons of considering such a move before in this space and with the defection of Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada, there’s been speculation that the WAC would be required to seek other league members and it appears it’s about put-up-or-shut-up time.
There’s long been speculation that along with Montana, arguably the crown jewel of the Football Championship Series teams, that the WAC is interested in Portland State and Sacramento State because of their locations in large metro areas.
And of course further speculation surrounds the inclusion of Montana State if Montana was to accept such an invitation. While the two teams have been in different leagues before, the times and politics were surely different then.
What does the future hold for the Big Sky Conference if several teams opt to move to a higher level of Division-I, thereby weakening the league and probably sending it to the Dakotas to try to solidify its NCAA status?
Discussion about such a move has to include consideration of its effect on other sports besides football. But make no mistake about it, like it or not, the only revenue-positive sport on many campuses is football. And what is best for the football team will be deemed what is best for the institution – although that does not mean that will be said publicly.
But remember this as well: The possibility of a larger check from the prosperous NCAA basketball tournament must also be considered. League shares increase when a team advances out of the first round and, with a higher RPI, the WAC seeds have been higher than the BSC.
With the movement of teams into what they view as a more premier league and deserting a previous circuit, league officials are trying to be sure theirs isn’t left behind. It’s a scheduling nightmare, as each one attempts to maintain or improve competition quality.
Just a few years ago, the Big Sky Conference had one of the lowest RPIs in the country and stood in danger of losing its automatic bid to the NCAA men’s tournament – competing instead for an at-large invitation.
Commissioner Doug Fullerton required teams to participate in the Bracket-Buster tournament to enhance their stature and additionally asked teams to upgrade their schedule to increase the league’s visibility.
While I sure am a fan of playing up in any sport because of its measuring-stick effect on your program and your athletes, I dislike the Bracket-Buster in the middle of the conference season in February. And most hoop mentors will tell you it’s done little for the league.
If you are selected as a road team, however, it does require the other team to return the visit to your campus the next year. With the difficulty filling a home schedule, that is a good thing.
I don’t see how UM can ignore a WAC invitation if, indeed, it is offered in short order. There’s seems to be a real threat to the Big Sky Conference as Montana has known it since its 1963 inception – contrary to what league officials say.
Sure, there have been other chances, with the departure of Nevada, Idaho and Boise State – sound familiar – but I don’t see the WAC making another offer to the Grizzlies at a later time.
Like it or not, it is put-up or shut-up time.