Chance of early move to WAC ‘slim’
There is a chance Utah State athletic teams may move to the Western Athletic Conference a year ahead of schedule, USU Athletic Director Rance Pugmire said, but it’s a pretty small chance.
“I think it would be pretty slim, especially this late in the game,” Pugmire said. “It would be a real stretch.”
Utah State is scheduled to join the WAC in 2005, along with New Mexico State.
The possibility of the early move was raised by WAC Commissioner Karl Benson in an interview with The Idaho Statesman, saying the WAC may want to follow the Big East and Conference USA, who hope to expedite moves in their own conferences planned for later on.
Pugmire said the change would require several conference commissioners to sit down together and hammer out an agreement.
“It’s something that institutions aren’t even working on, it’s something that a few commissioners are, and until I hear differently, we’re playing in the Sun Belt and the Big West next year,” Pugmire said. “I’d say it’s probably got to happen by the end of the month, if it’s going to happen.”
Lack of time is the biggest factor holding back the process, he said, given the length of time it typically takes to schedule opponents and make travel arrangements.
“I can see some commissioners that would be very much in favor of it, I can see others that aren’t,” Pugmire said. “It’s probably a good concept, I just don’t know if it’s doable on such short notice.”
Utah State’s tentative football schedule lists Alabama, Utah, Nevada-Las Vegas, and Clemson as non-conference opponents in 2004, along with a full Sun Belt Conference schedule.
If the switch were to take place, USU would have to trade Sun Belt games for WAC games, something Pugmire said he hesitates to do.
“As good as the Sun Belt has been to us, I’m not real fond of the idea [of dropping Sun Belt games] at this point anyway.”
Monetary considerations may also impede a possible move.
“Remember, it’s not just about football,” Pugmire said. “There are some pretty good basketball teams that would be moving a year early, and a lot of potential tournament revenue with them.”
There may be financial penalties associated with leaving the Big West Conference, Pugmire said, but not with leaving the Sun Belt.
-royburton@cc.usu.edu