Conference independence for USU football only temporary
Beginning in Fall 2001, the Utah State University football team became an independent. The 2000 season was the final year for the Big West Conference to sponsor football. All other Aggie athletic programs will remain in the Big West.
“I don’t think we ever decided to go independent,” said head football coach Mick Dennehy. “We were forced to because we became the odd man out.”
In addition to USU, five other football teams – Boise State University, the University of Idaho, New Mexico State University, North Texas University and Arkansas State University – were members of the Big West as of December 2000. In Fall 1999, BSU announced its departure into the Western Athletic Conference. The Broncos will officially enter the WAC July 1.
The remaining four schools – Idaho, NMSU, North Texas and ASU – announced in November 1999 they would be leaving the BWC for the Sunbelt League in the 2001 season. Idaho, however, will play only football in the Sunbelt.
“When the Sunbelt became a football-playing league, it was a natural move for Arkansas State and North Texas,” Dennehy said. “Boise [State] leaving was the straw that broke the Big West’s back.”
Athletic Director Rance Pugmire said USU was invited into the Sun Belt, but declined because of geographical considerations and recruiting purposes.
Dennehy said it’s hard to anticipate what the results of playing independently will be.
“I don’t know if any of us really completely understand what the ramifications are going to be until we get through it,” he said.
Dennehy noted recruiting was an area of concern, but in the end, turned out to be a positive situation.
“I think our schedule really helped us during the recruiting season, in terms of we have an exciting schedule and we’ll be able to see a lot of the country,” he said.
This season, the Aggies will take on teams from eight states and four time zones. The schedule includes trips to Lousiana, Connecticut and Florida.
“It’s an attractive schedule,” Pugmire said.
A difficult aspect of the schedule is trying to find schools to compete against during late October and November, when other teams are deep in conference play. USU has two byes coming this season. While the schedule for the 2001 season is set, Pugmire said for future seasons, “there’s a lot of white space I have to fill in.”
Both Pugmire and Dennehy said a big disadvantage of playing independently is not being able to compete for a league championship or league MVP.
“Everybody has their own team goals and things they’d like to achieve,” Dennehy said. “Individual goals always include to be an all-conference player or to lead the league [in a certain statistic] and we won’t have those goals to look forward to.”
Dennehy said the athletes are geared toward making the best of the situation, despite not being able to work toward individual recognition. He added statistics are kept on independent players and an All-Independent team does exist.
“I think the kids are handling [being independent] OK,” Dennehy said. “The bottom line is we still have an opportunity to go out and play the game, a game we all love.”
USU President Kermit L. Hall said he is not concerned that playing independently will negatively impact the school’s national reputation.
“Our reputation is reflected in the quality of our student athletes, and that’s where our focus rests,” he said. “By recruiting quality student athletes, we will continue to improve our reputation.”
Pugmire said Hall is actively searching for a new conference – it’s ultimately the president’s decision.
Hall said Pugmire is also working hard to find a conference suitable for the university’s needs. Hall is working with other USU faculty both inside and outside the Athletic department.
“Getting into a new conference is going to be a team effort,” Hall said.
Dennehy said joining the WAC was considered, but commented that with the departure of BYU and Utah into the Mountain West, the WAC may not have been ready for more changes.
“[The WAC and Mountain West] are both great options,” Pugmire said. “[But] we have to receive an invitation first.”
Pugmire said many conferences around the country will be realigned within the next few years.
“One thing’s for sure, there’s going to be more changes on the way, and how that will affect us I don’t know at this time,” he said.
Pugmire, however, insists USU will not become a Division I-AA university.
“We’ve had so many people work too long and too hard to keep us a viable I-A institution,” Pugmire said. “We’ve been Division I for 100-plus years, and we’re going to stay Division I.”
Hall said playing independently is an interim strategy, not a permanent one.
“We hope to find a fit within the next year or two,” he said.