The New Wac

[NM Green]

I had free tickets to the WAC Championship game at the Orleans Arena, and it turned out to be a good game between the Broncos and Aggies. Utah State students traveled in force to Las Vegas, and the small contingent of BSU fans made a lot of noise. However, I sat back and looked up at the rafters realizing just how the WAC was gutted. When you pull down the Hawaii, Nevada, Boise State and Fresno State banners you are left with Idaho, NM State, La Tech, Utah State and San Jose State. Then you look into the crowd and realize that there were handfuls and only handfuls of NM State fans that I saw at that final game. The Idaho, NM State, La Tech and SJSU fans either didn't travel to Las Vegas or they didn't go to the final game. I'm spoiled watching the MWC tourney and seeing fans from all the programs except TCU represented well throughout the entire tourney.

Back to the WAC. You cannot just throw UTSA, Denver and Texas State banners up there and have the same league - name recognition or not. The WAC is a dying conference and I don't say that lightly because they have survived a lot of hits. But I have never felt more comfortable stating that I am glad we did not jump on that ship. We have our own goals to tackle and programs to progress. The bitterness Utah State fans had towards Boise for leaving the conference was uncomfortable. Utah State will be in the MWC before long and that may very well be the end of the league for good.

So prepare for a couple of storied programs to be looking for a home sometime sooner than later, in my opinion (Bulldogs and Aggies). Hearing Karl take one final slam at Boise during the trophy presentation was just what I expected from a desperate commish.

It was an interesting trip to the Orleans to say the least.

GMG

[KoldBeer]

The Utah St fans looked good on ESPN.

From a basketball perspective, I think the WAC will be okay (as long as Utah St stays). Utah St is a really good program and with the lack of teams in the Mountain/Pacific time zones they should get a few games on ESPN. That might allow for a second team to become respectable (i.e. St. Mary's to Gonzaga but on a lesser scale).

Football is where the WAC is in trouble. There just isn't anything there. La Tech is the only team that has made any noise on the football field.

[NM Green]

The Utah State fans are amazing and the student section was out of control - definitely one of the best I have seen in a long long time. That is why I think they are a natural selection for the MWC. They will bring the house to Las Vegas at tourney time and they have built a strong program. With no presence in Utah after this year, I just don't see them staying in the WAC for long. They are in the MWC footprint and bring some solid goods to the table.

GMG