UTEP could leave WAC soon

[Water Pony]

Darren Hunt
El Paso Times
Thursday, April 29, 2004

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Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson said Wednesday it's possible that UTEP, the WAC's senior member, could receive a formal invitation to join Conference USA as soon as this weekend.

"Everybody knows that the Conference USA board of directors is meeting on Friday and their agenda has to do with membership," Benson said Wednesday from Phoenix, where he was attending Bowl Championship Series meetings along with UTEP Athletic Director Bob Stull. "I know that Conference USA is considering both UTEP and Louisiana Tech. But everything else is still just pure speculation at this point."

Talk radio and newspapers from Fresno, Calif., to Ruston, La., have pointed the past two weeks to UTEP as Conference USA's choice for a 12th school, over Louisiana Tech and North Texas. UTEP officials, who did not return calls Wednesday, could be faced with a decision on whether to leave the WAC within the next few days.

Despite published reports, Stull and Conference USA athletic directors have denied that UTEP to Conference USA already is a done deal. Stull said late last week that UTEP had "not been officially informed of anything by Conference USA."

"I don't know what their process is exactly," he said. "But they aren't including us in it right now. They could recommend anything, but there's only one group that makes the final decision, and that's the (board of directors)."

Stull would not speculate on what UTEP's answer to Conference USA would be, if an invitation is extended this week. But he did offer a few criteria for the decision.

"The major issues would be the volatility of the league, the future of the league, travel expenses, potential revenues and television exposure," Stull said. "And one thing that everybody is concerned with in terms of the WAC is the volatility of the league."

Conference USA buy-in fees also are of consideration. They're expected to be $1 million up front and another $1 million deducted from league revenues the next several years.

"Anybody that changes leagues, there's going to be a buy-in," Stull said. "But if that's the right decision for the next 20 years, that's what you do."

[Water Pony]

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UTEP To Conference USA?
Miners Expected To Accept Invitation

Wednesday, April 28, 2004 -- Thirty-seven years of membership is about to end.

No more Hawaii. No more Fresno St.

Say hello to Houston and Memphis.

UTEP is expected to receive and accept an invitation to join Conference USA on Friday.

The USA Board of Directors will meet and first determine if the league should add a school to make an even dozen. If that vote is "yes" then the Board will vote on what school will be added. UTEP is expected to be that school.

"Unless you are telling me Britton Banowsky (Comissioner) has announced UTEP is joining the league then this is all speculation," said WAC Comissioner Karl Benson. "I can understand why they are interested in UTEP but right now everything is just speculation."

Banowsky toured the UTEP Campus on Thursday April 22 and met with University President Dr. Diana Natalicio.

UTEP would become the 12th league member creating the possibility of a League Championship Football Game following the regular season.

The Miners are expected to pay a two million dollar fee to join the league in time for the 2005 season.

Proposed Conference USA

East West

East Carolina Houston
Marshall SMU
Central Florida Rice
Alabama Birmingham Tulane
Memphis Tulsa
Southern Mississippi UTEP