A friend in Fresno and the WAC

[BUS]

I was talking to a customer in Fresno and he agrees that the conference game is all about money. Fresno has done well and is looking to move up or out. The Pac 10 does not like the academic profile at Fresno but the Mountain West would take them. He thinks that Boise ( Bowl tie ) and Hawaii ( Bowl tie ) are the additions to the MWC if this shake up brings change to C-USA, WAC and MWC.

WE NEED A DALLAS BOWL. NOW Hunt Oil Bowl. The ???? Law Firm Bowl Something!!!

Your thoughts
GSS

[Nacho]

How about the Mustang Bowl sponsored by Ford (the car company)

[BUS]

That's the best Idea I had heard yet. I wish Mr. Sewell had a Ford dealership!!!

We need more tools to move UP!!
GSS

[EastStang]

Mountain West does not allow schools to admit Non-Qualifiers. Fresno admits those. Plus Fresno is about to have their head handed to them by the NCAA for the Tarkanian era. Hopefully, they will drop the reliance on non-qualifers and partial qualifiers to show other conferences that they are worthy. But given their history, I kind of doubt that.

Yes, a Ford Bowl would be ideal, unfortunately you already have the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. I don't see the Dallas Community supporting two bowls and the Metroplex supporting three bowls (Cowtown Bowl). There have been more than a few near empty Cotton Bowl games.

[Ikus]

I'm afraid EastStang is right - unless UT, A&M, Arkansas or K-State (they travel very well) plays in the Cotton Bowl, then the game is half empty. The game isn't what it once was, and the organizers of another bowl would be hard-pressed to land two teams that might draw, even to fill up the smaller Ford Stadium.

I like the idea, though.

How about an American Airlines Bowl? The winning team (and its conference's other member schools) could help boost the local economy by assuming some of the airline's debts, in lieu of an actual payout.

[Charleston Pony]

While Fresno and others may want out and into an improved situation, I think Boise may have positioned themselves as the best bet if the MWC decides to expand. They've got a good football program, they deliver a bowl game and they have a nice hoops facility with at least the promise of a team that might someday be worthy of playing in that arena. Fresno may have the stronger program overall, but they bring some baggage and the MWC doesn't want it's members to admit non-qualifiers and partials that Fresno has depended on for years.

See my post on WAC viability. If Boise leaves, you can backfill with Utah St.