The WAC

[football_fan]

has anyone really noticed just how bad the wac is. only two out of the ten teams have a winning record this year. in the saragin (or whatever it is) conf. rankings the wac is ranked 11 out of 12 d1a conferences (counting independents as a conf.) the only conf. worse than the wac is the sun belt, which only has 7 teams, and will most likely be gone in a year or two.

there is simply no room in d1a football for mid major conf.'s (hell we're not even mid major). we had two chances to save the program, by moving to the big 12 or conf. usa, but we missed them both. the question is, where do we go if and when the wac falls apart?

also, i find it quite funny that the wac has three bowl invites, all from bowls created by wac teams and played at their home stadiums. basicly the wac created bowl games so they could invite themselves.

[Guest]

LoL, I'd say the WAC isn't THAT bad. In past years it's held its own. FYI- the MAC has 6 winning teams out of 13. The Sun Belt has 1 out of 7 (but no one is surprised by that). The Mountain West has only 2 winning teams out of 8. Independents have 2 winning teams out of 6. Yes we are a mid-major conference. The problem with the WAC is the parity. Not too many conferences have teams that could beat each other on any given day. The conference championship is up for grabs every year. I wonder how Hawaii feels about the WAC situation (?)

[SMUstang]

I agree with you 100%. I asked the same question on the other board. What happens if and when the WAC folds? We have no where to go. And you are right, the WAC sucks this year and we are on the bottom of the WAC. What does that tell you about our program?

[crazy horse]

Until SMU starts dominating the WAC in every sport, we have little room to be putting down them down. It is what it is. The western teams have all stepped up this year and each had good OOC wins and have placed competitive teams on the field.

BBall is strong with Tulsa, Hawaii and Fresno in the past. Women's bball is very strong with La Tech, and recently Rice.

I am disappointed that men's soccer and swimming are stuck in different conferences. I would prefer all our sports to compete in the same conference. Oh well, God bless title 9.

Right now, SMU needs the WAC, The WAC needs SMU to be successful especially in football. A successful program in Dallas will only help the WAC negotiate a better TV package.

Make the most of what you got. It could be a lot worse.

[Charleston Pony]

Anyone who wants to criticize the WAC should take a look at why the conference is rated so low. In typical SMU arrogance, can we not acknowledge that WE are one of the programs dragging the conference down? SMU, Tulsa & UTEP's football programs are ranked among the worst in the country, followed closely by Rice. At least Tulsa has contributed a quality basketball program to the conference and UTEP has a respectable fan following.

The cold, hard truth is that SMU was fortunate the WAC held together when the Mountain West teams bailed out. Otherwise, we might be begging the SunBelt for an invite. Our future might eventually come to joining the SBC's I-A survivors, as predicted by Western Kentucky's A.D. recently, in forming a more regional conference.

I really get tired of hearing people criticize the WAC. Fresno, Hawaii and now Boise St have fielded some pretty respectable teams over the years and have done their part earning wins over highly regarded teams, thereby earning a measure of respect for the WAC. What has SMU done since we joined the WAC?

We always complain about not having a bowl game for the eastern division teams. Well, the truth is that until last year when La Tech came in and won the WAC, we didn't have a deserving team (I should mention that TCU was deserving in their last seson as a WAC member). Bottom line is that until we and the other WAC east schools start contributing, the WAC will be viewed as a weak football conference. We talk about what a fertile recruiting ground Texas is. I suspect out WAC conference mates are awaiting proof.

[football_fan]

just reading on espn.com about the wac bowl situation.

it looks like if boise st. gets a better bowl bid than their own humanitarian bowl they wont even accept it, bc the only way the bowl can succeed is if they are in it.

while the the silicon valley bowl hosted by fresno st. might not even happen bc they dont have a sponsor yet. i guess the sponsors are waiting to see if fresno is going to be bowl eligible.

as for the hawaii bowl, hawaii has already invited themselves (congrats).

maybe smu should create our own bowl, bc looks like thats the only way they will ever go bowling in the wac.