Non-Qualifiers

[PX]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by EastStang:
<B>If any six members of the WAC voted to change the requirement, then the other schools would not be permitted to admit non-qualifiers. If that happened, FSU might jump and take Hawaii with them. One thing keeping FSU in the WAC is that we allow them to take non-qualifiers, if that changed they might go to the Mountain West. That threat might be enough to keep Boise State and Nevada from voting for such a proposal. La. Tech and SJS would have no where else to go and would probably stay.</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


I dont see Fresno leaving and taking Hawaii anywhere as a realistic threat, for 2 reasons. 1.) I dont think the Mountain West allows its members to take Non-qualifiers, either. I would have to look it up to be sure, but I think the conference only allows each school a limited number of partial qualifiers, and no Non-qualifiers.
2.) Fresno cant just decide they want to join a different conference then go and take another team with them. The MWC would have to invite Fresno and Hawaii, which they have had ample chance to do, already, but passed on. Its not Fresno's choice, if it was they would already be gone.

<A HREF="http://www.ncaa.org/eligibility/cbsa/academic.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.ncaa.org/eligibility/cbsa/academic.html</A>

The above link will take you to the page on the NCAA's website that outlines academic initial eligibility standards, and the numbers that define a Full, Partial, and Non-qualifier. Hope this helps.

[EastStang]

However, rumors have circulated in the past that the MWC might invite Hawaii and Fresno State. The things holding the MWC from inviting FSU were non-qualifiers and the Shark. The Shark is gone. If the WAC were to pull the plug on non-qualifiers, then FSU would have to comply, and then would have removed another problem with the MWC which might very well lead to an invite. MWC would want to invite another team and logically it would be either Hawaii, San Jose State or Boise State. My guess would be that Hawaii would be the invitee. This would give the WAC an eastern tilt. I guess what I was trying to say, is that by allowing non-qualifiers, the WAC keeps the status quo. Fresno won't get invited anywhere until they stop taking them.

[Charleston Pony]

If the BCS system remains in place and the MWC decides to expand to 9 schools, don't rule out UTEP as their choice. The Miners bring at least the chance the MWC could someday negotiate a deal with the Sun Bowl. Hawaii presents travel issues and Fresno the non-qualifier issue. If the MWC schools had wanted them, they could have invited them long ago.