WAC Expansion: Where Will The Football Schools Come From After Adding Seattle U?

Although the Western Athletic Conference did need to add members after being raided over the past year or so, inviting Seattle University doesn't quite solve their problems.

They're still looking to add football schools, as Karl Benson was quite clear about during yesterday's media teleconference.

The question, however, is where exactly these football schools will come from.

San Jose Mercury News reporter Jon Wilner provides some insight based on his sources.

WAC expansion: Seattle joins, more schools to follow | College Hotline
Based on conversations with sources, both before and after Tuesday’s announcement, the league has IDed the following football schools as potential expansion targets:

Louisiana Lafayette, North Texas, Lamar, Sam Houston State, Cal Poly, Sacramento State, Montana and Montana State.

As Wilner notes - and we've described in this storystream - Montana has already rejected the WAC, which makes that unlikely. But highlights of the rest of this list include Louisiana - Lafayette having a home-and-home with the Big 12's Oklahoma State over the last few years and North Texas having three of their first four games televised broadcast on ESPN3.com.

But as Wilner also says, these are just potential targets and another process of application, evaluation, and invitation will have to occur before any of that is settled.

WAC Expansion: Seattle University May Be Joining Conference On Borrowed Time

WAC Expansion: Benson Calls Seattle University 'The Best Possible School' For The Conference

It should come as no surprise that the growth potential for men's basketball was a significant reason for the Western Athletic Conference to invite the Seattle University Redhawks into the fold as its ninth member.

"WAC men's basketball has the potential to be a revenue producer for us and we need to get better at basketball," WAC Commissioner Karl Benson said this afternoon during a media teleconference. "When you look at the demographics of the University of Denver or Seattle University, I don't think there is any reason why they couldn't be the next Gonzaga."

Yet among the reasons that Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson listed for inviting Seattle University into the fold as a non-football member, one that might stand out as mildly ironic for Seattle basketball fans is KeyArena.

The arena that was at the center of the Seattle Sonics' departure from the city was mentioned repeatedly as a reason that the Seattle U. Redhawks were an attractive candidate to add to the conference.

"Seattle is a great sports market and without the NBA being in Seattle we think that the WAC has an opportunity to have some interest in college basketball," said WAC commissioner Karl Benson in a media teleconference today.

Seattle University's move to KeyArena for men's basketball was one of the first things Benson mentioned among the qualities that made the conference's newest addition attractive and he even mentioned the possibility of their new addition providing a new location for the conference's tournament.

"KeyArena is a NBA facility," Benson said. "Again, as we look for future sites for the WAC tournament, we will give strong consideration to Seattle."

Of course, KeyArena was not the lone reason or even a clearly most significant reason - the invite comes after an assessment of what Seattle University offers as a whole.

"Seattle U had the academic characteristics, athletic characteristics, and media market and so we selected Seattle University," Benson said.

Other reasons Benson mentioned for the addition of Seattle University:

• Seattle University's commitment to improving their sports programs.
  
  
• High-profile coaching hires in men's (former University of Washington assistant Cameron Dollar) and women's basketball (former University of Arizona coach Joan Bonvicini).
  
  "KeyArena, Cameron Dollar," Benson said. "I think that in the last two years Seattle U has shown their commitment to Division I (athletics).
  
  
• Seattle is not only a top-15 media market, but also a new market for the WAC in a city without the NBA to compete for attention, as Benson noted.
  
  
• Seattle U's multi-million dollar soccer facility, which has already garnered plenty of attention as being one of the top soccer complexes in the nation and hosted a practice for the Colorado Rapids of the MLS.
  
  "It wouldn't surprise me if the WAC women's soccer championship was held in Seattle," Benson said.
  
  
  
• The timing was right after Seattle U was left out of the first round of additions.
  
  "When the University of Hawaii made their departure from the WAC in December that put us in a different environment," Benson said. "That has allowed Seattle U. to emerge as the best possible school for us."

Although the above qualities are what secured an invite for Seattle U., Benson was also clear that the Redhawks were not necessarily competing against possible football schools, having pursued them as well this past January. They also did not rule out the possibility of inviting a second school with Seattle U to bring the conference's membership to 10, with both Utah Valley University and California State Bakersfield being considered but not ultimately being invited.

But ultimately, Seattle U stood out as the clear choice for the current membership of the WAC, although Benson said they would not reveal the actual vote count.

"I think Seattle U. the clear consensus school that brings the most for the WAC to go to," Benson said.

WAC Expansion: Seattle University To Join Conference In July 2012

In a media teleconference today at 1 p.m. Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson announced the addition of the Seattle University Redhawks, bringing the conference's membership to nine.

WAC Announces Addition of Seattle - WACSports.com—Official Web Site of the Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference today announced that an invitation for membership has been issued to and accepted by Seattle University to join the conference effective July 1, 2012. The announcement comes following the conclusion of the Board of Directors meeting in which the Presidents of both the current schools and the previously announced incoming schools for 2012 met to address several issues important to the present and future of the WAC.

However, as a non-football member, one of the major topics of discussion during the teleconference was the fact that the conference still stands at only seven football members, which is less than ideal.

"The addition of Seattle U. is a very positive first step, but not a last step," Benson said during the press conference.

Benson also noted during the teleconference that Utah Valley State and California State University - Bakersfield applied but did not receive an invite.

A replay of the teleconference will be available at WACSports.com while the Seattle University press conference starting at 2 p.m. PST will be available at GoSeattleU.com with an audio and video stream, according to a WAC representative.

WAC Expansion: Seattle University Confirms Press Conference About Invite

After a morning full of chatter that the Seattle University Redhawks would be invited to join the Western Athletic Conference, a press release this lunch hour all but confirms the big news for the program entering its third academic year in NCAA Division I athletics.

Seattle University will be hosting a press conference to make a major announcement regarding the future of the Seattle U athletics department.

Seattle Times reporter Bob Condotta tweeted soon after the press release that sources tell the Times that indeed the "major announcement" is about their response to the WAC invite, which they are expected to accept.

Condotta has also elaborated on the invite at the Seattle Times website.

Seattle University | Seattle U. receives invitation to join WAC, according to sources | Seattle Times Newspaper
The Salt Lake Tribune and BobcatReport.com each reported Tuesday morning that Seattle U. had been extended an invitation during the conference's Board of Director meetings, taking place this week in Park City, Utah.

WAC Expansion: Seattle University To Hold Press Conference In Response To Invite

Bobcat Report has been tweeting this morning that Seattle University to the WAC is a done deal.

Last season, the Redhawks men's basketball team - the primary focus as a "revenue sport" - was 1-4 against the WAC, defeating Idaho on December 11. That, in case you're wondering, is one win better than their 0-4 record against the WCC.

But of course, in order to survive, the WAC will need to add football schools as well. San Jose Mercury News reporter Jon Wilner suggests they might take a two-phase approach to that.

WAC football: Expansion vote to come Tuesday(?) | College Hotline
Phase One (according to sources): Invite Seattle next week to join for the 2012-13 school year.

Phase Two: Invite multiple schools, including those that play football, next June (for 2013-14).

The delay would allow prospective football members to resolve the massive financial and/or political issues that come with jumping from FCS to FBS.

WAC Expansion: Commissioner Karl Benson Could Announce Seattle U. Invitation Today

After the Western Athletic Conference board of directors meeting in Park City, Utah concludes today, Commissioner Karl Benson will hold a media conference during which he could announce an invitation for the Seattle University Redhawks to the conference, as reported on Sunday by Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.

Seattle University could get invite to Western Athletic Conference by Tuesday | Seattle Times Newspaper
If invited, Seattle U. would be a non-football-playing member and would join for the 2012-13 academic year. That is also the first year that the Seattle U.'s men's basketball team would be eligible for the NCAA tournament.

An invitation, if extended, would likely come on Tuesday and Benson said that "I would expect that it would be immediate acknowledgment" of a decision to accept. Invitations must be extended and accepted by July 1 for schools to join in time for the 2012-13 season.

Although some Seattle fans might have been hoping for an invitation to the West Coast Conference for Seattle U., the reality is that membership in a conference gives the program a better shot at the NCAA tournament with the opportunity to secure an automatic bid through the conference tournament. And, as Condotta notes, with the opportunity to go to the Big Dance, Seattle U becomes a much more attractive destination for recruits.

WAC Expansion: North Texas The Latest To Turn Down The WAC

There was sort of good news for the WAC yesterday: Despite Hawaii's announcement that it intends to leave, it does have a meeting set up with WAC commissioner Karl Benson later this week.

WAC looks to avoid losing Hawaii | The Salt Lake Tribune
Benson, on Monday afternoon, confirmed that he has extended an offer to Hawaii, urging the school to remain in the WAC as a football-only member, while parking its non-revenue sports in the Big West Conference. Benson is scheduled to meet with Hawaii athletic director Jim Donovan in Las Vegas later this week. He says he will reiterate the offer to Donovan since he hasn’t heard from Hawaii since making the original offer.

Several reports last week indicate Hawaii is in an advanced stage of negotiations with the Mountain West, although a formal invitation has yet to be extended, according to Benson.

However, that glimmer of hope was offset today by news that North Texas has decided not to consider a move for the WAC.

WAC snubbed by North Texas… again | CollegeFootballTalk
Following up on Monday night reports that had the Mean Green once again considering an offer from the league, the Denton Chronicle reports that UNFT has once again decided against making the jump from the Sun Belt. Benson had phoned the school earlier in the day to gauge their level of interest in the conference.

Again, this is not good p.r. for the conference and although it might present an option for a program like Seattle University that remains independent, Evan Pfaff of SBN Denver is now wondering if the University of Denver made a mistake by committing to the struggling conference.

Should the University Of Denver Pioneers Reconsider Moving To The WAC? - Mile High Buzz - SB Nation Denver
So what's the WAC's solution? Looking at inviting another non-football playing, lower-tiered basketball school in the University of Seattle Redhawks. This simply is not an answer.

If you are a conference trying to make it in this money-driven world, having North Texas and Montana reject you should tell you something. Having your only marquee programs leave should tell you something. Having to resort to inviting schools for the sake of having qualifying numbers should tell you something.

But again, at this point the question is not only whether Seattle is the answer for the WAC but whether the WAC is the answer for Seattle. Although a conference is necessary, when all around you people are leaving the conference, it might indeed be reason for pause before making your decision.

WAC Expansion: Benson Hopeful About Retaining Automatic NCAA Tournament Bid

As Seattle University considers its Division I future, of greatest concern in this ongoing WAC forthcoming expansion/ongoing contraction saga might be whether the conference will be able to keep its automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

During a media teleconference earlier today, WAC commissioner Karl Benson said that Seattle University is indeed still on the radar and that he's hopeful a change in NCAA policy might help the WAC maintain enough legitimacy to keep an automatic bid for the NCAA tournament.

WAC football (and basketball): Benson talks about the future | College Hotline
Benson does not expect the WAC to lose its automatic bid to NCAA championhip events, including March Madness.

That’s because of legislation making its way through the system that would eliminate the continuance-of-membership clause, which requires leagues to have at least six continuing members to receive automatic berths to NCAA championships.

Again, the WAC would have only five continuing members without Hawaii. But Benson is confident the legislation will be adopted in January.

This is good news if indeed Seattle U considers this opportunity to be their best bet.

But it's still far from a great situation.

SBN Seattle Commentary: Finding A Conference Is Important, But The WAC Is Less Than Ideal For Seattle U

Finding A Conference Is Important, But The WAC Is Less Than Ideal For Seattle U - The Daily Drip - SB Nation Seattle
As mentioned in Watson's article, the WAC has considered both Seattle U and North Texas as potential candidates for expansion. All reports are that Seattle U is not yet off the table and given where they are now - and particularly if Hawaii leaves - the WAC will have to do something.

At some point, the WAC might be forced to invite schools like Seattle U and North Texas into the fold. But at this point, it's difficult to understand why a school would accept an invite into a struggling conference on the brink of losing significant revenue streams.

WAC Expansion: The Implications Of Hawaii's Departure Extend Beyond Football

Although Hawaii has confirmed that they will relocate their football team to the Mountain West Conference, the reports of them moving the rest of the athletic programs to the Big West have not yet been confirmed.

But if both of those moves do happen, it would be disastrous for the conference.

If the WAC loses Hawaii, there is not only the problem of losing a football member, but also lacking the six continuing members needed to even get an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, according to Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News.

Hawaii to the Mountain West: If true, it’s bad for the WAC (very, very bad) | College Hotline
And if the WAC doesn’t have at least six continuing members, it would lose its automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament — and the multi-million annual payout that goes with it.

With just seven football-playing schools (the quintet listed above plus newcomers Texas State and UTSA), the conference would also be in danger of losing its status as a Football Bowl Subdivision member.

Then there are the other post-Hawaii issues involving the TV contract, the bowl partnerships and whether the incoming schools would still want to be a part of a league without an automatic bid and without FBS status. So there’s a lot to sort out … assuming the Hawaii departure happens.

So even if the WAC were to add more schools - whether that be a young program like Seattle University or any one of the more established ones mentioned - they would essentially be a conference without any of the financial benefits of post-season bids. If that's the case, it's hard to imagine a non-football school like Seattle U being at the top of their list of priority adds.

Regardless of implications for Seattle, as Wilner states very, very clearly, this is "very, very bad".

WAC Expansion: Seattle U Still In The Picture, But Big West & Moutain West Join Forces To Lure Hawaii Away

Seattle University is still not out of the picture for WAC expansion, according to Fred Lewis of the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

Expanded WAC still may not sate Hawaii
Seattle University, which had been under consideration as a non-football member, could be reconsidered in the wake of Montana's rejection. Benson said the Redhawks remain under consideration but gave no timetable for when "phase two" of expansion might be undertaken.

However, a new development might change that picture a bit: with Montana University officially deciding to remain in the Big Sky, the WAC needed to keep Hawaii because they have maintained the eight football members is the absolute minimum.

Well, Hawaii has been considering leaving the WAC for sometime either going independent in football or relocating altogether and now the Big West and Mountain West have joined forces to really jeopardize that football minimum.

UH offered to join Mountain West in football, Big West in other sports - Hawaii News - Staradvertiser.com
The University of Hawaii is being extended an offer to join the Mountain West Conference, the Star-Advetiser has learned.

Signs point to UH being offered a football-only membership, although MWC sources would not immediately confirm it.

A 7 p.m. press conference has been called for Bachman Hall to make the announcement.

No word yet if this is a press conference to announce an offer or an offer and acceptance, but things are not looking good for the WAC - or Seattle University's chances of finding a home - if Hawaii chooses to relocate for football.

WAC Expansion: Denver, Texas-San Antonio And Texas State Officially Accept Invites

Denver, Texas San-Antonio, and Texas State have all officially received and accepted invites from the WAC, with membership effective 2012. 

From a WAC release:

The announcement was made by the chair of the WAC Board of Directors and Utah State University President Stan Albrecht and WAC Commissioner Karl Benson after the Board unanimously voted to issue the invitations earlier this week.

“The Board of Directors is extremely dedicated to the long-term stability and growth of the Western Athletic Conference," said Albrecht. "The University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas State University and the University of Denver are three very strong institutions, both in their commitment to building athletic excellence and in their commitment to academics. We believe that all three will help us in our quest to make the WAC one of the outstanding athletic conferences in the country.”

Although there is no official word on Seattle University’s status, Montana’s decision to stay in the Big Sky is a significant development that opens up that possibility.

WAC Expansion: Montana's Choice To Stay In Big Sky Leaves Opening For Seattle

With the WAC making an announcement about their expansion decision today, Seattle University might have gotten the break they needed to get an invite.

Montana will stick with Big Sky - Spokesman.com - Nov. 11, 2010
HELENA, Mont. — University of Montana’s president says the Grizzlies will stay in the Big Sky Conference and not move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision.

President Royce Engstrom said in a release Thursday that it was a complex decision. But, he adds, the better course for the school is to stay with the conference it helped establish in 1963.

Although this is the development that Seattle reportedly needed to get an invite into the conference - it would give the conference 10 basketball schools - there's still no word about whether they will immediately accept.

The next question aside from whether Seattle might accept is whether the WCC might offer an invite as they have only nine schools as well. Previous reports stated that Gonzaga coach Mark Few was against adding a low RPI school to the conference and that new add BYU was lobbying for Denver. However, latest reports are that they will stand pat at nine instead of rushing to expand.

WAC Expansion: ESPN Reports Three Teams Will Join While Seattle Still Waits On Montana

As described here previously, ESPN's Andy Katz is reporting that Denver University, University of Texas-San Antonio and Texas State will join the Western Athletic Conference, pending official approval of UTSA from the Texas board of regents.

But that appears to be a matter of working, according to MySanAntonio.com's Dan McCarney.

Meanwhile, Seattle University is still waiting on a decision from Montana, according to Katz.

Sources: Denver University, Texas-San Antonio and Texas State to join WAC - ESPN
Montana could also join the WAC in all sports, especially if the Grizzlies decide to bump up from FCS to FBS in football. Montana, a FCS power, is expected to make a decision in the next few weeks. If the Grizzlies decide against the move then Seattle would likely step in with all sports except football.

The WAC's perfect scenario, according to multiple sources, is to get to nine football schools, including Montana and 10 basketball schools.

McCarney adds some insight about the Montana decision and how that might influence whether tomorrow's announcement will be about acceptances or invites.

The WAC puzzle nears completion | UTSA Sports | a mySA.com blog
The one final piece of the puzzle, whether or not the University of Montana will join, is reportedly close to being slotted home.

According the the Missoulian newspaper, Montana will make its decision to stay in the Football Championship Subdivision or move up to the WAC within the next week.

WAC sources have said commissioner Karl Benson prefers to make one sweeping announcement, unveiling all of the league’s additions at once, rather than do it piecemeal. So, if Montana hasn’t announced its decision by tomorrow, we might only get official acknowledgment of an invitation.

But, again — that will only be a matter of semantics.

So the bottom line for Seattle in the immediate future is this: if tomorrow's announcement comes without an indication of what Montana has decided, Seattle still has a chance at getting into the WAC. But if Montana chooses to make a move, Seattle is likely left without a conference.

WAC Expansion: Conference Could Announce Inclusion of UTSA, Texas State Soon

The Western Athletic Conference appears ready to announce the inclusion of the University of Texas-San Antonio and Texas State this week, additions that have been expected for some time.

WAC poised to add two schools from Texas - Hawaii News - Staradvertiser.com
The Western Athletic Conference could announce expansion of its membership by two Texas schools as soon as tomorrow, the Star-Advertiser has been told.

The University of Texas Board of Regents is scheduled to meet Wednesday morning in Austin, Texas, to discuss the conference future of the University of Texas-San Antonio and, if approved, the WAC is preparing to announce the inclusion of UTSA and Texas State this week, officials confirmed.

Dan McCarney of MySanAntonio.com is also reporting that there is "an announcement tentatively scheduled for Thursday afternoon at UTSA" but describes some uncertainty as to whether this is just an announcement of the invitation or an announcement of the invitation and immediate acceptance.

So what does this mean for Seattle University?

UTSA Sports
Source No. 1 also told me that Texas State, the University of Denver and Seattle University will be joining the announcement cavalcade, but with no certainty as to when.

But I've spent a lot less time pinning those schools down. So other than Texas State, which is a mortal lock at this point, take the other two universities with a grain of salt.

The bottom line for Seattle is that nothing is certain yet and with Montana's decision still not made yet, things may remain unclear for a while.

WAC Expanstion: Seattle University SItuation Still Unresolved

In the last update, I attributed a report about Seattle University being “crossed off the list” to Dan McCarney of MySanAntonio.com.

But to clarify, McCartney was only relaying information from Jay Walker of ESPN 1420 in Lafayette, Louisiana:

SOURCES: DENVER TO ACCEPT WAC INVITE
Odd man out in the WAC expansion appears to be Seattle University.  Newspaper reports indicated Seattle would be a part of the WAC expansion plans, but the WAC has chosen to be a nine team conference (eight for football) and wait until Montana is ready to make the move.

However, as stated in McCartney’s article, his sources say that nothing is settled at this point.

Western still waiting, according to sources
At this point, with at least three or four different scenarios floating around the blogosphere, picking the winner seems akin to throwing darts against the wall.

All I can do is trust my sources, and they’re telling me the same thing: no news at this time.

All we have heard from Seattle U is that they’ve neither received an invite nor a site visit at this time, which is probably further evidence that a final decision has yet to be made.

Our apologies to McCartney and Walker for the misattribution.

WAC Expansion: Seattle University Reportedly 'Crossed Off The List', Hopes For WCC Dwindle

Seattle University had not received an official invite or site visit from the Western Athletic Conference prior to previous reports of expansion and now Dan McCarney of MySanAntonio.com is reporting that the Redhawks are off the list with the WAC choosing to be an eight team football conference and nine team basketball conference.

Western still waiting, according to sources
So the rumor mill is in full churn now, with reports coming almost daily with what’s going to happen with the Western Athletic Conference.

The latest has UTSA, Texas State and the University of Denver accepting invitations next week, Seattle University being crossed off the list and the WAC holding open a spot for Montana.

At this point, with at least three or four different scenarios floating around the blogosphere, picking the winner seems akin to throwing darts against the wall.

As presumed previously, the decision for the WAC appears to hinge on what Montana decides about football.

And if Seattle gets crossed off the WAC list, the chances of getting an invite to the West Coast Conference might also be declining, with Denver being a favorite but the conference choosing to put expansion off according to Jay Walker of ESPN 1420 in Lafayette, Louisiana.

SOURCES: DENVER TO ACCEPT WAC INVITE
The West Coast Conference was also considered to be a possibility for Denver and it was no secret that Denver’s desire was to join the West Coast private school league. But in a meeting over the weekend, WCC officials decided to put off expansion talk for at least another eight months. Brigham Young University, scheduled to join the WCC for all sports except football, was lobbying on Denver’s behalf to increase WCC membership to ten and to give BYU an attractive travel partner.

However, if Denver does accepts its invitation to the WAC as reported, the WCC might still be an option sometime in the future.

Correction: although McCartney relayed the information about Seattle University being "crossed off the list", it was Jay Walker of ESPN 1420 that initially reported it. Click here for more.

WAC Expansion: Reports Say Seattle U Will Receive An Invite, But What About WCC?

The Western Athletic Conference is in a somewhat dire situation: they need to expand in order to have more than six members for the 2011-12 and remain a legitimate conference.

As the San Marcos Daily Record reported on Friday, the Western Athletic Conference will reportedly extend an invite to Seattle U as a non-football member as well as other schools discussed previously.

College Athletics: Sources say Texas State will be invited to join WAC " Breaking News " San Marcos Record, San Marcos, TX
...according to sources close to the situation — since Montana is in currently in a transition mode — Texas State and UTSA will be invited into the conference for all sports while Denver and Seattle will join for all but football.

To many, Montana was a no-brainer to receive an immediate invite to the WAC but since the school just inducted a new president Monday afternoon and has yet to complete its Football Bowl Subdivision feasibility study, it wouldn’t be in a position to accept an invitation in the conference’s time frame.

However, according to the Seattle U athletics department, they have yet to receive an official invite and are still waiting for notification from the WAC about an official site visit.

So it's not set in stone quite yet and ultimately Seattle University might still have another option.

As of right now, whether Seattle U gets an invite might hinge on Montana's FBS feasibility study and whether they decide to take the next step as a football school or not.

Daily Word: Analyzing WAC expansion possibilities - college basketball - ESPN
If Montana chooses to stay put, the likelihood is that all four of the other candidates will join the WAC for eight members in football, 10 in men's basketball. The two Texas schools would create a bridge between members New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech. If Montana decides to join, then Seattle is likely out.

If Seattle U is squeezed out of the WAC, the West Coast Conference still needs to add a non-football member after Brigham Young University announced that they will be joining the conference in 2011-12. Seattle U could still end up in the WCC. And quite honestly, the WCC seems like a stronger fit in sharing a common mission and values with the current member institutions as described here previously.

So until the WAC extends invites and Montana makes its decision, nothing is off the table for Seattle and the WCC still appears to be the stronger fit for the non-football school. In the meantime, might this 30 day window within which the WAC might make their decision give the WCC time to make an invite?