Just when you thought conference re-alignment was finished

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BYU looks to be going independent
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5473151

and so the MWC has invited Fresno State and Nevada to join
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5474774

:willy_nilly:

I wonder if this is a power move by the MWC against BYU... because if they take Fresno and Nevada from the WAC, BYU wouldn't have a conference to play its non-football sports in (the rumor is that they would move all of those to the WAC). I don't think that adding Fresno and Nevada makes up for losing Utah (and BYU if that happens), but it puts them in a better position than they'd be otherwise. The other option would be for Fresno and Nevada to opt to stay in the WAC and then try to poach TCU, bring Boise back, and look to grab two more schools from the MWC or C-USA. I think it's more likely though to see Fresno and Nevada leave, as it puts them both in a much better position to gain a BCS automatic berth. Plus it puts them both in a conference with natural rivals... Fresno can renew its rivalry with San Diego State, while Nevada would have a natural rivalry with in-state UNLV.

 

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I just remembered that the WAC schools all agreed to a $5 million buyout if any remaining school were to leave in the next 5 years. So that may prevent either one of them from moving if that's really the case.

 

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I think an even better move for the MWC would be to, in addition to Fresno and Nevada, to invite Houston, SMU, and Tulsa as well. That'd put them in a situation to have a conference championship game, and would help alleviate losing Utah and Nevada.

 

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Fresno has reportedly accepted and will be announcing the decision tonight

http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/08/18/2045731/fresno-state-to-join-mwc.html

 

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and both Fresno and Nevada have accepted... now the waiting game begins between now and Sept. 1st to see whether or not BYU moves. I think the MWC really called their bluff on this one... it was a straight bully attempt to get the MWC to commit to BYU for five years while giving the school the option to leave whenever they wanted... and well, it failed.

 

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Good Lord... I just listened to Karl Benson's teleconference... holy fuck does he sound pissed off right now. He doesn't have a right to be, because he was just trying to broker the almost complete destruction of the MWC, but the MWC fought back and destroyed the WAC instead.