October 3, 2008

Has the PAC 10 waited too long?

Most everyone thinks the PAC 10 will eventually expand, and that BYU and Utah are the most likely candidates. Could time be running out for the PAC 10's expansion options?

I don't see the PAC 10 forking out the money to buy out the exit clauses most teams now have with their conferences, due to the recent major conference realignments. A move to the PAC 10 would cost both of these schools a couple million dollars.

Having to schedule tournaments around BYU's no Sunday policy is another big issue. Also, the PAC 10 is rather smug with their current status, feeling their superiority is a preordained fact that others just need to accept and get over.

Well, the MWC has been making strides and could be on the verge of crossing the line and becoming a nationally recognized league with legitimate talent. The MWC has a Bowl payout structure that favors the teams participating in the bowls far more generously than most other conferences (half the bowl money rather than a double share.)

The top team in the MWC currently gets 4.5 million dollars plus its share from the other bowls if they go to a BCS bowl. This comes to over 5 million dollars. Without a BCS bowl it is only about 1.8 million. If the MWC averages one BCS bowl every 2 years and BYU and Utah are each the representative 40% of the time, they are currently ahead of the PAC 10 #4 team. BYU and Utah are currently doing ok in Bowl payouts in the MWC.

With BCS status this could greatly favor the top teams in the MWC financially. That said, I think a BCS AQ MWC should only give its champion a share based on 9 million, equal to what it would have had had they not been an AQ conference. The other 8 million should be used to fund grants to member institutions desiring to upgrade their facilities and promote the health of the league in general.

At the end of the day the PAC 10 will always be more prestigious than the MWC. But is prestige everything? Can pride of accomplishment and past history account for more than the anointing of the powers that be?

Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno made their names by building solid programs from the groud up and remaining loyal to those schools in the early phases when other more alluring offers came their way. I have nothing against a person admitting they are on a stepping stone to higher goals as Urban Meyer did at Bowling Green and Utah. I do think that it is bad feng shui to claim loyalty to an institution only to sell out to the highest bidder, per Rich Rodriquez.

Utah and BYU are critical to the lofty goals of the MWC and have an opportunity to make a name for themselves in history as the teams that made the MWC a competitive league nationally. In two years the MWC may recede and the situation would need to be reevaluated.

Right now I feel it would be incredibly bad feng shui for Utah and BYU to sell out to the PAC 10 while the MWC is still on the rise. Wait for the plateau to be reached and then see how high you are standing.

Maybe Utah and BYU should return the favor of foot dragging if the PAC 10 comes looking in their direction at the end of this year.

Comments:

Has the PAC 10 waited too long?
Most everyone thinks the PAC 10 will eventually expand, and that BYU and Utah are the most likely candidates. Could time be running out for the PAC 10's expansion options? I don't see the PAC 10 forking out the money to buy out the exit clauses most teams now have with their conferences, due to the recent major conference realignments. A move to the PAC 10 would cost both of these schools a couple million dollars. Having to schedule tournaments around BYU's no Sunday policy is another big issue. Also, the PAC 10 is rather smug with their current status, feeling their superiority is a preordained fact that others just need to accept and get over. Well, the MWC has been making strides and could be on the verge of crossing the line and becoming a nationally recognized league with legitimate talent. The MWC has a Bowl payout structure that favors the teams participating in the bowls far more generously than most other conferences (half the bowl money rather than a double share.) The top team in the MWC currently gets 4.5 million dollars plus its share from the other bowls if they go to a BCS bowl. This comes to over 5 million dollars. Without a BCS bowl it is only about 1.8 million. If the MWC averages one BCS bowl every 2 years and BYU and Utah are each the representative 40% of the time, they are currently ahead of the PAC 10 #4 team. BYU and Utah are currently doing ok in Bowl payouts in the MWC. With BCS status this could greatly favor the top teams in the MWC financially. That said, I think a BCS AQ MWC should only give its champion a share based on 9 million, equal to what it would have had had they not been an AQ conference. The other 8 million should be used to fund grants to member institutions desiring to upgrade their facilities and promote the health of the league in general. At the end of the day the PAC 10 will always be more prestigious than the MWC. But is prestige everything? Can pride of accomplishment and past history account for more than the anointing of the powers that be? Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno made their names by building solid programs from the groud up and remaining loyal to those schools in the early phases when other more alluring offers came their way. I have nothing against a person admitting they are on a stepping stone to higher goals as Urban Meyer did at Bowling Green and Utah. I do think that it is bad feng shui to claim loyalty to an institution only to sell out to the highest bidder, per Rich Rodriquez. Utah and BYU are critical to the lofty goals of the MWC and have an opportunity to make a name for themselves in history as the teams that made the MWC a competitive league nationally. In two years the MWC may recede and the situation would need to be reevaluated. Right now I feel it would be incredibly bad feng shui for Utah and BYU to sell out to the PAC 10 while the MWC is still on the rise. Wait for the plateau to be reached and then see how high you are standing. Maybe Utah and BYU should return the favor of foot dragging if the PAC 10 comes looking in their direction at the end of this year.